( James's POV )
I stand near the glass wall of my office, my hands buried deep in my pockets. Below me, the city moves like it always does fast, loud, alive. Cars rush past, people chase their dreams, and buildings rise as if trying to touch the sky. Yet none of it reaches me. My mind is elsewhere, trapped in a silence that refuses to break.
A knock echoes behind me. "Come in" I say, my voice is steady and emotionless, The door opens, and Max walks in hurriedly. I don't need to look at him to know something's wrong. I sense it in the air.
"Bro," he says, slightly breathless, "you're still here? Madam is calling you… today is your wedding."
I don't react. My gaze remains fixed on the glass wall in front of me.
"Bro," Max repeats, frustration creeping into his tone, "today is your wedding!"
"I know," I reply calmly, without turning around.
Max steps closer. "If not for yourself, then at least do it for Ira."
That finally makes me speak again. My voice turns colder, detached, "I am doing it for her. Otherwise, I despise the idea of marriage."
The words taste bitter, but they're true. Marriage means nothing to me. Feelings mean nothing to me. Only responsibility does.
Without another word, I turn away from the window and walk out. Max follows me silently.
The elevator ride down is quiet. Too quiet. The tension presses against my chest, but my face shows nothing. When we reach the parking area, I head straight to the car. The driver starts the engine without asking a single question.
Minutes later, the car stops in front of the villa.
As I step out, the place looks exactly the same grand, perfect, suffocating. The garden is calm, almost peaceful, with flowers blooming and a fountain flowing softly in the center. Everything here looks beautiful from the outside. Just like my life.
We walk inside, and the moment I enter the hall, a sharp voice cuts through the air, "Where have you both been?"
I look up to see Mrs. Elen, my mother, standing with her hands on her waist. Her eyes are sharp, filled with anger and authority.
"Mom," I say calmly, "we were in a meeting. That's why we're late."
She scoffs. "Do you even realize today is your wedding?"
My jaw tightens, "This wedding is your decision, not mine. I don't have any say in it."
Before she can reply, I feel something soft grip my leg.
I look down, Ira.
My one-year-old daughter struggles to stand, her tiny fingers clutching my pant leg. Her big blue eyes look up at me, innocent and curious. In that moment, everything inside me changes.
All my anger disappears, I bend down, lift her into my arms, and kiss her chubby cheek softly, "What are you doing, my little princess?" I murmur.
She babbles happily, "Ka… Cha… Pa… Na… Ta…"
A small smile appears on everyone's face everyone except my mother, "James," Mrs. Elen says sharply, "you're marrying for her, yes. But that doesn't give you the right to ruin another woman's life."
I don't reply, Without looking at her, without explaining myself, I turn around and walk toward my room with Ira still in my arms, Because the truth is simple, I am not marrying for love, I am marrying for my daughter, And nothing else matters.
I lift little Ira into my arms effortlessly. She is small, warm, and impossibly precious against my chest. Carrying her to the room, I place her gently on the bed and sit beside her. For a while, I forget everything else.
I tickle her softly, and she bursts into innocent laughter. Every time Ira looks at me, she stretches her tiny arms toward me, demanding a hug. I pull her close, pressing her against my chest. Her laughter calms something restless inside me. In this moment, she is my peace… my only peace.
But then my eyes drift, They stop at the photo frame hanging on the wall, The moment I see it, my heart stutters.
My breath grows heavy, and a dull ache spreads through my chest. My fingers curl into fists as my eyes sting. I look at the smiling face in the picture, and my voice comes out as nothing more than a whisper, "Why did you leave me?"
My throat tightens, "Look… because of you, today I have to make space for someone else in my house. In my room. In Ira's life."
I swallow hard, "But I promise you… whoever she is, she will never have a place in my heart. She will mean nothing to me. I will always love only you."
I pull Ira into my arms again, holding her tighter than before, as if her warmth can absorb the sorrow tearing me apart from the inside.
Suddenly, loud voices burst through the doorway, "Congratulations! Today is your wedding day!"
I look up sharply.
A boy and a girl stand at the door, grinning like idiots. My glare is enough to silence them instantly.
The girl walks toward Ira and lifts her into her arms without hesitation.
"What are you both doing in my room?" I ask coldly.
The boy Chris runs his fingers through his hair dramatically. "Brother, why do you always forget that we also have a share in this property? How could we not come?"
He adds a ridiculous expression, clearly trying to be funny, I'm not impressed, I simply shake my head.
The girl Anna bursts into laughter at Chris's antics. She laughs so hard that she almost loses balance. Seeing them, Ira claps her tiny hands and laughs along, completely amused.
Her laughter softens the air… but not my mood.
"If you're done," I say through clenched teeth, "then leave."
Anna smirks. "I'm taking Ira with me. You should hurry up and get ready. Everyone is waiting at the church."
Without another word, Anna and Chris walk out with Ira.
I watch them go, then turn back toward the photo frame one last time, My heart stays there even as my body moves forward.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!