Chapter 2 Before the vow

The house felt quieter than usual, but it wasn't peaceful. It was the kind of silence that carried weight-unspoken words, wounded pride, and burning disappointment all wrapped into one. Zara had barely slept the night before. Her body had collapsed into bed, but her mind had wandered restlessly, dancing between hope and helplessness.

The email still sat open on her phone. She had read it more than a dozen times. Each line, each sentence, carried the promise of freedom, of escape. A chance to start fresh, to step into the world she had dreamt of since she was a teenager. Yet that future now clashed with the one her parents were forcefully designing for her.

Downstairs, the hum of conversation floated up to her room. Footsteps echoed off the polished tiles, followed by the sound of a chair scraping against the floor. Zara slowly sat up, her heart thudding with anxiety. She could already sense what was coming.

The door creaked open without a knock.

"Zara, come downstairs," her mother said, standing in the doorway. Her tone was calm, too calm, like someone who had already made peace with a painful decision.

Zara swallowed. "Why? What now?"

"There's something your father wants to say."

Zara's stomach twisted, but she obeyed. As she stepped into the living room, she spotted her father, seated with his legs crossed and an unreadable expression etched into his face. A second later, she noticed the two men seated across from him-one older, distinguished in agbada, with a calm but watchful demeanor. The other was younger, tall and dark, dressed in a sharp suit with his eyes focused on the marble floor.

Chief Kareem and Regan.

Zara's feet froze.

Her heart kicked into overdrive.

What were they doing here?

Mr. Tunde cleared his throat. "Zara, sit."

She hesitated, then slowly lowered herself into the nearest armchair, her eyes flicking briefly toward Regan before shifting back to her father. "What's going on?"

Her mother remained standing, arms folded.

"We've decided," her father said. "The engagement will happen next week."

Zara's breath hitched.

Her lips parted, but no words came.

"You didn't even ask me," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You already know what's expected of you," her mother added. "This is a union of honor."

Zara turned to Chief Kareem, her expression unreadable. "And you're okay with this too?"

Chief Kareem smiled faintly. "It's not about being okay or not, Zara. This marriage-this alliance-was planned with you and Regan's best interests at heart."

Regan remained silent. His posture was stiff, his jaw tight.

Zara's eyes flashed with resentment. "So that's it, then? No one cares what I want?"

Her father's voice hardened. "You will marry Regan Kareem. End of discussion."

"No," she snapped. "Not unless it's on my terms."

Everyone turned to look at her.

Mr. Tunde raised a brow. "Terms?"

Zara stood, suddenly fueled by an inner fire. "Yes. I'll marry Regan. But only for a year. One year. If after that, we don't fall in love, we walk away. No questions asked. No hard feelings."

A tense silence followed. It was as though the air had been pulled from the room.

Chief Kareem blinked slowly, studying her.

Regan finally lifted his eyes and looked directly at her. For the first time.

There was something unreadable in his gaze-curiosity, perhaps even amusement.

Her father shot her a warning look, but Chief Kareem held up a hand to stop him from speaking.

"If those are her terms," Chief Kareem said calmly, "then so be it. One year."

Mr. Tunde's head snapped to the side. "Kareem-"

"Let the children decide the rest," he said.

Zara didn't breathe. Her mother stared at her like she'd just committed treason.

But Regan simply nodded.

"One year," he said. "Agreed."