"What does he want to discuss this time.
I really don't think we have anything to discuss. I believe we've talked about everything at dinner". I muttered.
I picked up my phone to hear him out.
"Hello?" His voice came smooth but not warm. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything".
"Not at all". I replied.
"Elisse, I realized something during dinner, we never settled on the wedding date".
He said plainly, as if he was reminding me of an overlooked meeting.
"My calendar for the next quarter is filling quickly. If we don't fix a date now, it'll complicate matters". He added.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
He sounded the same as he had at the restaurant, very decisive and distant. And yet I couldn't hear the weight in his tone.
"Do you already have something in mind?" I asked carefully.
"I do". There was a brief pause, almost like he expected resistance. "Three weeks from now, it's going to be on a Saturday. It gives my assistant time to coordinate with the venue and legal team. It also fits with the press cycle". He stated clearly.
I exhaled quietly, forcing myself to sound steady. "Three weeks? That's very soon".
"I assumed you wouldn't want to drag this out", he replied. His voice clipped. "Unless you'd prefer a longer engagement".
The unspoken challenge in his tone made me sit upright. "No" I said quickly.
" Three weeks is fine".
"Good". He confirmed.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. I thought he might end the call right there, the way he often did when business was settled. But his silence lingered, and this was a bit strange.
Then abruptly, he said, "Elisse, expect efficiency. My time is valuable and so is yours. If at any point you feel hesitant, I'd prefer you call me directly. Understood?"
My heart skipped. The words were blunt, but underneath them was something I couldn't quite name. Not kindness, certainly, but perhaps…A form of consideration?
" Yes, I understand". I whispered
"Goodnight Elisse". He muttered.
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone, staring at the blank screen. "Goodnight". A simple word, but it felt strange coming from him.
My mind buzzed with questions I couldn't answer. Does he ever let himself feel anything beyond strategy? Does he ever laugh, ever ache or ever long for something real? Or had life trained him to treat even marriage as a transaction?
As these questions flooded my mind, I went into the kitchen and poured out a glass of water, trying to steady my racing heart.
Just immediately, mom came in.
"Darling". Her voice was warm and excited. "How was dinner with Garrett? Did you two finally discuss details?"
I took a sip from the cup of water I was holding and turned to her. "We did. If you can call it that, it felt more like a board meeting than a dinner date".
"Well, he is a businessman". Dad interrupted from the sitting room. He must have been listening in. "That's how men like him are, strategic and efficient. You'll get used to it".
"I don't want to get used to it. I want at least some warmth. But he talks about everything as if it's a transaction". I muttered, swallowing hard.
"Sweetheart". Mom said gently. "You knew what you were walking into. Garrett is not romantic, he's practical. But he is also wealthy and respected. This marriage will secure the future of our business".
The future of our business, these words pressed against my chest like a weight.
"He called me just now". I admitted
"At this hour?" Mom asked, surprised.
"Yes. To fix the wedding date. He wants it in three weeks". I said, with a heavy sigh.
There was silence for sometime, dad spoke again. "Three weeks is perfect, no need to drag things out. Once it's done, it's done".
"It feels rushed, like I'm barely catching my breath". I voiced out.
"Lisse, nerves are normal, every bride feels this way before the wedding". Mom said, with a soft tone.
"But this isn't a normal wedding". I whispered.
Everywhere was silent for a moment, then dad broke in. "It doesn't have to be normal. It just has to be successful, and it will be".
Mom reached out for my hand. "Honestly, I know this isn't how you imagined things. We pushed you into this, I just want to make sure you don't regret it".
"I already do. But not because of the contract. I regret losing pieces of myself in the process. Right now, this is the path we are on. I just want to do it with my head held high". I said softly.
"Besides, three weeks will give us just enough time to prepare. I'll start on dress arrangement tomorrow. We'll make it beautiful for you, Elisse. Even if Garrett doesn't care for romance. We'll make sure you feel special". Mom tried to console me.
My throat tightened at mom's words. Feel special? Did she even have the right to wish for that, when this entire marriage was nothing but a contract?
I forced a small smile that no one could see. "Thank you mom".
You'll be fine my darling, this is the beginning of something important. Trust us. Mom said warmly.
I dropped the glass of water and headed to the sitting room. We all sat together for a while, discussing the guest list, the location, and the dress.
Mom reached out to a few friends of hers who were good at decorations and photography.
Dad offered to handle any press inquiries, shielding me as much as he could.
All through it all, I nodded with a fake smile. But inside of me, my mind wandered.
Three weeks, that was all the time I had left before my life shifted to something unrecognizable. Three weeks before I became Mrs Garrett knight, the wife of the man who didn't believe in love.
And yet part of me still felt like Elisse, sitting
on the edge of light that didn't quite fit. Waiting for a reason to believe it was mine.