"Don't you dare mention your mother!"
"Lucas, Isabel, please calm down," Nathan's mom says. I'm fuming.
"You know, Izy, when we talked to your parents about our tradition, they were surprised. But they knew that Nathan would be your safe haven, your rock, and so it turned out. Growing up together, your bond strengthened more and more. "
"Yes, we had a very unique bond. But we were children!"
"The bond is still there, Izy, I know it. It can be seen from your complicity, from the way you look at each other.”
"You decided our future 24 years ago! It's outrageous! Don't you think that the choice of whom we want to spend our lives with is up to us? Didn't you think that perhaps we would have other plans? We would get to know more, maybe we would even go out together, but all this wasn’t possible because you sent us away, separating us." I get up. I can’t stay still. Nathan stands there with his eyes fixed, saying nothing.
"We had to do it. It was right."
"Right for whom, Mrs. Lauren?"
"For you two!"
"For us? Are you kidding? Nathan was the only sure thing I had in this world and you snatched it from me! So tell me, where is the justice in making me feel alone and abandoned by everyone?"
"That's enough now, Isabel!"
"No, it's not. Because you did worse, Dad! After Mom died, you isolated yourself in your perfect world, sending me away!"
"We did things only in your best interest..."
"Oh, please! Enough of this fake goodness! You did the convenient thing, getting rid of us, and now not only are you forcing us to come home but you’re also forcing us to get married! It's unbelievable!"
"Isabel Barlow, I'm running out of patience!"
"Me too, Dad. You've already planned my life so far, and I don't think I've ever let you down. Now I find out you've also decided for my future, too. You've known this for 24 years, and you're just telling me now? If you’ll excuse me, I need some air."
"Isabel Barlow, come back here!"
I don't even turn around. I go to the terrace. I need to calm down, as I want to scream.What did I do to deserve this?
I'm nervous. I walk back and forth, trying not to cry. I feel chills, and Nate covers me with his jacket.
"How long have you been out here?"
"I followed you. I'm sorry, I just wanted to escape from that room."
"This is madness! Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because they wouldn't have changed their minds. It's a deep-rooted and ancient tradition. My parents, my parents' parents, and so on got married like this. And if your father accepted it, that means the tradition also applies to your family."
"I can’t believe it." I’m furious. My eyes are full of tears.
"Nate ... could you take me home?"
"Sure. Let me grab the car keys and the phone." I nod as he goes inside the house.
I look at the duke’s garden from the terrace, pulling Nate’s jacket around me. His scent slowly calms me.
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry."
"Alice...” I hug her. She has always been the sweetest nanny in the world—our secret refuge.
"You know, in many countries, they still use these traditions. It’s said that a husband is a person who doubles your joys and halves your pain. Nathan is a very good boy."
