Amara's POV;
I heard a knock on the door after taking a bath, so I went to open it. Agnes, our maid, was grinning at me. She was wearing my identical long blue gown. She resembled me in height and had fair skin. I am 24-year-old. It was already nighttime on December 31. The time was approximately 9 p.m. We were anticipating the start of the crossover night festivities. I had just gotten my hair dried from my bath and pulled it up into a bun. "Agnes, what do you want?" I asked, glancing at Agnes's face. "Good evening, Amara," she said, giving me a smile in return. "Your father sent you downstairs, if you have a moment. " "But we have just cleared the dining room of our dinner. What more does my dad want to say to me?' I said, "I do not feel like participating in the New Year's celebration. Agnes told me, "I do not know, but your dad and mom are downstairs, and everyone has gone outside to wait, getting ready for the fireworks." "All right, let Dad know that I will be downstairs shortly. I told Agnes, "Let me use the restroom; I am coming," and she turned to walk out of the hallway. With a sigh, I returned to my bathroom to use the restroom. I then went downstairs to visit my father in his massive white mansion's living room. Our duplex mansion, encircled by gardens and trees, is situated in a rural area. There, my father is akin to a chief and is interested in agricultural farm produce. At home, I practically feel like a princess. My people adore me and my mother is the object of their adoration because she instilled in me the values of kindness and helping those around us. My parents only have me as a child, though. I am not married, and my parents are not pressuring me to get hitched. A couple of bachelors have come to ask for my hand in marriage, but my father is very optimistic. Even Charles Wilfred, my crush, but my dad turned him down. My mother told me that my father could not just throw me away to any male suitor who would likely treat me badly down the road; I am not sure why he did it, but he wanted the best for me. Sensing that, I let out a sigh and went downstairs to the living room in search of my parents. My aunts and cousins were crammed into the guest rooms because we had so many visitors. Agnes told me, "Amara, your dad requested that you meet him in his office," as soon as I entered the living room from the kitchen. "All right," I replied, and I went to visit my father in his home office. I had a sneaking suspicion that my father was keeping something from me in order to prevent any of our relatives from overhearing us. After knocking softly at my father's home office, I heard him say, "Come inside," in a soothing voice. There were two guest seats and a set of four blue couches in the massive office, so I softly pushed open the door. My father beamed at me as he said, "Come, Amara, have your seat before the fireworks begin." My parents were seated side by side on a blue couch. "We sent for you because your mother and I wanted to talk to you about something very important." "All right, Dad." I went into the office and soon was sitting across from my parents on another blue couch. My dad was dressed in white, and my mother was wearing a red nightgown. I could see the trousers because he was seated on the same blue couch as my mother. My father grinned and said, "Amara, The time has come for your mother and me to tell you about the arrangement we have with the Briggs family. We have been withholding it from you, but it is time to let you know what we decided. You must be acquainted with my friend Mr. Joshua Briggs, though." "Indeed, dad. I am acquainted with him; he occasionally comes to town from the city." I answered my dad with a smile. "Excellent." Well, my dad told me, "you are getting married to his only son, Darlington Briggs, and you are moving to the city tomorrow to live with him." "What?" "I do not understand, dad. When did I tie the knot with the son of your friend? I do not recall ever being married to a man; did I just lose my memory?" Expecting an explanation, I looked in disbelief at my parents. For example, I have been wanting to settle down and start a family of my own, but how did I get married without realizing it? My mother smiled at me with understanding, and my father sighed. "I had an agreement with Mr. Joshua Briggs a long time ago. My father clarified, "You are not legally married to Darlington Briggs, but you will need to move to the city and live with him to see if you two can get along and become a real couple. "Dad, right now, I do not understand you or what you are saying. Do you mean that I will just go see them and then head back home, or am I already married to the guy you claim is the son of your closest friend? Will I be treating him in the same way that married couples do?" I wanted to know my father better, so I asked for more explanation. "Amara," he sighed and said, "As I previously stated, you are customarily married to Darlington Briggs, and when you do arrive at their home tomorrow, you should treat him with respect. Darlington's father, Mr. Joshua Briggs, has covered all the costs for his son to marry you, so you do not need to worry about anything. Thus, you are Darlington Briggs' conventional wife, and he is your husband." "The only distinction is that you did not wear a wedding gown to walk down the aisle with Darlington, nor did he come down here by himself to marry you. However, according to our custom, you are his wife," my father underlined. "Dad, I can not get married to someone I do not love. I am unable to travel to the city to be with him. Mother? I wanted to know my mother's opinion on all these absurd arrangements, so I studied her face. With a sigh, my mother said, "Amara, please settle down first." It is in your best interest." "How, Mom? I am not going to move to the city to live with a stranger. Dad, I do not like how busy people's lives are in the city. I begged my father to change his mind, saying, "I want to be here, where there is no noise, the wild lifestyle, and face-paced city life." "Well, I understand your grievance, my dear daughter, but you are heading to the city tomorrow because I have faith in Mr. Joshua Briggs' son to look after you," my father concluded.Amara's POV; "I would rather not go to the city, Dad. I object, saying, 'I do not want to marry a city man." My eyes are welling up with tears. My dad got up off the blue sofa. Unlike my mother and me, who have fair skin, he is a very tall man with a dark complexion. With a sigh, my dad said, "Amara, We do not deny you the right to become our daughter. Although you have to start your own life and family in order to provide your mother and me with grandchildren, you will always be our daughter. We also do not want you to leave, but we can not trust anyone here to take care of you, so your mother and I came to the decision that you should move to the city, where you will be truly loved rather than by avaricious people who might be acting like you to win our favor." "Daddy!" My mother walked over to meet me as I started crying uncontrollably and petted me, telling me it was alright. "Crying is not necessary. I can guarantee you that the Briggs are a decent family, and I was frie
Amara's POV; We entered my enormous bedroom, and my mom came with me to start packing some of my belongings. She reminded me that the Briggs family was well-off and that I did not need to worry about organizing and packing everything I owned, so she did not want me to carry all my loads. By one in the morning, we had packed every box, and my mom was worn out. "I have to go back to my room to meet your father," she said, stretching and yawning. "Good night, my dear princess." "All right, Mom, but this marriage still does not make me happy. Could you please talk to my father about this again?" My mother was the one I asked. My blue-shaded eyes, which shimmer with hope at her agreement, are fixed on her face. "No, Amara. I want to marry you, so that I can have a grandchild. I am unable to discuss this with your father once more.My mother comforted me, "Do not worry, I will be calling you occasionally to see how you are doing when you get to the city." Tears welled up in my eyes.
Amara's POV My mother arrived in my bedroom wearing a long white nightgown and looking stunning. She entered my room with Agnes, who gave me a warm greeting, and she had a fresh rose scent. "Amara, good morning. I brought bread and tea for you." "I appreciate it," I said to Agnes, taking the teacup out of her grasp. I approach my room's chair and take a seat. From there, I sip my tea and eat the bread that goes with it. "Hurry up," my mother said as she hurried back to meet me after walking to look out the window. "Why did not you make your face since the driver is already here? You should look great when you finally meet your spouse because you know you will see him in the city." I finished my tea and pouted my pink lips. "Agnes, get me my makeup box from my room," my mother said, understanding that I did not want to win over the potential husband. "No, Mom. That will not be necessary. I do not have to pretend in front of my husband. As a result, I am totally content with the way
Amara's POV; "Ah!!" I nearly caused the driver to have an accident when I screamed. After I saw my spouse's face, I was completely taken aback. "My lady, what is the problem? Are things going well for you?" Mr. Timothy questioned me, looking warily through the rearview mirror of his car as he slowed down. I apologized and said tremblingly, "You can keep driving; I was just shocked to see my husband's face online." Mr. Timothy gave an understandable smile, and I made a mental note to never cry out so loudly again. I kept staring into the face of the man who was going to become my husband as the drive resumed. Darlington Briggs. Before I entered the university, I had seen him. I stepped on him by accident when we crossed paths because I was walking with my friend Esther Peters at the time. Esther was an attractive and charming actress who was always observing the wealthy and attractive men attending the university. I questioned how a wealthy girl like Esther Peters, who did not c
Darlington's POV; I awoke in my bedroom to a brand-new day beginning. Today is New Year's Day. I could hardly contain my excitement as I could not wait to go downstairs and tell my parents that I was determined to tie the knot with Jenna Colton this year. I have been in love with Jenna for five years now. Since Bruce was my best friend in school, I got to know her through her older brother. We both reside in the center of the city and took the same business course. Here, the Colton family was also prominent and well-off. Jenna has had success in her acting career. She has been the face of numerous brands. Even though I was aware that she had undergone numerous surgeries and operations to improve her appearance, I still adore her. I am incredibly in love with Jenna, and I am not sad I asked her to marry me last weekend. In addition to not responding to my post, my father has vanished from the internet since the announcement of my engagement to Jenna went viral. To ensure he woul
Darlington's POV I got up from the black couch right away and gave my father a shocked look. "Dad, whose wife?" In an attempt to be certain, I asked my father one more time. This time, he got up and declared, "Darlington, I have told you that you cannot marry Jenna." "Because Amara is a well-mannered young lady and not a corrupt young woman like Jenna Colton, I married my best friend's daughter for you." "Dad. It is unbelievable that you would say this. It will be me, not you, who gets to marry Jenna!" "Why do you think you have the authority to dictate how I live my life and force a woman on me in order to get married?" "Darlington, that is enough! You cannot treat me disrespectfully in this house. You see what an old person sees from a sitting position; you cannot see it even if you climb the tallest tree. Jenna would not be a suitable wife for you because she is a dishonest person. Look at her with her body, do you believe she will want to become a parent and settle down with yo
Darlington's POV My father ascended the stairs and disappeared from our line of sight, leaving us behind. "Mum," I said, looking back at her as I tried to absorb the information my father had just given me about my upcoming marriage, processing it all like a signed contract. "Darlington, calm down." My mother said, "You will not marry any Amara Nicholas, not while I am here." My younger sister, Samara laughed aloud, which made me glare at her. "Samara, what is so funny?" She was asked by my mother before I could. "You are laughing shamelessly at your older brother, right?" Mom ask. "Just because your father did not marry you off like that, right?" "Mother, no." Samara coughed and said, "Mom, I am sorry," as our mother gave her a disapproving look. "However, this is hilarious. How is it that Father married Darlington without his knowledge or consent, and now that he is married, his wife is on her way here? Laugh out loud!" "Samara!!" Samara ran ahead to the living room's
Darlington's POV; I got up from the dining chair and started to leave our family's home after finishing my breakfast with my mother and sister. "Darlington, where are you heading next?" With a worried expression, my mother questioned me. "Mom, I am just going out; I will be back soon," I reassured her. "All right, my son."However, do you believe that keeping Jenna in the dark is the best course of action? Let me take care of things for you; she might overreact. Later on, you can inform her about your father's intention to force you into wedlocking a destitute person." My sigh was deep. "Okay, mother. For now, I feel like leaving this house, but I will not tell Jenna about it." With a hint of frustration, I said, "I do not want to be here when that woman arrives." "That is alright." My mother reassured me, "Just be fine out there." "Yes, Mom. I will be alright; I am not a child." I gave my mother a hug and said, "Take care." Even though Samara and she are my family, I care abou