Refusing To Be His Perfect Replica, I Choose The Arranged Marriag by BlueMoone

Chapter 5

The transatlantic flight carried me eastward, the sun painting ever changing portraits outside my window. Brilliant azure skies gave way to rolling clouds tinged with gold, a canvas of nature’s finest work

Inspiration struck suddenly, and I pulled out my sketchpad, capturing the ethereal play of light in a n jewelry design.

By the time I finished, darkness had claimed the sky.

There was something magical about crossing the Atlantic – a time traveler’s journey where I left New York on the morning of the 27th only to land in London on the night of the 26th.

Through the arrivals gate, I spotted them immediately – Mum, Dad, and William standing in a row,

beaming and waving like excited children at a parade.

The sight of them made my heart squeeze.

I ran to them, wheeling designer luggage forgotten as I fell into Mum’s embrace, breathing in her familiar perfume – Chanel No. 5, just as she’d worn all my life.

-Eight years ago, I’d defied their wishes and moved to New York for university, chasing what I’d thought

was love.

disapproved, they’d let me go, trusting me

had been punctuated by brief Christmas visits, a daughter’s absence marked by empty chairs at Sunday roasts and missed family celebrations.

and I pulled back from Mum’s

“Mum, I’m starving.”

home, darling.” She cupped my face, her eyes soft with maternal concern. “Tll

“Perfect.”

parents as we walked to the car

terminal.

Chapter 5

ocean in his Manhattan penthouse,

Italian marble floor, repeatedly calling a number he knew

my birthday – August 27th. This morning, the alert had woken him

to Whole Foods, to buy ingredients for the birthday dinner he’d

planned.

Cartier bracelet he’d ordered months ago was

given

couldn’t understand it. I’d always been the reasonable one why

spending half the day restlessly checking his phone at Oriana’s,

like he’d walked into a

had reverted to its pre–Aveline state- stark, minimalist, cold.