~ Kendall’s POV~

“What do you mean I’m marrying Tyler Rowland?” I exclaimed, rising from the couch with a frown.

My dad shouted back, “How dare you raise your voice at me, Kendall?”

My heart sank in disbelief, as if the ground had been pulled out from under me, leaving a tight knot in my chest while my mind scrambled to understand.

“What are you saying, Dad?” I asked, still in shock.

Tyler and I had known each other since childhood; I hated hanging out with him, but our moms were best friends, so I had no choice.

“Why do you want to ruin my life?” I asked softly, searching his face for an answer.

“I’m not ruining your life, Kendall; I’m saving it. The company is bankrupt, and marrying the Rowlands is our only option,” he replied coldly.

My hands clenched in anger as my stomach twisted, but all I could manage was a strained whisper. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been trying to keep the company afloat, but we’re in debt and have lost all our investors. Merging with Rowland Industries is the only way to save it,” he explained.

My mind went blank, then crashed under a wave of anger and betrayal, leaving me breathless with a cold, hollow ache.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell me?” My voice trembled.

“I thought I could save it, but I can’t. You need to protect our legacy,” he said calmly, placing his hands on my shoulders.

Since childhood, my dad had taught me to protect Keshigan Industries, our legacy—but not at the cost of my happiness.

“No, there has to be another way to save the company. I cannot marry Tyler Rowland! What about my life?” I exclaimed.

“You won’t have a life if you don’t marry him!” my dad shouted.

“I hate Tyler! I won’t do this,” I blurted out.

“Stop this, Kendall. You and Tyler are best friends—you’ll build a relationship. You have a lifetime together,” he replied, his expression cold and stern.

A wave of disbelief hit me. I couldn’t believe my father was saying those words to me.

“So, that’s it? You’re selling me off to save the company?” My voice trembled, caught between a bitter laugh and a sob. “Am I just a bargaining chip? Does my happiness mean nothing to you?”

I felt my breath quicken. “I know things are bad, but forcing me to marry someone I can’t stand just to protect the company is unacceptable!”

I paused, shaking my head as if trying to wake up from a bad dream. “Knowing I’m in love with Conrad, you’re asking me to sacrifice my life? I won’t, Dad!” I said, standing my ground.

For a moment, I felt I could break free from this nightmare, but then he calmly stated, “He’s been cheating on you.”

“What? Who?” I asked, confused.

“A few months ago, I hired a private investigator to look into Conrad because I had my doubts about him. Unfortunately, I discovered that he’s been cheating on you with his secretary,” he said, pulling out pictures and tossing them at me.

The words hit me like a slap. As I bent down to see the pictures, my strength drained. Wiping my eyes, I saw it was Conrad.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head, refusing to believe it.

I searched his face, hoping for a hint of denial, but found only the cold truth. Tears blurred my vision as I felt myself crumble.

“I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulders. “You need to understand that we’re in a serious mess, but your marriage to Tyler is what will save our legacy.” He turned and walked away, leaving me speechless.

My knees weakened, my heart raced, and I collapsed to the ground, the pictures in hand, struggling to understand why Conrad would cheat on me.

“Why would Conrad do this? I thought he loved me,” I said, tears continuing to roll down my face.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I stood up slowly, sniffing back tears, and saw it was Sophie—my best friend.

“Hey, girl?” she spoke.

“Sophie, I don’t know what to do!” I cried.

“Wait! Ken, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” she asked.

“My dad wants me to marry Tyler, and Conrad… he…” I stammered.

“I can’t understand what you’re saying. Are you home?” she responded.

“Yes,” I said, my voice trembling.

“I’m coming over; just calm down,” she said.

Waiting for Sophie, I felt a whirlwind of anger and heartbreak over my arranged marriage and Conrad’s betrayal. I called Conrad endlessly, hoping for a response, until a knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts, bringing relief and anxiety. I opened it, hoping for clarity.

“Hey, Sophie,” I said, embracing her.

She frowned, studying me. “You look like hell. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, my heart pounding. “I… I’m getting married.”

“What? To who?”

“It’s an arranged marriage to Tyler,” I whispered. “My dad is forcing me to save the company from bankruptcy.”

“Tyler Rowland? You’re kidding, right?”

“I wish I was. And there’s more,” I said, explaining about Conrad cheating.

Her expression shifted from shock to fierce anger. “Are you kidding? They’re forcing you into this marriage, and he was cheating on you?”

I nodded, wiping away a tear. “Yeah.”

“First of all, screw your dad for this. And second, if he cheated, he’s trash—you’re better off without him.”

“It still hurts, and I feel trapped,” I replied.

“Maybe marrying Tyler isn’t such a bad idea,” she said sarcastically.

“Please don’t,” I urged.

“Okay, you’re not trapped tonight; Conrad will pay, but I know how to make you feel better. We’ll figure it out tomorrow,” she said with a mischievous grin.

Her words made me feel better, like I wasn’t alone in this. I smiled, hugging her tightly.

“Sophie, I am not partying tonight!” I stated, staring at her.

Sophie, the life of the party, eagerly insisted, “Come on, I know you’ll feel better,” as she dragged me to the car.

“Fine,” I said.

Approaching the club, excitement mingled with apprehension, but once inside, I was swept up in the vibrant energy, with loud music and dim lights perfect for drowning out my thoughts.

“Two martinis, please,” Sophie said as she placed our drink order.

“Cheers,” the bartender said, handing us our drinks.

I took a sip, letting the burn settle in my throat to numb everything.

“What’s a girl like you doing here alone?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

I turned to see a tall guy with an athletic build, tousled dark hair, and mischievous hazel eyes, wearing a fitted leather jacket over a white T-shirt and dark jeans.

“Just having a drink,” I said, hoping he’d take the hint, but he replied, “How about I keep you company?”

Before I could respond, Sophie interjected, “She’s not interested,” and he hesitated before slinking away.

“What a jerk,” Sophie said, turning to me.

“Okay, that’s it—we’re dancing!” She grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet.

“Sophie, no,” I hesitated.

“You look like it’s your burial, so we’re dancing. No choice,” she insisted.

“Okay.”

She led me to the dance floor, and I took a deep breath, hoping to spark some joy amid the turmoil. As we danced, I started to feel better.

“Sophie, I need a drink!” I shouted over the music.

“Okay, let’s go!” she replied, still dancing.

“No, I’ll go alone,” I insisted.

I made my way to the bar and suddenly bumped into someone.

“Oh, sorry,” a familiar voice said. I looked up, ready to apologize, but the words caught in my throat.

“Hell, no,” I muttered.