57
As Bruce drove home, his mind was a jumbled mess of emotions. He couldn’t believe that Ava had chosen Andrew over him. He had thought that after everything they had been through, she would choose him. He had thought that their love was strong enough to overcome anything, but apparently he was wrong.
He drove on, lost in his thoughts and barely noticing the passing scenery. He felt like his world was crashing down around him. He couldn’t believe that he had lost Ava again. He didn’t know how he was going to move on from this.
When he finally arrived home, he sat in his car for a long time, unable to bring himself to go inside. He felt like he was in a daze, like everything around him was a blur. He didn’t know how to process the emotions he was feeling. He was hurt, angry, and heartbroken all at the same time.
He finally forced himself to get out of the car. Bruce walked into his living room, the weight of the world on his shoulders. His parents were there, sitting on the couch, with a lawyer by their side. They were both visibly angry, their expressions tight and their eyes cold.
Bruce knew what this was about, they had never approved of his relationship with Ava and they had made it clear that they wanted him to marry Nora, a woman they had chosen for him.
“Bruce, we need to talk,” his father said, his voice cold and unfeeling.
Bruce stood his ground, “I know what this is about, and I’m not going to marry Nora. I love Ava and I’m not going to let anyone come between us.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
His parents exchanged a look, and the lawyer stepped forward. “Bruce, we’re not here to talk about your love life. This is about your inheritance and the future of CT Wines.”
Bruce felt a knot form in his stomach, CT Wines was his life, it was his legacy. “What’s happened? Has something happened to the company?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
The lawyer cleared his throat, “The company is in deep financial trouble, and the only way to save it is if you marry Nora. Your parents are willing to overlook the debt if you agree to their terms.”
Bruce couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They were willing to sell his happiness for the sake of the company. He shook his head, “I can’t do that. I won’t marry Nora, and I won’t let you use my happiness as a bargaining chip.”
His parents stood up, their expressions furious. “You have three days to choose, Bruce. Ava or your inheritance. The choice is yours,” his father said, before turning and walking out of the house, followed closely by his mother and the lawyer.
Bruce felt his world crumbling around him. He couldn’t believe his own parents would do this to him.
Bruce sat alone in his living room, his thoughts swirling around him. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. His parents had given him an ultimatum, and now they were gone. He felt a deep sense of guilt and regret for not being able to make them happy, for choosing Ava over their wishes.
He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the coffee table and poured himself a glass. He took a large gulp, feeling the burning sensation as it went down his throat. He poured himself another and another, trying to numb the pain and the guilt he felt.
As the night went on, he drank more and more, the alcohol clouding his mind and making him forget about the events of the day. He hated himself for not being able to make his parents happy, for not being able to save them. He felt like he had failed them.
As he lay on the couch, drunken and miserable, Bruce continued to drink, his mind becoming increasingly muddled. He thought about Ava, about how much he loved her and how much he wished he could be with her. He thought about his parents and the ultimatum they had given him, and the guilt and regret he felt for not being able to make them happy.
He thought about his company and how it was slowly crumbling without his guidance. He knew he needed to pull himself out of this spiral of self-destruction, but he couldn’t find the strength to do so.
Nora sat in her living room with a sly grin on her face as she read the news about Andrew and Ava’s upcoming wedding. She had always known that Bruce loved Ava, but she had always hoped that she would be able to win him over in the end. Now that Ava was officially off the market, she knew that her chance had finally come.
She picked up her phone and dialed an unknown number with a sense of excitement. She had been planning this for a while, and now that the opportunity had presented itself, she was not going to let it slip away.
As the phone rang, Nora took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. She had always been a woman who went after what she wanted, and this was no exception.
The conversation on the phone was short and to the point. Nora made her intentions clear and the person on the other end agreed to her request. She ended the call with a sense of satisfaction and a feeling that everything was finally falling into place.
With a new sense of determination, Nora got dressed and headed out the door. She knew that it wouldn’t be easy to win over Bruce, but she was willing to do whatever it takes to make him hers.
As she walked down the street, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. This was her chance to finally have the man she had always wanted, and she was not going to let it slip away.
Nora knew that it was going to be a long and difficult journey, but she was more than ready for the challenge. She had always been a fighter and she was not going to back down now.
With a new sense of purpose, Nora set out to make Bruce hers, no matter what it takes.