Chapter 5 The Argument

Alicia Davenport The drive home felt like a blur. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my mind replaying Daniel’s words over and over again. “They threatened to destroy everything I care about, Alicia. I had no choice.” My own parents had threatened him. They had used their power and influence to force the man I love to walk away from me. How could they? How could they think they had the right to decide who I could or couldn’t be with? By the time I pulled up to my house, fury was burning inside me like a raging fire. I slammed the car door shut and stormed up the front steps. The grand, towering mansion that once felt like home now felt like a cage. A place where power dictated love. I pushed the heavy door open with force, not caring if the noise startled anyone inside. The moment I stepped in, the smell of freshly cooked dinner filled the air, but it did nothing to calm me. I headed straight for the dining room, where my parents always had their dinner at this hour. Sure enough, my mother and father were seated at the long, elegant table, enjoying a lavish meal. Crystal glasses of wine reflected the golden chandelier light, and the delicate clinking of silverware echoed in the room. My mother looked up and smiled when she saw me. “Oh, Alicia, dear, you’re home early—” “Save it,” I snapped, cutting her off. “Tell me what you said to Daniel.” The room fell silent. My father’s expression hardened, and my mother set down her fork, her smile faltering. “Excuse me?” she said, her tone calm but laced with warning. “You heard me.” My voice shook with anger. “What exactly did you say to him? What threats did you make?” My father took a slow sip of his wine before answering. “Alicia, I don’t appreciate being spoken to like this.” “And I don’t appreciate you trying to ruin my relationship!” I shot back. “You went behind my back and threatened the man I love. Do you have any idea how cruel that is?” My mother let out a soft sigh and placed a hand over mine, as if that would calm me. “Sweetheart, we did what was best for you.” “Best for me?” I pulled my hand away, glaring at her. “You think breaking my heart is what’s best for me? My father finally set his glass down and leaned forward. “Alicia, Daniel is not the right man for you. He has no future, no status. You are the heir to Davenport Architects. Do you think you can just live an ordinary life with someone like him?” I scoffed. “So this is about status? Money?” My mother nodded slightly. “It’s about security, Alicia. You have a duty to uphold. A man like Daniel will never be able to support you in the way you deserve.” I pushed my chair back so hard it screeched against the marble floor. “I don’t need him to support me! I love him because of who he is, not because of his wealth or power!” My father shook his head. “Love fades, Alicia. Reality doesn’t. Do you think your lifestyle is something Daniel can provide for you? What happens when the pressure becomes too much for him? When you realize he cannot stand by your side as an equal?” I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger rising inside me. “And what gives you the right to threaten him? To tell him you’d destroy his life if he didn’t leave me?” My mother pursed her lips, as if my words were nothing more than childish complaints. “We only did what was necessary. Daniel understood. He knows his place, even if you refuse to see it.” “His place?” I repeated, my voice shaking. “He is not beneath me. He is not less than me. And if you think I’ll just accept this, you’re wrong.” My father exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his tone. “Alicia, we have given you everything. The best education, the best opportunities, the best life. And now you want to throw it all away for some ordinary man?” I looked him straight in the eye. I never asked for any of this if it meant giving up the person I love.” Silence. For the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in my mother’s expression. I swallowed hard, steadying my voice. “I’m not some asset for you to control. I make my own choices. And I choose him.” My father stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “You will not speak to us like this, Alicia.” “I will speak to you however I want,” I shot back. “Because I am done letting you manipulate my life.” My mother reached for me again. “Alicia, sweetheart—” “No,” I interrupted. “You don’t get to act like you care about my happiness when you did everything in your power to destroy it.” I turned toward my father, my chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. “You think Daniel isn’t good enough for me? You think he’s weak because he doesn’t come from money?” I laughed bitterly. “Then you clearly don’t know what true strength looks like.” I saw something shift in my mother’s eyes—guilt, maybe? But my father’s expression remained cold. I shook my head. “I thought I could reason with you. But I see now that you’ll never change. And if you think you can control me, you’re wrong. I am not giving him up. No matter what you do.” “Alicia,” my mother pleaded, her voice softer now. “Think about what you’re saying.” “I have,” I said firmly. “And if you can’t accept my decision, then maybe I don’t belong here anymore.” My father’s jaw clenched. “You wouldn’t dare.” I stared at him, my heart hammering. “Watch me.” Without another word, I turned and stormed out of the dining room. I could hear my mother calling after me, but I ignored her. I grabbed my bag and keys, my hands trembling as I opened the front door. I needed air. I needed space. I needed to see Daniel. Because now, there was no doubt in my mind—he was worth fighting for. And I would fight. Even if it meant walking away from everything I had ever known. ~~~ My heart was still racing from the argument with my parents, and my mind buzzed with anger and frustration. They had no right to interfere in my life like this. They had no right to decide who I could love. I didn't have a real destination in mind, but deep down, I knew where I wanted to go. The lake. Our lake. It was where Daniel and I always went when we wanted to escape from the world. A quiet place where we could just be ourselves, away from expectations and responsibilities. Part of me hoped—no, needed—to see him there. To reassure myself that everything would be okay. That we could fight this together. But as I pulled up near the lake, I saw that I wasn’t alone. A figure sat on the bench facing the water, his posture relaxed, as if he had all the time in the world. The soft glow of the nearby streetlamp cast a faint light on his profile. I frowned, my heart sinking with disappointment when I realized it wasn’t Daniel. “What are you doing here?”