Esther – POV
It has been three days since we arrived in Palestine…
And honestly, nothing really new has happened.
My parents go out a lot.
Meetings.
Visits.
So-called spontaneous appointments.
When I ask where they're going, they vaguely answer that they're going to see friends.
I don't believe them.
But I say nothing.
I spend a lot of time with Mina.
She's present, reassuring…
but even she sometimes seems distant.
What really disturbed me was the other day.
Mom left without warning.
She came back later… with my father.
Her eyes were red.
Swollen.
As if she had been crying.
I asked her what was wrong.
She just replied:
— Nothing, my darling. Everything is fine.
Then she looked at me.
With so much love.
And above all… so much worry.
It tightened my heart.
Since that day, she hardly lets me out of her sight.
I don't understand.
But something is wrong.
I can feel it.
And then there's Malik.
We talk a lot on the phone.
He keeps telling me he will talk to my father soon.
Even if it's risky.
Even if it's not the right moment.
He says he would do anything for me.
I cling to that.
I also think about the merger.
Why hasn't Mr. Grumpy given an answer yet?
Why this silence?
And sometimes… without meaning to…
I think about our closeness.
That strange tension.
I immediately chase those thoughts away.
There is no way I should think about him.
I don't have the right to.
It would be betraying Malik.
Soon, Malik will talk to my father.
And we'll find a solution.
We have to.
The next morning, I wake up with a heavy heart.
As if something is about to happen.
I hate that feeling.
Because every time I've felt it…
something always happened.
I tell myself I'm being superstitious.
So I ignore it.
I take a shower.
Do my skincare.
Get dressed simply: a white T-shirt, black pants.
I take my phone and go down to the living room.
When I arrive, I find Mom, Dad, and Mina sitting together.
Talking.
When they see me…
they suddenly stop.
— Are you talking about me? I ask with a nervous smile.
No one smiles.
My father speaks, serious:
— Esther, sit down.
I sit next to Mina.
My heart starts beating faster.
Mom takes a deep breath.
— Esther, my darling… it's time you know why we really came here.
Away from prying eyes.
Where no one can recognize us.
Silence.
— My darling… you are a woman now.
And a woman…
She stops.
Too long.
— It's time for you to get married.
The shock is brutal.
Married…?
I think I didn't hear correctly.
I look at my father, completely lost.
— Yes, he says calmly.
You are going to get married.
My breath catches.
— G-get married…
— Yes, my darling, Mom confirms.
Then my father continues, still calm:
— Your future husband is Tony Arrison.
The man you were in the meeting with.
Everything becomes blurry.
I need a second to understand.
Then the air leaves my lungs.
— What…?
Tony Arrison?
I suddenly understand.
The meeting.
The pretext.
Everything was calculated.
— So that meeting… was just a test?
A trap so we could meet?
— Yes, my father answers.
Tony is the son of Jon Arrison, my best friend.
The one I often talk to you about.
I clench my fists.
— So all of this was orchestrated…
Mina gently squeezes my hand.
— Don't say that, Esther. Everything we did, we did for you.
I look at her, devastated.
So she knew…
— So you knew…
And you didn't tell me?
My voice trembles.
My eyes burn.
I struggle to hold back my tears.
— How can you ask me to marry a man I don't know?
You're all so calm…
when you don't even know him!
Silence.
Then my father speaks:
— I know him, Esther.
We've crossed paths several times at galas and business dinners.
I didn't know he was Jon's son back then…
But I observed him.
His voice grows firmer.
— He is a righteous man.
Cold, perhaps.
But loyal.
And capable of protecting you.
Anger rises inside me.
— Protect me from what?!
From who?!
Why is no one telling me the truth?!
Dad continues, softer:
— We're talking about your future.
Tony has agreed to take you as his wife.
And I would be proud of you.
Mom adds quickly:
— But your opinion matters.
More than anything.
It's your decision.
I remain silent.
My heart in chaos.
— And him…
Did he know?
And… did he accept?
They exchange a look.
Dad answers:
— No, he didn't know before meeting you.
But yes…
he accepted.
He accepted.
Why?
Why accept an arranged marriage?
What's behind all this?
Mina murmurs:
— Think with your heart, Esther.
Not only with your mind.
I slowly stand up.
— I need to be alone.
I leave the living room, grab my bag and my phone.
I ask the guard not to follow me.
I stop a taxi.
— Tatch Hotel, please.
I didn't even warn him.
But he won't throw me out… right?
For now, I just need air.
To breathe.
Far from the chalet.
Asael – POV
When Esther leaves the chalet without looking back,
I say nothing.
I just watch her go.
Her straight back.
Her tense shoulders.
That way she walks when she's hurt but refuses to show it.
The door closes.
Silence falls.
A heavy silence.
A guilty one.
I hold back my tears.
No.
I must not cry.
Not now.
Alex runs a hand over his face.
I see in his eyes what he doesn't dare say.
— Are we making the right choice…? he finally whispers.
I close my eyes for a second.
Since when does protecting your child feel so much like betraying them?
— We no longer have the luxury of doubt, I say softly.
Not after what we received.
Alex looks at me.
And despite the years, despite the decisions we've made together,
I see raw fear in his eyes.
Then the memory comes back.
Violent.
Clear.
Flashback
Just two days ago.
I was alone in the living room.
Alex was with Jon, trying to convince Tony to accept.
Mina was in the kitchen.
Esther in her room, probably on the phone with Leila.
Someone knocked on the door.
I got up and opened it.
An envelope.
No stamp.
No name.
At first, I didn't panic.
I took it, thinking it was nothing important.
But reality caught up with me when I opened it.
Inside…
Photos.
Esther.
In front of the chalet.
In the car.
Walking with Mina.
In front of a shop.
In Palestine.
In front of Arrison Holdings.
Photos taken from afar.
Too close.
My heart stopped.
Then the letter.
Vile words.
Cruel.
Calculated hatred.
"Do you think moving her away will protect her?
She will never be safe.
She cannot escape her destiny.
Your daughter will lose her dignity, her refuge.
She will disgust herself.
She won't be able to look at herself in the mirror anymore.
She will become a shadow of herself.
And she will no longer want to live.
The countdown has begun."
I collapsed.
Sitting on the floor.
I have never been so afraid in my life.
Not for myself.
For her.
That envelope was worse than the others.
I said nothing.
I got up, took my bag, and left.
Straight to the Arrison chalet.
That night, everything accelerated.
A few hours later,
I was at Jon's.
I was still trembling.
Elisabeth opened the door, surprised.
— Asael? What a surprise… Alex said you wouldn't come today.
— Sorry… it couldn't wait anymore.
She frowned.
— Is there a problem?
— Where is Alex?
— In the living room. Go ahead, I'll join you.
I walked in.
They were playing chess.
When Alex saw me, he stood up abruptly.
I handed him the envelope.
He opened it.
Froze.
Jon joined us.
He saw the photos.
The anger in their eyes terrified me.
— Tell me Tony accepted, I whispered.
Please… tell me he said yes.
They didn't answer.
Then Tony walked in.
I didn't think.
I stepped toward him.
Not as a businesswoman.
Not as a strategist.
But as a mother.
— I didn't come to talk about money.
Nor about a merger.
Nor about reputation.
Jon handed him the envelope.
— I came to ask you to protect my daughter.
He looked at the photos.
The letter.
His jaw tightened.
His fists clenched.
— This marriage… is not an alliance.
It's a shield.
I looked straight into his eyes.
— I'm asking you to marry her.
Not out of obligation.
But because you're the only one they will never dare to touch.
The silence was icy.
Then Tony spoke.
— I accept.
His voice was calm.
But loaded.
— No one will harm her.
Not as long as I'm here.
I collapsed against him.
He held me.
Jon placed a hand on my shoulder.
— Thank you… I whispered.
At that exact moment,
I knew we had crossed a line.
And that nothing would ever be simple again.
Protecting Esther now has a price.
And someone, somewhere,
has just declared war.