Chapter 44

Zara's POV
After speaking with Ismaya about the strange phenomena affecting the women, I felt uncomfortable discussing the matter further with Dr. Leo, especially since I had had disturbing dreams about him being an alien on a mission to Earth. My curiosity and confusion were growing, and I knew it would be best to distance myself from him for the time being.
After work, I went straight home. When I got there, I was greeted by my father who looked worried. "Why didn't you come home last night?" he asked in a worried tone.
I tried to reassure him. "I stayed at my friend's house," I answered, trying to stay calm.
However, my father's reaction was unexpected. "You know you're getting married to Orion in a week! Why are you staying at a male friend's house?" his voice started to rise, looking angry and worried.
Hearing his chatter, my heart felt heavy. Marrying Orion was a decision I had made, but my suspicions and personal problems made me confused about my commitment. "Dad, I just need some time for myself. This is hard to explain, and I didn't do anything wrong," I said, trying to clear the air.
"I don't like this, Zara. We made a promise. Marrying Orion is a good step for your future," he said, looking frustrated.
Seeing my father's attitude, I felt the emotional pressure increase. There was a part of me that felt trapped between the obligation to meet my parents' expectations and my desire to live my life the way I wanted. Marrying Orion should have been a happy thing, but my feelings and the situation around me were getting more complicated. I no longer had feelings for Orion.
"I will consider marrying Orion, Dad. But I also don’t want to lose myself and my own happiness,” I replied, trying to be firm despite my turbulent mood.
My father was silent for a moment, probably contemplating my words. However, there was something I needed to understand—it might be better to be open about my feelings and accept that this journey of life would be full of challenges.
After our conversation, I went to my room, contemplating the choices I had to make. The next week was going to be short and potentially stressful. With everything that was going on, I needed to find a way to understand what my heart wanted and how it would affect my future.
I hoped I could find answers before I took any big steps. At that moment, I knew one thing—I couldn’t let the uncertainty and mystery take away my relationship with Orion, or even who I really was.
“You don’t have to consider anything. This is our family’s decision. There’s no way you can say no to this marriage,” my father said firmly.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my own feelings in the midst of this difficult situation. It was so hard to explain to my father that I no longer had feelings for Orion. The feelings that once existed were now eroded by neglect and the growing incompatibility.
I felt trapped in a plan that I never wanted. The tension between us only grew, and I could feel the emotions building up in my chest. Not just my father, but all the hopes of the family were served in the form of this marriage.
A part of me felt frustrated and wanted to tell the truth, but for some reason, the words seemed to be strangled in my throat. The tension of the situation made me upset.
When I looked away, my mother tried to coax me to lighten the mood. “Zara, love can grow over time. It doesn’t always have to be there from the start,” she said softly as if she wanted to convince me that this marriage was the right move.
“Mom, I respect your opinion, but that’s not how I feel. I don’t want to be trapped in a marriage that doesn’t make me happy. I need space to find my way in life,” I replied with all my heart, trying to speak calmly even though my heart was in turmoil.
“Zara, this is for your own good. Orion is a good man. “This relationship could be a new opportunity for you,” he said, but it only added to the pressure.
However, this lack of understanding made me feel even more alienated from my parents. They didn’t feel what I felt, didn’t know the doubts and fears that were nesting inside me.
“I need honesty, not just flattery to get me to accept this,” I said, adding a firm tone to my voice. “I don’t want to marry someone just because someone else is pressuring me. I want to have the future I want.”
The atmosphere in the house felt very urgent. Deep down, I wanted to stand my ground, but all the pressure from my family was starting to make me feel hopeless. The struggle was getting harder, and I didn’t know where to turn to find the answers I was looking for.
The only thing I could do was think for myself and try to find the right path. When things got too hard, I knew that determination and the courage to follow my heart’s desires were the most important steps I could take.
My mind was in a complete mess tonight, so I decided it was best to just get some rest. “Maybe tomorrow I can think more clearly,” I thought to myself. After a long night, there was no other way but to listen to my body’s pleas for rest.
The next day, when I arrived at the hospital, Ismaya immediately saw me and...
“What’s wrong with you, Zara? You look tired,” she asked, a worried expression on her face.
With a sigh, I replied, “I’m worried about my marriage.” The heaviness in my chest made it hard to share fully, but I knew Ismaya could be counted on to give me some wise insights.