Don’t Choose Me

Caleb glanced up at me, his eyes churning with intense emotions I couldn't comprehend. But in the end, like Jasper, he lowered his head.

"I... I can't marry Juliet either. I know I'm deeply indebted to the Henson family, and I know how wonderful she is. But... we just can't be together."

He, too, seemed to be struggling with some unspeakable burden, his mouth opening and closing several times without a sound.

Faced with my parents' suspicious gazes, he seemed at a loss. Suddenly, he steeled himself and bolted from the banquet hall.

"I know this will hurt you and Juliet, but I can't marry her. I absolutely can't. If you force me, I swear I'll take my own life to prove it!"

He jumped into a sports car, the engine roaring to life. Just beyond the estate lay cliffs that plunged to the sea below. If he drove off, there would be no chance of survival.

Caleb's car had already reached the edge of the lawn. If the estate's security team hadn't reacted in time, blocking his path with their vehicles, he would have plunged to his death.

Such a drastic reaction startled everyone. My parents no longer dared to mention the wedding and rushed forward to calm him down.

"Caleb, what are you doing? This is supposed to be a celebration, not a funeral! You both swore you'd marry no one but Juliet! What... what on earth is happening!"

My father let out a heavy sigh. This man, who had navigated the business world for half his life without so much as frowning, now seemed to have aged decades in an instant.

Looking at the anguished Jasper and the red-eyed Caleb, my father's gaze finally settled on me.

"Did Juliet do something to hurt you? Are you being so hesitant because you're trying to protect her? Or are you being coerced, facing some difficulty you can't speak of? We're a family. If that's the case, you need to tell us so we can figure out a solution together!"

Though Jasper and Caleb were originally orphans my father sponsored, after so many years, we had become a real family. To him, they weren't just potential sons-in-law; they were the sons he never had.

He had long ago declared in his will that after my wedding, the other man would receive a large portion of company shares. The three of us would manage the business together, remaining a family forever. In addition, my father had added a supplementary clause: if anything were to happen to me, all family assets would be donated to charity.

Whether for emotional or financial reasons, they had no motive to harm me. That's why I couldn't figure it out. What could possibly drive them to give up billions in assets, to commit murder, and to treat me with such viciousness?

It wasn't just me who couldn't make sense of it; my parents were also burning with anxiety.

"Juliet's 25th birthday is in three days. With you two acting like this... we can't just pull someone off the street for her to marry. This is her entire life we're talking about!" my mother said, wiping away her tears.

The women of our family must marry by the age of 25. It was a family rule.

My father tried one last time, but no matter how he pressed, Jasper and Caleb remained silent. I was even more bewildered, unable to utter a single word.

The stalemate lasted for a long time before my father's breathing suddenly became ragged. He had a history of heart problems, and his doctor had warned him against any strong emotional distress.

He pointed a finger at the three of us and said bitterly, "You're all trying to be the death of me!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he collapsed backward.

"Dad!"

We could no longer care about anything else. In a flurry of motion, we rushed my father to the hospital. Just as the door to the VIP room closed, Jasper suddenly grabbed my hand.