As the name of the charming yet enigmatic professor rolled off Mr. Chamberlain's lips, my mind kicked into high gear, wheels turning with piqued curiosity. He proceeded to sing praises about the man's impressive accomplishments.

"We're quite fortunate to have him pioneering this effort," he declared with evident satisfaction. "His methods may be a tad unorthodox, but the results are simply exceptional. Preston Hahn's expertise will undoubtedly prove invaluable as we strive to establish truly effective treatment programs."

A slow, sly smile spread across my features as tantalizing possibilities began taking shape. This endeavor, it seemed, had just become infinitely more fascinating with his involvement.

"Well then, we must ensure Dr. Hahn has all the resources and support he requires," my father stated smoothly, favoring me with an approving paternal glance as his hand came to rest upon my shoulder. I responded with a bright, resolute nod.

"I'll make it my personal mission to guarantee his success," I reassured them, the words carrying an underlying promise that left no doubt as to my grim determination.

As the conversation shifted to other subjects, my Father politely excused us and discreetly guided me toward a quiet corner, away from everyone's earshot.

"Tahlia," he began, a conspiratorial twinkle in his eye as he addressed me. "I trust you'll be in attendance at the upcoming shareholders' meeting?"

"I'm glad to see you too, Daddy," I replied, unable to conceal the bitterness in my tone. After 21 years, you'd think I'd have grown accustomed to his perpetual dismissiveness, but no.

"And I'm delighted to see you're blossoming into quite the exquisite young woman, my dear," He said smoothly, clearly unruffled by my sharp rejoinder. A spark of intrigue flickered in my gaze as I tilted my head slightly, silently urging him to continue.

"Will the young Lockwood boy be joining us as well?" My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Allistair.

"What about it, Father?" I inquired, my curiosity mingling with a hint of apprehension.

Father adopted a tone of feigned nonchalance, though the undercurrent of heavy implication hung palpably between us. "I simply wonder how your relationship with the boy is faring these days. Any reasonable young man who insists he's madly in love wouldn't dream of missing an opportunity to parade an arm candy such as yourself."

The muscles in my jaw ticked with sudden resentment, though I fought to maintain my icy decorum. Lifting my chin defiantly, I met his pale emerald gaze head-on without flinching.

"Well, Father, the answer to that little enigma is quite simple," I stated in clipped tones. "I don't allow it." My voice was as stern as steel. "But I'm ever so glad you approve of my looks after all. I take after you." The last part came out heavily laced with sarcasm.

Father chuckled, unperturbed by my derisive commentary on his vanity and arrogance. "Sometimes I forget beneath that gorgeous exterior beats a heart as stubborn as my own."

My spine stiffened with indignant disdain, anxiety threatening to break my cool facade. "Father, if you have something to say, say it. Running around in circles is quite... unbecoming of you," I snapped.

Father's eyes glittered with the same ruthless edge I recognized from seeing it reflected back in my own gaze time and again over the years. When he spoke again, the weight of his pronouncement slammed into me like a physical blow, causing the world to pitch violently.

"Very well then - the time has come for you and Allistair to formalize your relationship. Bill Lockwood and I will formally announce your engagement at the shareholders' meeting in two weeks."

The ground seemed to open up and swallow me whole as the words hung between us, reverberating through my thunderstruck mind over and over. The ground seemed to swallow me. Engaged? To Allistair? Part of me thrilled at being tied to my beloved, but I felt terrified of such commitment before truly living.

Still, the sinking sensation I experienced, telling me this arrangement clearly hadn't been decided with our input, quickly doused any fleeting sense of elation. My throat constricted around the words as they rasped out with clear accusation.

"Why at the shareholders' meeting of all places? Why this sudden declaration now, when you know we've never discussed that level of commitment?"

"No need to concern yourself with particulars, my girl," Father dismissed, disregarding how this life-altering news might impact his only daughter.

"Father...why so sudden with this?" I rasped, barely managing to remain upright as the oxygen seemed to leech from the air around me. "We're still so young, with our whole lives ahead..."

"I'll explain my reasoning at another time," he brusquely rebuffed me with a negligent wave of his hand. "But for now - Oh, hello Mr. Bloomberg! So good to see you again..." An with that he was gone.

Of course, Father dear would only want to talk to me in private to drop a nuclear bomb in my lap. My heart dropped to my shoes as I stood rooted to the spot, jaw hanging open in shock. Engaged? The thought whirled through my mind, overwhelming me. I struggled to regain my composure, fighting against the dizzying sensation that engulfed my body.

"Tally? Tahlia babe, are you alright?"

A pair of silky white opera gloves suddenly appeared, snapping in front of me. The sound of a familiar voice snapped me back to reality. Teresa and Tamara were standing in front of me, concern etched on their faces.

"Let's find somewhere more private," I told them hastily.

They followed me to one of the VIP private sections, and I finally collapsed onto a couch. Their eyes were fixated on my every move. Tamara brought me a glass of champagne as Teresa took my hand, her worried expression conveying genuine concern.

After taking a fortifying gulp, I found my voice again - though the slightly unhinged tinge to it made me wince internally.

"Teresa, where's Allistair? I need to... He needs to know. Wait, does he know?" I struggled to catch my breath in between each word.

"Tahlia, you're scaring us, what's going on?" Tammy said in a gentle tone, rubbing soothing circles across my upper back.

Taking a shuddering breath, I squared my shoulders and met their concerned gazes head-on. For better or worse, at least they were here with me.

Forcing myself to remain composed, I revealed, "I'm to be engaged before the end of the month."

They stared at me in shock, processing the bombshell I'd just dropped. They immediately mirrored my own thunderstruck expression from earlier as the implication struck them as well.

"E-engaged? As in to be married?" Teresa stammered out, looking utterly perplexed. "That soon? But...how? Why?"

I explained, desperately wishing the traitorous champagne flute would stop trembling in my grip. "Apparently, our dads have decided to make this official announcement during the shareholders' meeting in two weeks' time."

"My dad agreed to this?" The horror written across Teresa's face mirrored the churning dread in the pit of my own stomach.

"Two weeks..." Tammy trailed off, sounding just as dumbstruck as the rest of us by this turn of events. "They can't just spring something so massively life-altering like that on you!"

I laughed bitterly. "That remains to be seen," I scoffed, tossing back the last swig of champagne in an unladylike fashion. "Allistair and I certainly haven't been included in these plans whatsoever. Hell, I don't even if Allistair has been informed."

Teresa gripped my hand supportively. "Do you...want this?"

It was a loaded question, one I suddenly realized would require some careful unpacking. At first, I felt defensive, thinking maybe she was doubting my love for him, but surely Teresa knew better than that.

As a Steelman heiress, I had been raised with a sense of uncompromising pride. The idea of having such a monumental life choice as marriage stripped away made my blood boil. I was not some domesticated debutante to be bartered off without a say. My mind, my spirit, my very soul rebelled against such an antiquated practice decided by two controlling patriarchs.

But even more than that, the thought of my love with Allistair being overshadowed by the expectations of others filled me with dread. What we shared went far beyond the greed-fueled motives of family legacies and merged fortunes. Ours was a bond formed of passion, trust, and an intimacy that allowed me to bare my soul completely.

With Allistair, I didn't have to be the flawless, unshakable socialite heir. I could be delightfully, imperfectly myself. His love was my shelter, a sanctuary where I could shed the tough exterior and allow the vulnerability I guarded so fiercely to unfurl. How could I allow that to be tarnished by the self-serving agendas of our fathers?

Our future was meant to be written by our hearts, our hopes, and our dreams—not rewritten by the demands of others. So despite the undoubted clash with our fathers that refusing would bring, I knew where I stood.

What Allistair and I shared was ours alone. I could not let them seize control of this too.

"Well, that's just it..." I admitted. "It isn't the idea of marrying Allistair that has me reeling - I love him, with every fiber of my being, had for years. But...I had envisioned us doing things on our own terms, at our own pace. Not like this!"

Tammy nodded slowly, her expression reflecting sympathy and understanding. "So what you're saying is, you want this eventual engagement...just not under these completely messed up circumstances?"

"Precisely," I breathed out, relieved they seemed to comprehend the root of my inner turmoil.

Tessa nodded sympathetically. "You have to talk to Allistair. Tonight, before the announcement."

She was right. In a burst of uncharacteristic assertive energy, I drained two more glasses of champagne and surged to my feet. "Let's find him. I'm not letting our fathers get away with this."

Flanked by Teresa and Tammy's supportive presence, I headed back into the ballroom, scanning for any sign of Allistair. Before we could get far, though, an unwelcome figure stepped directly into our path, effectively blocking our progress.

"Well, well...if it isn't Princess Tahlia gracing us mere peasants with her royal presence this evening," Robbie sneered, his tone and expression equal measures smarmy and malicious. "Going somewhere important, your highness?"

I opened my mouth, fully prepared to skewer the irritating prick like one of the canapes on his tray, but a sudden thought struck me. If I couldn't locate Allistair, perhaps Robbie could help – he always seemed to know everyone's business.

Forcing a smile worthy of an Oscar, I said, "Robbie darling, how lovely to see you again as well. Have you by any chance seen Allistair tonight?"

His grin widened with undisguised malice. "Why, missing your man already?"

I resisted the overwhelming urge to throat-punch the pathetic excuse for a human currently standing before me. "If you do happen to know where my boyfriend is, I'd appreciate you sharing that information. Immediately,"

"What's the matter, lover's spat?" Letting out a loud fake gasp, he said. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Hardly any of your business either way. So, have you seen him or not?" I dismissed smoothly.

Robbie let out a derisive bark of laughter at my flimsy attempts at politeness, clearly seeing right through them. "Oh your highness, did daddy finally kick his little princess off her gilded pedestal? Well, seeing as you asked so very nicely -"

That was the final straw for my nearly exhausted temper. Abandoning all pretenses, I leaned in close to ensure he wouldn't miss a single word.

"If you don't stop fooling around and tell me where the hell Allistair is this instant, I'll make certain you never attend another society event in this country, Haysmith."

The gravity in my tone seemed to finally penetrate Robbie's thick skull, his slimy smile faltering slightly as he inclined his head in a slightly mocking bow. "As you wish, your majesty - Last I saw, he was out on one of the second-floor balconies..."

My feet started moving as I began to say, "Than-" but he cut me off. "With my date."

WHAT!?