From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 465

Chapter 465

Roman might be lying unconscious in a hospital bed, but at least we

had chosen each other freely. At least no one had forced us. No

contracts. No bloodline obligations. The thought of being trapped

like that–owned before even understanding what ownership meant-

made my skin crawl in disgust.

“My father says I must give Arthur children immediately when we’re

married. Sons.” River continued. “Lots of them. Daughters don’t

matter. He says Arthur is meant to follow in his father’s footsteps.”

Disgust surged through me so fast it made my head spin.

“What?” I said sharply. “That’s revolting. This isn’t the dark ages. And

saying that to his own daughter?” I rubbed my arms, goosebumps

rising. “Your father is sick. Truly sick. He’s a disgusting man. And I’m

not sorry for saying that to you.”

Her lips twitched. A sad little smile.

“Can’t you tell Arthur’s father?” I pressed. “Just try. Maybe he’ll

listen. Maybe he’ll call it off.”

River shook her head slowly. Then she wiped at her eyes, as though

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Chapter 465

she were embarrassed by the tears gathering there. “He’s worse,” she

said. “Much worse.”

My breath caught.

“Arthur wants nothing to do with politics nor the dirty games

involved. He hates it but his father is forcing him into it.” She paused.

“Arthur loves animals. He wants to be a veterinarian. That’s the only

thing that ever made him genuinely happy.”

I felt a flicker of warmth at that. A softness.

Then she shattered it.

“When his father found out about that,” she said quietly, “he got rid

of Arthur’s pets.”

I frowned. “Got rid of…?”

“I don’t mean he sent them to a shelter.”

The air left my lungs. “Oh my God,” I whispered.

River nodded once. “That was the lesson. That softness is punished.

That love is a weakness.”

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I didn’t trust myself to speak.

“To make it worse,” she continued, “the wedding hangs over us like an

axe. We don’t know when it’ll happen. Tomorrow. Next month. Next

year. Our fathers will decide when they’re bored enough to finalize

it.” She shrugged, like she was discussing the weather.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I can’t imagine living like that.”

She smiled through her tears. “It’s not the end of the world. At least

Arthur is decent. I don’t know what I’d do if he were anything like his

father.”

I grimaced.

“On the bright side,” she added suddenly, her mood shifting, “I get

flowers from Calder every day. Isn’t that romantic?” She grinned.

My eyebrows shot up. “Wait. He gifts you flowers?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “No. Of course not. How could he?”

“Then how-”

“I tell him to pick fresh flowers for me every morning,” she whispered

conspiratorially. “I lie and say they’re for my mother.”

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Chapter 465

My mouth fell open.

“My room looks like a flower shop and it smells so nice,” she added

proudly. “He gets confused by the request. But he’s too loyal to refuse

an order. Especially from a Blackwood.” She slapped a hand over her

mouth, giggling.

Horror crept up my spine. This girl needs help. Before I could respond

-or process the quiet tragedy beneath her laughter–the door

opened.

Ramsey stepped in first, followed by Rosalie.

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