chapter two

The days leading up to the Peyton's visit felt like an eternity for Cassie. Her world had been turned upside down, and the weight of her impending marriage to Edward Peyton hung over her like a dark cloud. She longed to escape the confines of Willowbrook, to run away with Alfred and live a life of love and freedom.

But Cassie knew the reality of her situation. Tradition was a relentless force, and her father's expectations were unwavering. She needed to find a way to communicate her true feelings to Alfred, to let him know that her heart still belonged to him.

Late one night, as the moon cast a silvery glow over the cottage, Cassie sat at her writing desk. With trembling hands, she penned a heartfelt letter to Alfred, pouring out her love and her fears onto the parchment. She knew she couldn't send it openly, for her family would never allow it.

Instead, she carefully sealed the letter in an envelope and slipped out of her room, being cautious not to wake her parents. She crept through the quiet house, her heart pounding with each step, until she reached the old oak tree by the village square.

There, hidden in the shadows, she placed the letter inside a small hollow in the tree's trunk, a secret spot known only to her and Alfred. It was their sanctuary, their place of refuge where they had shared countless whispered secrets and dreams.

The following night,cassie sneaked out of the house to meet Alfred in their secret spot.

She saw Alfred from afar sitting under the tree,patiently waiting for her.

He heard footsteps and he immediately raised his head.

"Cassie"He almost screamed

"Shhhh....,Someone might hear us"

"Okay,but what you wrote in that letter is it true cassie??tell me its not real??"He sounded aggrieved

"It's true freddie and i don't know what to do?,i tried to convince him that we love each other but he is adamant on getting me married to Edward and i know he is doing this because of his selfish desires"Said Cassie with Anger and frustration

Alfred pulled her into a tight hug and said

"Let's run away,Cassie,Lets run from here,i saved up a lot through this years,we can use that to start a new life in the city"

"I can't,I don't think i have the courage Freddie and besides life in the city is extravagant and expensive,i don't think we can afford it,I'll try to talk my father out of marrying Edward,ok?,i'm sure everything will be alright"Cassie reassured

Alfred sighed then pinned her against the tree and slowly leaned in for a kiss,but Cassie pushed him away gently.

"We can't do this right now,someone might see us"

Alfred nodded in frustration

"When can we see again,i missed you so much,i get to see you less ever since we graduated fron high school last year"Alfred asked

"For now we can't see each other but I'll make sure to send you letters every once in a while".

As the days passed, Cassie continued to exchange hidden letters with Alfred, each one filled with love, hope, and the pain of their separation. Their words were a lifeline, a connection that kept their love alive in the face of tradition's relentless march.

Then came the day of the Peyton's visit. The sun shone brightly in the sky, but Cassie's heart was heavy as she donned her best dress and awaited their arrival. She couldn't help but steal glances at Alfred, who watched from a distance, his eyes filled with longing.

The meeting with the Peytons was a blur of polite conversation and forced smiles. Edward Peyton, a man much older than Cassie, seemed polite enough, but Cassie's heart remained unmoved. She knew that her heart belonged to another, and no amount of tradition or expectation could change that.

As the Peytons departed, Cassie's father wore a satisfied smile, believing that the match had been made. But in Cassie's heart, a storm raged. She clung to the secret letters exchanged with Alfred, the only reminder of the love she refused to relinquish.

The battle between her heart and tradition had entered a new phase, and Cassie was determined to find a way to be with the man she loved, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.

I hope you liked this chapter??

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Love. Kisses.hugs