Rejected marriage

Christopher, the oldest, was a tall, handsome young man with a kind face and a gentle smile. "Welcome to the family, Vanya," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "We're all so glad to have you on board."

Sam, on the other hand, was a bit more rough around the edges. He was two years older than Vanya, and he had a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, Vanya, nice to meet you," he said, grinning at her. "I have to say, you're a lot prettier than I expected."

Vanya laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Thanks, I think," she said, smiling at Sam.

Hans, the youngest, was a tiny ball of energy, bouncing around the room with a big smile on his face. "Hi, Vanya! I'm Hans!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her waist. "I'm so glad you're going to be my sister-in-law!"

Vanya laughed and hugged Hans back, feeling a sense of warmth and welcome from the Carter family. As she looked around the room, she saw that everyone was smiling and chatting, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Vanya was struck by how jovial and warm they all were. Nolan's three brothers, Christopher, Sam, and Hans, all greeted her with big smiles and firm handshakes.

But as she looked around the room, Vanya's eyes landed on a figure standing by the window, staring out at the sky. Nolan, her future husband, was sitting in a wheelchair, his back to the room. He didn't turn or acknowledge her presence, and Vanya felt a pang of disappointment.

She had been looking forward to meeting Nolan all day, and now he seemed to be ignoring her. Vanya tried to brush it off, telling herself that he must be shy or preoccupied. But as she watched him, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Mrs. Carter seemed to sense her confusion, and she leaned in to whisper, "Don't mind Nolan, dear. He's just a bit... reserved. He'll warm up to you eventually."

Vanya nodded, trying to smile. But as she looked at Nolan, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those closed doors. Why was he in a wheelchair...was he really crippled? And why was he ignoring her?

As the conversation continued, Vanya found herself stealing glances at Nolan, trying to get a read on him. But he remained stubbornly silent, his eyes fixed on the sky outside.

Mrs. Carter called out to him, saying, "Nolan, dear, come and meet your future wife!" But Nolan didn't respond. He didn't even flinch.

The room fell silent, and Vanya felt a sense of awkwardness wash over her. She didn't know what to do, or how to react. She looked at Mrs. Carter, hoping for some guidance, but Mrs. Carter just smiled and patted her hand.

"Don't worry, dear," she said. "Nolan's just a bit... particular. He'll come around eventually."

But as Vanya looked at Nolan, she couldn't help but wonder if that was true. He seemed so distant, so unreachable. And she couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation about their future together.

As the awkward silence continued, Mrs. Carter tried to call out to Nolan again, hoping to break the ice. But Nolan's response was immediate and harsh.

"Don't call me again, Mrs. Carter," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "You're not my mother, and you never will be. Don't try to pretend otherwise."

Christopher's face darkened with anger, and he took a step forward, as if to chastise Nolan. But Sam quickly intervened, placing a restraining hand on Christopher's arm.

"Let me handle this," Sam said quietly, before walking over to Nolan.

As Sam approached, Nolan slowly turned to face him, but in a way that still prevented Vanya from seeing his face. Vanya frowned, feeling a sense of frustration and confusion. What was going on here?

Sam spoke softly to Nolan, trying to reason with him. But Nolan's response was loud and clear, and it made Vanya's heart sink.

"I'm rejecting this marriage," Nolan yelled, his voice echoing through the room. "I'll never marry her. I don't love her, and I never will."

Vanya felt a sting of hurt and embarrassment. She had been so nervous about meeting Nolan, and now it seemed that he didn't even want to marry her.

Nolan continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "I appreciate what her mother did for my grandfather, and I'll make sure to repay that debt. But I'll never marry her. She's not worthy of me."

Vanya felt a surge of anger and humiliation. How dare he speak about her like that? She didn't even know him, and yet he was rejecting her like she was some kind of inferior being.

As the room fell silent, Vanya felt like she had been punched in the gut. She didn't know what to say or do, and she felt like she was going to collapse under the weight of Nolan's rejection.