Ties of duty and desire

Julian Saint Clair stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his opulent office, staring out into the expanse of the Manhattan skyline. The world bustled below him, a sea of opportunities and ambitions, yet all he could feel was the weight of his father's death. The Saint Clair empire, nurtured through generations, was resting on his shoulders now, and with it came one burden he could not avoid, -he was the last male descendant.

Behind him, in a leather-upholstered chair, sat his mother, Catherine Saint Clair. Her blue eyes-never dull, always piercing- stabbed into his back. She was all cool control, all elegance and poise. "Julian, darling," she said in that low calm voice that carried instant weight, "we must discuss the future of the Saint Clair empire"

Julian's heart sank, and he knew he didn't need her to continue; it was like he'd known what would spill from her mouth. Ignoring her, he sighed in frustration . "Mother, I'm still mourning Father's death. Can't this wait? " Catherine's voice hardened. "No, it can't. The board is getting restless, Julian. They have to see a valid succession plan, and that means you need an heir." Turning now to face her, his jaw was tight.

"I know what you are insinuating, and I am not about to do it."

She didn't bat an eye. "Do what ?, Marry a suitable woman and provide an heir for our family's name? It is the only sensible thing to do and a brilliant idea." Julian's voice only continued to rise as he brimmed over with emotion. "I am not marrying some stranger to appease the board or your wishes for a grandchild! I have a life, Mother. A partner whom I love. Ethan and I-"

"Ethan," she cut him off, her hand flicking in a dismissive gesture, "is just a phase, Julian. A distraction. You need a wife, a partner who understands the responsibilities of our name." Anger swirled up inside of him. "You can't seriously expect me to marry some woman I don't love just to pop out an heir! What's the point of that kind of existence? " Catherine's smile was thin and cold. "It's the life to which you were born, Julian. This family has always come first, and it's time you learn that. I have already spoken to Alexandra Thompson's parents. They agreed to the deal."

Julian felt as though he had turned to ice; his face was white with utter shock and betrayal. "You've already planned this out, haven't you? Without even asking me?" She sounded cold and steady. "This is what's best for the family, Julian. It's what your father would have wanted." A dark, mirthless laugh escaped him, more from incredulity than humor. "Father wanted me to be happy. He wouldn't have wanted this. And what about Ethan? What about our life together?"

She stood tall with her back straight, her eyes unforgiving. "Ethan is not part of the Saint Clair future. You will marry Alexandra, secure the family legacy, and continue our bloodline. It's your duty." Julian's fists clenched and he vibrated all over with anger. "You have no right to decide on my life, Mother. I will not be used like a pawn in your game." Catherine's eyes turned narrower, voice low to a menacing whisper." You'll do what needs to be done, Julian. For family. For empire. I have the power to keep Saint Clair Enterprise untouchable, and I won't let you jeopardize it."

He felt the weight of her words crashing down, but how could he abandon everything he truly loved? His chest tightened, knowing he was being forced into a future he didn’t want, yet felt powerless to stop it. Julian turned on his heel and, with his chest heaving with anger and frustration, he stormed from the room. The door slammed shut with a heavy clang. Catherine simply remained where she was, surprisingly unmoved by the entire outburst. Her steely exterior betrayed a flicker of something deeper: regret, perhaps, or sorrow buried under years of duty.

She walked leisurely to the window her gaze drifting to the skyline. In an instant, before her eyes flashed the pictures of her own life. Once, she had been in Julian's shoes-young, in love with a person the world would never take in. She had made the only choice then, and she had lived with the consequences ever since. But there was no room for emotion now. The Saint Clair empire would continue, Julian would do what was necessary, even if it meant that he had to deny himself happiness. As she had done.

Flashback: Her thoughts turned to her own arranged and miserable marriage. Her spouse, Anthony Saint Clair, had been a strong man and a leader, but their relationship had been one of obligation rather than affection. After marrying into power and giving up the one man she genuinely loved, she found herself seeing her son at the same dilemma. She had fulfilled the duties of a wife, produced an heir, and made sure the family future was safe. But at what price? The terrible recollections of that abandoned love continued to consume her thoughts. She could still feel the presence of the man she had to leave behind. She paid a heavy price for fulfilling her duty , and now Julian would do the same.

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Julian ran from the villa, feeling the walls closing in on him. He needed space, air, a means of escape from the chokehold his mother had on him with her demands. He got into his car and went to Ethan's apartment, his only haven. As he entered, Ethan was sitting on the couch with his laptop open. He looked up, and a flicker of concern crossed his face the instant he saw Julian. "Hey, what's wrong? " Julian collapsed beside him, rubbing his temples. "What else would it be if not my mother and always trying to control me, she wants me to marry and produce an heir "

Ethan’s face darkened, disbelief and anger flashing in his eyes. “What? That’s insane. You can’t let her force you into marriage, Julian...” He stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the tension in Julian’s body—his clenched fists, the tightness around his eyes. Julian wasn’t just upset; he was on the edge. Julian’s voice wavered, frustration seeping through. “It’s not that simple, Ethan. You don’t understand—she has the power to do exactly that. She can destroy us.” Seeing the strain in Julian’s eyes, Ethan’s own anger softened. He could see just how overwhelmed Julian was. Instead of pushing back, Ethan placed a steady hand on his shoulder, his voice dropping to something calmer, more reassuring. “Hey, we’ll get through this,” he murmured, squeezing Julian’s shoulder gently. “We’re a team, remember? We’ll find a way. Together.” For a moment, Julian’s rigid posture relaxed, the warmth of Ethan’s touch grounding him in the chaos. The fear still lingered, but for now, Ethan’s quiet reassurance was enough to calm the storm. But deep down, Julian knew—his mother wouldn’t back down without a fight.

As Julian grasped the enormity of the weight Ethan was carrying alongside him, he felt Ethan’s grip tighten, anchoring him in a moment of shared strength. Ethan leaned in closer, his voice steady and filled with quiet determination. “We’re going to get through this,” he whispered, with absolute certainty. Julian gave a faint smile, deeply grateful for Ethan’s unwavering strength. “I hope so" he murmured, but even as he closed his eyes, the looming sense of dread remained. His mother had made her move, and Julian knew she was willing to go to any lengths to win this battle.

Alexandra Thompson sat stiffly in her family’s opulent living room, her fingers nervously gripping the delicate teacup. The room exuded old-world luxury, with its heavy drapes and antique furnishings, but today, it felt more like a gilded cage. Across from her, her mother, Elizabeth Thompson, pressed her case , her words sharp like arrows. “Alexandra, this is the chance of a lifetime,” her mother said, her voice rich with expectation. “Marrying into the Saint Clair family will not only secure our business interests but also elevate our standing. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.”

Alexandra's stomach tightened, the weight of her family’s expectations pressing down on her chest. She’d always known that her life would follow a predetermined path, but she had clung to the hope that love might be a part of the equation. The Saint Clairs, with their empire of wealth and prestige, represented everything Alexandra had been trained to admire but never desired. “But Mother