Chapter 3

Ophelia's POV

Genevieve must have heard the news about what actually triggered my Dad's heart attack. In as much as her  words stung, they were the absolute truth. Seeing me might trigger another heart attack, and I couldn't bear that guilt.

I parted my lips to say something but the words cut in my throat, instead I gave Genevieve a silent nod and sat down on the chair just outside the ICU.

The hours crawled by, and I found myself drifting in and out of a restless sleep.

As dawn began to break, I stretched my stiff limbs, and leaned back in the uncomfortable chair. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep because my eyes were heavy, the door to the ICU opened, and Genevieve stepped out.

"Ophelia," she called out softly. "Your Dad wants to see you."

"How is he?" I asked, as I stifled a yawn, and stretched my limbs one last time.

"Go see for yourself she said," she answered, and gestured for me to go in.

My legs felt heavy with every step I took, I was anxious and didn't know what to expect, but mostly I was filled with guilt, knowing this was all my fault.

As I entered the room, my heart broke up on seeing my Dad who has always been a strong man, looking so frail as he laid in that hospital bed. My Dad and I haven't been very close, but he was still my Dad regardless, and seeing in this state was unbearable, most especially because I indirectly put him there.

"Hi, Dad," I said softly. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," he replied weakly. "Just a little tired."

Genevieve was seated on a small couch in the room.

"Ophelia, I believe you already know what happened to the company," she said, looking at me closely.

"Yes," I mumbled, as guilt washed over me.

"Well, the deed has already been done, and we have to think of a way forward," she said, and got up from the couch she was seated on, and stayed close to my Dad's bed. "For the family," she added, holding my Dad's hands in hers.

I nodded in response, I was too guilt ridden to say a word.

"Well, we've found a way to make all this go away," she continued. "The debts and everything will be completely taken care of."

"Really?" I asked heartily. This was the best news I've gotten all day. This was definitely nothing short of a miracle.

I haven't been to church in a long while, but I'll go to church for a whole year if that's what it would take to show how grateful I am!

"Your Dad, and I, have decided to marry you off to Dominic Blackwood."

"W–what?" I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

I looked over at my dad, waiting for him to tell me this was all a joke. I had no idea who Dominic Blackwood was, and now they expected me to marry him?

My Dad didn't say anything so I looked back at Genevieve.

"You can't be serious?" I told her, but I've never seen her so serious about something like she is right now. "Who the hell is Dominic Blackwood?" I demanded.

"He's the son of a wealthy woman, a nice old lady who has agreed to pay off all our debts in exchange for you marrying her son," Genevieve said, laying emphasis on 'pay off our debts'.

"I'll find a way to clear off our debts," I said  firmly. "There's no way I'll marry a stranger!"

Genevieve scoffed. "And how do you intend to do that? But selling those shabby paintings of yours?" She mocked. "Listen here Ophelia,  you got us into this mess. Your poor decisions and blind love for Hudson is the reason we're financially ruined."

"I– I didn't know–" I said weakly, feeling utterly ashamed of myself.

"This is your mess, and you have to help clean it up," Genevieve stated.

"Dad!" I turned to my Dad who had been mute and quietly watching. "Won't you say anything?" I demanded. "

"The decision is final,"  my dad said firmly.

"You can't do this to me, Dad?!" I screamed, my heart breaking with every word. "I'm you child, you can't just marry me off to someone I don't even know!"

"It's for the best, Oph–"

"I don't care!" I retorted. "I promise to fix everything and make Hudson pay, I just need time," I said pleadingly.

Genevieve scoffed. "Haven't you done enough damage already? Look at what your choices have done to your father! He had a heart attack, Ophelia. We don't have time for your fantasies."

"I'll–"

"Ophelia!" My Dad growled, followed by a cough. 

"Look what you've caused now!" Genevieve snapped, as she rushed and handed a glass of water to my dad, and gave me a death glare.

"Lower your voice," my Dad said softly. "The old lady said she wants this to be as discreet as possible, words can't get out about this," My Dad glared at me as he said the last part.

"B–but…" I began to say, when a knock came on the door.

A woman probably in her forties walked in.

"Hello," she greeted. "I'm Gwen, the head nurse," she introduced herself. "I'm here to take the bride," she whispered.

My eyes widened in disbelief. I haven't even agreed to this, and now I'm being addressed as the bride, and about to be taken to God knows where!

"This is insane!" I blurted out.

"We've discussed this already, Ophelia," Genevieve glared at me. "Just go peacefully."

"Dad," I called out to my Dad one last time, for him to intervene because this is looking funny anymore.

"This is your mess. Fixing it is the least you can do," my Dad said coldly.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, as my Dad's words broke my heart.

"Why me?" I whispered in tears.

"Let's go, Miss," Gwen said, and opened the door.

I looked at my Dad one last time, but his mind was made up.

Gwen led me out of the room, and as we walked down the sterile hallways, I felt like I was walking to my own doom. Different thoughts raced through my mind all at once.  How has my life turned to this? From planning a future with Hudson to being forced into marrying a stranger, it felt like a cruel joke

"Here," Gwen said as we stopped in front of a room. She opened the door and gestured for me to go in.

I took a deep breath before walking in. There in the hospital bed, laid a man surrounded by tubes and machines beeping steadily. The room was very spacious, and slowly with a beating heart I made my way towards where he laid.

"Is he–?"

"He's Dominic Blackwood," she said. "He's in a coma."

"What?" I said in disbelief, as I stared at Gwen, then back at the man.

I walked closer to get a better look at my supposed 'husband'.

He was handsome as he laid peacefully on his bed. He looked awfully familiar, but I can't seem to place where I've seen him before.

Then that familiar smell of sandalwood and citrus wafted into my nose and it suddenly clicked, that this man right here was THE STRANGER I BUMPED INTO ON MY WAY OUT OF HUDSON'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY!