Chapter 005

"What do you mean I'm getting married to Sarah's ex-fiancé?" I blurted out, the words ringing in my ears like a twisted echo of reality.

My dad sighed heavily, "Jenna, listen," he began, his voice strained with frustration, "After everything that happened yesterday, Sarah came to me with a proposal. They suggested that you and Keith Clementine, Sarah's ex-betrothed, should get married instead."

My mind reeled, struggling to process the magnitude of what I was hearing. Married to Keith?! The same Keith Clementine rumoured to be the most ruthless man on earth? Same one Sarah hasn't even met face to face?

"Why are you all treating me this way?" I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "What did I ever do to deserve such a life that my boyfriend is married by my stepsister and my father won't even give me space to heal before throwing me to a man that's probably twenty years older than I am?!"

"You will get married to him whether you like it or not. Luckily, he didn't exactly pick which daughter he wanted. Now, since Sarah is married, you're the only one available." Dad said.

I scoffed, "So you were in on it too."

Dad wanted to reply but he held back.

"I see, so I no longer have any atom of control over my life?" I said, smiling. It's either that or I cry, and I have no more tears to shed.

"Fine. If that's what you want, your daughter will marry a total stranger."

"Don't put it like that. I'm only doing what's best for-"

"Me?! How is that best for me?! I'll marry him but I suggest you let the man know it's going to be an empty shell of a marriage." I interrupted my dad.

Before my stepmother could get involved, I turned on my heels and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I arrived at my apartment in no time, probably due to my anger and I locked myself in.

If tormenting me is all they are after then they should be ready for when I bite back. I won't let them go Scott free after what they did to me.

Sarah, Rachael, just be happy. Be happy until I bite back. I'll never forget what you both did. Never.

A text came into my phone. It was from my stepmother and it read, "You'll be meeting with your fiancé this evening. Don't forget to look your best."

I smiled, "I guess I have to deal with my fiancé first."

As I paced back and forth in my apartment, I remembered Sarah once saved his number in my phone for some emergency she didn't explain to me.

I scrolled through my contacts and found it, "Keith Clementine."

With trembling hands, I tapped on his name, fingers flying across the screen as I drafted a message, "To Keith Clementine," I typed, my heart pounding, "You may not know me, but you will soon. And when you do, you'll understand that I won't be a willing participant in this charade of a marriage. Prepare yourself, because I won't go down without a fight."

With a sense of grim satisfaction, I hit send. I may have been cast aside like yesterday's news but I will not be broken.

Throughout the day, I waited for Keith's response to my text but none came. I hated not knowing his thoughts or any hints about his next move but now I had to head back to my parents' house and wait for him to arrive after me.

As the evening descended, casting long shadows that danced across the city streets, I made my way back to my parents' house.

There was no escaping the inevitable, no avoiding the path that lay ahead. I would meet Keith Clementine, Sarah's ex-fiancé, and confront the reality of my fate head-on.

There was an expensive-looking car parked in front of my parents' House. I can well assume that the car belongs to Keith Clementine. 

So he arrived before me either way?

I pushed open the door and stepped into the lit interior of the house. The air was thick with tension for me.

My stepmother's voice cut through the silence, her words sharp and commanding, "Jenna, he's here. Go and meet your fiancé in the living room."

As I entered the living room, I caught sight of Keith Clementine. He may be seated but I could tell he was tall and imposing. By the time I looked directly at his face, I thought my heart had broken out of my chest. I wished the ground could swallow me whole right at that moment.

Keith Clementine, the man who I was meant to marry, is the same man I had a one-night stand with and vanished before he could wake up.

I could only pray to God that he wouldn't expose me to my dad or Stepmom. That would be the end of me even if I am an adult.

Played by a bet while in the process of winning a bet. What do I call this situation?

Finally, Keith spoke, his voice low and measured, "Jenna," he began, his words tinged with a hint of curiosity, "I received your message. And I must say, it's not every day that a woman declares war before her marriage has even begun."

"Jenna, is he speaking the truth?" my dad stepped into the living room, "Are you trying to ruin a marriage that hasn't even started?"

I met Keith's gaze head-on, ignoring my dad and refusing to back down in the face of his formidable presence. "I won't apologize for it," I replied, my voice steady despite the panic in me. "I refuse to be a pawn in someone else's game, a puppet dancing to the whims of others."

"Enough of that Jenna! Apologize to him right this instant!" Dad yelled.

"It's fine." Keith stood, proudly claiming a height of 6 feet 3 inches.

He got even closer to me and a smirk played on his lips, "I like a good battle."

I don't know why but one stupid part of me wanted to call him daddy right at that moment.

Keith Clementine may be a ruthless CEO but he was no pain in the eye.

Standing tall and broad-shouldered, he exudes an aura of strength and authority, befitting his status as a powerful figure.

His dark hair, styled with precision, frames a face that is both ruggedly handsome and enigmatic. 

Sharp, piercing eyes, the colour of deep espresso.

His chiselled features are marked by a strong jawline and high cheekbones, lending an air of aristocratic elegance to his rugged visage. Despite his age, his face remains remarkably unblemished.

Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that speaks to his status and wealth, he's definitely a ten out of ten.

"Are you done?"

I snapped out of my thoughts only after hearing Keith's voice and realising I'd been staring at him the entire time. "Like hell, I was admiring you. Just who do you think you are?" I retorted.

"Your billionaire, CEO husband-to-be...," Keith answered, "who never said you were admiring him."

Keith's voice was deep and his eyes were focused. Though he said those words to me, he maintained a poker face and expressed no emotions I couldn't interpret and that scared me.

"Billionaire?" my stepmother muttered, surprisingly, not knowing she was loud enough to hear.

Keith looked at Stepmom and then at Dad and those eyes glanced like they were bullets being aimed at you, "It seems your wife was too busy getting her own daughter out of marriage with a cruel man, she didn't bother to pay attention to details."

"I'm sorry. That's not what-" the words hung in her throat. I could see from her face that she was pissed.

"I only came to get to see the bride before the wedding," Keith said, dismissing my stepmother's words, "I'll be leaving now."

"You only just got here." my stepmother insisted.

"Trust me, I've gotten all I need to know," Keith said and began walking away. He stopped at the door and turned his face to the side, "The wedding is tomorrow morning."

"What?!" my heart pounced but I calmed myself down, "isn't that too soon?"

Instead of answering my question, Keith stared at me briefly, opened the door, and walked out.