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THE ARRANGED BRIDE 33
BRIAN'S POV"Is Mr. Brooke enjoying the party?" one of the ladies surrounding me purred sidling closer, her fire-engine red lips curving in a seductive smile.Brian slapped a polite smile on his face as he lifted the champagne glass in response. "Of course," he said smoothly while inside his head he was elsewhere-he could hardly recall the name of this one.The woman to her left tittered, her face bending forward as she started to twist a lock of hair around her finger. "Well, if you need someone to show you a better time, we're always available."Brian nodded, his hand waving in some kind of feigned interest. Actually, all these parties were just his norm of exhaustion: the same people overdressing before him to impress him, flashing their statuses before him, desperate to hang on to his wealth and family name. He sent a careless arc of his glass toward the ceiling, his gaze drifting from the women to scan the room. And then he saw Olivia, standing alone at the bar. A small frown fu
Last Updated : 2024-10-04THE ARRANGED BRIDE 34
KELLAN'S POVI sat in that cool, antiseptic-smelling room staring at Sharon's pale, lifeless face. Quiet beeping from the machines hummed softly-low pitched-their steady rhythm the only sign that she still clung to life. Her wrists were bandaged over, scars covering what she had tried to do. That tightness seared my chest, guilt eating painfully at my insides.I'd done this. I'd pushed her to this point.How in tarnation did it get this bad?I hunched forward, my elbows to my knees, and massaged my temples. Inside, my head was a complete mess. First, everything had fallen apart, one thing after another-my doing. Sharon is fragile, sensitive, but I hadn't thought that she would go to such an extent. Now I knew keeping her at arm's length was just an act of desperation-to help her get over me. I just turned a blind eye to her suffering.And Olivia… God, what had I done to Olivia? Just left her there at that party without a word, left her marooned in the middle of a room full of people s
Last Updated : 2024-10-04THE ARRANGED BRIDE 35
KELLAN'S POVThe next morning, Sharon stirred in her bed and flipped open her eyelids to soft light filtering through the curtains at dawn. I had barely slept, keeping close watch on her, and finally, this was the moment. When at last she did, a wave of relief mixed with trepidation washed over me.I had dreaded this conversation day in and day out, but there was nothing that could take away from its inevitability."Hey," I said low and soothing, inclining a bit in my chair. "How do you feel?"Sharon blinked several times to accustom herself to the light, and finally her eyes fastened on me. Her voice was weak, a small smile working its way onto her lips. "I'm still alive?" she attempted joking, but it came out so sad.I made myself smile, but it came out a little false. "Yeah, you are. Thank God for that."She shifted in the bed some and winced in pain upon moving. "I'm so sorry, Kellan. I didn't… I didn't mean to cause you all this trouble."I shook my head. "You have nothing to be
Last Updated : 2024-10-05THE ARRANGED BRIDE 36
BRIAN'S POVI left the office and began driving home. The late evening had finally thinned the traffic - the city lights dancing across my windshield as I drove. Turning onto the street that would bring me to the house, my cell phone buzzed on the dash. A text from Kellan.Kellan:I ended things with Sharon. Meet me at the bar.I pulled over and re-read the text, trying to make out just what exactly it was he'd said. Not the attentive type of response, per say, more out of curiosity, I emailed fast and said I would be there. Then I turned the car in the direction of the named bar. all of us?I stepped into the darkened bar and didn't at all have any trouble finding Kellan. He sat at a table toward the corner, surrounded by a load of empty glasses and one half-full bottle of whiskey. His head hung low, and from across the room, it wasn't even hard for me to tell the weight of everything weighing down on him."Kellan," I said, reaching for him, but he didn't even lift his head.I slipp
Last Updated : 2024-10-05THE ARRANGED BRIDE 37
Olivia's POVI woke up that morning and made my way to the living room as I stretched my body. Brian was in the living room, getting ready to leave for work.“You're not waiting for breakfast?” I raised my eyebrows at him.“I can't. I'm meeting a client this morning and she's extra cranky.” He scrunched his face. “I don't want to keep her waiting.” “Okay.” I nodded."I brought a drunk guest home last night, help me take care of him" Brian's voice filtered over as I yawned.Blinked, hardly processing what he said. "What guest?" My words slurred, but he was already at the door, his coat slung over his arm."You'll see, " he said-without really answering my question at all-but gave a hasty, almost careless smile instead. "I've got to run. See you later."And before I could get out any protest or any more questions, or even manage to detain him, he was gone. The door clicked shut after him, leaving me with the impression of something wrong, which I couldn't shake off. Within that fracti
Last Updated : 2024-10-06THE ARRANGED BRIDE 38
KELLAN'S POVI settled back against cool leather and closed my eyes. The silence wasn't helping anything; each louder second reminded me of how much the wall had grown up between them. And how to break through that?The soft sound of feet pulled me out of it. I opened my eyes in time to see Olivia come into the room, damp hair from a taken shower, face smooth, almost too smooth, serene as if she'd made her peace with it all by then. How does she do that?“You look better," she said, soft yet certain. "I was thinking I'd make breakfast.Break-fast? After everything? Hard, I blinked in an attempt to get my head to wrap around what she'd said. She went into the kitchen like this was just any other day-like we hadn't been at each other's throats not that long ago. She wasn't even upset anymore, it seemed.I sat there and watched couldn't just sit there and watch. I eased myself up off the couch and followed her into the kitchen, not knowing really what I'd do, but knowing I needed to be c
Last Updated : 2024-10-06THE ARRANGED BRIDE 39
KELLAN'S POVI leaned over onto the passenger seat for my phone and after a moment's deliberation, dialed my mom's number. She'd been nagging me about Olivia for weeks, saying if I didn't get my head out of my butt, I'd lose her forever. And yeah, she was right, but I wasn't about to say that out loud.It didn't even have time to ring once, and she picked up. "Kellan?" Her voice was sharper than a razor blade and expected an answer, now. "Yeah, it's me," I answered.“How is it going with Olivia?” She asked."I'm working on it." I scratched the back of my neck. "Working on it?" she repeated, singularly unimpressed. "That's what you said a few days ago. What does that even mean? Have you spoken to her? Seen her? Done anything at all to rectify this mess you made?"I blew out a loud huff. "I talked to Brian," I said, knowing darn well it wasn't gonna cut it with her. "I've got a plan, okay? I'm trying to take things slow.""Slow? Kellan, you don't have time for 'slow.' Olivia is slippi
Last Updated : 2024-10-07THE ARRANGED BRIDE 40
OLIVIA'S POVI sat on the plush bed in Kellan's penthouse, hands in my lap, staring at the unfamiliar space lining the walls. Sleek, modern decoration was so very far from cozy apartments that I had left, but then again-everything about this arrangement felt alien. I agreed to move back in with him; still, it didn't feel like a homecoming. Not yet."Kellan said it was best to stay here," I grumbled, repeating in a process with myself that I had since arrival. "He didn't want us staying with his parents."And maybe he was. Complicated-mostly, being around his parents was in its own way, but being here with him… It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, not knowing whether I would fly or if Kellan would catch me this time.It was buzzing on the nightstand, and I reached over, picking it up, glad for the distraction. Brian's name flashed across the screen of my phone, and a small sigh of relief escaped my lips. At least talking to Brian always managed to make things feel just a little
Last Updated : 2024-10-07
Latest chapter
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 95
OLIVIA'S POV"I… I don't understand," she finally stuttered, her voice shaking, her eyes darting from me to Kellan in utter confusion. "This… this is some kind of mistake, right? Olivia can't be here. She's… she's dead."I took another step closer, my voice so cool and level, whereas inside, all hell was breaking loose. "No, Sharon. I'm very much alive.”Her eyes grew wide as she began to freeze with the weight my words burdened her with. Her mouth popped open to say her peace, and I afforded her none."You really did think you got away with it, didn't you?" My voice was high. "Thought you could just push me off that cliff and erase me from Kellan's life forever?”Sharon stepped backward, her hands shaking. "No," she said, the words tumbling hastily from her lips as she shook her head. "That's not what happened. You've got it all wrong. It was an accident—""Don't you dare," I snapped, my voice sharp as a whip. "Don't you dare to stand there and lie. I remember everything now. I remem
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 94
KELLAN’S POVSharon pulled in, a sleek black car shining bright beneath the driveway lights. I watched her get out, dressed to kill, a crimson dress clinging to her form, lips painted that brilliant red, her heels against the pavement, each movement deliberated and confident. She'd come for me; she knew damned well I would crawl back, and it was that which brought my fists into clench.“Showtime," I told myself, fidgeting with my tie and putting a grin on my face.The front door opened before she could knock. I was leaning indolently against the frame, trying to conceal the revulsion bubbling under my skin. "Sharon," I said, my voice deep and low, inviting. "I'm glad you came.”Triumph lit her features, and her red cheeks gleamed with pride. "Of course I came, Kellan. I knew you'd come to your senses eventually. But why did you tell me to come to your parents house?"“Because it's high time i introduce you to them,” I answered and her smile widened.She stepped inside and her perfectl
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 93
OLIVIA'S POVMy chest was constricting as disjointed pieces of memory clawed their way to the surface. They had been locked in so long, barricaded behind the fog of confusion and terror, but the dams were breaking. My hands clamped down on the edge of the couch, eyes darting from my parents to Kellan and back again. Their eyes were all pinned in on me with concern, but it was Brian's question haunting me.How did you disappear? What happened that day two years ago."I remember Sharon," I began, my voice shaking. "Her men kidnapped after that charity event and locked me up. Then she came and talked to me… about Kellan."Kellan stiffened beside me, his fingers clamping down on mine. I dared a glance at him, saw the fire in his eyes, but he said nothing."She told me…., " I stammered, my voice lodging in my throat. "She told me I was ruining his life. That Kellan didn't love me and never would." Finally, the tear in my voice gave out and I felt the stinging of that first swipe of tears t
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 92
KELLAN’S POV:The sun had long since set below the horizon, an amber twilight wrapping itself around Alex's estate. I stood beside the front door with Olivia-the softness of her hand in mine. Tenseness in her fingers spoke louder than words not formed upon her lips-she didn't want to leave. I couldn't blame her. It had been a haven, a place of refuge from all that Carl put her through.Alex filled the doorway, his sharp suit as perfect as always, but with a hint of a smile softening what was a hard steep countenance into something less unbending. "Finally leaving?"“Yes.” I nodded. "Thanks, Alex; I really don't know how to thank you for this."He waved it away. "You don't. You just take care of her. That's all I ask.”She leaned in a bit closer to me and flashed a small, genuine smile across the room at Alex. "Thanks, Alex; I really don't know what we would have done if it wasn't for you out there."Alex gave a slight incline of his head. "You have been through hell, Olivia. Just focu
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 91
KELLAN’S POVThe tension in Olivia's shoulders hadn't dissipated since the moment we stepped into Alex's house. Olivia hovered near the window of the living room, arms tightly wrapped around her middle while looking every other second outside the window at each movement the shadow made out there. I sit by the fireplace, flipping through my phone, and view her from time to time. Every groan of the house sends her jolting with yet another splinter to fragment a small bit of my heart."Olivia," I whisper, setting my phone aside. Her head jerks as I call her name; wide-eyed and afraid, open wide. I moved across the room in a set of languid steps, giving her ample time to document my approach. She didn't stir, but how her fingers curled into the flesh of her arms seemed to scream how wired she was."You're safe," I said, firm, halting in front of her. "Alex has the best security team money can buy. Carl's not coming for you. He can't.”She shook her head, her voice no more than a whisper
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 90
KELLAN’S POVMy heart rattled so strongly inside my chest that for one instant, I almost believed Carl would hear it. He had Amanda pressed against him with a knife glinting in the poor light that was far too close to her throat for comfort. Her eyes darted to mine, wide, terrified, pleading.“Carl," I said, stepping forward slowly, my palms up and my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "Let her go. You don't need to do this.""Stay back!" Carl barked, jerking Amanda closer. She winced as the blade nicked her skin.I froze. Every instinct in me was screaming to charge him, to rip him away from her. But I couldn't risk it-not when he was this unstable.“I'm telling you, Kellan, another step closer and she is history!"“Okay, okay," I said, moving a cautious step backwards. "You're the one in control here, Carl. You've made your point."“You think you are better than me," Carl scoffed. His voice was wavering with anger and desperation; his words were volatile, his articulation wea
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 89
CARL'S POVI walked around the lounge with Amanda slumped on the couch in front of me, lifeless as a doll. My pursuit of reason was after a wriggle away while the noise of the sirens was growing outside-no less shrill to herald an empire crumbling away.It would have had to have been Kellan-that self-righteous jerk-just couldn't leave well enough alone, could he? I built it with my own hands, he had no right to take it away from me.A loud crash, and my thoughts are rent asunder by the flying open front door. First to storm in is a tidesurge of river-backed, armed officer, hard on the heels of Hardhead, the head of Security-firm as unshakeable granite."Carl Martins," he yelled, as if his voice should have carried around the estate. "It's time to know what's left of you. Back away from Amanda now and surrender yourself to authority."I raised my hands, and a smirk curled my lips. "Surrender? To what, precisely? Baseless accusations? You have nothing on me."Out came the head of Securi
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 88
CARL'S POVMy ringing phone dragged me out of my sleep. Already, my chest was getting tighter while I read on-screen the name Marcus, one of my most trusted men. Swiping to answer, already my voice was a low growl. "What is it?‘We have a problem," Marcus said, the tight urgency laced into his voice. "The head of Security has mobilized a team. They're coming for you, Carl. They're going to raid the estate within the hour."I almost lost my grasp on the phone as that icy panic clutched my chest. "How the hell could this have happened?”"It's Kellan Easton," Marcus spat. "That bastard's been gathering evidence, and he gave it to them. They've got enough to tear you apart."I clenched my jaw so tight I thought my teeth were going to crack. Should have killed Kellan Easton when I had him. That smug, self-righteous fool actually thought to take everything from me, power, my empire, Amanda."Listen now," I said, my voice razor-sharp. "Delay them. I don't care how you do it--cause a diversi
THE ARRANGED BRIDE 87
KELLAN’S POV The next morning, I sat on the edge of Alex's couch, my phone clutched in the firm grasp of my hand as if the strength of the hold could balance my thoughts spiraling out of order. The room, apart from the soft light coming from the table lamp, was shrouded in darkness. The creeping shadows at each corner were a reflection of unease crawling in my chest.What was left now was the riskiest of them all, and frankly speaking, I couldn't afford to waste more time. So I dialed the number that Brian had sent me - London head of Security - a man who, per Brian, had ties in with the Brooke family and who would deal in high stake situations.It rang a couple of times until I heard this firm, deep voice respond, "This is Gerald Mitchell.”‘Mr. Mitchell, my name is Kellan Easton," I started off hopefully-my voice wasn't breaking, "I'm calling because I have evidence regarding Carl Martins’ involvement in some illegal activities including but not limited to fraud, bribery, and unlaw
