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Chapter 14
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THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 15
OLIVIA'S POVI must have stayed still for a long time next to the door through which he had left, with his words repeating themselves in my mind, running ceaselessly like a stuck record that he had left behind with me. He had behaved in such a cold, dismissive manner—and it hurt.More than that was the realization that no matter what I did, nothing would really change in our relationship; he did not want me, did not care about me, and I could not do anything to make him.Well, that's all fine and good, wallowing in self-pity for but so long before reality kinda seeps in, like some moldy weight onto my chest, except in place of myself it was self-pity. Why would I bother wasting my time being miserable over somebody who, at this point at least, had pretty clearly given the impression that he didn't want to be with me? This had been my honeymoon as well. This was Paris, ville de l'amour, what I'd dreamed of doing my entire life. If Kellan wanted to stay away and pout in his own misery,
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 16
In the afternoon, we set out and felt the streets of Paris. We walked beside the River Seine as its light from above shone out right after it was the highest. Pointing at the landmarks, so much full of history, Luc narrated the story of the city. The vibe towards magic with every minute walked within the city shook me, and I fell in love with Paris. We walked into a small bookshop, the walls of which were completely clad with old books and prints from other centuries. Luc took me to meet the friend who owned it. She was a sweet old lady, with the name of Colette. She spoke no other language than French, so Luc had to do an interpreter's job in our conversation. Must be here, there, around the shelves of the lit. section for almost an hour, doing little but changing pleasantries back and forth ad nauseam. A few stacks of French poetry later, Colette raised her eyebrows. "Gotta have something to take back. A souvenir of Paris." Luc was unyielding. I poked him. "It's the rule her
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 17
Kellan's POVI pushed the door to our suite open and stepped through into the first light of dawn, filtering through the drawn curtains. The room was quiet except for the low sound of Olivia's breathing. My eyes skittered to her, a small figure, curled up on the couch, in her clothes from the day prior, asleep. She would have tipped sideways a little, her head at an awkward angle, even asleep, the faint furrow that lined her brow as if mind could not find its way free from its troubles would be present. A sharp twisting in my guts, pierced through by that stabbing pang of chagrin that stabbed through the armor of indifference I had worked so hard to build up around myself. I could shrug it off. After all, she brought it on herself, didn't she? Trying so hard to fit a role I never wanted her to play. Trying so hard to be someone I could love when I had clearly made it known that I couldn't.I peered back over to Olivia, still asleep, obviously not even knowing I was here. She looked
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 18
OLIVIA'S POV "How are you doing, Liv? How's city life in Paris?" Brain's voice came from the other end of my line, drawing a smile against my cheeks as he just kept on rambling, on and on and all that happiness in his tone made my chest hurt."Paris is magnificent, Brian. Just as I always thought it would be." I was nearly convincing myself of the false enthusiasm that spilled from my mouth, the very hope that sounded through my voice. "Kellan and I have been running around the city, taking in the sights. .. the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, every classic tourist trap.""Sounds good. And Kellan? How's he treating my little sister?" Brian's voice was taut, there was a gentle, soft protectiveness in it and I could almost hear him leaning back in his chair, raising his eyebrows as he waited for me to answer him."He's been great," I said, my voice was too high, too forced. "Really attentive to making sure I get the total Paris experience."There was a moment of silence, then Brian was quiet
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 19
OLIVIA'S POV"Isn't Paris just the most beautiful city you have ever laid eyes on?" Monique thrilled as we walked the cobblestone streets of Montmartre. The district literally throbbed with life from artists drawing portraits, street musicians playing rhythmic music, and wafting smells of freshly baked bread and coffee.I tried to force myself to smile, to get really caught up in all the magic of it, but I just kept thinking about Kellan. I'd vowed, from the moment I left for Europe, that I wouldn't let him ruin my day, but not having him beside me felt like a shadow over existence, something throwing into dark relief everything I wanted but could never have.Monique must have noticed my distant expression, for she elbowed my arm. "Come on, Olivia. Where has that smile gone? This is Paris; let nothing take it away from you."I felt my deep breath steal in like an infusion of strength, taking my troubled thoughts of Kellan and slowly shoving them to the farthest corners of my mind. Or
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 20
Kellan's POV"Sharon, you ready?" I called out, tapping my foot impatiently as I waited for her outside her hotel room. We were already ten minutes behind our schedule to leave for dinner, but Sharon always ran late. It was one of the many things about her that used to grate on my nerves, but which I had figured out ways to handle over the years.It didn't matter tonight. For one, I wasn't in a hurry, and if I'm being straight with myself, I wasn't looking forward to getting back to Olivia at our hotel, either. I saw no problem in staying away; that tension didn't mix well with me.The door swung open, and out Sharon came, beaming. She was resplendent in her black dress with golden trimmings, contouring every curve of hers, and her blonde hair running down her shoulder. "Took you long enough," I said, although there was no real annoyance in the tone.She rolled her eyes playfully and linked her arm with mine. "Good things come to those who wait, darling."I smiled and inched closer to
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 21
OLIVIA'S POV How I got back to the hotel is something my mind doesn't remember. My mind had gone numbingly blank, my body on autopilot while I plodded around Paris, barely taking in the very beautiful surroundings that delighted me just days before. The only thing in my mind's eye was Kellan and Sharon together, him smiling at her, her blowing me off like I meant nothing. Finally, when I entered the room, there was no to switch the light on. Stumbling towards the bed, I fell on it face down, burying my face in the pillows. The tears, so controlled since the restaurant, came with a force at every sob that racked my body until I felt absolutely spent. On some Neanderthal level, I knew this wasn't a love match. Kellan had been endlessly careful to let me know, from the very beginning and in a thousand small ways, that he had but felt nothing. There'd still been some insignificant, minute part of me that had probably wished, probably even dared to dream, that maybe, one day, he would
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 22
KELLAN'S POV There had been so much bloodshed that the sun had finally hit deep in the latter part of its cycle, hitting high against the Parisian sky, turned to a sheen of gold over the city as I walked along at Sharon's side, hands bound tightly, hers in mine. Perfect day. As perfect as they come this late in the year. He twisted his hand in mine again, and this weirdest sense of jubilant impossibility washed over me, the feeling that at one moment in the universe, the world had come to a standstill and I couldn't hold my thoughts in line, not the way I wanted to. Sharon laughed pretty loudly when we stopped to watch a street performer. Her hand, which was holding onto mine rather precariously, sparkled up at me through eyes as she gazed through a dazzling smile, one that, at one time, used to set my heart racing. But today felt hollow and useless, as my mind was somewhere else: back in the suite with Olivia.I just couldn't rid myself of the image that haunted me since last nigh
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