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Chapter 18
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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
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 23
Brian's POV "Liv, are you sure you're okay?" For the third time I asked as the plane sailed above with Paris lights far below us. I was looking at her face to find a clue of how she really felt. Olivia just managed a nod and a tight-lipped smile."I'll be fine, Brian," she replied a bit softly, with some strain in her voice. "I'm… just… tired.""We are going home directly,” I whispered, striving to level the tone of our conversation. "And when we get there, we're going to work all this out, believe me, Liv. You're not alone in this.".She just gripped hard at my hand and made a motion of agreement, but no word came out. She didn't need to say one. Her eyes said it all. She said only one thing, that she was not falling apart in front of me.It passed in maddening silence, the hum of the plane's engines loud against Olivia eardrums, which wouldn't let her enter the arena of sleep. I just sat, my mind racing, watching the slackness of her features. How did I let things get so mixed up?
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 1
"You are called in the matron's office,” Jane, one of the new intakes at the orphanage said to me."Do you know the reason why you were called?I shrugged in response“Are you not curious??" she asked again.Smiling at the short but lovely girl in front of me I asked her, “Why should I be curious?”Rolling her eyes, she said, “You are the least curious person I have ever known,” Glancing and smiling at the girl as she dangles on the chair. My phone buzzed again with a text, it was a request to come to the matron's office as well.Packing my books together, I waved to Mr Bars, our library attendant.The stroll across the orphanage library to the matron's office only took me a few minutes. When I arrived, the secretary had told me to wait a moment.I looked at some of the art paintings the children had made on the orphanage walls while waiting and smiled; they were talented. ‘pft..unlike you, right?’ my subconscious said to me.The door to the matron's office opened, and the cool and al
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 2
KELLAN P.O.V I lifted my head from my laptop at the sound of the knock on my door. “Come in," I called to the person on the other side.“Sir, madam said to remind you that your guests will arrive in the next fifteen minutes."“Ok," I answered dismissing her.The happiness oozing from my mother since she started making the arrangements for the dinner with the Brookes is just as bright as a sunny day could be. Shaking my head at the reminder of why this dinner is not only an inconvenience but a match-making dinner.Dad had dropped the bomb as if the marriage agreement was just normal but my parents had married for love.It still came as shocking despite being aware of it for the past years, but then the Brookes had only Brian and I am no man's guy. I am not gay.The frustration I felt at the news of a sudden adoption was unexplainable.I still did not vividly understand why they would want to go to such an extent. Their company was doing well, and even if it was not, the marriage was
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 3
OLIVIA'S POVI watched through the window as heavy raindrops fell from the dark-covered sky, bringing the freshness that comes with rain. The buzzer sound of the oven brought my concentration back to the kitchen. Satisfied with the outcome of my baked homemade banana bread.Mrs Richard has been wonderful in showing me her cooking recipes. Immediately, I showed interest in one of her recipes and mom had said I could as well pass for a professional chef in my big blue apron and white head cap Dad got me.Carefully mixing the hot Mexican chocolate drink, Dad's favorite of all the chocolate drinks I have been making, and also the perfect drink for rainy weather. Twisting around in excitement, eagerness filled me as I imagined Dad's look of satisfaction after tasting my baked banana bread.I carried the banana bread with the chocolate drink and made my way upstairs to Dad's office.He has been distant for the past few days; he is either locked in the office or outside working out things i
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