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Chapter 22
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2024-08-26 18:10:52Related chapters
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?
Last Updated : 2024-08-26THE ARRANGED BRIDE 24
Kellan's POVI scowled at the phone as the screen flashed on displaying Sharon's name for what felt like the hundredth time. She'd been calling for ten minutes now and I'd been avoiding her just that long.Finally answering the phone "Sharon, I don't feel like it today," I said. "I'm not going out."There was a silent pause on the other end of the line, and I could have sworn I heard her trying to work out what was happening."Kellan, what's wrong? You have been…”"I said I'm not going anywhere, " I cut in, a little more sharply than I really meant. I blew hard and rubbed my hand over the top of my hair. "I'll call you later."I slapped the phone beside me down onto the bed, hanging up before she could utter another word. Of all of the people I didn't want to hear from right now, it was her voice and, frankly, not one single person's voice-not when Olivia's tear-streaked face was so freshly etched into my mind that with every tick of a second since she'd left with Brian was haunting m
Last Updated : 2024-09-24THE ARRANGED BRIDE 25
Olivia's P.O.V.Whiffs of minced garlic and herbs pirouetted in the air, circling the sauce set to simmer on the stovetop. Comfort soothes me, and cooking is a sport unto itself-and today would prove no exception. He leaned his weight against the counter beside me, keeping me company while I fixed dinner, and was telling me about a work trip he would soon be taking. It was a sensation I hadn't had in ages and with him it was almost trivial. Just as though I'd never left Paris in tears"You're going to have to give me that recipe," Brian said, playing, reaching for the pan. "You're getting too good at this, Liv."I smiled soft and slow, his weight balanced enough against the heavy ache in my chest. "Okay, but you'd probably burn the kitchen down."Brian chuckled. "Probably, but I'd still look good doing it."I was about to say something witty, but his phone buzzed obnoxiously on the counter, breaking the moment. Of course, at that particular time that wasn't out of the ordinary too m
Last Updated : 2024-09-24THE ARRANGED BRIDE 26
Kellan's POVI stood out front of Brian's penthouse, the guilt heavy in my chest. I reached out and rang the doorbell, waited as the speech that had replayed a thousand times in my head went into repeat mode. The door opened and Brian was greeting me, his eyes cold, detached. He stood in the doorway, blocking my line of vision from Olivia, but I knew she just stood behind him."Kellan," Brian said coolly; his voice colder than a well below freezing in winter."Brian," I returned, forcing myself to keep my gaze on his-skating to Olivia. She was standing back silent, her eyes to the floor. Of course she wouldn't say anything to me. Yet for some reason that still bothered me more than it should.Brian moved aside, and I went in. It was obvious that the tension was already more thickly laid on than treacle. Abstracted, I turned toward the living room, deliberately taking my time over choosing a way of starting. Then my eyes fell to Olivia, and I was lost for anything else. She didn't eve
Last Updated : 2024-09-28THE ARRANGED BRIDE 27
Olivia's POV"Liv, open the door," Brian yelled as his voice came muffled through the wood. "You don't have to be alone right now."I wrapped my arms around my knees and sat on the edge of the bed as my eyes welled over with tears. That unmistakable apologetic tone, echoed within my mind, that hammer reopening wounds that were just starting to scab. I didn't want to see anybody, at least not myself. But Brian, he just wouldn't stop knocking."Liv, come on," he said again, this time softer. "Please.I snuffled, running the back of my hand off across my face. Didn't want nobody in but Brian. he was my brother. He just wouldn't leave this alone. Standing, I opened the door just a crack, enough to see his concerned face on the other side.“Everything okay?" he said, opening the door and coming inside gingerly before I could get a word out. He sat down beside me on the bed; his eyes scanned into mine for something-anything-that would tell him I was holding it together.But I wasn't."I am
Last Updated : 2024-09-28THE ARRANGED BRIDE 28
Kellan's POVThe look on Olivia's face was one that was seared into my mind. Still, though, her voice lived in my head, "Your apology won't take away my pain," as I drove away from Brian's penthouse. She had, like, every reason in the world to hate me, and I had just about absolutely no idea how to fix that.Something in my chest just felt that little bit heavier as I pulled into my driveway. My hands had tightened on the steering wheel for a second before I'd forced myself out of the car. I didn't want to see my face, let alone any other face, but knew going in and at least faking functionality was a must. The quiet of my house was emptier tonight, the silence just too loud to bear.I stepped inside and slammed it shut. Right then my phone buzzed in my pocket and I drew it out and peered at the screen.Sharon.I mentally kicked myself. I'd left her in Paris no explanation and my reality reached out and slapped me square in the face.I blew out loud before answering, "Sharon."Kellan
Last Updated : 2024-09-28THE ARRANGED BRIDE 29
BRIAN'S POV"That went well," I said kicking back in my chair as the clients left the boardroom. Kellan sat beside me, quiet, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. I knew the look on his face all too well. He was thinking but not about the deal we just closed.His mind on the engagement party that the client invited us to and the mention of Olivia's presence at the party was enough to bring his mood down.We were standing, ready to leave, when Kellan shot me a look. He didn't say a word, but I knew right away what was running through his mind."I'll talk to her," I said, shooting him a sideways glance as we exited the boardroom.He blew hard. "You sure about that? I'm not sure if she even wants to be in the same room as me right now."I turned for him in the hall and stopped. "You gotta give her time, Kellan. She's hurt and you gotta understand that."Kellan blew out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I get it, but this party-the clients want us to go. If I show up wi
Last Updated : 2024-09-28THE ARRANGED BRIDE 30
Kellan's POVI smoothed my cufflinks for what felt like the millionth time as I stood in front of the mirror. My head just wasn't here tonight - at this party amongst these associates that would be watching my every move.It was this shrill ringing of my phone that pulled me out of my thoughts, and I snatched it right off the nightstand. On comes the screen with Brian's name bold across it; in a split second, my heart ran as I answered."Kellan, she's coming," he didn't mince words.I let out a deep breath I'd also not realized was held. Relief filtered through me and I tried to sound steady. "She is?""Yeah, but listen to me," Brian growled in his best low-and-menacing voice. "You'd better damn well make sure you don't hurt her again. Cause if you do, I swear I'll make you regret every second of it."I swallowed as my chest filled and the weight of his words finally settled. I'd known Brian my whole life, but something in his voice told me he wasn't screwing with me. "I know," I wh
Last Updated : 2024-09-29
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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
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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
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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
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KELLAN’S POV It was 10:27, and my phone vibrated on the bed-side table, breaching the silence in my hotel room. All I could think of was who on earth would ring at such an ungodly hour, and by the time Eliza flashed across the screen right in the next second, my stomach started to growl. She never called for nothing whatsoever, and I think something inside my stomach had told me this time it was serious.“Eliza?" I returned, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible, though the edges of my mind tickled with dread."Kellan," she said in a near whisper and barely holding in her shakes. "Something happened, Carl and Amanda, they had this huge fight.”My heart did a somersault, skipped a beat in me. "What kind of fight?" I was upright in bed.“A bad one,” she whispered. "Carl locked her in her room. He's furious. I think-" The words seemed to break off as if the weight of what she was saying hung in silence between them. "I think Amanda might be remembering."My mind just went compl
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Olivia's POVCarl's eyes, boring into my skin, his jaw snapped shut; fists bunched at his sides, unreachable and menacing, he stood between me and the door. I had been so very careful with feigned ignorance, and yet somehow he knew."You've been lying to me, Olivia," Carl said ominously in a quiet tone.I glowered back with puzzlement, but inside my heart had started going crazy, pounding loudly inside my ears. "What's it? I don't-""Enough," he snapped-the word whistling through the air like a whip. "You think I do not see the way you are looking at me now? The reluctant one, the defiance in your eyes? You are remembering who you are.”Instinctively I moved one foot backward, but behind my back was no place to go. "Even if I did," I said, and for some reason my voice wasn't shaking. "What does that matter? You have lied about everything to me, Carl-who I am, about my past-“Because you needed protection!" he cut in, voice rising. That manic edge gleamed once more in his eyes and my h
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Olivia's POVI slowly came awake, the pungent antiseptic smell of the hospital stinging my nose. It was like trying to blink the world into focus-my eyelids just felt so heavy. The pale, white ceiling above me came into view, but it wasn't the sterile room that caught my attention-it was the flood of memories crashing through my head.Kellan.It surged back, with such force-so visceral-taking the breath from my lungs: his face, his voice, his touch. I remembered it all-the life they shared, the love they shared, the despair I felt because it was torn from me.Carl had lied.My heart racing, I swallowed hard, my eyes flying from one side of the room to the other. There was no sign of Carl anywhere, but I knew that he wouldn't have wandered very far away. I couldn't tell him I remembered-not yet.I shifted slightly, wincing as a dull ache coursed through the back of my head. The flash of Carl's anger, his hand shoving me, and the wall rushing toward me replayed in my mind. Stupid to con
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Kellan's POVMorning light filtered through my window, but it was barely noticed. In front of me, on the desk, my laptop sat with its screen full of all the documents and reports Thomas sent over in the last days: copies of bank accounts, police records, cameras at important junctions. The jigsaw of grains formed one enormous confusing puzzle.My phone rang right next to my head. I lifted it-the name across the screen glowed. It was Thomas.“What have you got?" I said, cutting to the chase.“We need to act fast, Carl is growing paranoid,” Thomas said. “We’ve noticed him destroying files, moving assets around. He knows someone’s digging into his business, but he doesn’t know it’s us.”Good. That gave us an edge, but not much of one. Carl was too calculating to let his guard down for long.*****I later met Thomas and the rest of the team that afternoon in a nondescript café on the outskirts of town: functional in as much as it was well out of the way of prying eyes, and even farther ou
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Kellan's POVI was pacing around in the living room when it came. The incessant buzzing on the table; I reached to snatch it up with not a lot of thought on whom it would be; it was Eliza."Tell me you have something," I pressed, an edge to my tone, though tension in my voice belied a composure."Mr. Easton," Eliza started, but just then, an inflection of the tone that began to rise her voice sent my alarm bells ringing. "There's been an accident.”"What's wrong?" My stomach twisting into a tight knot, I clutched the phone in my hand."Olivia, she's been admitted to the hospital. She is unconscious."The world had stopped. I just blanked for a second until pure surging panic and anger took over my head. "What do you mean she's unconscious? What happened?""I don't have all the details yet," said Eliza, "but yes, she was rushed out of the house today, some type of head injury, and she's at Memorial Hospital."I didn't say a word either; took my car keys and ran out of the house, full o
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Amanda's P.O.V.The room was stifling. Dead air, deadening the silence, weighed upon me, like some unshed tear inside of me which refused to come out. I sat at my window, looking out into the sprawling gardens of Carl's mansion. My mind, however, had flown elsewhere.Disjointed pieces of something that were at the same time so strange and yet so familiar started as flashes sometime back: a sound, a woman's voice calling my name; the echo of laughter with this feeling of warmth and welcome that just didn't fit into this cold, calculated life Carl said was mine.My fingers dug in and scratched the nail deep across the skin. Would not those flashes let me be, hanging onto the edges of my mind tenaciously-never to let go and believe this version that Carl tried to sell so desperately as my life.I abruptly got on my feet-my chair scratching the floor with me. The unease inside had brimmed; I wanted answers.Carl's voice carried out to the hall outside my room, and I took a deep breath, pu
