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Chapter 7
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THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 8
Olivia's POVI stood in that gaudy bedroom, my brain still echoing with the jollity of the reception. Before me stood that huge pile of silk and satin that more threatened to overwhelm than it welcomed. It was as if nothing was there in the room except the memories of the entire day: the fragrant posy on the dresser, the beautiful wedding dress I still wore—but nothing calmed me. Growing feelings of dread nibbled my insides.My eyes clung to the closed door, the one Kellan left without one glance toward me. A wash of sourness surged into my mouth at the thought of memories of cool detachment in his eyes—what I seemed to get for the whole day. I had hoped like some sort of fool that things would have been different tonight and maybe behind that closed door, he would finally show me a small piece of the affection that I so hungered to feel.I kept my ears tuned to the door, and then I couldn't move until Kellan was inside. His expression was, as usual, clean. He never turned around at m
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 9
KELLAN’S POVI sat on the very edge of my bed. The quiet of this room slammed into me like it physically was. That framed wedding photo on my nightstand seemed to mock me, Olivia and I smiling at the camera, caught in that moment, in a bald-faced lie. In the very eyes that had been on mine, the eyes in the portrait, the eyes which on the last night late had looked at me at the sight of a word, the very same dumb petition, for an unrequitable something, sprang at me afresh. I hunched forward, elbows on my es, running a hand through my hair. It was a complete bloody sham of this marriage that I detested. The door of the room creaked open. I didn't have to raise my head and look up to see who that was. The moms can walk into a house without making a single noise, silent as a ghost. I recognized the smell of her perfume before she spoke—jasmine and something sharp, like floral arrangement liquor, which was her very own, just as her diverged and fixed hair.She murmured it again, "Kellan,
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 10
Kellan's POVI woke from my sleep, a small sound of breath at my ear, light sifting through blinds into the room casting a faint mute glow. Sharon lay asleep beside me. Her dark hair fanned over the pillow, her arm laying loose across my chest. I was still lying, staring at the ceiling and thinking over all that had happened during the last few days. Dimly, I remembered last night, hot discussions, and then Sharon's bedroom. Anything but to feel the sordid reality of my life.I peeked over at the nightstand. 7:30 a.m. My phone was vibrating a little as it bumped up against the bedside table, a few quick pulses. I inched over, still careful over Susan, and looked at the message. It was from Mom: *Kellan are you coming home today? Your father wants to go over the strategy of our business for the next quarter.*My jaw tightened, old anger coming from somewhere down deep. They never let up, did they? Yesterday, so heavy with atmosphere, and yet today they wanted me to knuckle down, to pl
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 11
As I came out of the study, I felt a rush of adrenaline. I knew I played my cards perfectly. I gave them enough that they would be satisfied all the while keeping my agenda. I am not that puppet anymore that they take me for. I have Sharon, and now I have a plan.I thanked him and he moved one step across the threshold down the hall, and it was as if a weight did come off my shoulders in the truest sense. It was so quiet inside the mansion, it was almost unbearable. I realized I was alone. Not that I cared. I would be gone soon enough and whatever tension lay between us would stay behind for the length of the trip. This was as much peace as I was going to get. I walked inside to the sound of a soft voice coming from behind me."Kellan?"I stopped, shutting my eyes for just a second to ward off frustration, then turned back around. Olivia still stood at the end of the hallway, her arms locked over her chest in uncertainty, almost vulnerable, and my nerves received the smallest nip of
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 12
“Think we're going to have time to hit the Eiffel, huh?" I said, closing the case, wishing I was packing more enthusiasm with those words than I was for real feeling. I mean, I am very lost in the city. But then again, this is Paris—love's city.Kellan continued to peck out at the keys, sending the message home. "Ehh, we'll see about that," he said, not too convinced. "I'm not that into tourist stuff."A weak smile crossed my face as I brushed off the sting of disappointment. "I get you. Maybe we should just relax there, make the most out of the suite, and be alone with each other."The silence was nearly an entity of its own: thick, heavy, and very much there as he said nothing. Try as I might, with every click and swallow, Kellan was my husband through and through. Something just kept that damn tiny flicker of hope alive in my chest.As we climbed down the stairs, I met Kellan's parents smiling at us at the bottom of the stairs.Kellan's mom pulled me into a hug. “Make sure you have
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 13
OLIVIA'S POV"I really thought we're supposed to be on our honeymoon," I commented puzzled, with the touch of irritation in my voice.Rolling his eyes from the suitcase or rather an open duffel bag, his hands worked in efficient, practiced moves. "I have a meeting this morning, Olivia. I told you about it last night.""But that's not the point!" I insisted, trying to sound light and happy. "The point is we're supposed to be together now. That's what a honeymoon's about."Finally, Kellan looked to me, breathing out roughly. His eyes weren't worried so much as irritated. "I mentioned before, my job doesn't end because we got married. I have responsibilities.""We have responsibilities, too," I tried again, willing him to understand. "Should't this be the time we get to know each other, maybe, I don't know, try to make this work out?"His eyes hardened. "What do you want me to do, Olivia? Just leave everything behind and have fun? Not exactly practical.""But this is no trip, Kellan," I
THE ARRANGED BRIDE Chapter 14
KELLAN'S POV"Did she buy?" Sharon's voice in the room greeted me the moment I stepped."Of course, she did," I said and closed the door behind me. All the tension that stood up with my little talk to Olivia deflated away when I stood in front of Sharon, who was lying on the bed in this silky robe that fitted her curves to perfection."Quit it, your face spells out stress," she said in her playful, tickled line, the lips flowing like she was gesturing for me to come into her. "Come here. I know just what to do to fix that.".I walked over to her, letting the weight of the morning fall away with each step, and I had even kinda forced the irritation out of my voice. "It's nothing I didn't expect. Olivia is just. Persistent." I mean, she really knew how to ruin things in the worst way possible.Then her hands were sliding up and beginning to fumble with the knot of my tie; her fingers brushed my neck with the lightest touch. "You've done your bit; now you're here with me," she purred, h
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,
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