“Sure. But it’s one he drove you to make this decision.”“That may be true, but I’m okay with this,” Audrey said, rubbing her small baby bump. “I’m happy. I’m excited.”“Well, all I know that our babies are going to be best friends. And I can’t keep coming over here for secret playdates. I’m not saying you need to get back together with him, but I don’t think you’re doing the right thing by keeping this baby from him.”“I know people are going to disagree with me. But I know it’s what’s best for the both of us.”“I’ll support you no matter what, you know that.”“I know you will. But enough about me. Tell me about you! How does Mark feel?”“Girl, his whole family lost their damn minds. His mom had offered me like, two million dollars to leave him. I told her hell no. And then I threw up all over their living room.”“She tried to buy Mark from you?”“She’s fucking crazy, but yeah. But after she found out I was pregnant, she was singing a different song. That lady loves me. She won’t let
“Hi,” he said.“How was your day?” She placed her hands on his chest and leaned against him.“Fine,” Lucien tried to move away from her, but she continued to crowd him.“I was thinking that maybe we could cook together and watch a movie tonight?”He thought of the last time he did that and couldn’t help his small smile. That was one of the greatest nights of his life. He held on to it as tight as he could.Mia misunderstood his reaction and felt encouraged by it.“And then after maybe we can have some private time. I seem to remember your rather… voracious appetite. You could never get enough of me.” she said suggestively.Lucien’s smile fell away, and he pushed Mia off him.“No thank you,” he said. “We’re not going to have that kind of relationship, Mia. I don’t know how many times I have to say that to you.”“Lucien…”Mia whined.“I’m tired.” He pushed passed her and went to his bedroom.Mia fumed in the hallway. He could keep spurning her advances, but she would keep trying. Will ha
Lucien was stunned for a moment. He pushed Mia away and looked her in the eyes.“A thousand times, yes.”“I am not asking to marry you. My aunt did this.She thinks that by getting married, I can solidify my place as CEO of the company.”“Oh,” Mia said pretending to be shocked. All a part of the plan. “Well, Lucien,if this is what needs to happen for us to be together, then I’m okay with it.”“This isn’t a marriage for love,” He said. He furrowed his eyebrows at Mia’s happy expression. It was as though she wasn’t listening to him. “You know that, right?”“Yes. And like I said, I don’t care. I’m ready to be your wife. I’ve always been ready.” She reached over to embrace him again, but Lucien dodged and stood from the couch. He stared at her with true confusion.“Did I say something wrong?”“How can you be okay with this,Mia? This is an arrange marriage.”“Well, we were heading that way before anyway, weren’t we? Your father always wants us to get married since we were little. And then w
“I understand. But you still have to get me pregnant, don’t you? A child will only further solidify your position, wouldn’t it?”“That’s not going to happen, so you don’t have to worry about it. This marriage is preposterous enough. I’m not going to put you through all of that.”“But what if that’s what I want?” Mia asked.Lucien narrowed his eyes in confusion. This was getting weirder and weirder.“How could you want that? Mia, I may have loved you once, but I don’t anymore. You saw to that.”“Is it Audrey? Is that why you don’t want to have children with me?”“I can’t do this with you, right now.”He turned to leave and Mia grabbed his arm.“She is gone! She left you!”“So did you,” Will seethed.“But I’m back now, and I want to be with you. I want to be your wife and have your babies!”“You should have said that years ago.”“I did! And you said no.”“I said, not yet. For the last damn time, Mia. We were young as hell. There was no reason for us to get married at that age. But I was
Mark came to see him, a disappointed look in his eyes.“What are you doing?” He asked.“I don’t know. Saving my company, I guess.”“Tracy didn’t come with me.”“No, I didn’t think she would. How is she?”“She’s fine. The baby is getting big.”“Good.”“Dude, really. You don’t have to do this.”“I do, though. But thanks. I’ll see you out there.”Mark shook his head and left. His best friend was fading away before his eyes. There was no fire in him anymore. It was only a matter of time until he was completely extinguished.Lucien took his place at the altar. He turned on a false, but bright smile. Camera lights flashed in his eyes. Mia came down the aisle, but he didn’t see her.“Dearly beloved,” the officiant began. “We are gathered here today, the presence of beloved family and friends to celebrate the union of these two people in love.” The officiant’s words were white noise to Lucien. Everything was a haze. He said the right words when he needed to say them, smiled when he needed to
“Listen, I know this has been difficult, and I haven’t made it any easier with my expectations. And I’m sorry about that. I figured we could pick up right where we left off, but we’re different people.”“Mia…”“Please let me finish. If I don’t say this now, I’ll never be able to say it.” Lucien nodded for her to continue. “I hurt you. And I will never forgive myself for that. We may not be everything we were, but I hope we can rebuild something between us again. Remember…” she laughed. “Remember that one time we got lost in the woods during that one camping trip?”“Yeah,” Lucien smiled without wanting to. “You were crying the whole time.”“Excuse me,” she feigned offense. “I remember that quite differently. You were such a scaredy cat back then.”“I was not,” He laughed. “Okay, maybe a little. But still, that time you were the one that was scared. You were convinced that a witch was going to come and eat us.”“I was eight,” Mia defended herself. “How about that time I had to save you
Lucien realized what she was doing. He was still mad at her, but he was grateful for this interaction between her and his cousin. Mia’s visits to the office became a regular thing. Over the next few weeks, the staff grew to like her and were enthusiastic for her visits. She was charming, kind, and polite. He was happy to see this change in her. It made living with her easier. She had recovered from her miserable marriage with Philip, and some of the old Mia had begun to shine through.She seemed ready to move into the next chapter of her life but was trapped in this arranged marriage. It was unfair for both of them. He thought they should have a conversation about that soon. The more time that passed, he knew that he would never love her. Because it had become abundantly clear to him. He loved Audrey now.********Along with Mia’s regular visits to the office,Stella and Julius started visiting his home.Mia was the happy, courteous, and elegant wife society dictated she should be. Luc
Lucien stared at them, his eyes blank and empty.“Your position in the company is in better standing since you got married. Mia’s family is powerful and influential in high society,” Julius stated. “The board is pleased by this union.”“And it was me that arranged the marriage. We should be compensated for securing your standing in the company. My brilliant idea and quick thinking saved you.”Lucien laughed, but the sound was cynical and sour.“Of course. I should have known,” he shook his head, and a sad smile stretched across his face. “For a moment, just a moment I let myself believe that I meant more than dollar signs to you. But I should have known better. And now I see that you trapped me in a marriage I didn’t want so you two could secure your fucking pay day.”“Your father left you everything, and only gave us some stupid cottage that no one wants,” Stella screeched.“You have to take care of us now,” Julius added.“Why should I?Why have you two always been so lazy to work for