All Chapters of THE ARRANGED BRIDE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

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

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?

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

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

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