“Ronan wouldn’t agree to that,” I whisper. He’s a player and loves his freedom more than anything in the world.
Dad remains cool and calm. I don’t know how he does it. “Earl Astor said Ronan will agree to anything he asks of him.”
Oh, God.
I’m going to be sick.
“And…” I meet Dad’s gaze. “What did you tell him?”
“I said I’ll talk to you.” Dad takes my hand in his, strong, warm, and safe. “I’ll never force you to do anything, you know that, right, princess?”
Oh. Thank God.
I want to help Dad, but I’ll never agree to an arranged marriage. I want to marry someone I love. Someone who flips my world upside down by just being there.
Someone like Aiden.
Wait… no. Where did that idea come from? I don’t want to marry Aiden… right? It’s too early to even think about marrying Aiden.
Stay the fuck down, heart. Don’t even think about celebrating that thought.
“Think about it,” Dad says. “I’ll go with whatever you decide.”
I’m tempted to tell him ‘no’ straight away, but the look in his eyes stops me. It’s not pleading, but it’s close to… desperation.
Dad needs this alliance.
It hurts me to think about killing all his hopes at once. I need a lot more courage than I have right now.
After agreeing to think about it, I retreat to my room.
I throw my backpack on the chair and flop onto the bed. I hit play on my iPod and Another Place by Bastille fills the air.
What’s the best way to refuse Dad’s offer without being a complete bitch? Either way, he’ll lose Earl Astor and might even be categorised as an enemy by the upper-class community.
Dad spent a lot of energy on this come back. Hell, he returned from the dead. I can’t just destroy his efforts.
Ugh.
This is so confusing.
I need a cup of hot chocolate to calm down. Oh, and my meds. Aunt will call me in a few and give me a lecture if she finds out I didn’t take them.
My heart palpitations have turned up in intensity these last couple of days. I’ll have to cave in and visit Dr Albert.
Please don’t have the doctor suggest a surgery. The thought of another one terrifies the bejesus out of me
My phone vibrates on my way to the kitchen.
My heart beats loudly at the thought that it might be Aiden. What would he say if he found out? Actually, I know what he’ll say.
He’ll ask me to refuse and if I can’t, he’ll do it for me.
Aiden doesn’t care about Dad’s well-being or how much losing Earl Astor’s support would devastate him.
Aiden is shameless about what he wants and isn’t above flipping the world the middle finger.
My stomach sinks when the caller ID doesn’t turn out to be Aiden.
Speak of the devil.
I swipe the screen. “Hey, Ronan.”
“Hey, fiancé.” His playful tone releases some of the dread perched on my chest.
“This isn’t the time to joke around.”
“Who says I’m joking? Father just said I’m getting married to you. I hit the jackpot! Think about the number of threesomes we’ll have, Ellie. Even Kimmy will be game to join if you’re my wife. Le paradis est juste ici.”
I narrow my eyes as if he can see me. “Why do you sound so happy?”
“Because I am! I’ve been imagining the look on King’s face when he finds out you’re my fiancé.” He hums. “You think I’ll be able to catch his expression on camera before he chops my head off with an axe?”
I smile despite myself. “Probably not.”
“I’ll ask Knight or Nash to film it, then. I’m leaving a legacy behind. Oh, and a fortune. You’ll be one of those lethally rich widows who dresses in black and has three black cats.”
I laugh, stopping near the corner. “You’re such a twat.”
“See? Marrying me won’t be so bad. We’ll have so much fun.”
“Be serious, Ronan.” I sigh. “Why don’t you tell your father you don’t want to get married?”
“I can’t tell my father anything. His word is law in this household.”
“So you’ll agree?”
“Already done. I’m an earl’s only child and heir, Ellie. It’s written in my birth certificate that I’ll have an arranged marriage. I’m lucky it’s with you and not with some snob that will suck the life out of my bones. You know how fucking scary that is?”
I pause, thinking about his point of view. I never thought Ronan would have these types of worries. He’s always so playful and carefree, no one sees the weight he carries on his shoulders.
“But I —”
“I know.” He cuts me off. “King, that lucky bastard, came first. Fucker. However, I’m not allowed to refuse the engagement from my side. You have to be the one to stab your sword straight to my virgin heart.”
“You’re such a dork.” I laugh.
“And you have such an awful taste in men,” Ronan mocks with an edge of drama. “Now if you excuse me, I’m going to nurse my broken heart with some weed and a girl — or two.”
I hung up with a smile.
The smile falls when I realise that Ronan’s completely out and I have to be the one who ends this. I groan. Is there no other way aside from hurting Dad?
“Are you going to agree?”
I jump at Teal’s quiet voice. I didn’t even notice she was there.
“You know about it?” I ask.
“Agnus mentioned it.” She studies her black nails, not meeting my gaze. “Thirteen already agreed to marry you.”
Since that practice football game, Teal often calls the horsemen by their jersey’s numbers.
“I thought you were with Eleven?”
“I am… sort of,” I say. “I won’t marry Ronan. I just have to find the appropriate way to tell Dad.”
Teal meets my gaze, but she remains silent. “Dad needs that alliance with the Astor family. Earl Astor has the best title amongst the voting committee and if he pledges to Dad, everyone else will follow his lead.”
“I know that.” That’s why it hurts so much, and my brain is working in overdrive.
“If you know, why don’t you act?” she asks with genuine curiosity as if all of this is too easy.
“I can’t do an arranged marriage when I already have someone else in my heart.”
“That’s why it’s better to have no one in your heart. Those who show weakness lose.”
“It depends on who you show that weakness to, Teal.”
She gives a sharp nod and sidesteps me to walk towards her room.
I’m tempted to follow and ask her why she’s been in such a pissed off mood today — more than usual — but I choose to give her space.
Besides, I’m too caught up in my own head right now.
My phone vibrates.
My heart jumps with joy at Aiden’s name.
Aiden: Come out the back entrance.
I don’t even think about it. I jog down the hall and straight to the back door used by the staff.
The moment I step outside, a strong hand wraps around my mouth. I gasp, but the sound is drowned into the skin.
The hard, strong skin I recognise.
My gaze meets Aiden’s for the briefest second, and excitement whirls into my bones.
I barely get a glance before he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder like a caveman.
Squealing, I hold on to his back with both hands. “W-what are you doing, Aiden?”
“I’m kidnapping you, sweetheart. It’s been long overdue.”
Elsa
I’m being kidnapped.
How does someone react when they’re kidnapped?
It’s not like I have the manual or something. Considering my relationship with Aiden, I should’ve probably bought the thing.
Deep down, I knew he’d do this someday. I knew he’d give the world his middle finger and whisk me away on his black horse.
Like an old-fashioned kidnapper, Aiden tied my hands in front of me so they’re lying on my lap. He also covered my hands with a blanket so no one would see what he’s done.
I should be thankful he didn’t strap my mouth with duct tape. But then again, that will draw people’s attention and Aiden is too smart for that.
The car speeds into the distance like a wrecking ball. Aiden’s complete concentration is on the road. There’s no tick in his jaw or a twitch in his left eye.
If I didn’t know better, I would say he appears serene. Peaceful even.
Oh, who am I kidding? There’s no such thing as peaceful with Aiden. Not when I’m sure he heard all about the engagement.
For the past hour or so, I’ve been thinking about what to say, but I’m distracted by his scent and sheer presence.
I’m lost in how his dark jeans tighten around his muscular thighs and how his grey pullover brings out the metal colour of his eyes. His hair is dishevelled in a sexy bedroom kind of way, though some tiredness is wearing down his expression.
I heard the flight from China to England is more than twelve hours. He must be exhausted. Still, I relish in the fact that he came to me first.
He crossed the seas for me.
Despite the circumstances, the breaths I take are deeper, cleaner, and so damn liberated.
The itch to hug and kiss him writhes inside me like I’m possessed. I want to run my fingers through his hair, feel his slight stubble against my cheek, and let him own me.
All of me.