Chapter 24

-Hi.

(Vivien) Marcus was standing in front of me at the opened door, he sketched a short smile. I defrosted and put on a welcoming smile as well, getting from the way to let him enter.

-Hey.

I said silently while looking at him step inside the house.

-So, you're back.

-Yeah.

-Did your doctor say it was okay?

-Yeah, Jennifer said I can go back to work.

-Jennifer?

-Yes.

-But she's only a nurse.

He stopped and looked at me, staring directly into my eyes.

-Don't you want me here?

-No, that's not-

-Because I can quit if that fiancé of yours is better at protecting you than me.

-This is not what I meant, I don't want you to quit.

I came closer to him, reassuring him by placing my hand on his arm but his cold glare made me take it off.

-Besides that, Oliver doesn't live here.

-Won't take him long.

-Marcus...

-Or better said, it won't take you long to move at his place.

I remained silent, avoiding to look at him.

-Isn't that right? How long until you are going to stretch in his bed?

-Marcus...

-After a good session?

-Marcus! Stop.

-Why?

-Because your words are hurting me.

-Well, your actions hurt me.

He left before I could say another word, I watched him leave before I went to my own room.

I sat on the bed with my head in my hands and let the sorrowful tears fall down my cheeks. I played our meeting in my mind over again, wondering why he was so hard on me. I haven't betrayed him, my father forced me to get engaged.

It was only a few days after I started getting better. I remembered my father's lit face popping up in my room, he sat carefully on the bed and started telling me about his partner's son and how great he was.

-I think you two should meet, get things going.

-What do you mean?

-Well, if everything will go well between you then we can arrange an engagement.

-An engagement?

-Yes, it's about time.

-But I'm only 17. I haven't even finished school yet.

-Sweetie there is no need to, Oliver will take good care of you and our business.

-I want to finish school.

-Give him a chance.

-I won't get engaged!

-Think about it.

-I have nothing to think about. I won't get engaged!

-I said think about it!

He snapped at me, for a second I could see all his anger and frustrations gather up and then leave when he tried to control himself again.

-It's good for the business.

-Good for the business? What about me? What about what's good for me?

-It's going to be good for you too.

He sat up and went to the door, ready to leave when he was turned around by the sound of my voice.

-How do you know?

He stayed a bit then left. I deepened my head into the fluffy pillow and slid one hand on my belly. I looked back at it, concentrating on the grain of love who was growing inside of me.

Next day my dad appeared with a young, tall man, whose blue eyes fixed on me since he entered. I sat up, confusion easily being read by my father who stopped in front of me and went on presenting the stranger without even saying "hi".

-This is Oliver Franklin, my partner's son.

He came closer to me and stick his hand out for me to grab it.

-A pleasure to finally meet you.

I took it and smiled in my sweetest way.

-I am sure it is, unfortunately I can't say the same.

He stepped aside, slightly surprised by what I said. My dad frowned at me and came fast by Oliver's side smiling apologetic.

-This is my daughter Vivien who is considerably nicer usually.

-It is okay Mister Collin, I understand she suffered quite a shock.

-Oh please, Oliver, you can call me Alexander.

Alexander? My mom was the only one who was allowed to call him by his first name.

-Well, I am going to go now, let you two get to know each other.

He smiled in Oliver's direction and left hurriedly. Oliver signed a goodbye and turned back to me, his friendly face starting somehow to look threatening.

-I have nothing to talk to you.

-Well I hope you are going to be more talkative when you are going to be my wife.

-I am not going to be your wife.

-Of course, not now, I am too young for marriage.

-I meant never.

He chuckled and came closer to me, sitting on the edge of the bed.

-Think about it Vivien, we will be great as a couple.

-You don't even know me.

-Oh, I know more about you than you think.

What does he know about me?

-Just imagine how good business will work if I have a woman like you by my side.

-Too bad you aren't going to.

His smiled vanished, he sat up and smirked while staring directly into my eyes.

-You know, it doesn't really matter what you say, because we are going to get married anyway.

-Really? What makes you think that?

-Your father.

He winked and exited the room. I was furious with him, but he was right, this marriage was going to happen even if I don't want to. He didn't visit anymore until the day he came in with a ring and made everything official. I remember his jerky smile while he was putting the ring on my finger, proving me that I was wrong, that I am not the one controlling this situation even if it was about my own life.

I was surprised when, after I was allowed to leave the hospital, he didn't request me to move in with him, he said we will after the marriage, after his house will be fully finished. But the one thing he did request was as well the hardest to give, endless nights of love-making. Tears roamed on my cheeks at the bare memory of those nights and on the ones which were about to come.

I slapped away from those memories, decided to find Marcus and explain to him everything. I got up from the bed and ran downstairs. I looked for him everywhere until I went out in the garden. There he was, under a tree with its full branches lying upon him, covering him from the shiny sun, kissing passionately Jennifer.

I froze, standing by the opened door still inside with one leg. He noticed me and pushed Jennifer from him. I backed slowly in the house as I felt my heart breaking in two and tears fell down my face. He stepped towards me looking sad that I saw him.

-Vivien!

Once again, I ran as far as I could from him, but this time to a place I knew very well, my room. I closed the door behind me and I felt his hurried steps following me. He stopped, being completely silent for a moment then knocked.

-Vivien please open, let me explain.

-Go away!

-No. I want to talk.

I wiped my tears and went to open him.

-There's nothing to explain.

-I let you explain before, now let me.

-Let me? You screamed into my face hurtful things without even listening to me.

-I have listened.

-No! You just assumed that I have betrayed you.

-Because you did!

-Well now you did too! Would you look at that? We are the same now!

-No, we're not.

-You know what? You are right, we are not, because unlike you I didn't choose to betray you, I was forced to!

-What do you mean?

-I mean that my father forced me into a marriage that I don't want, exactly what I told you when you found out.

-Vivien...

-And you know what, every minute of those horrible moments I was worried about you. I was worried that you are never going to wake up and that you are never going to come and save me from that nightmare.

His expression saddened and he came closer to me, stretching his arms in a hug.

-No! Don't touch me! I don't want to see you.

-Vivien I-

-Do you even love her?

-Who?

-Jennifer, do you even love her?

He let his arms fall by his body and let his head down.

-Yes, yes I do.

-I think you were right.

-About what?

-I think we do need some time apart from each other.

-What do you mean?

-You're fired.