6

Aspen

It felt like my heart was being ripped into two and I let out another scream again. He left. My father left. He betrayed me and left with the money. He did not think about my mother, his wife. He just left. He left her to die.

I sat on the floor, crying my eyes out as I had never felt that betrayed and used. I had never felt that much pain before and everything was just crashing, right before my eyes. My life was crashing down. I was officially married to a man that I did not want and my purpose for marrying that man had been ruined.

Tears filled my face and I did not even notice when Killian walked into the room. It was his bergamot and mint smell that filled my nostrils that caused me to lift my head to look at him. He slowly looked around and was quick to read the room as he picked up the paper that was on the floor.

About a minute later, he spoke. “Let’s go home.” I scoffed and then I forced myself to stand up on my feet. I did not care if my face was covered with tears and snort. I hated the man standing in front of me, and I hated my father even more.

“This is my house,” I stated in a firm voice, because I was not leaving.

“Are you forgetting that you are married? You signed the papers. Do you want me to get you a ring? Maybe that's when it will finally dawn on you that we are married. We are getting a ring before going home.” He was about to reach out to hold me when I took a quick step back.

My voice was hard. “I'm not going anywhere with you, Killian. Our deal is off and I'm not your wife.” I lost. I did not gain anything. My mother was sick. She was still sick lying in that hospital bed and my father left with the money.

“It's not my fucking fault that your father ran away with the money. I don't have any dealings with him. My business with him was over the moment I handed over the check.” Killian’s voice was hard and I sharply looked at him.

“Why did you have to give him the check?” I cried at the top of my voice, shoving his shoulders backwards. “I'm the one you married. Not him. Why did you give him the fucking check?” I demanded and the tears just wouldn't stop falling. My heart was aching.

“It's all over and I'm not going to that house with you. Our agreement is off.”

“Aspen, don't dare me,” Killian warned, his voice laced with anger but I scoffed.

“What is the worst that you can do? Kill me? Go on. Go ahead and do it. Kill me. My life is practically over.” I began pacing around the room. I was still trying to come to terms with the fact that my father betrayed me.

“The person I'm doing all this for is still lying unconscious and she might die. She had just a little time left. I….i..i…” I couldn't form any more words and my whole body suddenly went weak.

My body failed me and I weakly sat on the ground. “Why?” I sniffled and I looked at Killian who had a blank expression on his face. “Why does my life have to be so unfortunate all the time!!” I screamed, hitting my palms angrily on the ground.

“Just why?” I screamed again, shaking my head violently. Dropping out of college early, working my lungs out, I was just 22 and I didn't know what it felt like to enjoy life. Everything had come crashing down again.

“Killian,” I stared at the man standing in the room with me, and since I did not want it to be that way, he was my only hope left. He was rich. He could help me.

“Find him. Please. Please, find my father.” I hastily stood up on my feet and then rushed to hold Killian by his shirt. “You have the money, find him. Please, or better still, you can give me half of the money for my payment once our marriage ends. I promise that I will stay, I just want to save my mother.”

I was feeling a myriad of emotions and was not even thinking straight. I just wanted my mother to leave.

“A deal is a deal, Aspen.” Killian’s voice was stern. “The contract states that you get the first payment when we get married. And the second payment when our marriage ends. I don't care about your family drama.” The look in his eyes said it all. He simply did not care.

Killian looked impatient like he wanted to leave. “Can we go?” He glanced at his watch. “I have somewhere to go and I will be dropping you off for—” He did not get to finish his statement when I ran into the kitchen to go grab a knife.

“Aspen, what are you doing??” His eyes narrowed at me once he noticed the knife.

“What does it look like? I'm ending it. Right now. I die, my mother dies. End of story.” She was the only reason why I was living. If she died, I would lose myself.

“Aspen, don't be stupid,” Killian warned.

I sniffled, “I will choose to be stupid. It's better if I just die. I'm going to kill myself and you—”

“Fine.” Killian interrupted me, his voice low, but his brown eyes flashed with anger. “I will give you half of the money left and from now henceforth, you will not disobey a word I say.”

“I agree. Just give me the money to save my mother. I need to go to the hospital.” The truth was that time was running out already.

“I will take you there. Once you pay for the damned treatment, you put an end to this family drama and focus on being my wife. Get your things and be in the car in five minutes. Don't keep me waiting.” He ordered and then walked out of the house like he was walking out of filth.