Chapter 8

Carly

His words kept resonating in my head.

Him being glad that I was the same, there was something about the way he said it that didn’t sit well with me. Like, there was more to it. But I wasn't going to sit and get locked up. I needed to stop the engagement soon, and the only way to do that was to speak to my dear father.

So here I was in his mansion.

The door opened to the large living room, and I entered. It was no different from the main mansion, the one my mother now occupied, and I wondered why it was built exactly the same.

“Oh, dear Carly, you should have informed me that you were coming,” Elizabeth, my stepmother, walked down the stairs. Her heels echoed in the house as she moved. She was dressed luxuriously as always.

 She halted in front to embrace me, and I avoided her by moving to the side.

“I'm not here for you, but for Father. Where is he?”

She looked embarrassed, yet she forced a smile. “Lately, your father hasn't been doing well, so he is resting.”

I rolled my eyes.

Father was clearly alright. I had checked on his status before coming down, and for some reason, I felt like he was hiding somewhere right now, hearing me talk.

“Tell him to come out if he doesn't want his son’s shares to be bought. And he should trust me that I can make that work,”

Her face dropped, “You shouldn't threaten your father with your brother! I understand that you do not respect us, but you should respect your father, Carly.”

No one had thought she was a saint with her speech, but Elizabeth was far from that. She was the devil herself.

“What's the fuss about?”

I looked up the stairs to Father´s voice as he walked down. He was still in his nightwear. It must have been fun to mess with my life only to lie peacefully.

Elizabeth walked to him, linking her hand with his. In the presence of my father, she was younger and beautiful, and that was his downfall.

“You said you wanted to rest in, why did you come down?” Her voice was low as they spoke to each other, something I’ve never seen with my mother and him. It should be lovely, but I found it disgusting, seeing him all lovely dovely with another woman.

“How could I rest well knowing you are alone facing her?” He began and pointed to me.  I scoffed.

Yes, she should be scared.

Taking the papers from my bag, I dropped them on the table.

“What is this?” Elizabeth picked them to read, “Oh, your engagement.”

 I don't know if she was shocked, but I doubt it.

“You should be grateful that your father set up this agreement, Carly. Anyone would die to be Arthur’s wife, yet you got it handed to you easily, despite your history. You really have it all.” 

She looked happy, genuinely happy, and that was the level to which her pretentious act was levelled because Elizabeth will never be happy for me, just like my father. The whole marriage arrangement was likely concluded by both of them.

I looked at my father, who has refused to say anything. “Cancel the engagement. I spoke to Arthur and he has agreed not to be involved, so end it with whoever you started it with.” I spoke, my voice was stern, wanting the message to be passed.

Father´s brows furrowed, but his lips curled into a smile. “The engagement was between the elders, so neither of you has a choice but to accept it. We know what is best for you both, and I must say the whole country agrees to it too.”

I laughed. Everything was turning funny all of a sudden.

“Everyone knows you will never seek what is good for me. You only care about your mistress and son, so let's drop it, Father.”

“Carly!” Elizabeth yelled, but Father raised his hand, stopping her.

What a stupid act.

“You are as smart as always, Carly. Now that you know my intention, shouldn't you ask why I did it?” He had a smug look on his face as he picked up the papers, looking at them as he nodded.

I indeed knew he had a motive for suddenly wanting me to marry Arthur, yet it broke my heart seeing him all happy over my situation. But it has always been like that.

 I didn't want to give in.

I didn't want to see that triumphant look at getting what he wants at the expense of cheating me.  But there was no other way. In the world of the rich, parents are in charge of certain things, and marriage was one of them.

“You see, Carly,” He stood as he moved to his painting on the wall. It was one of the younger him and my grandfather together. “I have never thought that one day I could finally use this information. Back then, I found it a nuisance, but who would have thought it would favour me some days?”

I frowned, looking as he traced his finger over the portrait.

“Have you never wondered why I suddenly stopped you from going to your school after you got pregnant?” He looked at my stomach in disdain. “That was because I found out who was responsible.”

I looked at him in shock. How did he know? He shouldn't have known? I’ve never thought there was a reason. I thought he stopped me because he didn't want me to bring shame to the family, but now, as I looked at his expression, I knew there was more to it, and whatever it was, was about to hurt me.

“Who was it?” I asked, my voice coming out low.

“Arthur,” He laughed, his voice sending chills. “You and your mother indeed share the same blood. Just like her, you were about to ally with someone of equal status at such age, so I had to stop it. Well, you could also say I was doing our family a favour. But now….,”

Suddenly, I could no longer hear his voice. It was like I was taken back to those years. Father knew, yet pushed me to the end. Why? Why did he hate me so much that he had done that?

I looked at him, my heart heavy, but I wasn't going to show him how affected I was.

“Now, you can choose to be with him just like you wanted, though he betrayed you. You can still make it work, or I revoke the arrangement.”

I looked at him, knowing something was coming next.

“Hand over the companies, and I’ll end the engagement. You can keep yours, I won't ask for those, but hand over the ones that belong to me.”

As expected, that was what he was after.

Laughter erupted from me. Everything was just ridiculous. Father stared at me like I had lost my mind.

My companies were enough to last me for a lifetime, but my grandfather gave me his to pay for father's sins, and there was no way I would give it up in a shady way.

Father may love tormenting me, but what he didn't know was that, a long time ago, I had decided to pay back everything he did.

“Then, I’ll take my pick,”

He looked at me, smiling as if knowing what I was going to choose. Arthur may have become my trauma, but I wasn't going to allow anyone to use it against me.

“I’ll get married to Arthur. Since you did a favor by engaging us, please do another and prepare for a wedding.”