not about us

Pearl’s P.O.V.

“How is he?” I asked my father anxiously when he entered my room with a grim and exhausted expression.

I didn’t know why they all stopped me from going with Jack to the hospital. I was feeling trapped, and this feeling was suffocating me. My parents went to the hospital with Jack and his family, but left me with the rest of my family.

“He is still in surgery. She not only thrust the knife inside his stomach but twisted it cruelly before anyone could push her away,” he replied to me tiredly while going towards the couch. All my friends who were sitting there immediately stood up, leaving a good space for him.

“I want to go there, Dad. I am his fiancée. I should be there, not here.” I spoke frantically, restless, anxious, and scared.

“You can’t go out, Pearl. Try to understand the situation.” Dad replied to me with the same thing that he and mom had been saying to me since they took Jack to the hospital.

“And why can’t?” I yelled out of rage, glaring hard at him.

“I am his fiancée. We would have finished our wedding by now if he isn’t in this state. I ….. I should have been with him there, not sitting here,” I yelled again, unable to suppress my anger and frustration by now.

“But that didn’t happen.” Dad roared, making me shut my mouth and look at him with a stunned expression.

“This marriage was never just about the two of you.” His next sentence was like a bomb was thrown at me.

Never just about us?

Then what was it about?

I swallowed hard, finally finding my voice.

“Then what is it about?” I asked quietly, my voice shaking and unfamiliar to me.

Everyone's gaze was on me, but I kept my eyes locked on my father, who was still avoiding my gaze.

Sapphire’s grip softened slightly, as if she sensed something shifting inside me.

Dad hesitated. His hesitation made my heart sink in the deep pit of my stomach. Dread filled my heart.

He took a few deep breaths before looking at me with a firm and cold gaze.

“You need to wed with Arthur tonight, Pearl.” My brain short-circuited as the next words left his mouth.

After everything that happened tonight, I understood that he was also on the verge, but that didn’t mean he could act on such nonsense.

“What the f**k are you saying, Dad? This isn’t funny.” Sapphire yelled this time, anxiety and anger evident in her voice, but I just studied my father’s angry face.

He looked helpless, but beneath that , I couldn’t decipher that expression.

He rubbed his palms on his face, stretching the silence in the room.

Did he just say that I have to marry Arthur?

Arthur Froste???

Jack’s elder brother, and my deceased cousin, Vera’s husband???

The one who is still mourning his dead wife???

My mind had completely refused to process or register anything by now.

In just a few hours, my whole world had turned upside down. I have always been clear-minded when it comes to solving a crisis, but this crisis was the worst.

I had been trained to be the heiress all my life, but right now, I ….. I didn’t know what I exactly was.

“It…. It’s not like this, Sapphire…. I….. we…. thought th… that we still have some time…. We…. we thought th… that we would explain everyth… everything to you and Jack before you two go for your wedding night…. B… but.” I listened to my father in a daze.

Have some time??

Explain???

The door opened again. I looked in that direction in a daze, but froze again when I saw Arthur Froste entering the room with an expressionless face.

His domineering aura suffocated the cramped room. He slowly closed the door and looked at my father.

“Jack is out of the OR and is in the recovery room. He… he is still critical, but doctors are optimistic about his condition given the fact that he is still young.” He told my father, but it was enough for me to feel my knees go jelly.

I almost collapsed in Sapphire’s embrace when the relief washed over me.

Thank god!!!

Yeah. Thank god!!!!

“Easy, sis. I got you.” Sapphire comforted me and dragged me towards the couch. Everyone moved away, but I just breathed in relief.

“Here…. Drink some water first.” Someone offered me a glass of water, but my vision was too blurred to recognize her face.

I drank some water, or it’s better to say that Sapphire made me drink some water.

“You should stop crying now. He will be okay soon.” She comforted me while making me drink water.

“Can I go to see him now?” I asked my father in a shaky voice after calming myself down a bit.

“I am sorry, kiddo. I really am. But there is something th… that we should have told you before.” He replied to me with a guilty look.

My heart sank, and I looked at him fearfully.

He took a deep breath and looked at my mother, who was sitting behind me.

I also followed his gaze and looked at her.

My parents weren’t like those parents who raised their children as possessions and used to use them to build up connections in the business world later.

Even though my marriage to Jack was arranged, and we did have some business arrangements based on this marriage arrangement, my parents asked me to spend some time with Jack before agreeing to the proposal.

So, their behavior was now getting on my nerves. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

“This marriage agreement has never been a business deal or to join powers. We arranged this marriage to save …………Evan.” Mom’s voice became almost a whisper in the end.

I blinked once before moving my gaze to the sleeping little boy in Aunt Sofia’s arms.

He looked so small and fragile, a sleeping angel, unaware of the chaos around him.

Evan Froste – Vera and Arthur’s son, my nephew.

The child who lost his mother before he even understood what loss meant.

“What do you mean… save him?” I asked slowly; my heartbeat paced a little again.

And now—

Evan?

Evan got his facial features from both Vera and Arthur, making him handsome and cute at the same time.

Although I didn’t get enough time to spend with him because of my position in the company, I still love to play with him whenever I get the time to fill the gap created by the absence of his mother.

Now he is telling me that Evan is also dying like Vera?

“He… he fainted seven months ago,” Aunt Sofia continued, her voice trembling.

“At first, we thought it was weakness… but after the tests…” Her voice broke, and she sobbed aloud, lowering her head in the process.

Uncle Wilson wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her as she cried silently.

“It was diagnosed late. Evan is already in the last stage,” Dad added quietly.

My fingers curled into fists.

Seven months.

They knew for seven months.

And no one told me?

Anger flickered inside me.

Sharp.

Hot.

But I pushed it down.

“Then what about treatment?” I asked quietly, still trying to keep my breath calm, but this seemed like the most difficult task in the present situation.

“Chemotherapy? Bone marrow transplant? There are options, right?” I added hopefully.

“There are, honey,” Mom said, her voice gentle but filled with helplessness.

“But Evan doesn’t have much time. We have been trying our best to find a matching donor, but.......” She sobbed silently, leaving the sentence midway.

My breath hitched. A piece of information popped into my mind.

“Both Arthur and Jack have the same blood type as Evan,” I said quickly, trying to make sense of it. “Then why can’t they donate?”

“Because blood type is not enough,” Mom replied softly.

I froze.

“There are other factors. Genetic markers. Compatibility levels. The doctors said that neither Arthur nor Jack is a perfect match,” she explained in between her sobs, but it was enough to extinguish the hope that had sparked inside me earlier.

The room felt colder and darker.

“Okay. J… just tell me how his illness is related to my marriage.” I asked them directly; I was too afraid of the dread creeping in my heart. I wanted them to answer my questions differently.

For my sake, please answer differently.