An Arranged Marriage

Eden’s Point of View

As soon as they noticed me they both disengaged, Evangeline quickly grappling for the sheets to cover her naked body.

Uriel’s eyes met mine, but instead of guilt or regret, he simply rolled his eyes.

“It’s just you.” He muttered as he hopped out of bed, wearing his briefs and pants.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” I queried.

“I thought we were getting robbed or something, only to find you in the doorway.” He was dismissive. “What are you doing here? You didn’t inform me you were coming today.”

Evangeline also started getting dressed in back, but for some reason I couldn’t take my eyes off Uriel because where did he find the nerve?

“Are you insane?” I questioned. “I just caught you in bed with my little sister, and the most you could say was why I didn’t inform you I was coming!?”

My voice rose with every syllable, I could feel my entire being tremble with rage.

“You have never treated me like I was your little sister!” Evangeline snapped.

“Because of shits like this, you find every way to sabotage me, taking everything that belongs to me—” I drew a sharp breath, desperately trying to calm down. “And now, you are sleeping with my fiancé?”

“Uriel doesn’t belong to you.”

I can see that.

 “He wants me, and I love him.” She retorted in her annoyingly high-pitched voice, my jaws clenched and the only thing I want in this moment is to fucking strangle her.

“You both are so fucking shameless.” I snapped. “And despicable. You disgust me, Evangeline.”

“Don’t act like you’re the victim,” Uriel interrupted me. “You were always too busy with one surgery or the other, you don’t even have time for me, and when you do, you don’t even let me touch you.”

“And that is supposed to somehow justify the fact that you are cheating on me with my sister?” Maybe I am missing something.

“He was going to break up with you,” Evangeline added sharply. “And this is the right moment. We have been planning a little something for me, Tell her, Uriel.”

“I got Evangeline a contract to debut into the acting world, and with her stunning beauty she is going to be the next Marilyn Monroe!” He was beaming with pride. “She doesn’t need to slave away in that godforsaken hospital, when she was born to be a superstar.”

I chuckled.

The hate and uncertainty flowing out of my chest, and now I am looking forward to seeing the look on father’s face when he realizes that his precious and most prized Evangeline is dumping med school, to do something as ridiculous as acting.

“You know, father has high hopes for you, he believes you are the savior of the hospital.” I mocked. “With your very precise skills and good brains. You will be the next director.”

“They gave us a month to close the hospital down,” She neared me. “And I don’t share your pathetic dreams or vision, I am not going to live my life, based on the dying wish of some—”

Reflexively, I slapped her. Hard.

“I can tolerate anything, but don’t you dare mock grandma’s memories.” I growled, and Uriel pushed me away from her.

“How dare you?”  

“The engagement is off.” I removed the ring from my middle finger and threw it at him, throwing one more glare in my sister’s direction, I left.

My relationship with Uriel wasn’t exactly perfect, I got engaged with him out of pressure to find a man.

Not that I really needed one, but it gave me a sense of completion, trying to prove to my father that I wasn’t exactly as miserable as he claimed I would be.

And yes.

I am indeed miserable.

Fuck, my life. I let out a stiff sigh.

To get my mind off these things, I did a small tour of the town, and I only went home when it was dark.

“I am skipping dinner today.” I muttered as soon as I got in, the entire family was in the living room, discussing something. Ignoring them, I walked towards the stairs.   

 “You will not.” Father snapped, and my feet stopped.

“You don’t expect me to join you to eat dinner after what you have done to me?” My glance flickered between father and Evangeline.

“Well, I don’t care if you want to eat or not, I have an announcement.” He was nonchalant as usual.

“I have something to tell you as well.” Evangeline stiffened, glaring at me, as if daring me to reveal it, and hell I will.

We all gathered at the dinning, while the maids served us food.

“I have good news, and I am sure whatever is about to come out of your mouth can’t be so good, so out with it.” Father reached for his champagne glass.

Iris, my stepmother’s eyes met mine with a faint smile playing on her face.

“Thank you for the honor, father.” I started sarcastically. “Just as you guessed, nothing good ever comes out of my mouth. First, I’d like to start with I called off the engagement between Uriel and I.”

“I never really liked that actor boy.” Father expressed his displeasure drinking some more and Iris nodded hurriedly.

“I think the whole relationship seemed forced; there was no real chemistry between you.” Iris said spitefully.

“Yes, thanks to your daughter. She has been making sexual services of ease to Uriel.” My eyes darted towards Evangeline who instantly paled. “I caught them red handed. You should see your daughter riding her sister’s fiancé so passionately, like a real-life p**n star.”

“What?” Iris gasped.  

“Is this true?” Father asked.

 

“Also, before I forget, she also claimed to have dropped out of medical school, and wants to pursue her dream as an actress.” I chirped in with a sweet smile, in anger father slammed his cutlery to the table, and I picked mine up, since my appetite was suddenly returning.

“Father, it is never my intention to hurt your feelings or anything.” She blurted out quickly. “I love Uriel, and what we have is real. Also, I never wanted to be a medical practitioner, I was forced into that life because of Grandma’s dying wish.”

“You cannot love a man who is supposed to be your sister’s husband.” He scolded, that was a first, he barely said anything in my favor. “What is this nonsense about you dropping out of medical school? Is that a joke, Evangeline? I don’t know you as someone of such dark humor.”

“Father I am not joking.” She seemed more passionate now. “I am going to marry Uriel, and I want to be an actor. In fact, he even got me a gig already, and within a month I will become the world’s biggest superstar.”

“That can’t happen.” Father seemed certain. “You have been arranged to marry the first son of Dr. Keegan Adler, Theron Adler.”

The table went silent.

“What?” She blinked and I simply picked up the champagne glass, this would be a long night for someone.

“I spoke to Mr. Adler about the merger of the hospital, and he agreed on the condition that one of my daughters marries his first son, Theron.” Father explained the calmest voice ever. “Since you are smarter than your sister, I figured you should do it.”

Honestly, I couldn’t even be offended at the point, but for some reason, the name Theron seemed too familiar.

Theron Adler. Where have I heard such a name?

“You cannot be serious!” This time, it wasn’t just Evangeline, but even her mother was out of it. “Anyone but him. Do you even know what people say about him?”

“He is one of the greatest surgeons in the country, he is basically a celebrity, people will talk about him.” Father’s reaction was almost nonexistent.

“People are not just talking father, that man is a diagnosed psychopath.” Evangeline snapped, and I winced slightly, must be tough to be arranged to a psycho.

“He is a man who has had the most successful surgeries in five years now, a psychopath who doesn’t have a problem doing his job. I don’t think you will have any problem with being his wife.”

‘Father I could literally get killed, people like that are serial killers.”

Well, since I am the dumb one, I better be quiet, and this steak is super delicious.

“He has too much at stake to just randomly kill his wife, you are doing this for the sake of the family.” Father slammed his hands on the table. “That is enough, the deal has been made, break up with your boyfriend, we are having dinner with the Adlers tomorrow.”