A blessing in disguise!

Viola

“Hi, Miss Viola, the checkout time is ten, that's about thirty minutes from now. We’d like to know when you'll be leaving so we can send in the cleaners,” the receptionist said over the phone.

I was in the bathroom when the phone rang, and I had to run out to answer it. My hair was still dripping, so I held it up while I thought about my next step. I don't have a house to go back to, my bank accounts have been frozen, and my boyfriend is a ba*stard cheat.

I used all the money on me to pay for the night, and now that the hotel wants me out, I have to come up with a plan, or I'd be on the streets in thirty minutes.

“Ma’am? Are you there?” the lady called out.

I didn't have an answer yet and was about to hang up when my eyes suddenly wandered to the bed. The money Mr. Rude stranger gave me was still lying there, carelessly. Just then, I knew what I had to do.

“You know what? I'd be booking for a week.” I finally found my voice.

“Okay ma'am, do you need anything? Food, drinks…”

“Yes, of course,” I cut in sharply and then proceeded to make an order for breakfast.

I finally hung up, and then sank onto the sofa. Still staring at the money, I let out a soft smile. Maybe Mr. Rude stranger is a blessing in disguise after all…

For the next week, the money came in handy, and I got everything I needed until there were just a few notes left.

I knew I had to find a way again, and this time, it had to be a stable solution. I remembered the card my dad gave me before leaving. The one that has his friend, Frank’s number. I didn’t want to call him though.

My dad wasn’t okay with Jake and me dating. He believed Jake didn't love me and was only with me for money. Thinking about it now, he was right. Jake never truly loved me.

My dad then planned with Frank to matchmake me and his son. We both didn't show up at the blind date and the arranged marriage plan died a natural death.

That's the reason why I'm skeptical about calling or going over to his place. What if he’s still mad about the failed date? And the son, how do we even face each other?

But then, I had no other choice. I'm going to have to deal with all my fears later. I picked up my phone and then called Frank.

“Oh my God! Viola! I've been expecting your call forever! I'm glad you finally did. Send me your address, I will send a car over to bring you home right away!” he exclaimed over the phone.

A part of me was so relieved at that point. At least, now I know he's not mad at me.

I sent him the hotel address and in two hours, my ride arrived.

In another two hours, I was at the mansion. Frank and his wife, Brenda, were so happy to see me and welcomed me warmly. Brenda was the happiest. It was as if she had been waiting for me her whole life. She immediately had the table set for dinner and as she ushered me there, I suddenly looked up and my eyes caught a picture.

I froze immediately and had to look again to be sure I wasn’t mistaken. The person in the picture looked exactly like Mr. Rude stranger and for the life of me, I wished he wouldn’t be the one.

“Ohhh, that’s Mark, our son.” Brenda let out when she saw me staring.

“He will be joining us for dinner too. I’ll introduce you two then… Ohhh… there he is!” she exclaimed while I looked up, and once again, I froze.

The picture didn’t look like him. He was really the one. Frank and Brenda’s son is Mark, the man I had a one-night stand with.

What are the f*cking odds?

“Viola, this is Mark, my son. Mark, this is Viola, my good friend, Jonathan’s daughter. She will be staying with us for the meantime, so be nice to her.” Frank was the one who did the introductions, after which he and Brenda looked at me and Mark, expecting us to say something.

“Hi Mark, it’s nice to meet you,” I finally said, while Mark looked at me and arrogantly nodded.

I was so mad and had to refrain from emptying my plate on him. It’s bad enough that he was rude to me before. Now he was being a jerk.

“Nice to meet you too, Viola. For the love of God, can I eat in peace now?” He finally let out when they wouldn’t stop staring.

“We wouldn’t be here if you had both just showed up for the blind date. You would have gone past this introduction and maybe… we would be planning your wedding now.” Frank let out while I almost choked on my drink. I wasn’t expecting him to bring it up. If only he knew we’d done more than just introductions…

Mark, on the other hand, was very composed and wasn’t moved a bit.

“That’s never going to happen. She’s not my type. A gun to my head and I still wouldn’t marry her!” He let out with so much pride.

I was so irritated. Who the hell does he think he is, talking to me like that? It’s not like I have a placard on my head begging to be picked!!

The rest of the dinner was interesting. Frank and Brenda tried to make me feel at home, but Mark? He was the total opposite. He was a complete jerk, he ignored me like I didn’t even exist at all.

By the time we were done eating, I was convinced he wasn’t the same man from the hotel.

Maybe they just looked alike, and I’m just mistaken - I thought to myself as I made my way into my room upstairs.

Just before I opened the door, someone suddenly grabbed and pulled me into the corner. I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. Mark had his hand tightly over my mouth.

“Be quiet and listen to me,” he whispered as he slowly removed his hand.

“What the heck? Why would you do that? I could have gotten hurt!” I said to him.

“But you’re not. Listen carefully to me, I don’t know what silly games you’re playing, showing up in my house like this. You’ve managed to have my parents fooled but not me. I have paid you for your silence, and you have to stay silent. Stay away from me!”

“And if you ever think of running your mouth, remember the consequences. I’ll make you disappear without a trace even before you finish your first sentence!”

“Are we clear here?” He asked while I just rolled my eyes and turned to leave.

He pulled me back immediately and repeated the question.

“Ohh please, get off your high horse! I don’t care about you, Mark. This is the closest we are ever going to get. Are we clear now?” I said to him, rolling my eyes again before pushing his hands off me.

I slammed the door behind me and then jumped on the bed. I was mad to the bones. I shouldn’t have let him walk all over me like that. I should have put him in his place!

Three weeks went by so quickly, and I was true to my word. I ignored him so much that my head started to believe he no longer existed.

“Are you alright?” Brenda asked as I joined the table for breakfast.

“I don’t know. I’ve been feeling lightheaded since last night. I think I just need to rest more,” I replied.

“Maybe you should check in at the hospital later in the day, Mark will take you.” Frank added.

“No!” We both said at the same time, while they looked at us weirdly.

“There’s no need for a checkup. I’m totally fine.” I quickly chimed in.

Mark didn’t say anything, and we ate in silence. I couldn’t eat much as I was feeling uneasy. I later decided to go to my room but as I stood up, I got really dizzy and that was the last thing I remembered.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. Frank and Brenda rushed to my side while Mark stood behind, unbothered.

“Congratulations, you’re four weeks pregnant!” the doctor said.

I thought it was a terrible dream at that point. I quickly closed my eyes, hoping it would all be gone by the time I opened my eyes.

It wasn’t. I was actually pregnant.

The ride home was a quiet one. Once we got home, Frank turned to me.

“Who is the father?” he demanded.

I knew I had to come clean at that point. So I explained everything that happened between Mark and I.

“I am so disappointed in you, Mark. You keep coming up with new creative ways to show your irresponsibility despite my efforts to curb you.”

“And you Viola, I expected better from you considering the scandal around your family. Don’t you know how worse this is going to affect your reputation?” Frank fired at both of us.

“This is going to affect both our families, so to avoid that, you two are getting married immediately!” He added while Mark immediately jumped up to his feet in protest.

“No!” We both exclaimed, but Frank wasn't having it.

“It’s for the good of the family, so you can’t say no. No grandchild of mine will be labeled a bast*rd. You are getting married immediately and that’s final!”