CHAPTER 2

Carlo watched Sloane as she carefully drew her signature on the paper. He had no idea why he was doing what he was doing— getting married. But then, he somehow seemed to be enjoying it.

Just a couple of moments ago, he entered the country. As a matter of fact, he was only checking out a property that he had his hands on. But somehow, this woman right here walked up to him with an audacious look in her eyes. And it seemed to have gotten to him in a way no one could have expected.

“Your turn," Sloane said.

She was done doing her part of the deed. It was now his turn.

Carlo was hesitant for a while. A slow smile of curiosity appeared on his lips. He wondered what was going to come next after this.

“Hey," Sloane said to him. “I don't have time to waste here. Get this done and let's get out of here."

He grabbed the pen and did the deed. Sloane was not even concerned to check out the details the man filled in the form. This was against her will. She simply wanted to get it done and move on to whatever was next in line.

"Congratulations,” the woman attending said. "Your marriage has been registered successfully.”

“Thank you, ma," Carlo said with a sheepish smile.

Sloane was somewhat irritated by the act. She heaved a sigh and stormed away. Carlo rushed towards her quickly.

“Wait!" He shouted.

But Sloane was not in any mood for this. She wasn't cut out with the silly attempt to get familiar with him. She got into her car and shut the door.

Carlo came knocking on the screen. Sloane looked at him. His lips moved. She rolled down the screen and stared at him.

“Sorry," Carlo said. “I should—"

Before he could be done with the rest of the words, Sloane cut him off.

“You don't have to push it," she said casually. “I have done my part of this deal by agreeing to marry you. Do yours by getting your father to help out with the business."

She rolled the screen back up without giving Carlo the opportunity to say any word. Then, she sped off into oblivion, not knowing she had made a critical mistake.

★★★★★

Many hours later, when Sloane was done with her activities for the day, she returned home in the evening to an angry mother.

Ms Barbara Wentworth sat in the living room the moment Sloane arrived home. On setting her eyes on her, the woman sprang up in anger.

“Where the hell did you keep your phone?!" Ms Barbara yelled out angrily.

Sloane didn't understand the reason for the unwelcoming rage in her eyes.

“Good evening, mom," Sloane greeted her innocently and calmly.

The furious woman responded with a very sigh.

“Keep your damn greeting to your bloody self! I called you over and over again. You ignored my calls."

Sloane shut her eyes and opened them. There was no reason for the hostility Ms Barbara was letting out.

“Mom, I don't think I have done anything to get this cold attitude now. I did what you asked of me, against my own will. Now, why are you like this?"

Ms Barbara cocked her hair in a frustrating manner while glaring furiously at Sloane.

“You did this on purpose. That's the only reason you didn't take your calls!"

Sloane was lost. She was trying to figure out what the woman was talking about. Nothing was making sense.

What could she have done?

“You kept him standing,” Ms Barbara replied. "My freaking phone would not stop ringing because of you. You kept him standing like some damn fool after agreeing to see him."

Sloane chuckled. This had to be some sort of silly joke.

“Please, stop it, mom," she said. “This has to be a joke. Of course, I already met with him. And yes, I am legally married to him now.”

While they were still going over the talk, Ms Barbara's phone began to ring again. Twenty minutes ago, she had given Bradley the assurance that Sloane was going to come to him.

“Hello, Bradley," she took the call while forcing a happy tone into the phone.

Sloane watched the fake smile on the woman's face gradually disappear into a thick scowl. When the call ended, Ms Barbara glared at her bitterly.

“What is it?" Sloane asked calmly.

Ms Barbara responded with a slap on her cheek.

“Ah!" Sloan clutched her cheek. “What was that for?"

“You lying piece of trash! You said you met with him! How dare you lie to me?"

Sloane raised her head. Of course, she did.

“I did, mom. I've registered my marriage at the city hall. I did that hours ago."

Ms Barbara was quiet for a while. Then, she said, “Bradley is pissed, really pissed, because you failed to show up. What does that mean?”

Sloane cocked her hair gently. What could that mean?

"Should I tell you?” John's voice asked from the stairs.

Both women looked at him with curiosity locked in their eyes. Sloane needed an answer, but was definitely not ready for it.

“Sloane must have mistook Bradley to be someone else,” John replied.

The thought of it sent shivers down the spine of Sloane. She didn't want to imagine it, even for a second, that she might have gotten married to a random dude out there on the streets.

“What?" Ms Barbara queried in shock. “That wouldn't be possible."

But thinking about it, Sloane knew it was possible. The dude she met earlier on seemed lost where he was standing.

“It's possible, mom," John said. “After all, Sloane doesn't know Bradley."

“No, no," Sloane said nervously. “It has to be him. Tall guy, black and long hair and—”

Before she could finish, Ms Barbara sank into the couch. It was clear Sloane had made a terrible mistake.

“I knew it," John chipped in. “Bradley has brown hair. You, Sloane, married a random dude out there."

Sloane's legs suddenly became shaky. It wasn't Bradley. But who was he? She didn't want to get married to Bradley because she wanted to be in love with whoever she would get married to. Somehow, she made the exact mistake she was running away from.

"You are a disgrace to this family, Sloane,” Ms Barbara said. "You have brought nothing but shame to us. I don't understand how you can be so dumb.” She sighed heavily. "What do I expect from you when your mother is no different. Of course, you took your stupidity from her.”

Sloane was hurt badly by the statement. She had requested a picture of Bradley. But Ms Barbara refused to send it. And now, she's being blamed for this mistake.

“Don't bring my mom into this," she said firmly.

Ms Barbara smirked at her. "And if I do so, what are you going to do? I wonder what made my late husband get involved with your mom.”

Sloane could take any insults thrown at her. But when it came to her mom, who was battling for her life on a hospital bed, she was ready to face whoever it was.

“Like I said, don't bring my mother into the chaos you caused."

Ms Barbara was stunned. “What?"

The sounds of screeching tyres reached their ears, causing everyone to be silent.

Who was that?

John checked who drove in.

Bradley.