Thanks
22 - Welcome to the family - CharlieNo! She could not marry him. This arrangement was not what she had signed up for. She thought she would be marrying a stranger, a man she did not know. Not him.But alas, fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on her as she found herself back in the arms of the man she swore never to see again."Do you, Charlene, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The officiating priest spoke up, breaking up her trance and reminding her where she was.Oh! Shit! Charlene, you're about to get married.Her eyes immediately looked at the beautiful white roses that decorated the room. It was a small gathering, but that did not mean that it was a cheap celebration.Only a few of the Saunders family and friends came. On the other hand, she just had Anna and a few of her closest friends who joined her in this short ceremony."Better get your shit together." She silently mumbled to herself as she focused her attention back on the man in a white robe."...
"This is it." She looked at the massive gate before her and compared the location on the map on her phone. It was a match.She had arrived at her destination. It was the address that her soon-to-be father-in-law gave her. Surprisingly, it was more than she had expected as her eyes roamed around the place."O.M.G! Am I dreaming?" She patted herself on the cheeks, wondering if she was seeing things.She suspected that James came from money, but she never predicted he would be this filthy rich, judging from the massive estate before her.She believed she could probably build ten houses or even more on the expansive lawn alone. Suddenly, she could not help but picture the orphanage in the center of the beautiful landscape."Oh! I would have loved growing up in a place like this." She mumbled as her eyes feasted on the beautiful scenery. It looked like a place that belonged in fairy tales.Suddenly, she imagined the kids playing on the grassy lawn, running around, laughing their hearts ou
"You should talk some sense to this old senile." He heard a woman shout from across the hallway while he was going down the stairs. "He must have gone insane for even considering this ridiculous idea.""Perhaps... you should listen to your sister, James." He could hear voices arguing as he passed by the living room."I have never been more sane in my entire life, Alicia." Another slightly irritated voice joined in the altercation. "I know exactly what I'm doing."He could already guess what they were squabbling about. But he was not about to join them, presuming the topic was about him.No! Not a chance.He tried to tiptoe his way out, hoping his father would not notice his presence. He knew he had to get out of there before he became the center of their attention.But—"Isaac!" His father's authoritative voice boomed across the hallway, forcing everyone in the room to shut their mouths. At the same time, it made him freeze in his spot."Good! You're here." His father greeted him with
"What now?" It was a question that had hounded her for two days since she had last visited Aria in the hospital.Nothing had changed in the young girl's condition since she had undergone treatment. On the contrary, Aria had only gotten worse. The latest medication did not seem to be working.The doctors said she badly needed the new treatment as soon as possible. It was experimental, but it might be her only chance. However, it would be costly."Charlie, I don't know what else to do." She could still hear Owen's desperation as they watched their younger sister's life slowly slipping away.He had done everything he could to get the money that Aria needed, but it was still not enough. At that moment, he looked like he had run out of luck."Don't worry, Owen. I'm sure we'll think of something." She assured him, but admittedly, her words were not encouraging.Of course, she would do anything to save Aria from her illness. She would find a way to earn the money they needed for her experime
I'm not for sale!He felt like she had just slapped him across his cheek as her words hit him. She genuinely looked hurt as she grabbed his card and threw it back at his face.Was I wrong about her?He could not help but think about what she had done on their first meeting. She had played him for a fool and robbed him.But come to think of it, he still had no solid evidence against her. So far, all he had were speculations. Now, he was having second thoughts about it."Wait!" He gripped her by the wrist, stopping her from leaving. "I'm sorry about what I said." He was on his feet in an instant, blocking her path.What if he had falsely accused her? What if it was all a misunderstanding? After all, she did not appear to be the con artist that he assumed she could be.At least, his mind seemed determined to absolve her from all her crimes. In truth, he could not care less about the consequences."Forgive me. I don't know what I was saying." He blamed everything on the alcohol.But frank
Stay!He sounded pathetic, even desperate, appealing to her not to leave. Undeniably, there was something wrong with him since he was not usually like this.What the fuck!I don't apologize because I'm never wrong. I certainly don't beg. I always get what I want.Therefore, he could only blame the alcohol in his system. It made him say and do things he would not usually say and do. It had affected his ability to think and make rational decisions."You're drunk." She tried to push him away, but he would not let her. "You don't know what you're doing."Yeah! He admitted he had way too much to drink. Still, he was well aware of what he was doing. He knew exactly what he wanted. Her.Of course, he remembered his rules. But at that moment, he could not care about them. He was willing to break all of them as long as he could have this woman back in his bed.One more time.He believed if he slept with her again, he could finally scratch her out of his system. He could be free of her and wha