Chapter 4

Callum's POV 

“You’ve got to be kidding me, this can't be true.” I muttered under my breath as my mother announced, “Callum, you're meeting your bride earlier than planned. She's arriving tonight.”

I became furious, wondering who could be the bride she was referring to; this whole arranged marriage was already a nightmare. 

And now, they were speeding it up? 

“I don't want to meet her tonight,” I said flatly, glaring at my mother.

“You don't have a choice, Callum. This is for the family, and you’ve to comply with our decisions.” She said with that stern tone she always used to get her way.

Hours later, I heard the commotion downstairs; her arrival. 

I reluctantly left my room dragging my feet as I walked down the down staircase.

Then I saw her.

My jaw clenched as recognition hit me like a freight train. It was her—the girl from last night. The one I’d shared an impulsive, reckless night with at the club. 

She stood there, looking as stunned as I felt, her eyes darting nervously towards mine.

“Callum.” My father said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “This is your bride; her name is Marlowe.”

Marlowe? 

I honestly wished it was someone else with the same facial features as hers. 

She slightly bowed her head with her pale face; I feigned ignorance, forcing a cold, disinterested expression.

Dinner was unbearable. 

The clinking of cutlery and occasionally forced pleasantries filled the heavy silence. I barely looked at her and she didn't try to engage me either.

The moment the last bite was eaten, everyone conveniently found reasons to leave the table giving us privacy.

"We need to discuss.” I sharply said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her out to the garage before she could protest.

“Callum, I—” she began, but I swiftly cut her off.

I snapped, spinning my face around to face her, “Don't even try it, what the hell are you playing at? What's your plan or did you plan this? You got close to me last night just to trap me in this pathetic setup?" 

Her eyes widened. " I didn't know you were the one I was supposed to marry. Last night was a mistake, I swear.”

“A mistake? You call that a mistake?” I barked out a harsh laugh. “And you expect me to believe that? You're nothing but a cheap manipulator.”

“Stop it!” She shouted, her voice trembling. 

“I didn't know, Callum. I didn't plan any of this. Do you even think I wanted this?”

“Oh spare the sob story.” I spat in anger. 

“You've ruined my life. Do you know what this marriage means to me? It was nothing! But now, because of you, I’m trapped in this disaster. But trust me, I’ll make your life a miserable hell for as long as you're in it.”

Her lip quivered, but she stood her ground. “You don't have to be cruel; we can figure this out.”

“Figure this out?" I sneered. "You must be joking; there's nothing to figure out. Just a little advice, stay out of my way so I won't destroy you.”

I took a step closer with a boiling anger over me. “You think you're smart, you're trying to be brave, don't you? Do you think you can talk back to me?

 “You need to be aware of this; your life is in my hands, I am in control of it, and you don't have to defy me.” 

I thought I saw tears glistening in her eyes with her hitched breath, but for a moment she blinked them away. 

“You don't have to make this harder than it is,” she said quietly.

“Harder?" I hissed. "You know nothing about hard yet, Marlowe. But with time you'll understand”.

I raised my hand, not even sure what I intended to do, maybe just to scare her more but before I could follow through, a voice rang out behind us.

“Callum!”

My hand froze mid-air, as I turned to see my mother standing there, her eyes blazing with fury.

“What are you doing?” She demanded, striding towards us.

“Nothing,” I replied, stepping aside quickly and shoving my hands into my pockets.

“It didn't look like it was nothing .” She said with a cold tone, her flickering gaze to Marlowe, who was clutching her hands as she trembled in silence.

“I won't allow her to ruin my life because she's trying to do such,” I said defensively. “I was just…” 

“You were just about to make a fool of yourself." My mother interrupted. 

"Callum, you don't even show concern about this arrangement. You’ve got to treat your bride with respect. Do you understand me?” 

I clenched my jaw, tightening my fist at the sides. “Respect? For her?” I scoffed.

“Yes, respect.” my mother said firmly. 

“This marriage is bigger than you, Callum. This is about our family and if you can’t handle that, maybe you’re not as mature as I thought you were.”

Her words hit harder than I expected, flashing my thoughts into reality, but I wasn’t about to back down in front of Marlowe. “Fine.” I spat out. “But don’t expect me to play nice.”

My mother sighed, shaking her head. “You’ll grow up eventually, Callum. I just hope it’s before you ruin everything.”

She turned to Marlowe, her expression softening. “I’m sorry for his behavior, dear. This has been… a difficult adjustment for all of us.”

Marlowe nodded mutely, her eyes downcast.

“Now, both of you, go to your rooms and cool off,” my mother said, her tone hard and firm.

I didn't wait for her to say it twice and without a word, I left Marlowe standing there with my mother as I turned on my heel back to my house.

My mind raced when I slammed the door to my room, flashing back the possibility that Marlowe and my mother were turning my life upside down. 

Something kept disturbing me about her; it was unsettled, which I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

What was she hiding?

I had forgotten every single thing we discussed the previous night as I was only interested in her body, nothing else.