Chapter 4

Scarlett POV

"My family is expecting us in a few days. We need to make a good first impression, especially on my grandmother." He gulped his wine in one sip. He was really nervous. Somehow that affected me. I was nervous now. What if they didn't like me?

As if reading my mind, he answered. "They'd love you. You just need to watch out for my mother. She's a little.." He trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Cruel with her words."

I gulped, my shaky hands aiming for my glass.

"This is going to be fun," I whispered under my breath but he caught it and responded with a smirk.

We were trying to play it cool but we were both nervous. My future is on the line from just one family meeting. It should be easy.

***

*

"This is her?!" A loud, screeching voice aimed at me yelled. "She looked better in the pictures you sent."

I threw a quick glance at Aiden. What was his mother talking about? How did they get a hold of my pictures?

The man I assumed to be Aiden's dad turned to his wife, scolding her a bit for her choice of words. "Beatrice!"

"What, I'm just saying. What use is an ugly daughter-in-law?" She defended herself like she'd tried to hurt my feelings.

Throughout the encounter I was silent, aiming for the right time to say something but it never seemed to come as Aiden spoke next.

"Don't talk to my wife that way." He pulled me into him, my hands came in contact with perfect abs. Did they flex under my touch?

I shook my head, dumping the silly thoughts.

His mom's echoed. "Soon to be wife. She's not your wife yet." She threw me a disgusted look. I definitely irritated her.

Getting off the couch, she said, "I'll ask them to set the table." She walked right passed me.

The breath I didn't realize I was holding left me and my shoulders dropped in relief. I looked up at Aiden to find him already staring at me, his eyes laced with concern. "Are you okay?" He mouthed

I simply nodded.

Truthfully, I wasn't okay. My future mother-in-law hates me. I know the marriage is a fake one but I still wanted her to like me even for the littlest bit. Maybe just then might I be comfortable in this sham of a marriage.

"I'll help." I offered, walking out of Aiden's oddly comfortable and soothing arms.

She paused, taking a quick look at me. Not saying a word, she continued her walk into the kitchen.

I followed regardless. I'm not sure what I had planned but I know I wasn't planning on letting her hate me. There had to be a reason she didn't like me, right?

I was about to utter a word when she stopped me. "Don't even say it. I'll tell you something. Aiden is my son, my joy and I'll be damned if I let just anyone get married to him."

"I do care about Aiden. I can't promise I won't hurt him because we are bound to have disagreements. I'll try my hardest to earn your trust."

I was speaking the truth. I don't love him, not even sure I like him but do care about him. I wouldn't want to hurt even though we are as different as night and day.

She looked at me, really looked at me. "Our conversation is over."

She turned to a lady I didn't notice was with us. "Edith, the guests have arrived, get the table ready." With those words, she left me and the stranger alone in the kitchen.

Edith looked at me with pity in her eyes. I hated it.

"I'll help." I offered.

She was quickly against it. "No Miss, you are the guest. I'll get everything ready."

I forced a smile. "I'm already here, might as well help. That looks like a lot. You'll need to make at least two trips." She reluctantly agreed.

Aiden rushed to my side, taking the dishes off my arm. They were a bug on the heavy side. I wonder what's them.

Aiden held my hands in his, tracing soft circles on them. "Why did you do that?"

I forced a smile, responding, "I wanted to help."

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed they were watching us. I wonder what they thought. Whatever it was, Aiden was doing a great job. He was this sweet, kind man. Something I never thought he could be.

He pulled out a seat for me and we rounded the table.

"Scarlett, Aiden tells us you are a nurse, that's impressive." His grandmother spoke for the first time since my arrival. She is a frail soul, with little white strands peeping from her scarf. Aiden didn't tell me much about his family but I could tell she was sick. Judging by the way they all fussed over her, she had little time.

"I am, I graduated a few weeks ago-

His grandmother cut me off. " Great, maybe you can tell my family that I'm alright." She made eye contact with everyone.

"I finished with chemotherapy a few days ago. We'll find out the results soon if I'll live but they don't want to hear it. They think I'm going to die." She gave a heartfelt laugh while everyone just sent disapproving looks her way. Guess they didn't find her words funny.

"Lighten up everyone. You are making our guest uncomfortable." She rolled her eyes

His mother placed her hand over Granny's frail ones, "You'll live, Mom. We've already come so far." She gave a lot I couldn't cipher but I'm not sure I liked it too much. It looked like relief. What did she plan for me?

"This is supposed to be a happy moment, Aiden brought a bride home, let's talk about this later." She waved her hand in the air nonchalantly, dismissing the conversation.

We finished dinner in silence after that. No one seemed to have much to say and I wasn't going to say anything.

We finished up when his mother pulled me aside. "I need to speak with you." She walked away into the kitchen. I looked about, Aiden was with his Dad, probably talking about business.

I gulped, following her steps when she stopped suddenly. "I need you to do me a favour."