Chapter 3 Hiram Cartwright

Jason Ashford walked to the office and placed the tray on the coffee table, then they hugged each other and sat on the sofa. The Cartwright family and the Ashford family had been friends for decades.

The smile on Jason’s face vanished. He looked at his friend with sorrow in his eyes and said, “Life has played a cruel joke on me, Hiram. My future wife got married today.”

Hiram searched his friend’s face for any hint of a joke. However, all he saw was a quiet, steady peace he hadn't seen in years. When did his best friend start dating?

There was a mix of emotions in his eyes when he heard that his best friend had moved on after mourning his late girlfriend for three years.

Before he could respond, his Executive Secretary walked into his boss’s office with a porcelain cup in his hand.

After his Executive Secretary left, Hiram looked at his best friend with eyes full of concern and asked, “Are you alright, Jason? Who has the guts to steal your future wife?”

Jason shook his head and replied, “I feel like my heart has been torn apart, Hiram. I went to the hospital to confess my love to her, but I was told that she was going to Home Affairs to get married.

When I arrived at Home Affairs, I found her in the parking lot, her face covered in tears. Her husband left her stranded at Home Affairs and told her that he didn’t love her.

I don’t understand why he married my future wife because he has been dating your sister for years.”

Hiram was so shocked to hear that the heartless man had been dating his baby sister and said, “I think you are mistaken, Jason. My baby sister told me this morning that she is not dating anyone. Who is that despicable person?”

Jason laughed, but there was no humour in it, and replied, “Hiram, everyone knows that your sister has been dating Preston James since high school.”

A surge of anger rose in Hiram’s heart to know that his beloved sister lied to him with a straight face.

Hiram pulled out his phone and dialled their friend, Seth West’s number. When the call was connected, he said, “Hello, Seth. How are you doing?”

Seth smiled broadly and replied, “Hello, Hiram. I am well. Thank you. How are you?” Hiram forced a smile and said, “All is well with me, Seth. There is a rumour that Preston James got married today. Do you know what the rush was?”

Seth laughed and replied, “I was shocked to hear that Preston married a random girl because he has been dating your sister for a long time, and I didn’t hear about their breakup.

I heard that his grandfather promised to give Preston company shares should he get married within three months. Did you forbid your beloved sister to marry Preston?”

Hiram couldn’t believe that everyone knew about Preston and his baby sister’s relationship, but he was in the dark.

Hiram looked at Jason and replied, “Vivica hid that information from us. She told me that she was still young, and she didn’t want to date anyone yet.” Hiram bade his friend goodbye, then they hung up.

It dawned on Jason that Preston had used Brooklyn as a tool to gain control of the company shares.

Jason was so angry that he laughed and said, “I am so angry at Preston for hurting my future wife. From today onward, Preston is my arch-rival. I will snatch everything from his hand.”

Hiram looked at Jason and replied, “To show my support, my friend, I will terminate the partnership between the Cartwright Group and the James Group. Then I will hand the renewable energy project over to you to teach Preston a lesson.

To be honest with you, Jason, I bypassed the standard selection process and handed the renewable energy project to the James Group as a personal favour to my baby sister. They didn’t even deserve it.” Jason was happy to hear that.

Hiram looked at his friend and asked, “Jason, don’t you want to join my family to celebrate my sister’s birthday?”

Jason shook his head and replied, “I am afraid of Grandpa Cartwright’s matchmaking. He had told me several times that he would be over the moon if I could be his grandson-in-law.”

Then Jason pulled out an exquisite box from his suit jacket and handed it to Hiram and said, “Please give this gift to your sister and tell her I wish her all the best.”

Hiram laughed out loud and said, “Thank you, Jason. My sister will be over the moon. I will be thrilled to have you as my brother-in-law, too, Jason.” Then they left the office chatting and laughing.

At Brooklyn’s apartment, crumpled tissues were scattered around Brooklyn like fallen petals.  The crimson rim of her eyes betrayed the hours she had spent in tears. Preston had played with her feelings, and it hurt so much.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. She quickly tidied up the crumpled tissues, then she approached the door, her hand lingering on the knob in a moment of hesitation before opening it.

Standing at the door was her best friend, Fiona Duncan, whose bright smile was almost as vibrant as the balloons and cake she carried to celebrate the dual occasion of her friend’s birthday and marriage.

The cheerful greeting died on Fiona’s lips when she saw the sorrow etched into her best friend’s face. She had expected a glowing bride and birthday girl.

Fiona looked at her best friend with concern in her eyes and asked, “What happened, Brooklyn? I have been calling you for the whole day.”

Brooklyn ushered Fiona to the living room and replied, “Preston doesn’t love me, Fiona. The ink on our marriage certificate was barely dry when my new husband abandoned me at Home Affairs.

He informed me that I was nothing but a wife in name only, then he took our marriage certificate and left. Fiona, I can’t stop wondering why he tied his life to mine when his heart was never in it.” Then tears streamed down her stunning face.

A gasp escaped Fiona’s lips, and her eyes were wide in disbelief at the cruelty of Preston leaving his new bride alone at Home Affairs.

Fiona hugged her best friend tightly with tears brimming in her eyes and said, “I am so sorry, my dearest Brooklyn. Preston doesn’t deserve you. Why didn’t you call me after that heartless man abandoned you? I would have come and picked you up.”