Why Him?

CHAPTER 17

Gideon POV

This might be my luckiest day ever. At first, I thought I was still dreaming when I saw her face. But then, when I touched her, I knew that this was not a dream.

Kiara was here. She is real.

And she was here in my bed to wake me up this morning. I mean, how insane was that? I thought she was upset with me. I have to admit that I was stupid to stop her last night, and I intend to make it up to her right now.

“Gideon, I’m serious.” She said, pushing me off her. She fixed her hair using her hands. “I need to tell you something.” Her eyes flitted back to mine. She looked a bit nervous as she said. “You might hate me after I tell you this, but I need you to listen to me first.”

I frowned at her and took her hand. “Trust me. It would never happen. Why would I hate you?” I smiled at her assuringly. She took a deep breath. She looked like she wasn’t sure to tell me at first. “I am still a virgin.” Kiara then finally told me. I went speechless. I am not that angry at her, but still, it shocked me. She’s the first woman who tricked me like this. I wasn’t sure how to react to that. “Gideon, say something.” She said, shaking my hand.  

“So nothing happened between us that night?” I asked her back. Guilt filled her face, and she looked like she was about to burst into tears. “I’m sorry… It just…” she paused for a while. “I wanted to escape from this marriage with Nolan. And you just came at the perfect timing.” She admitted.

I got up from the bed, and she stopped me by my hand. “See…This is what I am afraid of. I knew you would be angry with me.” She said, her face went pale. “No, that’s not it. I just need some time to think about this first.” She let out a deep sigh and nodded at me. A moment of silence filled us both.

“I understand…I better get going then.” She stopped before she walked out of the door. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She then turned around to face me. “My father asked me to meet Nolan tonight. I can’t run away from this anymore. Seems like I have no other choice but to accept this marriage.” She then said before closing the door behind.  

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Kiara POV

Gideon was now angry with me now that I had told him the truth. I just lost my golden ticket to escape from this marriage. I know the moment I walked out of his room, it was over between us.

Tears trickled down on my cheek. I had no idea what upsets me more. The fact that I am going to get married to that asshole, or the fact that we probably wouldn’t meet each other after this.

The moment I got to the first floor, I saw Mrs. Barlowe was having her breakfast at the dining table. She looked up at me after she noticed my presence. “Where are you going, dear?” she got up from the table and walked towards me. She looked surprised after noticing the tears in my eyes.

“Why are you crying? What happened?” she asked. I shook my head. “Nothing happened, Mrs. Barlowe.” She took one of my hands. “I’ve told you that he’s not in a good mood. You have to understand.” She spoke. “No, nothing happens. We just… talked.” I wiped the tears from my face and forced a smile at her.

“Now, If you’ll excuse me. I need to go to work.” I stared back at her while she was frowning at me. “You know… I have so much to handle at the office.” I then added, trying to sound normal.

She let out a deep sigh. “Okay, take care then.” She finally let me go. If Gideon didn’t want to get involved in this anymore, it means I am losing this game.

*************

I put on a nice dress and even did my make-up for tonight, even though I didn’t feel like doing it. I have to show dad some respect. He had been very persistent in making sure that I would come tonight.

“I want you to smile. You look good tonight.” Dad complimented as we both sat inside the car. I smiled awkwardly at him. “Kiara, he’s a nice guy, and he loved you.” He told me assuringly. I looked outside the window without replying to his words. I had no idea how Nolan did this. He’d already brainwashed my dad. If only dad is not that blind to see that this is so wrong. He had made a wrong decision this time.

“Sir, we’re here,” Kenny said, then stopped the car in front of a hotel. “Let’s go,” Dad said before he gets off the car. I kept on praying, hoping for a miracle to happen.

I followed dad from behind, but then dad put his hand behind my back, guiding me to walk beside him. The waitress greeted us politely as we entered the lobby hotel. “Mr. Finley, please follow me. They had been waiting for you.” She spoke then walked before us.

I saw Uncle Richard and Nolan inside the VIP room. Uncle Richard is gracefully sipping his wine. He put down the glass the moment he saw us entering the room.

“Roger, I thought you wouldn’t come.” Uncle Richard joked at dad. “You know I would never bail on you, Richard,” Dad replied and took a seat on the empty chair beside him.

I wasn’t paying attention when Nolan suddenly touched my shoulder. “How are you doing? You looked stunning, KiaraTh.” He kissed the side of my cheek and placed his hand on my bareback.

I silently regretted my decision to wear this dangerously low-cut dress tonight. “I’m fine. Thanks…” I replied, shoving his hands away from my back and taking a seat beside dad. I tried to ignore how intense the way Nolan looked at me from head to toe. To be honest, it was making me quite uncomfortable.

“So, Roger… I think we all clear the purpose of having this dinner.” Uncle Richard cleared his throat. I looked at dad with a confused look.

“Yes, we can have the wedding by next month as we speak.” dad replied. My eyes widened at his words. What? He’d already decided the date for me? They had planned all this without asking me first. I was about to say something, but then dad shot me a warning look. “I believe she also can’t wait to have this wedding. Is that true, Kiara?” dad continued.

I can’t believe dad did this to me. I got up from the chair. “Excuse me, I think I need to get some air,” I said, leaving the room. I felt suffocated there. I honestly can’t stand another minute with them.

I ran towards the elevator and pressed the button to the rooftop. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself down. I never thought it would be this hard to accept this marriage.

The cold night wind made me shiver, but this is far better than being in that room. I just need a moment by myself. I dropped to the floor, and tears soon flowed down from the corner of my eyes. No one could help me right now. Like it or not, I have to accept this arrangement.

“Babe, what are you doing alone up here?” I was startled as I heard Nolan’s voice coming from behind me. I sniffed and looked away. “Go away, Nolan. I just need a few moments alone.” I replied snarkily at him.

But Nolan was too stubborn to even listen to me. He helped me to get up and forced me to look at him. “I care about you, Kiara. I want you to be honest with me.” He said, looking concerned. I laughed mockingly at him. “You want me to be honest? I don’t want to get married to you!” I told him directly.  

His eyes turned dark with anger, but he was still trying to control himself. “Why? We loved each other.” He said, grabbing me closer to him by capturing my waist. I tried to free myself from him, but he only tightened his arms around me. “No, Nolan! I didn’t love you anymore!? My love for you had died the moment I caught you cheating that night.” My answer only seemed to provoke him even more. “NO!? You’re lying!” he denied, pushing me down onto the vacant wooden chair there. He’s starting to scare me. He’d never behaved like this before.

“That’s the truth, Nolan! Why can’t you accept that?” I yelled at him, and he unexpectedly slapped me hard on my cheek. “It’s because of that man, isn’t it?! You slept with him!” he raised his voice as he accused me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!? Get off me right now, or I’ll tell dad!?” I threatened him, but it didn’t seem to scare him at all. He then forcefully ripped the top of my satin dress. The necklace that I got from Gideon fell on the floor. “I am being very patient with you, Kiara. Two freaking years! You think I am a saint? How did you expect me to stay faithful when you didn’t let me touch you?”

I shook my head while both my hands covered my exposed breast from him. “No, Nolan! Please don’t do this to me.” I pleaded at him. He was now smirking at me. “No one can save you now, Kiara. I am going to claim you as mine tonight. We’re just alone here. Even if you scream, no one would hear you.” He said, his smirk growing wider.

He forced to kiss me before I could do anything, and I was struggling under him. It was hard to fight him because Nolan is way bigger than me. No. This can’t be it. I don’t want to lose my virginity to this bastard.

I was losing all my energy to fight him, and I think I was about to pass out when someone suddenly came.

“Let her go, you asshole!?” My vision blurred. I can’t really see the person who came to save me. The next thing I heard was the sound of them fighting. Nolan passed out on the floor after getting punched several times.

I fell on the floor while holding my ripped dress together using both hands. “Hey, are you okay?” I raised my face, and my voice seemed to get stuck in my throat because I couldn’t believe my own eyes. I felt overwhelmed after seeing him again.

“Gideon?” I said, more tears filled my eyes. “Yes, it’s me.” He said, smiling warmly at me, then hugged me tightly in his chest. He kissed the top of my head and put his jacket over me.

“Let’s get you out of here.” He said, then picked me up from the floor in his arms.