Chapter Four: DECISIONS
1339 Words
Her uncle sat on the couch, crossed his legs, and stroked his chin while staring at Cara, who stood before him, begging for his help.
Cara’s eyes brimmed with tears. Her uncle's silence made her question her decision to come to him for help. Her mother’s warning rang in her ears and she shuddered.
“Paying for your sister’s surgery won’t be a problem. I have an offer for you,” he said, breaking the silence between them.
Cara’s eyes gleamed with hope and her heart fluttered at the thought of getting help for her sister. "Anything, Uncle. I will do anything to save her."
His lips curled up in a mischievous smile. She showed up at the perfect time, just when he needed a way out.
“You’ll do anything? Perfect, then we have an understanding. I will help your sister and in exchange, you’ll marry my business associate.”
“What!” Cara's eyes widened in shock. “You can’t marry me off to someone I don't know.”
"You do not have to know Cara. You agreed to do whatever I asked, you do not get to question my decision." Her Uncle muttered, his expression dim.
"I can do anything else, except that," Cara muttered, hesitation flashing in her eyes. She did not want to get married, at least not yet.
“You’ll do as I say if you want to help your sister. Besides, he is the most eligible bachelor in this city. Many women will beg to be in your shoes.” Matteo said, his voice higher than expected.
He despised the fact that Cara was as disobedient as his sister.
She shook her head. There was no way she would marry a total stranger. “If he’s all you claim, why not allow your daughter to marry him?” she spat.
“Leave my daughter out of this,” he growled. He was not going to allow his daughter to marry that cunning bastard.
"The moment you agree to my demand, I’ll make a transfer to the hospital account and the surgery will commence immediately. Your sister’s survival is in your hands.”
Cara's body filled with panic attacks from her uncle's words.
What if she refused? Her sister would die. A tiny voice whispered in her head. Jenny meant the world to her.
Will her mother allow her to take such a step? She shrugged off the thought from her head.
Right now, the only thing that matters is her sister.
“Fine, I accept your offer, Uncle,” she said, gritting the ridiculous words through her teeth, her fate sealed the moment she agreed. “When do I… get to meet him?
“You made the right decision. Don’t worry about that; all you have to do is show up on your wedding day with a bright smile on your face.”
Cara swallowed hard. Her face was plastered with a worried look. “Don’t you think it’s necessary to see whom I will be getting married to?”
"No."
Her uncle got up from the couch, walked to the mini bar, and poured himself a drink. He twirled the glass before taking a sip. Then he dropped the glass on the counter before turning to face her. To him, she was just a pawn in his games. A tool to get what he wants. What was she thinking, that he’d help her without gaining from it?
He waved his hand in the air. “You have nothing to worry about. One more thing, you’ll pretend to be my daughter. He has never seen, never met her, which makes it perfect.”
It sounded absurd to her, she blinked in confusion. Thinking of what she had gotten herself into. “He will find out. I don’t want to be part of this deceit.”
“If you follow my instructions, he won’t find out. Your wedding is in two days.”
**********
“What have you done?” her mother snapped, her eyes flashing in anger.
After finalizing her agreement with her uncle, she decided to come to the hospital to tell her mother about it. She stopped in her tracks. “I did what’s best for Jenny. I can’t bear to watch her die.”
“Matteo is a greedy bastard. You just got yourself entangled in a huge mess. Why did he agree to help you? All this year, he watched me languish in poverty without helping me even when I had an accident?” her mother spat.
"Mum, it is not as bad as you think."
"What condition did he give you, in exchange for helping us?" Emily asked, refusing to believe that Matteo was being lenient.
“I’m getting married to his business associate in two days. That was the condition he gave. I don’t have a choice, Mom.” Cara explained.
Her mother held her hands and tears slipped down her face. “You don’t have to do this, Cara.”
Cara wiped away her mother’s tears with her fingers. "I'll do it, mum...”
She swallowed the smile on her face, a contrast to the small tears in her eyes. Pulling her mum into a hug, “For Jenny…”
*********
Two days later, dressed in the most expensive wedding gown, her uncle walked her down the aisle to be married to a total stranger.
Her soon-to-be husband stood with his back facing her, and when he turned around, she stood in shock.
Her breath hitched as blood drained from her face, leaving her frozen.
How was this possible? The man standing before her—the one she was about to marry—was the same man she had humiliated at the restaurant. The reason she lost her job.
Her uncle noticed her discomfort and leaned in, whispering into her ear as they walked forward.
“You can’t back out. You’re in already,” he nudged her, and she kept walking with her arm entwined with her uncle’s. It was just a small wedding with no guests in attendance.
Sebastian took in his bride's appearance as she stood before him, his lips lifting into a barely noticeable smirk. Matteo lied to him again.
Cara stood before him, his broad shoulders expanded into his tuxedo and his jaw was set in a hard clench. His eyes ran through with a cold aloofness like she meant nothing to him.
He was the most handsome man she had ever set her eyes on. His towering height exuded dominance, making everyone around him feel small.
The priest came forward and he said in a clear voice, “Do you take Cara Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
His cold piercing eyes made her shiver. The way he assessed her like she was worth nothing before he made her rethink her stance. Isn’t she making a grievous mistake?
The priest's words echoed in Sebastian's ears, if it had not been necessary, he would never be getting married to anyone. He'll get rid of her; immediately, he got what he wanted.
That was the plan.
After a long, tense pause, he finally said, “I do.”
The priest continued. “Cara Jones, do you take Sebastian McDermott to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Cara swallowed hard like the words were heavy in her mouth. It was like her tongue was stuck in her mouth. It was already too late to turn back; this was her fate.
She could hear her heartbeat hammering against her ribcage as the priest’s voice rang in her ears. Every muscle in her body screamed for her to run, but her feet stayed rooted. The weight of her uncle’s words hung over her like a noose.
“I do,” she responded.
The priest blessed their marriage and they became husband and wife. “You may kiss the bride.”
Sebastian stepped closer, lifting her veil. The moment he saw her face, he stiffened.
Out of everyone he expected, it was not her.
- Writer
