On the Brink of a Difficult Situation
1427 Words
SEAN.
"Mom, what is this? You sent a sample wedding invitation of me and Jennifer?!"
A few hours ago, when I still hadn't digested the events of last night with Calista, I was messaged a sample wedding invitation.
I wouldn't have minded if it was someone else's wedding, but my name and Jennifer's were written on it!
I had even just arrived at my family's mansion. There was no talk of marriage before this, not even when I was in Canada. Yet what was I seeing now?
Samples of a wedding whose plans I hadn't yet approved?
"Sean, you should greet your family when you come. How many years have you been away? Have you lost your manners?"
I ignored the words of Amber, my mother. My steps stopped at the dining table where my parents and my brother were. They looked casual, as if they had planned this before I came.
"Ah, we forgot to tell you, Sean. You must be surprised. We've arranged for you and Jennifer to get married, so do the proposal next month."
I let out a short cynical laugh. "Since when did I agree to marry Jennifer? I came to this town on business, not marriage."
"You can't refuse an arranged marriage, Sean," Reynald, my father, responded sternly.
Our eyes met. I saw the look in Reynald's eyes was intense and sharp, giving an implied warning there. There was a tense silence for a moment.
"William, your grandfather, informed us that he will bequeath the assets to his grandchildren. The largest assets, including the central company, will be given to the married grandchildren."
I flinched like a fool. I really didn't understand why they were using me as a tool to get the inherited assets from grandfather.
What?
The largest inheritance, including the central company?
And I had to marry a woman I didn't love at all?
"It's been a long time since I moved out, I thought you guys wouldn't make arrangements for me anymore without my consent," I replied just as firmly.
The loud clink of a spoon dropping onto a plate made me flinch. At the other end of the dining table, Reynald's face was full of anger. His jawline hardened and the look in his eyes seemed to want to kill me.
"Do you want to fight me already? Do you also want Theodore's family not to get the inheritance and hand over all the assets to your uncle's family?"
"I've already done your order's to move out of Canada and establish your business there. We already have a company, Father," I said.
"We had to acquire your grandfather's central company, Sean. You don't understand how important it is to grow the business bigger.
"If we get your grandfather's headquarters, we'll merge two great companies! Then, we'll be more stronger than now. No one can beat our company," Dad said with such passion.
Both my shoulders were a little sluggish. For a while, I had nothing to say.
"You have to give more to this family, Sean. I've sacrificed enough for you from childhood to adulthood," said Reynald-my own father.
"I still can't do this," I argued.
"Then who will perform the marriage of this family? Your sister?" Father's tone was sarcastic.
I suddenly had nothing to say.
"You should at least take responsibility for your brother's death."
My gaze shifted to Amber. Something stabbed my chest suddenly after mom brought up the incident.
After all the years I'd spent trying so hard to forget my brother's death.
It was the event that changed my family, we were broken, there was no warmth anymore.
"No matter how many things you do for us, it's not enough to replace the life of your brother that you killed."
Silently, I clenched my fists, feeling a round of bad memories invade my mind. I thought I had deeply buried the events of that night. However, I didn't.
"I didn't kill him," I argued.
My heart started racing. A moment that made my surroundings feel like they were spinning fast. My head became a little dizzy.
"You did," Amber retorted, she gave me a hateful look. "And you have to replace his life with yours. Do everything for this family."
"That way, we can forgive your mistake," Reynald, my father, interjected.
I almost lost consciousness because of anger if my cell phone didn't ring. I gasped slightly, picked up the phone in my pocket, and saw Calista's name displayed.
'Why is she calling me?'
Then a message appeared.
[Calista: Sean, help me, please. I didn't know where to turn for help. My dad fell and I need to take him to the hospital. Can you come now?]
"After this, you—"
"If I have to get married, I'll find a woman that I want to marry. I don't want to marry Jennifer."
I didn't care what my father said. I quickly ran from the dining room, out of this mansion, get ready into my car. My adrenaline was racing faster than it had been a moment ago.
"Calista, I'm glad you're counting on me again."
***
[PATIENT NAME: DALTON BRYAN NICSO]
[DIAGNOSIS: Hemangioblastoma]
"It's a type of tumor that attacks the blood vessels of the cerebellum," Calista explained before I asked.
I could hardly believe what I was reading now. Before I moved from Canada, during all the years spent with Calista's family, I didn't know about Mr. Dalton's illness.
Why would Mr. Dalton hide this?
"Since when?" I asked.
"Five years ago it wasn't a brain tumor," Calista replied. "The tumor only spread and developed in the brain two years ago. And I didn't know anything about it."
I shifted my gaze to Calista who was now sitting limply. She stared blankly at the wall, silent, until a single tear fell down her cheek.
For the first time I witnessed Calista show her vulnerability. I could see the confusion, worry, and fear in her eyes now.
"I don't know what to do," Calista said, softly.
Then she looked up at me.
My heart sank as soon as our eyes met. The look of pain in her eyes jolted me to the memory of when we parted.
"Calista..."
"What should I do, Sean? What if my father's condition worsens?" Calista's voice began to tremble.
She sounded like she was holding back her tears and crying as best she could. This moment reminded me of when she told me that our relationship had to end because she married another man.
I knew she was holding back her pain.
And now, I heard that her husband was having an affair and Mr. Dalto's tumor was raging.
What kind of destiny is she living in?
Why isn't she happy with her own choices?
I've sacrificed our relationship, expecting her to live a good destiny, but what I see now is far from my expectations.
"Mom already knows I'm divorced, and she doesn't want to talk. My money won't be enough for my father's treatment," Calista said again.
I approached her and sat beside her. With my arrival, Calista averted her eyes.
I tilted my head to get a closer look at her face, and I saw her teardrops falling.
"You're doing great, Calista. I didn't know you were so strong in your life," I said before my hands went to her shoulders.
Calista didn't say anything.
"Ah, my sacrifice of letting our relationship end so you could be happy was in vain," I said in a joking tone.
"I chose the wrong guy, now I end up looking like a fool," Calista said, laughing-why did it sound like she was laughing at herself?
We were silent for a moment.
I was feeling uneasy too. I didn't want Calista to be stuck in a difficult situation for long.
"Calista," I called softly. "I know this might sound very strange to you. But... I want to offer you something."
Calista turned her gaze to me, she looked curious.
"Contract marriage. Do you want to do it with me? I'll give you money for your father's medical expenses," I said, slightly worried about Calista's reaction.
"What are you talking about, Sean?" asked Calista, her gaze turning fierce.
"You pretended to be married to me, Calista," I replied. "Only for two years. My family made me get married as a condition of inheriting my grandfather's company."
I tried to slowly explain to her.
"You can be my wife and we don't have to love. I'll pay for your entire life, Calista. I'll take care for your child."
- Writer
