CHAPTER 2.
1213 Words
AVA'S POV.
I don't understand what you are saying, James. Why would I get married to someone else when I'm engaged to you? Why would you even tell me that?" I was still shocked by his words. It doesn't make any sense to me.
James was still gently patting my back. "It's not forever, Ava. All Mr Edwards wants is for his son to experience a bit of happiness before he dies. He feels his son needs a wife in order to experience true happiness."
"Dying? what does that even mean?" my heart was beating loudly as I still could not grasp the meaning of the conversation.
"Noah Edwards is sick Ava. He has coronary heart disease and the doctors have confirmed that he has less than six months to live."
My eyes widened in disbelief, "less than six months?" I mumbled in shock. "So in other words, you want me to get married to a sick man?" My shock was slowly being replaced with anger.
Dad was the one to speak first, "it's not for nothing Ava. Listen, we can save our company and all the employees will not lose their jobs. The farmers will not need to look anywhere else for hope. Please understand me, Ava."
I stared at my Dad and James speechlessly. "What sort of sick joke is this Dad? I can't believe you could say something like this." I stared at James, "are you seriously in support of this James?" Will you be okay watching your fiancée getting married to someone else?"
James sighed heavily, looking distressed, "I will admit, it's painful and extremely difficult for me, but it's a sacrifice we both have to make, and I've comforted myself that it won't be forever. Once Noah Edwards dies, we can get back to..."
I stood up sharply, startling James, "do you even hear yourself James? Once he dies? How could you even think such a thing?"
"Honey, I have thought about it deeply, and it's the only way out for us. I know how much the company means to both you and your Dad. It means a lot to me too and that's why I am agreeing to this."
"Well I can't agree with what you two are saying!" I told them in a firm voice "there has to be another way, and we are going to figure it out, because I cannot get married to a sick man." With that, I stomped away from them and went straight to my room.
I was still surprised that they could come up with such a ridiculous idea. I value the company too, and I don't want it to go bankrupt, but getting married to a sick man, someone I don't even know while engaged to someone I love, is just impossible.
I can't do that.
***
For a week, I avoided Dad and James entirely because they were still trying to convince me to accept the deal, and I was slowly getting annoyed by their disturbance.
Why can't they understand that what they are saying is just impossible for me? I can't get married to a dying man.
I took a walk around the estate one morning, and as I passed by the sugarcane farm, some farmers ran up to meet me.
"Miss Anderson, is it true?" one of the older men blurted without even a word of greeting. I recognized him as someone who had worked for my Dad even before I was born.
I frowned at him. "Is what true?"
"Is Anderson sweetness going bankrupt? Are we all going to lose our jobs?" There was this fear in his eyes, and the others were already starting to mumble in protest.
"W-where did you get that information from?" I could not control the tremour in my voice and I think it gave me away. The look on their faces was heartbreaking.
"It doesn't matter where we got the information from. We just want to know if we are going to lose our jobs"
I was lost for words. I had nothing to say to assure them or even comfort them. They must have seen the distress on my face because they began to crumble.
"This can't happen! How will our family feed?! You can't do this to us, Miss Anderson!"
"Please provide a solution. We have no other source of livelihood"
"We demand an explanation from Mr Anderson, because we have been working so hard, there is no way that you can go bankrupt."
They were all speaking at once, and I was finding it hard to concentrate. Left with no other option, I turned around and fled the place.
Tears filled my eyes as I ran. This was slowly becoming a disaster.
I sat on the muddy ground facing the lake. I was completely lost in thought as I stared absentmindedly into the lake.
My mind was in distress. Our company was going bankrupt. It would surely cause a big problem for us. The farmers were already complaining, and honestly, I could not blame them.
Most, if not all of them depended on this job, and it hurts me to think that it may be taken away from them. But the only way to save it all is something I could not do. I can't get married to a sick person I don't even know.
The heaviness in my heart caused tears to escape my eyes. I felt lost. What am I supposed to do now?
"Honey." I heard James' voice behind me and I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was standing there in his business suit and looking distressed.
I hurriedly stood up and ran to hug him. He held me close as I cried into his chest. "I have no idea what to do, James. The farmers are in an uproar."
"Shhhh. It's okay Ava love. It's all going to be okay." James comforted me, patting my back gently.
"We have to do something about this, James. We can't let all these farmers lose their jobs for nothing."
James gently pulled me away from him. He was looking at me with a sorrowful expression. "There is no other way Ava love. Mr Edwards is our only option."
That reminder broke my heart all over again. "Is there really no other way?"
James held my cheek lovingly, looking straight into my watery green eyes. "There is no other way love. It is a sacrifice we just have to make. Listen, I promise that I will wait for you. You just have to endure six months in the marriage."
I still hated the idea, but the farmers were the ones suffering the most. I was starting to consider it.
"A-are you sure you'll wait for me?" I asked James warily. "I don't want to lose you to someone else."
James shook his head with an assuring smile. "You will never lose me, love. I will be right here waiting for you. I'm yours forever, always remember that."
I heaved a shaky sigh, wiping the tears from my eyes. "Then I guess I have no choice but to meet with the Edwards."
James smiled and pulled me to his chest. "You are making the right decision, love. Things are going to work out for us."
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