His Rejected Bride

chapter 3: I Reject You

"You're Mr Frederick, right? Ashley repeated her question.

"Wow! She's totally different from what I had pictured in my mind. She looks stunning,. Anyway, I'm sticking to my plan", Fredrick thought. "Yes, I'm Fredrick. Do have a seat." Fredrick said to Ashley.

"Thank you." Ashely pulled out a chair and had her seat, placing her purse on the other chair. "Thanks." Ashely smiled at him.

"So, let's go straight to the reason we are here?

"Sorry? Oh, yes."

"You are?

"I'm Ashely Donald Steven, granddaughter of Mr Steven, who happens to be your grandfather's best friend. I'm your betrothed."

Frederick scoffed and leaned forward.

"Betrothed indeed. Look, I only agreed to meet up with you because my grandfather wouldn't let me have some rest and peace of mind at home. Actually, I had no idea that this is the reason he wanted me to fly down to Italy, I wouldn't have responded to his call."

"I beg your pardon?

"Ashley, we are both adults, and we need not be forced into things, like this stupid betrothed and marriage thing. I know you do not want this."

"I do. I mean, I've spent my entire teenage hood and youth waiting for you. That's because my parents explained it all to me. They told me you're so nice and."

"Hold it right there, Ashley. You accept this? Frederick asked, surprised by Ashley's reply .

"Yes I do."

"You do? Well, I need not play around. I'm going to be honest with you, Ashley. I do not consent to this sham. I'm not interested and would never be interested. I refuse to be entangled with someone like you, someone I barely know. Your family's status, I have no idea about it. You guys must be neck deep in debt, looking for some wealthy and reputable family to hook up with. Listen, Ashley, go home and tell your gold digger of parents that I'm not interested in this marriage. You all get off my case, and out of my life and the lives of my family. And also, I've got a girlfriend, whom I love so much and wouldn't trade her for anything in this world. So, stop your silly daydreaming and get off my case. You wouldn't wish to see the demon in me if you did not stay away from me. "

"Stop! You have no right to insult my family. I could endure insults directed at me, definitely not the ones directed at my parents. I'm not going to take that, Mr Frederick."

"Then forget about this relationship.'

"I can't. I can't do it. Our grandparents."

Frederick hit his hand on the table, cutting Ashley short.

"To hell with whatever promises they made to themselves. I'm not going to get dragged into fulfilling such silly promises. Know this, Ashley, and know in peace, that, I, Fredrick Ferdinand Owen, reject you to be my bride and break you free from the betrothal. I'm out of here."

Frederick stood up, adjusted his jacket and grabbed his phone.

"You're leaving?

"Why? Do I have any reason to stay back?

"You didn't have dinner."

"I can always have dinner, at home, definitely not with you."

"You're going to walk out on me, and abandon me!

"Yes. Maybe you weren't listening. I'm not going to repeat myself. Just know that, there was never, there is no and never will be any relationship between us, between you and Fredrick Owen."

Frederick got off the table and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Ashley shocked.

Ashley's heart sank, she was left dismayed by his attitude. The rejection made her world crumble .

How did Ashley fall for someone she barely knows? She never fell for him, but she did like him and had a crush on him. Ashley had known him from afar. She did follow him on his social media handles, and would gosh over his pictures. Slowly, she began to admire and like him and imagine their kids together. Now, her little hopes and dreams have been shattered by a meeting with the man she is to get married to.

Ashley managed to pull herself together. She wiped off the tears on her face, grabbed her purse and left for her car.

Frederick returned home, leaving Mr Owen surprised.

"You're home already? Mr Owen asked, checking the time on his wristwatch.

"Yes I'm back. I would love to be left alone in my bedroom. If you excused me."

"Frederick, hold on. Didn't she show up? I doubt you guys sat and talked and had dinner."

"We met, we sat and we talked. Isn't that what dates are? Meet, sit and talk. Whether we had dinner or not, doesn't matter. I'll be upstairs."

"Frederick, what did you say to her?

"Sir Owen, I have already fulfilled your heart desire by meeting her. That's all that matters. It's up to her if she still wants to continue this sham . I'll leave now." Frederick hurried out of the living room.

Mr Owen had his seat and placed his phone beside him.

"What did this boy do? I'm pretty scared that he messed up this dinner. I hope he didn't say anything hurtful to her."

Frederick slammed the door behind him and began to undress. He tossed his jacket on the bed and immediately removed his shoes.

Frederick stopped and stared at the mirror, with his hands on his waist.

"Did I do enough? I mean, will she end up hating me and beg her parents to end this silly arrangement? I just don't like her, but then, there was this strange, no, no, no. Don't think too much, Fred. Just go take a bath."

Frederick undid his tie and went into his bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Ashley arrived home. She took a deep breath before going in. Her parents, who were eager to learn about the date, rushed over to her. Her mum held her hand and made her sit on the couch. Her parents sat beside her, making her quite uncomfortable.

Her mum touched her cheeks and felt a moist on her hand.

"Tears? You cried? Her mum asked

"No. I didn't. Actually, some dirt got into my eyes, so I had to remove it with tears, that's all." She forced out a smile.

"How was the date dear?

"Dad, mum, we'll talk about it tomorrow. Right now, I need to undress, take a shower and get some rest. I'm so exhausted right now. Good night mum, good night dad."

Ashley grabbed her purse and left for her bedroom. Her parents stared at each other, confused.

"Something definitely happened. My daughter seems sad. Why don't you call up Sir Owen and find out what has transpired between our daughter and his grandson " Ashley's mum suggested.

"I'll do just that."

Donald pulled out his phone from his pocket, about to dial Mr Owen's number, when a call from Mr Owen came into his phone.

"He's calling."

"Pick up and loudspeaker please." Ashley's mum pleaded

"Yes. Well, good evening Sir Owen ." Mr Donald greeted

"Good evening Donald. Is Ashley back home already?

"Yes sir. She just stepped in a while ago."

"Where is she?

"Oh, she has gone to her bedroom. She seemed quite off and not so herself. I wonder if something had transpired between her and Frederick."

"Same here."

"Why sir?

"Frederick had returned home, also not so himself, quite angry, pissed off and refused to say anything to me. Do I say they had a fight?

"Could that be possible?

"Yes. It is possible." Ashley's mum mouthed.

"I do not know. We have to find out what transpired between them, but we'll have to do that tomorrow. We'll let them get some rest. Asking them any further questions could be drastic for us. We'll let the atmosphere cool off and get them back to themselves, then, we'll ask them what has happened." Mr Owen suggested.

"Absolutely sir. I'll do just that."

"Okay Donald. Good night to you and your family."

"Thank you sir."

"Very well then." Mr Owen ended the call.

"My goodness, I hope my poor baby is alright." Ashley's mum said.

"She'll be fine. Let's just do what Mr Owen said.

Ashley shut the door of her bedroom. She dropped her purse and fell on her bed in tears. she began to cry. Fredrick had hurt her emotions.

Ashley sat up and wiped off the tears, but the tears refused to stop. Ashley couldn't stop thinking about how rude Fredrick was to her, his insult to him and to her family.

Angered by his words, Ashley stood up and tried screaming. On realizing it would attract her parents' attention, she quickly covered her mouth before screaming.

"What? Neck deep in debt? Gold diggers! That rude boy deserves some beating. How dare he say such things about my family! I'm going to beat the living hell out of him. First things first, I need to undress and go have my bath."

Ashley immediately unzipped her gown and went into the bathroom and shut the door.

The next morning, Ashley's mum went down to the kitchen and made some coffee for Ashley. She left immediately for Ashley's bedroom, who was still sleeping.

Her mum knocked twice before walking into her bedroom. She placed the coffee mug on the table and drew the curtains open, letting in the sun's rays.

Disturbed by the sun's rays, Ashley grabbed a pillow and covered her face.

"My baby, time to wake up. I made your favorite coffee."

"Some minutes. I need to gather enough energy to wake up ."

"Ashley baby, get up. Get up. Mara will be here soon."

"You invited Mara over? Ashley sat up immediately. "Why?

"Thank goodness you're up. Your coffee is on the table."

"Thanks Mum."

"I'll be in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Come down soon."

"Yes mum "

Frederick had just returned from his morning exercise. His mum appeared before him and handed him a glass of water.

"Thanks Mum. Exactly what I needed. I'm quite thirsty. I'll be in my room."

"Come quick for breakfast."

"Yes mum."

Minutes later, Ashley joined her mum in the kitchen and helped her serve breakfast. Her dad joined them in the dining room for breakfast.

Her parents were curious about last night but waited patiently to ask her after breakfast.

She helped her mum clear the table and returned with the fruit salad, which she served her parents.

"Thank you. Ashley."

"Yes dad."

"Do you mind sharing with us your date with Frederick yesterday?

"Can we not talk about it dad?

"Why not sweetheart? Tell us. Your dad and I decided not to bug you last night and waited eagerly to hear what had happened?

"Mum? Okay. I do not need to narrate the entire story."

"Okay. Tell us, what happened." Her mum touched her hand.

"Actually, the truth is, Fredrick rejected me."

"Frederick what! Her parents echoed

"Yes. He rejected me. He already has a girlfriend. I wouldn't blame him. So let's forget about this whole thing and move on with our lives. Case closed."

"No. Why would he reject my perfect daughter? I'll kill him!

"Ashley! Ashley! Ashley! Her mum touched her shoulder.

"Mum?

"Your dad was asking. How was the date?

"I told you already. "

"Told us what? Her dad asked

"Right now, am I? So it was all in my head? Ashley shut her eyes and shook her head. "Well, it was great. We got to know ourselves a little and we decided to continue later. "

"Really? Nothing happened? Nothing at all? You were crying. I touched your cheek."

"I was watching a movie which made me tear up, that's all."

"Okay. Donald, a second with you please?

"Yes. We'll be right back."

"I'm sorry mum and dad. I can't tell you the truth. You'll feel so shattered on learning the truth. I feel a bit dejected right now, and confused."

Frederick, who was walking down the hallway got intercepted by a maid who informed him that Mr Owen demanded his presence at his garden. Frederick sighed and left for the garden.

He was confused to see everyone sitting with gloomy faces.

"You called grandpa."

"Frederick, tell us the truth, how was the date last night? We decided to let you be. So tell me, what happened?

"Grandpa, may I be honest with you?

"Yes, go ahead. I'm all ear."

"I rejected her."

"You did what! Frederick's parents and grandfather exclaimed

"You rejected Ashley! Why did you do that?

"Because I do not like her. I don't want her. Got it?

"Frederick, watch your tone and the way you speak to your grandfather." Mr Ferdinand scolded him.

"I know dad. Thanks for the uncalled-for corrections. Grandpa, I do not like her, and I'm not going through with this Cray arrangement."

"But the promise."

"What about it, grandpa? To hell with it!

"What? We have to keep that promise. I also promised Steven on his deathbed to fulfill our promise."

"Oh, I do not care at all, grandpa. Not even for one bit. I think those Stevens are neck deep in debt, they are gold diggers, and they want to feast off our wealth!

"Frederick! Don't speak about Donald and his family in such a manner. They've got money just like we do."

"Or probably pretending to be rich. Dad, reason with me. Why hold onto such silly promises if they're not gold diggers? They are."

"No Fredrick, I made that promise and promises are made to be kept."

"If keeping that promise is so important to you, you might as well marry her, it adds up to keeping the promise." Frederick smirked.

Angered by his statement, Mr Owen slapped him real hard, leaving everyone shocked.

"You'll go to her place, apologize to her and take her on another date."

"No grandpa. I won't do it."

"Not just that, you will propose to her officially, because we are going to fix your wedding date and start planning for it. "

"But grandpa."

"I've said it, and it is final."

"Fine then. You all have to force my corpse to marry her because I'm leaving Italy at this moment!

"Frederick. Ferdinand, please calm him down. Father, please, let's forget about this promise. We can't afford to break up our family. Please." Frederick's mum begged.

"Get a hold of your wife, Ferdinand."

Frederick stopped walking and kicked the chair in the hallway.

"Because of her, grandpa raised his hand to me. She's going to feel the heat of my anger. Beg her, apologize to her? I'll murder her!

Boiling with so much anger, he grabbed the flower vase and broke it and screamed.

Hearing his scream, everyone came running to him.

"Brother, are you okay? Chris asked.

"Stay away from me! Frederick pushed him out of his way and walked out.

Ashley couldn't stop thinking about what Fredrick said to her last night. She wondered how her parents would react if they find out the truth about last night. Her heart began to race faster. She heard her name from behind, it sounded like her mum's angry voice. Maybe she found out.

Ashley quickly gulped down her saliva and wiped off the sweat on her forehead. She took a deep breath and exhaled immediately. She turned slowly with her eyes shut, her fingers crossed too.

A giggle, she quickly opened her eyes, there stood Mara giggling about scaring Ashley.

Ashley exhaled immediately and ran after Mara, who tried hiding from Ashley. Ashley grabbed her arm and hit her back.

Mara, realizing Ashley's gloomy face, stopped laughing.

"He rejected you? She made a broad guess.

Ashley nodded

Mara pulled her in and gave her a warm hug, patting her back gently, without saying a word. Ashley broke down in tears, while Mara comforted her.

Frederick was finding it impossible to get rid of his anger. He mounted the power bike and drove off.

Mara suggested they take a walk down the road and enjoy the fresh air.

Ashley suggested they take their bicycle.

Ashley and Mara mounted their cycles and off they went.

They stopped and parked their bikes and decided to do some walking.

Mara suggested they take some pictures and make videos, hoping it would get Ashley out of her bad mood.

Mara asked Ashley to stand on the road for a better picture, which she did.

A fast powered bike was heading their way. The rider was fast to pull the brakes, Ashley dives and ended up sustaining an injury on her elbow. Mara cursed at the rider for almost hitting Ashley.

Ashley wondered who the rider was, as he approached her, trying to take off his helmet. Mara tried to help Ashley up, when the rider took off his helmet, leaving Ashely stunned.