Twisted Love

Chapter 5

Sierra’s POV

“Do you want to talk about it?” The man asked me. He didn’t look any older than me; maybe one or two years age difference.

“What do you mean? Talk about what?” I questioned back, even though I knew the answer.

“You look stressed. So I was asking if you want to share the thoughts that are troubling you.”

“Well, I do need someone to vent all these thoughts out. Sharing it with a stranger sounds satisfying – at least it won’t cause any harm” I answered.

What harm will it cause for venting out these nightmares to a stranger?

“You know? I am wondering where my awesomely perfect and peaceful life disappeared. I basically had everything. Two days back, my mom and sister passed away because of a plane accident on the route back home from a business trip.

Everything started changing since then. My awfully cold dad – who barely ever stays in the country and if he does come back to the country, he stays in LC hotel owned by the Cameron Family business- came home. Like, he actually came back to the house and he had a smile on his face when I opened the door.

Yeah, it is strange. Dad had a smile on his face – A SMILE. I never saw him smile since my childhood. So I knew something was strange. Now, take a guess on what happened next?” I paused to let him take a guess.

“Umm … he did something you never wanted?” He tried guessing.

“Yeah, right. He didn’t come back to mourn mom and Sally. The devil came back to get me married on a business basis. He knows how much marriage means to me, he knows that I want to fall in love first and he knows how much I despise business based marriage.

He knows that those marriages mean nothing to me other than just a contract to merge 2 companies. I got to know about all these last night and to my displeasure, my “future in-laws” decided to pay a visit today! What did I ever do to deserve this?” I added, putting extra emphasis on “future in-laws” and quoting it with my fingers.

He muttered something under his breath and then asked, “Have you ever given it a thought that contract marriages aren’t that bad after all?”

“You can never find love in contracts. And what value does the marriage have if it is just some paperwork signed by two parties without any feelings or without knowing each other? It is the same as all the other business contracts. Isn’t it? That’s why I despise it” I replied, getting a bit annoyed at the question he asked.

“I have to agree on what you said about contract marriages being nothing, just like the other business contracts. You are right that it hits differently unlike all the marriage. But have you thought about the perfect life you might get after the contract?” He questioned again.

“Are you saying that you can eat cold and soaked cereal and still enjoy it? Because having a perfect life in a contract marriage is just like enjoying soaked up cereal and saying it was delicious.”

“You sound like you already gave contract marriage a try and failed. You can’t judge something, you haven’t been through yet. Besides, did you ever try soaked up cereal? It doesn't taste that bad if you add a few berries, nuts, and chocolate syrup to it. It turns into a delicious meal. It depends on the person, if they want to enjoy even the worst moment or if they want to avoid any thoughts about enjoying it just because they don’t like it.” He answered.

What he said did make sense actually. Looks like this guy is full of positivity but I won’t take my point down. He can say whatever he wants but I already saw how one contract marriage ended.

I don’t want to get my life ruined. I saw how Mom and Dad’s marriage was like. I will stand my point because I don’t want to end the dream of a perfect life just because of a damn contract.”

“I am standing my point no matter what you say cause I have seen how a contact marriage ended. I have seen how my mom lived her life by getting married to my dad through a contract – you didn’t see anything. You don’t know anything. I saw how miserable and lifeless my mom was - you didn’t see. So stop speaking like you know everything because you don’t and I won’t let my life be ruined for this f*****g stupid piece of paper.” I vented all my anger on him even though I didn’t mean to.

“Have you ever thought about finding love after marriage?” he asked in a soft tone. He looked hurt, but why?

“No I didn’t and I won’t think about falling in love with a bastard who is setting himself up in a contract marriage. If he falls for me then I will make sure to look for the cruelest and worst way to break his heart. Thanks for the talk but it didn’t help at all other than making my mood worse.” Saying this I got up from the bench and started running again, leaving him to stay there staring at me.

After running for a few more minutes and a few more thoughts, I decided to get home to freshen up and get ready to meet my awful fiancée and his family.

****                          

As soon as I got inside the huge wooden doors of the house, my dad’s annoyed face greeted me.

“Where were you?” he questioned. No Good mornings … what was I expecting anyway.

“I went for a run in the park nearby.” My reply was short and exhausted.

“I told you to stay home today. You knew the Camerons are coming. Go get ready immediately.” He did have a very rude voice.

****

I made my way down the stairs when Lucy came and informed me that the Cameron family was already here and dad was ordering my presence.

I gracefully came down the stairs, wearing a floor-length, rose-gold, A-line gown. I decided to finish my look off with slight makeup, letting my straight hair down and adding Sally’s beautiful but simple diamond necklace.

I greeted everyone when I reached the end of the stairs but one person who was sitting with his back to me didn’t bother to turn around and introduce himself. Arrogant much!

“Sierra, meet your fiancée - Alexander.” My father introduced the man whose back was facing me.

As soon as he was introduced, he stood up and turned around. When I saw his face I was stunned! It can't be right! He was …