Billionaire's Arranged Alliance

Three

I had forgotten just how powerful and influential Ethan was.

A large crowd had formed around us immediately Matt punched Ethan and Ethan fell to the ground.

Matt was immediately tackled down and pinned to the ground by Ethan's security men.

I saw Ethan's face, it was clouded with anger, I knew the only thing he wanted to do was punch Matt back but I saw one of the security men whisper something into his ear.

"What are you standing there for? Arrest him right now." Ethan told the police officer who was standing around and looking.

The police officer wasted no time as well, he jumped into action immediately, "You're under arrest for assault. You have the right to an attorney…"

I didn't get to hear the rest because I was being ushered into the car.

"Avery! Avery!! Look at me." I heard Matt yell, I wanted to look back, I almost turned around to look at him.

"Don't you dare look back, or else this is not going to end with him just getting arrested, I'll make sure something worse happens to him." Ethan warned me.

I gulped and nodded my head to show him I heard him, I knew Ethan Blackwood never made empty threats.

"Avery, don't go with him. I love you babe." Matt yelled again and this made me to stop in my tracks.

I knew I shouldn't do or say anything as we were surrounded by many reporters, one wrong action could have bad consequences.

"You should really think hard and think well before you do or say anything Avery. Like I said, getting your little boyfriend arrested isn't the only thing I can do. I can do something worse to him."

Ethan told me again and I knew he had given me his final warning, the final decision was in my hands now.

I gulped loudly and braced myself for what I was about to do next.

Although it pained me, I felt like I was ripping my heart into pieces, but there were people I needed to protect.

My parents especially, even if it seemed like they didn't value me, I still had to do everything in my power to protect them.

And there was Matt, the only other person that mattered the most to me in this world.

I took deep breaths and continued walking to the car that had been waiting for us, despite Matt's protest and pleas coming from behind me.

Throughout the drive back home Ethan was fumming, he was shaking with anger and I was shivering in my seat as well, I knew it was only a matter of time before he would explode.

We arrived at the Blackwood estate long after and Ethan marched into the house, I quietly followed after him too.

"What an eventful day you're having son," Ethan's father said to him when he joined us downstairs, "first Paris, now the airport." He was referring to the incidents that had happened in less than twelve hours.

"Looks like you found a good wife, you're trending everywhere brother." Isabella mocked when she joined us well.

"She's useless, I tell you and it's her fault I'm going through all this in the first place." He growled and banged his fist on the counter top.

"Who was the guy anyways?" Isabella asked.

"Her f*****g ex! Can you believe someone is crazy enough to date her?" His words felt like a slap on my face, but I dared not say anything.

"Who in their right mind would stoop so low and date someone like that?!" He continued his outburst, not even minding the fact that I was still in the room and I could hear every single word coming out of his mouth.

"Calm down Ethan. Go upstairs and get settled in your room, I'll prepare dinner and I'll call you when we're down." An older lady, whom I learnt is his step mum said to him.

"Thanks ma." Ethan said and pecked her on her cheeks before going upstairs.

One after the other, everyone left the room till it was just me and the woman.

"Listen you gold digger, I don't know why Ethan chose to marry you but if you think you can steal anything from us and run away with your boyfriend, then you're wrong. If you try it, we won't ruin your life alone but everyone who is close to you as well." She threatened me, holding a shiny butcher's knife in her hand.

I knew she only held it to intimidate me but I was intimated, I was visibly shaking on the spot I was in.

"Get here and start cooking." She commanded.

I had forgotten where I was now, so I thought dinner was going to be a simple meal but Ethan's step mum demanded I cook a seven course.

And she made sure to choose the hardest meal in the cook book she had in the kitchen.

So I ended up preparing a seven course meal of course, by the time dinner was ready, I was exhausted. I didn't even feel like eating anymore, all I wanted was to get some rest.

I hadn't had a minute of rest since I got off the plane this afternoon.

While I was setting the table, the doorbell rang and one of the maids went to get it. When the guests showed up, I was happy to see that it was mum and dad.

At least I would have familiar faces around for tonight's dinner, the thought calmed me down.

Mum's faced turned into a frown when she saw me, "Why are you dressed in rags?" She spat at me.

I looked at myself, I was dressed in a yellow sundress I had changed into on our flight back to New York, it was a beautiful dress. And it was a dress I bought for myself.

"You're such an embarrassment to the Jones family, couldn't you have dressed more elegantly than this?" Dad added.

Tears started welling up in my eyes because of their comments.

This was the first time they would be seeing me since I got married and this was all they could say to me?

They didn't even hug me or ask me how I was doing after marrying me off to a complete stranger, all they cared about was me not disgracing them in front of the Blackwood's.

A tear escaped my eyes but thankfully, I managed to stop others before they started coming out.

I set the rest of the table and went to inform everyone that dinner was ready. One by one everyone came downstairs and once everyone was seated, we started eating.

Although no one had anything nice to say about my cooking, I noticed they were all gulping it down. I even saw Ethan reach out to take more portion.

No words were exchanged on the table except for the sound of cutleries clanging against the plates, that was until Ethan's mum decided to break the silence.

"Mr and Mrs Jones, I'm sorry the food might not be to your liking, your daughter prepared it after all." She said and I lost my appetite after hearing her words.

"You do not have to apologize for our daughter's bad cooking skills Mrs Blackwood, infact, it's my fault for not teaching her better." Mum said.

Her words were like I was being stabbed with a knife, if anyone was supposed to jump to my defense, I expected that it would have been her but it was sad that wasn't the case.

"You all should be nice to Avery." Isabella joined in on the conversation.

"I think the food is delicious, although, you didn't cook the steak to my liking, it is still delicious anyways." She complimented me and I sent her a grateful smile.

"Delicious my ass." Ethan scoffed beside me.

Although he tried to be quiet about it, I still heard it and the small smile that was previously on my face vanished immediately.

"I hope you had a good honeymoon?" Ethan's father, Mr Blackwood Snr decided to be a part of the conversation, his gaze was fixed on Ethan and I, though it was more on me.

"Yes we did father. I took the opportunity to visit some of our branches and they're all doing fine, as expected." Ethan told him.

"And what about you? What did you do in Paris? Did you have a wonderful time there?" He asked me.

I hadn't expected that he would care whether or not I had a good time in Paris.

The truth was that I had an awful time, I was locked in our suite all day long, and the events that happened before we left didn't make things any better.

It was an awful honeymoon for me, I never imagined I would go on a honeymoon with someone that wasn't Matt.

I had all these thoughts in my head but I knew I couldn't say anything, so with a small smile, I looked at Ethan's father.

"Yes Mr Blackwood, I had an amazing time in Paris, it was a wonderful experience." I lied.

"Good. I'm glad you both enjoyed your time there. Now I don't need to start telling you what comes next, do I?" He asked us again.

I wanted to answer his question but I knew I dare not speak, so I just kept quiet till Ethan was ready to talk.

"And what would that be? What comes next father?" Ethan asked, while cutting his steak and putting a piece into his mouth.

"What else? Babies of course." His father said.

Immediately the words left his mouth, I choked on the wine I was drinking and Ethan spat out the steak he was chewing on.

"You can't be serious dad." Ethan commented in disbelief.

"I am serious Ethan. I expect your wife to be carrying my grandchild before the end of this month!" He said and stood up.

That was when all hell broke loose.