Billionaire’s Arranged Marriage

Chapter Three

“Congratulations Cousin!” Edwina said as she danced with her at the wedding.

“Thank you!” Her cousin said smiling. Edwina excused herself from the dance party in search of a drink as her mouth was dry and her throat was parched.

“You look pretty Edwina,” her aunt complimented her as she was pouring herself a glass of wine at the drink table. Edwina knew that the conversation wasn’t going to stop there, but she thought it’s a happy day, her aunt won’t try to ruin it with her discussion about marriage.

“Thank you Aunty, you don’t look bad yourself.” She lied. Her aunt has this heavy make up on her face, and she wore a very loose dress making her look like she was pregnant. Edwina continued to sip on her wine as she enjoyed the music that was playing in the background and the dancing activity that was currently taking place .

“So, another wedding and yet not a man beside you,” she said.

“Aunty, not now please. At least let me enjoy the wedding in peace. Don’t put any unnecessary pressure on me. I do not have the patience right now,”

“Look how you blankly rejected the Prime Minister,”

“He almost r***d me!” Edwina said getting irritated at the mention of the Prime Minister.

“Because you’re stubborn. So stubborn so of course a man, an alpha male to be precise is bound to use force to keep a lady like you in check.” Edwina could not hide the shock she had just felt hearing the disgusting words fall off the lips of her Aunty.

“Did you actually just say that? Aunty, if there is anyone that should be ashamed, it is you. I can’t imagine that Toni has a mother like you! If she’s dying in her home, you will spit that venomous thing out of your mouth, and allow her to die all in the name of getting married and fulfilling the wifely duties.”

“How dare you speak to me in that manner?!”

“You claim to be married. My husband is the best man on earth, Edwina you should get married to a man like my husband. Ew! Even if a man like your husband is the last man alive, I would rather remain single, than marry him.” Her voice was already raising high, the veins on her neck standing out as she continued to speak to her Aunty, feeling utterly bitter and fed up with the whole conversation.

“Don’t you dare speak of my husband in that manner.”

“Husband? Ahhhh… no wonder you are able to say such nonsense with so much pride and no remorse. When you house a r****t, you automatically become a r**e apologist.”

Her Aunty got so angry she wanted to slap Edwina but Edwina held her hand back and threw it away.

“I’m just getting started with you.” Edwina said. By now, the wedding guests had already gathered around to see what was going on. Edwina’s parents rushed to the scene in a bid to stop their daughter from making a mess of situations but Edwina didn’t pay them any mind.

“Edwina, stop this now!” Her father instructed her but she was already way in to back down from the fight that was brought her way.

“You’re bringing a g*n to a knife fight Edwina, that is enough!” Her sister, Georgia said to her but she just blanked all of them off. The bride and groom gathered around to see the people that had stolen all of the attention from them.

Her cousin came to her side, trying to comfort her,

“Don’t let her words get to you,” she said but Edwina shook her head.

“Easy for you to say, you don’t have to deal with the taunts from the family members because it’s your wedding,” Edwina says as she teared up.

“This woman has reduced me to the point where she questions why I said no to a man that almost r***d me. How on earth am I expected to keep quiet at that.” She wiped the tears in her eyes and stood up straight, looking her aunt straight in her eyes.

“You’re married but your husband is sleeping with litttle girls my age. Is that something that I’m meant to aspire for? And what exactly is wrong with me making money? If your husband goes bankrupt, you’re back in the mud again, begging my family for support, money to help you. Keep your belittling to yourself and focus on your already broken home.” Edwina said storming out of the ceremony in anger, grabbing her purse and things along with her.

“Listen to me now Kenny,” her father said pointing to his younger sister. “You’re a part of the family, fair enough. I will not tolerate your indulgence in the matters of my family, especially Edwina. No one has given you the right to question her decisions. Marriage is not an award that you should be proud of, look at you, married and unhappy. Take this as a warning because, next time, it would be more than a warning. Do I make myself clear?” With that he walks away from the scene, his wife giving her a dirty look before following him, and then all their children and their spouses and kids.

“Edwina,” her father calls out her name as everyone arrives home. Her sisters take the children up to their rooms and locks them up while the rest wait downstairs.

“Edwina! You,” he points to one of the maids scurrying around. “Bring my daughter down here immediately.” He said to her.

“Okay,” the maid answers as she rushes up the stairs.

“Lady Edwina, your family is waiting downstairs for you.”

“Go away.”

“Your father is not pleased. He looks very furious, I’m not sure you want to get on his very bad side.” The maid insisted. Edwina opened up the door, her face stained with tears, the mascara and eye liner all washed up and her lipstick faded away.

“Thank you.” Edwina says to her as she heads downstairs. From up there she saw as everyone was gathered. Her father, Viscount Julius Middleton, pacing up and down the living room with his hand behind him. Her mother, Lady Gloria Middleton, sitting down on the leather solo sofa, leaned back with her chin supported by her hand.

Her sister Georgia and her husband Philip, the son of the Prime Minister of Tereva sat down, along with the rest of her siblings and her sibling in laws, Kingsley Middleton and his wife, Princess Sarah Howard, the princess of the kingdom of Gardiner, and Tracy, married to the Duke of Hanarem, Tom Rivers.

They all sat with long faces , and only raised their heads up when Edwina walked in.

“Sit down.” He ordered her. She followed his instruction, sitting on the chair.

“Look around you,” she raised her head up, staring at all the familiar faces that stared back at her,

“Everyone here is utterly worried about you, and yet disappointed.”

“Disappointed?” Edwina asked. “You’re all disappointed that I stood up for myself?”

“The way you spoke today, does not speak well of a Middleton. So mannerless, such rage, such bitterness, where did you learn all that from?” Her mother spoke up.

“I was tired. I got ticked off when she suggested I accepted the proposal of the man who almost r***d me.”

“And she will face the consequences of that, but I am concerned about you. You don’t seem to be worried about the fact that you’re late to marriage. As a lady, your blooming season is almost over,”

“I’m not worried because I have way better things to worry about. My siblings got married because it was their choice,”

“I’ll correct you there Edwina,” Georgia spoke up. “It wasn’t by choice, it was out of the responsibility we had to fulfill. Everyone seated in this room had to embrace that responsibility wholeheartedly,”

“That is you. I don’t want to sit, married and caged.”

“Your sisters are not caged,” Philip spoke up. “In fact, I’m very well aware of the fact that they are still pursuing their goals while maintaining their responsibilities as wives.” He added.

“Philip, you’ve always been on my side,”

“Yes I have, but the situation is bringing great concern to your family, and you’re attracting the negativity to yourself. The negative side of the public is something you should not desire to witness.”

“Well, luckily for my sisters and brother, they did not have to meet men that attempted to r**e them, or men that are so sick and obsessed about traditions, they met men like themselves and that solved half of their problems.”

“I have called you before everyone today to say this and everyone here shall bear me witness.” Her father said standing in the center of the living room, his hands still folded behind.

“Edwina, at my ceremonial ball this weekend, you have to come with a man who intends to marry you. If you do not do so, you will be married off to the Briggs.”

“Not the Briggs. They’re so far away and so stern on religion and traditions. Their son makes me sick to my stomach.”

“Until then, you are not allowed into any of my companies handed over to you. You are temporarily suspended. And if you eventually marry a Briggs, your position in my company will be shared among your siblings.” Edwina didn’t know what to say. She just sat there as the meeting scattered, everyone heading to their different rooms.

“Why do I feel cursed being born into this family?”