Forced To Be His: An Arranged Marriage

Chapter:4 Two Weeks To Forever

HAZEL’S POV

I walked out of the restaurant without looking back.

But even after I stepped outside, Damien's words followed me.

Gold digger.

The word kept ringing in my head, making my chest tighten with every step I took.

I couldn't believe he had said that.

Of all the things he could have called me, he had chosen that particular word. He hadn't even tried to understand me before deciding I was interested in his money.

I tightened my grip around my purse and continued walking, fighting the tears gathering in my eyes.

I had never looked at Damien and seen his money. I had barely known anything about him before our meeting. All I knew was that he was the son of Aunt Eleanor's close friends and the man I was expected to marry.

Yet, somehow, he had already decided exactly what kind of person I was.

What had I done to deserve such treatment?

I had agreed to this arrangement because I trusted Aunt Eleanor. She had been there for me when I lost my parents, and I believed she wanted what was best for me.

But I hadn't expected this.

I hadn't expected my future husband to look at me with so much contempt.

I reached the roadside and stopped a passing cab. Before getting inside, I took a deep breath and wiped the corner of my eye.

"Don't cry," I whispered to myself. "Hazel, please don't cry."

I got inside and closed the door.

As the car pulled away from the restaurant, I turned my face towards the window. Manhattan moved past me in a blur of lights and busy streets, but I barely noticed any of it.

My mind was occupied by one thought.

Two weeks.

In two weeks, I was supposed to marry that man.

And he already hated me.

I leaned against the seat and closed my eyes, wishing I could wake up and discover that everything was just a terrible dream.

But when the cab finally stopped outside my apartment, reality was waiting for me.

I paid the driver, stepped out, and walked inside.

The moment I entered my room, I dropped my purse onto a chair and sat on the edge of my bed.

For several minutes, I simply stared at the floor.

My mind kept replaying the conversation.

His cold expression.

His insulting words.

The way he had stood up and walked away as though I wasn't even worth another minute of his time.

I pressed my palms against my face.

I knew arranged marriages weren't always easy, but I hadn't expected mine to begin this way.

How was I supposed to share a home with a man who couldn't even tolerate sitting across from me?

What would happen when we became husband and wife? Would he continue treating me like an unwanted burden?

I had so many questions, but no answers.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I reached for my phone.

Before I could unlock it, the device started ringing.

I glanced at the screen.

Lena.

I answered.

"Hello?"

"Girl! Where have you been?"

I closed my eyes.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"At the meeting."

There was a short silence.

"With your future husband?"

I sighed.

"Unfortunately."

Lena immediately caught the tone in my voice.

"Okay..." She paused. "Why do you sound like somebody just cancelled your favourite food?"

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me.

"It's nothing."

"Don't you dare give me that 'it's nothing' nonsense. I know you, Hazel."

I remained quiet.

She sighed dramatically.

"Wait a minute. Did Mr Rich-and-I-Don't-Smile do something?"

I smiled faintly.

"His name is Damien."

"I know his name. I'm simply choosing not to respect him yet."

That made me laugh a little harder.

"Lena..."

"There! I made you laugh. Now tell me what happened."

I hesitated, wondering whether I should tell her everything over the phone.

Before I could answer, she spoke again.

"Actually, don't bother. I'm coming over."

"You don't have to."

"I'm already coming."

"Lena—"

The call ended.

I stared at my phone, shaking my head.

"Of course," I muttered.

That was Lena. She never waited for permission when she believed I needed her.

About thirty minutes later, someone knocked on my door.

I opened it to find Lena standing there with a small food bag in one hand.

"I brought food."

I looked at the bag, then at her.

"Why?"

"Because I know you. You've probably been sitting here feeling sorry for yourself instead of eating."

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself."

"Of course not. You're simply staring dramatically into space for fun."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're annoying."

"And yet, you love me."

"Unfortunately."

She grinned and walked inside, placing the food on the table.

"Now sit down."

I obeyed, settling onto the bed while she pulled a chair closer.

For a few seconds, she simply studied my face. Then her playful expression disappeared.

"What happened?"

I looked down at my hands.

"Nothing."

"Hazel."

I sighed.

"You really don't let things go, do you?"

"Nope. Not when it comes to you."

I knew I couldn't hide it from her any longer.

So I told her everything.

I told her about the restaurant, about seeing Damien again after the incident at the café, and about the way our conversation had turned into an argument.

I told her how quickly he had dismissed me and announced that the wedding would take place in two weeks.

Finally, I told her what had hurt me the most.

"He called me a gold digger."

Lena's eyes widened.

"He called you WHAT?"

I nodded.

"A gold digger."

She stared at me in disbelief.

"That man doesn't even know you!"

"I know."

"He doesn't know anything about your life, Hazel!"

"I know, Lena."

"And he has already decided you're after his money?"

I nodded again.

Lena shook her head furiously.

"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."

I looked down.

"I don't understand why he thinks that."

"Because he's stupid."

"Lena!"

"What? I'm being honest."

I laughed quietly, and she smiled when she saw my reaction.

"Fine. Maybe he's not stupid. Maybe he's just arrogant."

"Very."

"Cold?"

"Extremely."

"Annoying?"

"Definitely."

We both laughed, and for a moment, the heaviness in my chest became a little lighter.

But the smile soon disappeared from my face.

Lena noticed immediately.

"You really don't want to marry him, do you?"

I looked away.

"I don't know."

Her voice softened.

"Then tell me what you're feeling. Don't tell me what Aunt Eleanor wants or what you think everyone expects from you. Tell me what you want."

I took a deep breath.

"I'm scared."

She didn't interrupt.

"Everything is happening so quickly. Two weeks, Lena. I'm supposed to marry someone I barely know, and he doesn't even seem interested in knowing me."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"What if my whole marriage is like that meeting? What if he never respects me? What if I spend the rest of my life trying to please someone who doesn't even want me around?"

Lena reached across and held my hand.

"You don't know what the future holds."

"He literally called me a gold digger."

She paused.

"Okay. Fair point."

I managed a weak smile.

"But Hazel, whatever happens, you don't have to face everything alone. I'm here for you, alright?"

I squeezed her hand.

"Thank you."

She smiled.

"Now eat before I start feeding you myself."

I laughed.

"You're ridiculous."

"I know. It's one of my best qualities."

For the first time since leaving the restaurant, I felt as though I could breathe a little easier.

I still didn't know what my future held, but at least I had someone who would stand beside me while I figured it out.

DAMIEN’S POV

Across the city, I sat behind my desk, going through a stack of documents.

The office was quiet, and I preferred it that way. I had already spent enough time dealing with unnecessary conversations that day.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Rohan entered, carrying a folder.

"The wedding arrangements."

I looked up from my documents.

"Already?"

He placed the folder on my desk.

"Your mother wants everything settled quickly. Two weeks isn't exactly a lot of time."

I opened the folder and glanced through the papers.

The venue had been confirmed, the guest list was being prepared, and the family representatives were handling the remaining arrangements.

Everything was moving faster than I would have preferred.

Still, I had agreed to the marriage, and I wasn't about to start arguing about every detail.

"Good," I said, closing the folder.

Rohan remained beside my desk.

"There's also a meeting with the board tomorrow morning."

"I know."

"Eight o'clock."

"I'll be there."

He nodded, then glanced at the wedding documents.

"So... two weeks."

I gave him a look.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No. I'm just surprised at how quickly everything is happening."

"It's an arranged marriage, Rohan. There isn't much to discuss."

He shrugged.

"Fair enough."

I leaned back in my chair and loosened my tie slightly.

My parents had made their wishes clear. They wanted me married, and they wanted grandchildren eventually. I had agreed to meet Hazel because refusing would only lead to more arguments.

Now the arrangements were underway, and there was little reason to dwell on them.

Rohan glanced at me.

"Have you spoken to Hazel since the meeting?"

"No."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Not even a message?"

I looked at him coldly.

"Why would I message her?"

"She's going to be your wife, Damien. I thought you might want to make sure everything is alright."

"Everything is fine."

Rohan studied me for a moment but didn't argue.

I picked up another document.

"Once the wedding is done, everything goes back to normal."

He nodded slowly.

"Then let's make sure everything goes smoothly."

"That's the plan."

Rohan collected the remaining papers and headed towards the door.

"Goodnight, Damien."

"Goodnight."

After he left, silence settled over the office again.

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes falling on the wedding folder.

For a brief moment, Hazel's face appeared in my mind.

I remembered the way she had looked at me during our meeting, her expression shifting from surprise to anger as I accused her of being interested in my money.

She had insisted she wasn't.

I frowned and pushed the thought away.

It didn't matter what she thought of me, and I had no intention of turning this arrangement into something complicated.

This was a marriage arranged by our families.

Nothing more.

I opened another file and returned to work.

There were more important things to think about: the company, tomorrow's meeting, and the preparations that needed to be completed.

Everything had already been decided.

In two weeks, I would be married.

And after that, life would continue exactly as it always had.

At least, that was what I believed.

End Of Chapter*