The Wife He Never Wanted

"I don't want to marry her." Alexander Hayes spoke through clenched teeth as he stood in front of his father's desk. Richard Hayes didn't even look up from the document in his hands. "You don't have a choice." Alexander let out a humorless laugh. "Funny. I keep hearing that." His father sighed and finally lifted his head. "Let's not do this again." As if this conversation hadn't consumed the last three weeks of Alexander's life. As if every argument hadn't ended exactly the same way. Marry Arabella Vance. Or lose everything. Alexander shoved his hands into his pockets. "Diane is coming back." There was a pause. A long one. Then Richard slowly removed his glasses. "Is she?" Alexander's jaw tightened. "Yes." "When?" His father asked, tilting his brow. The single question landed like a punch. Alexander hated that. Hated how everyone asked that question. When? Not if she's coming back but When. Because after three years, even he was starting to wonder. Still— He believed her. He had to. "Soon." His father stared at him. The silence felt heavy. Uncomfortable. Almost pitying. Alexander hated that even more. "You know what's funny?" Richard asked quietly. Alexander looked away. He already knew he wouldn't like whatever came next. "I think you're waiting for someone who stopped waiting for you a long time ago." The words struck harder than they should have. Because somewhere deep down... A small ugly voice whispered the same thing every night. Alexander swallowed. "Diane loves me." Richard stood from his chair. "Keep telling yourself that." Just then,the room went silent. Alexander felt his chest tighten. Not anger. Something worse. Fear. Because for the first time, he wasn't completely sure. His father grabbed his jacket from the chair. "The Vances will be attending the family gala tonight." Alexander frowned. "What?" "Eight o'clock." Richard straightened his cuffs. "Arabella will be there with her family." "I don't care." "No Alex..... You should." Richard walked toward the door. Before leaving, he stopped. "Don't be late." Then he walked out. Just like that. The conversation was over. The decision made. Alexander was left standing alone in the office. The silence felt deafening. For several seconds he simply stared at the empty doorway. Then he grabbed the crystal paperweight on the desk and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall. "Damn it." His voice echoed through the office. Everything felt like it was closing in. His parents. The company. The board. The shareholders........ Diane. The future. He just couldn't breathe. For three years he'd sacrificed everything. Waited for her, Defended her, Believed in her. And now..... everyone acted like he was a fool. A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. Alexander didn't answer. A moment later, the door opened. His assistant stepped inside. Ethan Baker. Twenty-nine. Loyal. Annoyingly optimistic. The worst kind of person to encounter when angry. "Sir?" Ethan asked carefully. Alexander rubbed his forehead. "What is it, Ethan?" "The directors need the financial reports before noon." Alexander laughed bitterly. "Of course they do." Ethan remained silent. Years of working together had taught him when not to speak. Unfortunately for him, Alexander wasn't in the mood to be reasonable. "You know what?" Alexander suddenly said. Ethan immediately regretted entering the room. That tone never led anywhere good. "Sir?" Alexander turned toward him. "Do you all discuss my life when I'm not around?" Ethan blinked.. "What?" "About my marriage." Ethan sighed inwardly. Not this. "Sir—" "Don't..... 'sir' me." Alexander began pacing. "You probably think I'm pathetic too, right?" "I never said that—." "Oh, Ethan, You don't have to." Ethan watched him quietly. For the first time, Alexander didn't look angry. He looked exhausted. "Twelve people have asked me the same question this month." "What question?" Alexander laughed. The sound was empty. "'When is Diane coming back?'" Ethan's expression softened. Alexander hated that. Hated sympathy. It felt too much like pity. "She will come back," Alexander muttered. The words sounded less convincing out loud. Ethan hesitated. Then spoke carefully. "And if she doesn't?" Alexander froze. The room became completely still. For a moment, neither man moved. Then Alexander looked away. Because he didn't have an answer. And somehow... That terrified him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, Across the city, Arabella Vance sat in front of a mirror while her mother adjusted the sleeve of her dress. "You look beautiful." Arabella resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Beautiful. Wonderful. Perfect. She'd heard all those words nonstop since the engagement. Not once had anyone asked if she was happy. Her mother stepped back. "There." Arabella studied her reflection. The woman staring back looked elegant. Composed. Nothing like how she felt inside. She looked..... trapped. "Arabella?" She looked up. "What?" Her mother smiled nervously. "The Hayes family will be at the gala tonight." Of course they would. The words immediately made her stomach twist. She didn't even know Alexander Hayes. Not really. Just articles. Photos. Rumors. A man she'd apparently be married to in two months. The absurdity of it still made her head hurt. "What is he like?" she asked quietly. Her mother blinked. She didn't know because she had never met him. It was her mother who had everything arranged. But tonight, she was going to meet him. "Who?" "Alexander Hayes." The room grew silent. That alone told Arabella everything. Because no one ever had a real answer. All the knew was that he was Successful....Brilliant.....Powerful.... And ....Handsome. She knew those descriptions already. They were printed in half the business magazines in the country. But what was he actually like? Did he laugh? Did he get angry? Did he sing badly in the shower? Did he ever cry? Nobody seemed to know. Or care. "He's a good man," her mother finally said. Arabella almost laughed. That's what people said whenever they didn't have a better answer. She stood from her chair. Her dress settled around her ankles. The engagement ring felt heavy on her finger. Too heavy. Sometimes she caught herself staring at it. Wondering how something so small could completely alter a person's future. "Arabella." Her mother's voice softened. "Are you alright?" Of course not. Not even close. She was scared. Scared of marrying a stranger. Scared of becoming someone's obligation. Scared of waking up ten years later beside a man who never loved her. But the worst part? The absolute worst part? She already knew his heart belonged to someone else. Everyone knew. It was Diane. The woman who had left. The woman he was still waiting for. And Arabella hated the feeling growing in her chest. Because it felt suspiciously like heartbreak. Which was ridiculous. How could she be heartbroken by a man she'd never even met? Yet somehow... She already felt like second place. And tonight would be the first time she'd have to look him in the eye and pretend she wasn't. Arabella looked away from her mother and forced herself to smile. "I'm fine," she lied. Her mother didn't look convinced. "You don't have to do this face all night." "What face?" "The one that says you're attending your own funeral." Before Arabella could answer, the sound of a car horn echoed outside. A second later, rapid footsteps pounded down the staircase.. "Our ride.... is here!" Tyler rushed into the living room with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. Arabella stared at him. "Why are you so happy?" Tyler shrugged. "Because this is the fanciest car that's ever parked outside our house." His grin widened. "And because I'm not the one getting married." Arabella grabbed a cushion and threw it at him. Tyler dodged with a laugh. "Violence. Nice." Their mother sighed.. "You two, behave yourselves." "Tell that to her," Tyler said, pointing at Arabella. Her mother stood and picked up her purse. "Come on. We shouldn't keep them waiting." Waiting? As if she was heading to a party. As if she wasn't about to spend an evening being displayed beside the man she was expected to marry. Arabella took a deep breath and followed her family outside.