ARRANGED TO CARTER ANDERSON

CHAPTER 1

THE BREAKUP

“Emily, we can’t continue with this…my heart belongs to Ava.” He said with no remorse in his tone.

Both couples were called to the stage, at the grand celebration of their 3 years wedding anniversary, but Emily decided to speak first. As she mounted the stage, her furrowed eyes joyfully scanned through the seated, giggling guests. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate with us on this special day of our wedding anniversary,” she said as she turned to face Carter. “Dear Carter Anderson, you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thanks for the love you’ve showered me with since our paths crossed. I love you.”

The love declaration filtered across the hall, leaving the guests emotional. But in her expression, resided the cloud covering a secret she couldn't make public. Carter walked gracefully to the stage, held Emily’s hand, lifted it towards his mouth, and cupped a kiss on it. Then, he drew her close. “Thank you, love.”

That was all Carter could say to her. Though she offered a wide smile, she expected more love expression from him just as she did. Could he be hiding something from me? Emily muttered to herself.

The volume of the background music was raised a bit, the rhythm held everyone captive as they all stood, each man with his spouse as they danced together. Emily stood alone, with a glass of red wine gripped tightly in her fingers. “Where could Carter be when everyone is here?” She whispered to herself again.

Emily gritted her teeth in anger, she wasn’t supposed to be wandering around like this on a day like this, but the need to satisfy her curiosity took the lead.

Just the moment she was about to return to the hall, she heard creeping sounds from inside one of the rooms. Her eyebrows widened as she recognized the male voice, she quietly peeped through the small hole on the door to see her husband in a romantic position with an unknown woman.

Three years ago, Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Olivia Anderson, the founders of the Andersons Group of Company were hit by an unexpected economic downfall which resulted in the loss of contracts and multiple withdrawals of top shareholders. The only way they could think of to save their company was to seek funding from their close friends, including Emily’s parents – Mr. Jason and Mrs. Lucia Collins.

The Collins were desperate for grand children, so in addition to sealing their business deal, they propose the arranged marriage for their kids - Emily and Carter.

Even though they knew both Emily and Carter didn’t love each other to propose marriage, they believed with time, they’d get to know and love themselves.

And it did work out, but partially. Only Emily got to love Carter for his outstanding personality; how keenly he listens and his brilliant contributions in conversations. And he was very caring and romantic. Little did she know all those behaviors were simply made up to sustain his company which he later inherited from his parents.

He was given two choices by his father to either marry Emily and have the business or refuse the marriage and lose the business and every other inheritance accruable to him.

Carter couldn’t stand to lose his inheritance.

Ever since she was arranged to marry Carter, she had always put him first to make sure he was happy, she took time to study what made him happy and what didn’t. There were many times when he returned home late at night, drunk, she’d resist asking questions as normal wives do, but helped him to the bedroom and served his dinner.

She quit her job as a medical doctor in one of the prestigious hospitals in the city as Carter instructed her to. He’d told her that he was earning enough to take care of everything. So, she should quit her job and take care of the home as a good wife would.

She respected him, loved him, and did all his bidding, hoping that one day, Carter would get to love her.

Emily stood firm on that spot, her hunched shoulders weighed down by a heavy veil of sorrow. They were just releasing themselves from the tight embrace when Carter cupped Ava’s lips into his, sucking her tongue as if he was going to eat every bit of it.

Then Ava broke loose, the corners of her mouth pulled downwards, and her face flushed. “How long more do you have to keep me waiting? As a woman, my clock is ticking. I want to start a family with you as my husband. When is this going to be?” Ava lamented, sniffing her nose as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Emily from outside the room began to feel her whole body numb as leaned on the wall for support. The woman’s words pierced her heart like a double-edged sword.

Carter grabbed Ava’s hand and stared at her with an assuring look. “Don’t worry about that. It is you that I love. I’m divorcing her in less than a week from today, and then we can get married.”

“Are you sure, Carter?” Ava asked, lifting her brows as she looked at Carter. Her expression mixed with shock and anticipation.

“Of course, I am. The divorce is certain. Just wait for me.” Carter reassured her again, moving closer to her, he cupped her both cheeks with his hands and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

At that bleak moment, it felt like all her joy had been leached from the world, leaving behind only an empty hollowness deep within her heart.

Buried in her peril, she was jacked back to life as the door slid open. “What are you doing here?” Carter blotted, eyes furrowed and lips pushed open in shock at the sight of his wife. “Wait a minute, are you stalking me now?”

Emily’s countenance moved from surprise to rage as the corners of her mouth turned downwards, her lips pressing into a tight line as if holding back the tidal wave of anguish.

“Really?” Emily thundered, flapping her fingers in gesture. “Is that all you’re going to say to me, for having an affair with an unknown woman?”

Carter stared at his wife, his eyes red and face flushed, he walked past her, matching to the hall, his steps reverberating with thunderous sounds as Ava followed him like an obedient dog. Emily followed them too.

The fight continued in the hall when Emily suddenly held Carter’s hand, turning him to face her. “Babe, you can’t just walk away from me like that. You need to tell me what’s going on. What have I done?”

“I’m sorry, Emily. We can’t continue with this…sham of a marriage. My heart belongs to Ava.” He said with a gentle tone and with no remorse in his eyes. He held Ava’s hand, “C’mon, sweetheart, let’s go.”

The guests, including their parents, gave a unified shout as their eyebrows widened in shock. Emily’s body went numb; her eyes began to close until complete darkness filled her vision.