A MARRIAGE OF FATE

CHAPTER THREE MAKING DECISIONS

Melody sat on her worn-out couch, staring blankly at the card in her hands.

“Alfred Wellington, CEO of Well Industries.” She read out.

Alfred had given her his card before she stepped out of his car.

You might be wondering if she accepted his offer.

Of course, she did, Melody thought she would be a fool not to.

She had thought of her seven-year-old sister, Emma lying on the bed at the hospital with the numerous tubes attached to her and instantly accepted his offer.

Except that, now, as she sat in the quiet apartment, she could not help but wonder if she was making a mistake, she was sure to regret.

Melody could not ascertain what she was getting herself into.

She was pulled out of her reverie by the sound of her phone ringing out and resonating through the room.

“Miss Éclairs, I'm calling from Maidstone Hospital, your sister…”

“I'm on my way.” She announced, frantically grabbing her things. She rushed out of the house and quickly boarded a taxi and jumped into the car.

“Maidstone Hospital!” She instructed?

Immediately she arrived, she made her way to the doctor's office.

“Welcome Miss Éclairs, the nurse must have made the call.” The woman greeted me with a professional smile.

“Yes. She said something regarding Emma's condition.” Melody answered, ready to burst at the seams.

“Relax, there is no cause for alarm. In fact, I have great news to share with you.” The doctor reassured, taking note of her anxiety.

“Really?” Melody asked with a head tilt, eyes shining with curiosity.

“Yes.” She answered.

“After being on the waitlist for years, we have finally found a heart donor for little Emma.” She explained with a smile.

“Oh, that's great.” Her lips pulled into a frown, but she felt guilty for being happy.

Melody was fully aware that somebody must have died before her sister could live. She was glad that her sister would finally be treated, but was remorseful that it had to be at the expense of the life of another.

“Yes, I assume it must be good news.” The doctor replied.

“What do we do from here?” She asked the doctor, leaning forward in her seat.

“Now, we need to fix a date for surgery and… you remember the cost of the surgery, right?” The doctor asked gently.

Melody wrings her hands together, fully aware of what she had previously agreed to her sister's life.

“Yes, I do.” She answered.

“Good. A nurse will communicate with you to inform you about the details of the surgery.”

“Thank you doctor.” She mumbled, her tone reeking of gratitude.

“It is my job, and I am going to do my best to ensure that our Emma gets all the treatment that she needs. She's going to be back on her feet soon. I promise.” The woman answered.

Melody could only repeat the same words again.

“Thank you.”

After exiting the doctor's office, Melody made her way to her sister's room.

Her heart broke a little more as it always did every time, she stepped into the room to see her sister in such a fragile state.

Emma had been born with a hole in her heart, she was put on the waitlist for a heart donor, but had been living fine until a few years ago when she had fallen unconscious at school. She had been rushed to the hospital immediately and had been at the pediatric ward ever since.

Melody shut the door behind her before she moved towards Emma's sleeping form and slowly sat next to her bed.

“Hi Emma, I'm sorry that I didn't come before bedtime. I will come earlier tomorrow, I promise.” She said softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears.

“I just saw the doctor and she says they've found a donor. You're coming home soon baby.” She whispered with tears in her eyes before pressing a soft kiss on her sister's forehead.

Her phone chimed grabbing her attention,

“Melody! I know that you requested the night off, but the bar is packed and we're short on staff. Could you make yourself available?” The man rushed out in one breath.

Melody let out a sigh, she could hear the chaos of the bar in the background.

“Alright, I will be there soon.” She agreed eventually.

“Better than moping around anyway”

Melody felt the need to distract herself from her thoughts about her sister's health and the sudden marriage proposal from Alfred Wellington.

“Yes, thank you. I owe you one.” The man expressed. She could hear him let out a breath of relief and her heart warmed for doing one thing right.

The room was consumed with silence once again, except for the beeping of the heart monitor.

She directed her attention to her little sister, pressing another fleeting kiss to her forehead.

“I have to go now baby; I will see you soon.”

Melody had stopped saying goodbye since the night that her father had left to buy ice cream and had never returned. After that day she had stuck to “see you soon”. It had been ingrained in her mind.

She shot another sweeping glance at Emma before turning on her heel and exiting the room.

Melody left the hospital with her mind made up, after paying a visit to the hospital, she knew what she had to do.

………….…..

Alfred sat in his office, he let his eyes roam over the documents that were in front of him. It was Melody's file and contained everything that his private investigator could find about her.

Melody Éclairs, she was the perfect candidate to fill the role of his wife.

He needed somebody to get his uncle and the board of directors off his back. They had been growing restless and his uncle had suggested- more like instructed for him to find a suitor and get married soon.

And Alfred, like always heeded to his uncle's words. What else could he do? Afterall, his uncle had never led him astray.

He had been the only family he had left after the death of his parents and had been mentoring from that moment until this moment.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door being pushed open.

Alfred would normally have a problem with anybody getting into his office without knocking, but he knew that there was only one person who felt entitled to do so.

But, no matter how much Alfred detested the action he could never say no to his uncle or do anything to cross him.

“Alfred, we have a matter to discuss.” The tall man said as soon as he walked in, sitting on the chair opposite him immediately.

That was the norm for Desmond Wellington, he always went straight to the point and did not engage in small talk whatsoever.

“What is the matter uncle?” Alfred questioned in a similar manner.

“Do you recall a conversation we had about you getting married?”

“Yes, I do.” Alfred answered with a nod.

“Then why have I not received an invitation to the wedding yet?” The man asked gruffly, without a hint of humor in his tone.

“That's because I'm still working on it, but it will all be sorted out soon.” He reassured

“Good. The next time we meet, it'd better be at your wedding.” The man finished with a satisfied hum before exiting the office as abruptly as he had arrived.

As soon as he left, Alfred made a call to the driver.

“Get the car ready, we're going to visit somebody…”