His Arranged Bride is a Multi-talented Heiress.

A PROMISE Athena’s POV “My little Raven…” Dion Blackwood, Athena’s grandfather says as he caresses her raven black hair while she is sleeping on the edge of his hospital bed. He sits up and then retracts his right hand to cover his mouth as he ends up coughing heavily. This action causes Athena to spring out of her dream world and back to reality. Athena rushes to his aid, “Grandpa, are you okay?” She inquires and immediately sprints around the bed to the table where the water is being kept. “I’m…fine,” Dion manages to answer but soon bursts out in another coughing frenzy. “Here grandpa,” She says as she offers him a glass of water. He takes it from her hand and drinks till half empty. “Thank you, my little Raven,” He states. She helps him relax his upper body back on the bed. “Are you feeling a bit better now, grandpa?” Athena’s voice is laced with worry as she’s aware that his health has been deteriorating rapidly lately. “Oh dear, don’t look at me that way,” Dion chuckles referring to Athena’s perturbed look, heaving heavily afterwards. “I can’t help but worry lately grandpa,” She sighs, walking back to her chair which is positioned on the right side of the bed, opposite the room’s door. Dion huffs a breath in an attempt to laugh, “Even if I die, little Raven, I lived my life to its fullest,” He states with boldness. “Although, I will have one regret…” His voice falters. Athena rolls her eyes and then shakes her head disapprovingly. Her grandfather has always been a wild spirited man, so his attempt at bravado doesn’t faze her, although she knows that he’s right. “And that would be?” She questions to play along with him. She notices that his grey hair has thinned out a lot, and his wrinkles have increased even more. “If I leave my little Raven all alone in this world,” He pauses, and Athena can swear that she saw his eyes tear up, even though in a split second it was gone. She laces her hand in his, “That’s exactly why you have to live long, grandpa. You’re a mere seventy-three, you’re still young,” Athena states nonchalantly, a small laugh escapes her lips. Dion bursts out laughing and again begins coughing; she quickly proceeds to offer him the remaining water in the glass. When she sits back down, Dion turns to look at his little Raven. “Grandpa, what’s the matter?” Athena asks when she sees the sad look on Dion’s face. “Come closer little Raven,” He prods Athena to lean towards him. He raises his hand barely to caress her face. “Look Athena,” Dion begins, calling her first name which she knows he uses whenever he’s serious. “Life was unkind to you when it snatched your parents away from us. Unfortunately my dear, it’s about to do the same with me. And I can only leave this world in peace when I know that you won’t be alone.” His voice strains, as if it’s the last ounce of energy he can muster to speak. At Dion’s statement, Athena begins to tear up and shakes her head disapprovingly. With a shaky voice she replies, “No, you’re going to survive, you’re going to be…” Dion cuts her off and grabs her hands tightly, “Promise me Athena, promise me that you’ll marry Ares.” “We’ve talked about this grandpa, I’m not going to…” “Little Raven, please…promise me,” Dion pleads with Athena. She gives in with a sigh and a nod of her head. She wipes a tear away from her cheeks, “Alright, I promise. Satisfied?” She asks with a scowl. “Yes. I love you, my little Raven,” Dion declares. “I love you…” Athena stills for a moment as she notices that Dion’s hand in her face falls limp to the bed. She couldn’t tell if she was dreaming. “Grandpa?” She calls out to him but he didn’t respond. **** A knock on the door signals Athena’s attention back to reality and away from the memories of the last conversation she had with her grandfather who passed a month ago. Today is the day she begrudgingly fulfils the promise that she made to him. “Come in,” She answers, she pulls her gaze away from the window to see a blonde haired lady wearing a blue off the shoulder dress with a mic attached to her ear waltzes into the room, speaking into the mic in hush tones as she approaches Athena in her seat. The wedding planner. “Miss Athena, it’s time,” Marilyn announces. Athena ignores the voices coming from the mic as she returns her gaze back to the window overlooking the sea, which is surprisingly calm in comparison to yesterday’s hectic arrival and her current antsy mind. “The sea is bright and beautiful…” She mutters, trying to capture the view in her mind, imprint the sense of calm and serenity upon her soul as she makes the worst decision of her life, thinking about the gloomy days ahead of her. “Miss Athena?” Marilyn calls to bring her out of her supposed trance. “Alright,” Athena heaves a sigh as she lifts her body along with the heaviness in her soul. Her stride takes her to where her flower bouquet rests atop the table opposite the full length mirror. She grabs her bouquet and her steps halts in front of the mirror to catch her appearance for the last time, and Marilyn watches her. The hair stylist and makeup artist were generous to fulfil her requests to keep things minimal. Her raven black hair is styled in a low bun with a long curled strand hanging loosely down her face on the right. Her mole never fails to stick out but it’s one of the best features of her face. Her lips extend into a mischievous smile when she looks at the beautiful long wedding gown she adorns which hugs her perfect figure. The only right decision she made. “What’s a wedding without a show,” She snickers heartily, walking towards the door. Marilyn follows closely behind; struggling with Athena’s wedding train in hand. “I’m about to be a bride,” She states as a reminder to herself. Marilyn hesitantly hums in agreement, a gleam of worry in her eyes as whispers into the mic yet again, anxious about Athena’s plan. They finally reach the closed door at the entrance of the church, and Marilyn hurriedly arranges her wedding train on the floor. “I’m going to be a bride,” Athena casually says, staring at the black dahlia bouquet clasped in her hand. Athena’s lips curl into a smile she musters specifically for this day, “A black one to be precise.”