A Promise Between Us

Olivia’s POV “I’m sorry, but you have to marry him.” I stared at Mr. Benson. For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong. “Marry who?” He pushed a file across the table. I looked down at the name written on the first page. Ethan Carter. I had never met the man. Yet my father’s final wish was asking me to marry him. I slowly looked back at Mr. Benson. “What does my father’s death have to do with my marriage?” He said nothing. My heart began to race. Then I noticed the old letter lying beside the file. My father’s handwriting was on the front. For Olivia. I reached for it. But before I could open it, the room around me seemed to fade. Three days earlier… I was sitting beside my father’s hospital bed, trying my best not to cry. He looked tired. Too tired. My father had always been the strongest man I knew. Even when he was sick, he never allowed anyone to see how much pain he was in. But that day was different. He looked at me as if he knew something I didn’t. “Liv.” I lifted my head. “Hmm?” “Come closer.” I moved my chair beside his bed and took his hand. “I’m here.” He smiled. “You’re still working too much.” I laughed softly. “You’re in the hospital and you’re worried about my work?” “Someone has to worry about you.” “I can take care of myself.” “I know.” He squeezed my hand. “But you shouldn’t have to do everything alone.” I looked at him. “Dad, you’re going to get better.” He didn’t answer. “Dad?” He looked toward the window. “I need you to listen to me.” Something in his voice made my smile disappear. “Okay.” “When I am gone…” I pulled my hand away. “No.” “Olivia.” “Don’t say that.” “You need to hear me.” “No, I don’t.” My eyes began to burn. “You’re coming home with us.” He gave me a sad smile. “I wish I could promise you that.” I looked down. I hated seeing him like this. I hated the hospital. I hated every machine beside his bed. Most of all, I hated knowing that I could not fix this. My father reached for my hand again. “There is something I need you to do.” “What?” “I made a promise many years ago.” “To who?” He paused. “To an old friend.” I frowned. “What kind of promise?” “One that may affect your future.” “My future?” He nodded. I shook my head. “I don’t understand.” “You will.” “Dad, please. Just tell me.” He looked at me for a long moment. “When the time comes, trust my decision.” “What decision?” He said nothing. “Dad?” His eyes slowly closed. “Dad?” I stood up. His hand went loose in mine. “Dad!” A nurse rushed into the room. “Miss Hayes, please step outside.” “But he’s not waking up.” “Please.” I stood there for another second before finally stepping back. My mother was waiting outside. She took one look at my face and pulled me into her arms. “What did he say?” I held her tightly. “He said he made a promise.” She became still. I pulled away. “You know about it.” Her eyes moved away from mine. “Mum.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You do.” She shook her head. “Your father will explain everything.” “He can’t even stay awake long enough to explain it.” “Olivia…” “What promise did he make?” She said nothing. That was when I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me. And I was going to find out. The next morning, my father’s condition became worse. I stayed at the hospital until the doctor told us there was nothing more they could do. My mother cried. I didn’t. At least not at first. I just stood beside his bed, holding his hand and waiting for him to open his eyes. He never did. My father was gone. And with him went the only person who could answer my questions. Three days later, I returned to Hayes Group. The company had been my father’s whole life. Now it was mine to protect. I sat behind his desk and stared at the pile of papers in front of me. There were bills to pay. Meetings to attend. Employees waiting for answers. Shareholders waiting for me to fail. I picked up a report. My eyes moved across the page, but I couldn’t focus. All I could hear was my father’s voice. Trust my decision. A knock came at the door. “Come in.” Mr. Benson walked inside. He was my father’s lawyer and one of the few people my father trusted completely. He looked serious. “Miss Hayes.” “Please, call me Olivia.” He nodded. “Olivia.” He placed a large envelope on my desk. My heart sank when I saw my father’s handwriting. “What is that?” “Your father left it for you.” I stared at the envelope. “When?” “Before his condition became worse.” “Why didn’t you give it to me before?” “He told me to wait until after his funeral.” I slowly picked it up. My fingers shook as I opened it. Inside was a letter. I read the first few lines. My eyes filled with tears. My father wrote about my childhood. About how proud he was of me. About how much he loved me. Then I reached the last part. I stopped. I read it again. My dearest Olivia, There is one final promise I need you to keep. My heart began to pound. I looked at Mr. Benson. “What promise?” He took a deep breath. “Your father made an agreement with the Carter family many years ago.” “The Carter family?” He nodded. “Carter Holdings.” I frowned. “What does that have to do with me?” Mr. Benson pulled out another document. I looked at it. Then at him. “Olivia…” “Yes?” “Your father believed the only way to protect Hayes Group was to unite your family with the Carters.” I stared at him. “What does that mean?” He pushed the document toward me. My eyes fell on the name at the top. Ethan Carter. Mr. Benson’s next words made my blood run cold. “Your father wanted you to marry him.” I couldn’t speak. I looked at the name again. Ethan Carter. A complete stranger. The man my father had chosen as my husband. And suddenly, I understood what my father had meant. Trust my decision. But how could I trust a decision that had just changed my entire life?