Chapter 2: A Marriage They Never Wanted
536 Words
Three years earlier.
VIP Ward, City B General Hospital.
An elderly woman with snow-white hair lay weakly in bed, her voice trembling.
“Call Alexander back… quickly… I don’t have much time…”
A middle-aged man with neatly combed hair held his hand, eyes red with worry.
“Mom, don’t say that. You’ll live to a hundred.”
She shook her head gently.
“Edward… I know my body. Alexander must come back… he has to marry Lydia.”
Her grip tightened.
“Lydia’s grandfather once saved your father—and our entire family. This marriage was promised long ago. We can’t break it… I couldn’t face him if we did.”
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Vivienne Blackwood said softly. “Alexander is on his way.”
“Grandma! I’m home!”
Before anyone could react, a young man’s voice rang out. Moments later, Alexander Blackwood rushed into the room, still in his travel clothes, exhaustion etched on his face.
He grabbed her hand anxiously.
“Grandma, what happened?”
She smiled faintly, her eyes kind.
“My health isn’t what it used to be. Before I go… I want to see you marry Lydia.”
“Your engagement was arranged when you were children. It’s time to make it official.”
Alexander froze.
“Grandma, I don’t—”
“Vivienne, don’t worry,” Vivienne interrupted quickly. “We’ll arrange the wedding immediately.”
Relief softened the old woman’s face.
“I’ve already set the date,” she said faintly. “The eighth of next month is lucky. Let them marry then. Start preparations.”
“I’m tired now. You can all go home.”
“Yes, Mom,” Edward replied quietly.
That night, at home—
Alexander stopped his father in the hall.
“Dad, I don’t agree with this marriage.”
His voice was firm.
“I like Nora—not Lydia.”
Edward’s face darkened instantly.
“You brat! This isn’t up for discussion. You will marry her whether you like it or not.”
“What’s wrong with Lydia? She’s smart, polite, gentle—any man would be lucky to have her!”
“Then you marry her!” Alexander shot back. “As for me, I’ll only marry Nora!”
That set Edward off.
“You ungrateful little—!”
He grabbed a decorative cane and swung at him.
Alexander ducked and ran behind Vivienne.
“Stop it!” Vivienne intervened. “Can’t you settle this with words instead of hitting him?”
Edward threw the cane aside, furious.
“If you refuse this marriage, don’t ever come back to this house!”
With that, he stormed upstairs.
Vivienne sighed and guided her son to sit.
“You can’t blame your father,” she said gently. “Your grandmother is very sick.”
Alexander froze.
“How bad?”
“She’s in the late stages of liver cancer. The doctors say… maybe two months.”
His eyes widened.
“Does she know?”
Vivienne shook her head.
“We’ve been keeping it from her.”
Silence fell. A long, heavy silence.
Finally—
Alexander closed his eyes, voice low.
“…Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll marry her.”
- Writer
