Chapter 2: TWO: CHEATED ON FIANCÉ 2
Paula's arrival finally made Carol regret coming to her best friend's office, but Marcus was still there. Paula cursed at Marcus and called Carol a bitch but quickly stopped when security took the supermodel away from his office. This successful man is constantly approached by many beautiful women, from artists and models to children of his colleagues.
But this time, the news that Carol got was also quite surprising.
"So, you also canceled your wedding, which was supposed to be held next week?" Carol asked, still in disbelief.
"Yeah, why?"
"You don't look like someone who's having a bad time, Marcus," said Carol, with both eyes swollen.
"I don't have time for that, Carol. You know I have a lot of work. Tonight, I have to join dinner with my father. I don't like it, but the old man insists!" Marcus said while fixing his tie, which Carol helped Antoni deftly improve his connection. "You're getting good at fixing ties."
"Sure, I learned to tie my brothers' and your damn ties!" Carol replied, still with her red nose, after crying.
"You look like a clown; your nose and eyes are red. Perfect for my little cousin's birthday party!"
"Damn it! Just go there, thank you, and I'm sorry for canceling your engagement," Carol said again. The girl walked to the sofa and took her bag. "He did-"
"Don't mention his name; I'm tired of hearing about this man acting up!" Marcus' reply was quickly nodded by Carol, who immediately said goodbye after kissing Marcus on the cheek.
"You should kiss here," pointed to Marcus's thick lips.
"That's enough! I'm leaving. Thank you again."
"Be careful on the road, and text me when you get home!" Marcus said, watching the narrow back disappear through the door.
Then, not long after, his secretary came over with some of today's schedule.
"Mr. Carles has ordered you to come because there was a notification about inheritance rights. If you don't come, all the assets you are managing and the family-owned business will go to Mr. Jeremy Ellison," Stella said.
...
"With this, the distribution of inheritance will be carried out when the heirs already have wives and children. If until Carles Ellison's death, there are no heirs who have children, then all ownership will fall on the heirs who already have wives," Carles' attorney said, closing the conversation.
Everyone there was silent; there was Carles, Sasha, Marcus's mother, Johnny, his younger brother, Jeremy, and even his father's secret lover. It made Sasha's aura more dangerous than before. His family has not had harmony since his father had an affair; Johnny, who heard the contents of the will, only rolled his eyes.
He was still young, and the contents of the inheritance required him to marry and have children; he would instead pursue his goals than try to take over his father's formidable company. Let Marcus get that, rather than Jeremy. That man was as cunning and rotten as his mother; he hated seeing those two present here.
"I feel bad to be here. Can I go to the bathroom?" Johnny said openly, looking at Daphne, his father's girlfriend.
"Watch your mouth, Johnny!" Carles warned his youngest son in a flat tone.
"Go, don't mind your father. Even mom can't help feeling bad here; let's get this over with, Carles!" Sasha chimed in while looking at her husband without holding back.
"We haven't even had a drink, and you want to finish this already?!" Carles replied to his wife with annoyance.
"You dare to bring your slut here; how can I stay calm!"
Carles slammed the table in front of him loudly. "Watch your words in front of me!"
"How can I stay calm in front of this rotten slut of yours?!" Sasha challenged him. It hurt Carles, who looked ugly from time to time.
The debate stopped for a moment when the waiter, Isaac, came with the appetizer. Carles' lawyer wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief because he was nervous and worried. He was facing his boss's family who always argued whenever they got together.
Daphne still looked fine, which made Sasha even more annoyed. Here, she was uncomfortable because her husband dared to bring his prostitute and illegitimate child here, in front of her. In her dreams, she wanted to rip off this prostitute's face.
"Don't worry, Mom. The food is here. Let's fill our stomachs first. I'm tired after meeting with clients today," Marcus said on the sidelines of this family tension.
Then everyone ate in a tense state. Isaac even had trouble swallowing the well-done steak. Even though the meal was perfect, he couldn't properly digest it. Maybe tonight, he would have diarrhea not long after Johny came. He had just smoked a nicotine bar to release his tense nerves due to the unenjoyable atmosphere of this dinner. That was made worse by another piece of news from Jeremy, who didn't wait until everyone finished eating.
"Dad, I also want to tell you something. Paula is pregnant, and I want to marry her as soon as possible."
....
Marcus hugged his mother. The aged woman had just released her emotions after hearing the news about Jeremy, who was going to hold a wedding with his son's ex-fiancé.
"Please, I... I can't take it anymore. Kill me!! Just kill me, Marcus!! Your father will never regret. He never regrets everything he did to me!!" Sasha hit his son's broad chest in frustration. She was losing her mind from tonight's meeting and hearing about Jeremy without waiting for a long time. She messed everything up. "All of that must be yours! Company assets! The property, even this family name, is only yours, the grand heir! Get it for your mother. Get it at any cost, even if it means killing that bitch and her son!!"
"Calm down, Mom. I'll be fine. None of that will fall into anyone's hands. I'll make sure of that."
Marcus remained there comforting his mother until she fell asleep in her bed. He came out to find his brother leaning against the door, staring at him.
"How's Mom? Did she cry herself to sleep again?"
"Yeah, she was crying so loud. You must have heard it," Marcus replied in a neutral tone.
"You must be tired, right? Why didn't Mommy divorce Daddy? That bastard will never understand at any time!" Johny said, following Marcus behind him.
"Watch your mouth, Johny. He is your father. You would not have been born without a father."
"I didn't ask to be born if, in the end, I had to be in a messy family like this!" Then, Johny preceded Marcus and entered his room without wanting to hear anything about his parents.
But Marcus knew that Johny was worried about their mother. Sasha had always received love from her two children and her husband, Carles. But due to past wounds, Sasha judged everything equally and became defensive.
.....
Call her stupid and naive, but exactly one week after they broke up, Jeremy asked to meet at the Royal Cafe where they first met. It brought nostalgia to Carol, who had come first, ordering her favorite hot coffee in winter.
It was a freezing night, but Carol still hoped that Jeremy would come. She had been waiting for an hour, but the one she had been waiting for had not come, then she saw a car stop in front of the Royal Cafe.
Her eyes followed Jeremy's body as he walked, until he stopped in front of her, breathing heavily.
"Sorry I'm late. I had a family meeting and just finished a few minutes ago," he said, sitting down in front of her.
Carol smiled and nodded in understanding. "Would you like to order something?"
"No need, I'll order it myself," he replied. The waitress approached and took his order. Carol watched Jeremy's movements intently. It wasn't until he noticed her gaze that she looked away.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked.
Jeremy looked around nervously before asking, "Your two younger brothers aren't coming, right?"
"I probably wouldn't be here if those two culprits knew I was seeing you!" Jeremy chuckled before turning serious. "Carol... I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. I know it was wrong and it's not right for me to say sorry. I destroyed our relationship, destroyed your trust in me... I want to apologize." Jeremy clasped his hands, looking at her lovingly. Carol stared back, trying to hold back her tears. "She's pregnant with my child!"
"Bastard!!" Carol was about to stand up, but Jeremy held her down and pulled her to sit beside him, tightly hugging her from the side. "Get off me, dammit!"
"I am only responsible until the child is born, but I love you. I know it was wrong to sleep with her, but I still love you, Carol! Trust me, please..." Jeremy put his head on her shoulder and heard her sobbing along with his own tears.
"Stop talking!" she screamed, but Jeremy immediately covered her lips with a long, forced kiss until she bit her lip.
Both of them cried, even when the waitress came awkwardly in front of the crying couple. After a few moments, Jeremy wiped away her tears and cupped Carol's face.
"I want us back. I love you very much! So do you..." Jeremy's soft smile faded as he waited for Carol's response.
"Who said I still love you?" she asked, trying to look away from his emerald eyes.
"I know that," Jeremy said, tracing the depths of her eyes. "You lied. I still see us there, and your eyes always look beautiful and reassuring. I promise, just for now, we will get married as you wish, travel the world, and then make clones of both of us who have my eyes and your face." His words made Carol cry again.
"How can I trust you?" she asked through her tears.
"You have to believe that this is the last time. I promise this is the last time, and we will return after that. Only until the baby is born." Jeremy kissed her forehead deeply.
Carol didn't push away from the embrace, because she wanted to believe him.
"You want to come back to me, right?" Carol's soft nod was her affirmative answer to his question, and she smiled. "Thank you, thank you, honey... I love you."
But she shouldn't have taken it for granted. Jeremy was such an asshole. She had already denied him once, and she would do it again in the future. A few days later, Carol saw her maid at home with a frightened expression, carrying a brown invitation.
"What's that, Conel?" Carol asked curiously and cheerfully.
"Ah, that-that, no, this— young lady don't!" The invitation was in Carol's hand, and she read it slowly aloud.
"You are invited to the wedding of Paula Walker and Jeremy Ellison on Saturday, 7th September, at two o'clock in the afternoon."
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