Forbidden Romance

Episode 6-Coincidence

/Ariana's POV/

My day had been hella boring. Well, I just stayed in bed all day and picked up the kids at school.

I was somehow disappointed not to see my fake future husband. Erica was picked up by her mom, I guess since she was calling her mom. I kind of noticed the twins don't get along with Erica at all.

I can't blame them; McCain's and Wright's just don't get along.

I got home and help mom bake After baking, I just walked to my room. I tried calling Stefan but he wasn't picking and I started to think it was all because I ignored his calls in the morning—not really ignored; it was all his fault in the first place.

I let out an exasperated sigh because I was already getting frustrated thinking about it.

I was walking to my mom's room, ready for a piece of motherly advice, when I noticed my dad's study was open. He wasn't the type to be in by this time of the day. He must have taken a day off.

"Dad?" I called, and he looked up from the little paperwork he was dealing with.

"I see you're here," My dad pointed out dryly, his eyes flicking up from the papers to me, then back to the papers.

"Dad...please. I don't want to do this... I don't want a fake marriage, even if I have to divorce later. I have a boyfriend and we

"Ariana!" My dad snapped, and I jumped.

"You left home and ran away from your responsibilities; I let you, despite the fact that there's a place you could fit in at the office. I let you pick the job of your choice. I never gave any of your brothers that much freedom." His words cut straight into my heart without mercy.

"I allowed your rebellious decisions and never once complained of your lack of responsibility as a Wright, and now you complain about the only thing you could actually prove your worth with. Don't test me Ariana, and I found out about your so-called boyfriend. He doesn't seem so serious about you." My dad sneered, dropping an envelope on the table. The contents spilled to reveal pictures of Stefan with his busy life, but what I did not understand was that there was this particular blonde that appeared almost in all the pictures.

"She must be his friend." I was very sure my dad was messing with me; he probably came up with that to prove his point.

"Grow up, Ariana. This life is not a fairy tale. You have to work your way up the ladder, no matter what it takes. You can't let a scumbag like him blur your vision. he doesn't deserve you-

"So, the person you're pairing me with does," I quipped, trying to stop the tears that had suddenly laced my eyes.

"It's just for a short while." His voice mellowed.

"Dad I'm not an object you can toss around; I'm human, and I have feelings too-

"And that's why you're given this role-

"Have you considered how I feel about this at all?" I stuttered as my voice slowly broke, and I felt the urge to cry, but I just stormed out of his office and headed back to my room. I cried my eyes out in there.

My mom came in later on, and she stroked my naturally curly hair gently.

"I don't want to do this, mom. I have a life of my own," I sobbed, and she patted me, allowing me to cry as much as I could. Soon, I drifted off to sleep and woke up with a persistent headache.

I got into my shower and run myself a bath. I was done dressing and sitting right in front of my TV when my phone rang. It was unknown; I didn't want to pick at first, and I wasn't in the mood as I munched the popcorn I had ordered one of the maids before sitting in front of the TV to watch some movies.

"Hello," I said into the receiver.

"Girl! That's so lame of you not to inform me of your arrival." The person snapped immediately; I couldn't have mistaken that voice even if I wanted to.

It was my best friend Bethany, whom I had left to go to college. Her dream was different. She wanted to become an event planner. She wasn't into college, but two years after I left, she rang me up, telling me she'd gotten into college to study public relations.

It was lame but it did the job. She was now a public relations officer as well as an event planner, which she always wanted to be. She visited me three times during my stay in New York.

"Sorry," I apologised immediately She said hello to make sure I was still on the phone.

"What's up with you, girl? You sound... not happy. I was so happy to hear you're back. I kind of ran into Danny, who broke the news to me. I can't lie, baby girl; I was a little disappointed." She confessed.

"Sorry, Beth...I just had so much sh*t going on. You know how my dad can be." I breathed sadly, sounding very frustrated.

"Ow, baby girl, you want to hang out? Maybe you can tell me all about it?" She asked, trying to make me feel better. I sighed, not sure I wanted to get my lazy butt out of my couch at the moment.

"Yeah, you're right. I need to get out of this place. I need fresh air, I'll be at your place in 30 minutes.

"Hey, hold on, pretty. I moved. I'll text you the new address." She sharply cut in and I smiled at her way of expressing herself.

Bethany was an independent woman, a feminist who believed women were free spirits and needed not be tamed. She wasn't into committed relationships and could call it a day anytime she thinks a man is f*****g up, which is easy for her.

She was a black American beauty; her chocolate skin was divine, something any man would take a look at twice, so she had no problem at all.

The vibration of my phone drew my attention and I grabbed it with my car keys after putting on a flowery short gown with blue ballerina flats and a princess jacket. I loved decent.

I hate myself for being so exposed; I was gifted with the figure, and I hate it if it becomes too obvious. I packed my hair into a messy bun and head out after putting on light makeup.

"Hey, where you going? Davis asked as I got into the general sitting room, which was the largest in the house, to be precise.

"None of your business," I spat, moving out without minding. Getting into one of the bright sports cars that decorated the underground parking lot at the house. I made my way outside, honking twice before the gate was opened.

I was happy to feel the wind hitting my face. I wasn't really a fan of driving because I was reckless. I believe in freedom but after being pulled over a couple of times by officers for speeding, I started to hate driving but I still love the feeling.

I pulled over in front of Bethany's apartment building and make my way to Bethany's apartment. I was just about to knock when the door opened to reveal Bethany seeing a guy off.

I made a face, not of shock but a face that said, 'Yo girl, you haven't changed a bit The man pecked her, probably wanting to leave, and I looked away, tempted to say, 'Get a room'.

"Hey," I said after they were done.

"Hey," Beth replied, hands on the man's waist. I was waiting for the man to actually get lost when Beth introduced me.

"Ariana, meet my boyfriend Liam. Liam, meet my lost but found bestie." Bethany grinned at the guy.

"Ariana," I said, taking the guy's warm hand as he gestured it over for a handshake.

"Liam," the guy said with a warm smile and I returned the gesture.

"I'll let you see around, baby," Liam declared, wanting to leave.

"Nice meeting you, Ariana." Those were his final words before leaving.

"My pleasure," I said after him a bit louder as he disappeared down the hallway.

"Hey, I didn't know I'd see you early," Beth said and I gave her a scornful look.

"Come on, don't look at me like that-

"You have got to be f*****g kidding me right now, Beth-

"What? why?" Beth asked, gesturing me inside her simple one-room apartment, which looked pretty cramped up.

"What happened to Andrew?' I asked, throwing on her couch my jacket, which I had used to cover my armless gown.

"He messed up-

"Ow...really? I'm sure this one is going to mess up as well. You can't keep changing men like that-

"Liam is different. Andrew is an asshole." She declared, resting her body on the wall opposite her lightly furnished sitting room.

"Okay," I drawled in a tone that said, 'go on'

"I swear Liam is the last...I mean, I really love the guy. He's different." She made known but I could only watch.

"Trust me, girl. I've been with him for 3years now; that's the longest I've been with any guy and you know that-

"Well, this is new-

"I even took him to my mom...I mean, I'm serious about this one," she admitted with a hint of sincerity in her eyes.

"I don't know Beth...I mean, you can be very deceiving-

"I'm serious. I love this guy. I mean it." Beth convinced me, and I sighed, not wanting to nag. We ended up ordering and eating pizza in front of her big TV screen.

******'

"So...you're getting married to Ethan McCain," Beth asked, still trying to digest the news after I explained everything to her.

"That's like the 12th time you're repeating that," I reminded her, and she chuckled.

"I mean, girl. You're so damn lucky...I mean, the guy's like freaking hot," she said, and I quirked an eyebrow at her expression.

"Except the fact that I'll be marrying Ethan, have you been listening to anything else at all?" I questioned, furrowing my brows slightly.

"What's there to listen to? I mean, like, you're going to be stuck with a freaking hot dude for 7 months, girl. That's a privilege you should enjoy and a pleasure you should savour."

"Beth, I have a f*****g boyfriend!" I spelled out for her.

"Except that"

"How am I going to break this to Stefan? He'll be heartbroken."

"You don't even know if this guy likes you. Didn't you tell me you saw him with another girl in like 6 different pictures?"

"Glad you picked that," I commented sarcastically.

"Baby girl, if you'll listen to me,. I'll tell you not to fight fate. Just enjoy destiny as it rolls; don't fight, don't scream. No matter how it turns out, just be ready to fit into it. Don't start giving yourself a headache Ana, nothing in this world is worth your headache." She shrugged, sipping her can of beer.

Maybe she was right—why fight fate when you could just roll with it to avoid headaches, I thought, sipping my drink silently. We chatted away afterwards.

She filled me in about her work and I filled her in about mine, I never seized to check my phone for Stefan's call; none came and it was starting to infuriate me, Just then I saw my dad on TV, shaking hands with 'Donald McCain'. Well, this is not my good day, I thought as the reporter makes her announcement.

"Wow. That's huge. Your marriage has just been announced on TV," Beth let out enthusiastically and I fought back tears. It was on international news, Everyone—practically everyone, including my boyfriend—will know about this.

"I think I need to get you out for fresh air," Beth said must have noticed my change in mood. She forced me to hit the club with her. I needed to dance the worries away too.

I need it loud... I really don't want to think about it. I thought as we got in. I never liked this kind of lifestyle. I was the decent type of girl who just preferred a quiet life, but today I broke my rules and filled my cup.

I took shot after shot, not caring how many bottles I had.

"Ana, you're taking too much," Beth cautioned, and I smiled. I was drunk. I could feel it...I didn't mind, actually; it was just what I needed, I kept swaying and grinding my hips against an unknown man.

Let's just roll along with fate like Beth told me. I was doing just that—rolling along with fate. I laughed at my stupid ideology of fate, and continued dancing, and then Beth yelled over the loud music that she wanted to pick a call.

I nodded, telling her I could take care of myself. Lame! I thought, because I knew I was too drunk to do that. Beth left and the man who had been behind me all the time whispered to me.

"Seems you need a hot night sweetie," he whispered, blowing hot air to my neck. I felt my senses going blurry, and I felt like spilling my contents, but before I knew it, I was staggering along the hall of the rooms of the motel, which the club owns.

I really didn't figure out anything else before I was laid down to a very soft surface. I relaxed into it, just what I needed, I thought, and closed my eyes, but my eyes were slightly open to see two people fighting, probably dreaming, I thought as I drifted off.

Now I am staring at my half-naked body in terror and shock. I did the first thing that came to my mind. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Waking the man sleeping next to me as well as the one tied on the chair made to face me. Did I tie the man to pleasure him? I subconsciously asked myself in terror.

I had a threesome I almost cried looking at the second man, whose face was buried in the sheet. But something was strange. Both men were still dressed, probably except the one tied, who had his shirt flown. That ignited hope in me, There was still a chance nothing would happen.

"WTF!!?" the guy beside me cursed out loud, and I flinched after seeing his face clearly. He seemed to be trying to study his surroundings too; he jumped on seeing me.

That makes two of us, I thought. I covered myself with the blanket, waiting for someone to speak and he did but he was pacing.

"Oh, now I remember," He said, facing the man tied to the chair, looking horribly swollen. Ethan suddenly hit him in the face. Ow, I said, scrunching up my face as his fist landed on the stranger's face.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling ashamed of myself. Of course, I should be ashamed. I don't even know where I was.

"Does anybody teach you not to have so much drink when no one's with you?" Ethan asked scornfully, as if scolding me. That wasn't...something I enjoyed.

"This bastard over here almost took advantage of you last night. Do you not remember that?" He asked, brows arched and face scrunched in disgust.

I heaved a sigh of relief adjusting the blouse and skimpy skirt Bethany had borrowed me before going to club, speaking of Bethany. My head raised an alarm, knowing she'd be worried sick. I grabbed my shoes and my purse, ignoring the shocking look of Ethan McCain, I was about to head out when he held me.

"I'm not sure if this is arrogance or naivety. You were almost taken advantage of and I had to save your drunk ass from it, but you're just going to leave without talking about it?" He asked in total disbelief.

"What did you expect from me, Ethan McCain? Explanation.? You're not my f*****g father!" I spat at him and his lips twitched in distaste.

"You owe me no explanation for your wildlife, Ariana, but I'm not very accustomed to ungrateful bitches that find it hard to say thank you for saving their ass from danger," Ethan McCain snapped and I froze.

Yeah, that was rude of me. He didn't wait for any more words from me and stormed out of the room in anger. I was so angry—so angry that I felt a hangover kick in but I ignored it.

"Um, little help here." The tied man requested and I removed my flat shoe to give him a resounding slap before heading out.

Thankfully, the contents of my purse were still complete. I took my phone to see 92 missed calls and 51 text messages. It's just not my day at all.

I thought as I took it and start scrolling through. 5 calls from Stefan, 10 from Davis, 50 from Bethany, 8 from Danny, 7 from Damian, 6 from Mom... oh, come on. I'm so dead! I thought about getting to the door because I realised the clothes were too exposed.

It was already nine, and everyone seemed to be passing freely. I ran quickly to my car and got in. I'm screwed! I thought.

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