➡➡➡⏺️LOVE AGAIN ⏺️⬅️⬅️⬅️
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*???? EPISODE 07 ????*
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From U.S Bah ❤✌?
****
Scarlet
The ten-minute drive was the longest ten
minutes of my life, all thanks to the pin-
dropping silence prevailed in Evan Parker’s car.
When we finally p@$$ed throu-gha m@$$ive
gate of a hu-ge mansion, I sighed in relief that I
won’t have to breathe in a sophisticated
manner in this small space anymore.
I stepped out of the car and Evan Parker asked
me to follow him. Nodding, I made my way
throu-ghthe door that led to a large entrance
hall or maybe a lounge. A man who looked
like in his fifties came rushing towards us, to
greet him and then me. He asked Evan if he
nee-ded anything, to which he replied ‘no’.
I kept following him as we turned to a hallway
and p@$$ed throu-ghfew doors. He entered
throu-ghone of them and I entered inside as
well.
A worried gasp left my mouth as my gaze
landed on Cara, looking pale and a lot weaker
than before. Her babysitter Geena was sitting
beside her, trying to feed her soup.
“Scarlet,” she mumbled in weak voice when
she noticed me, a feeble smile appeared on
her face.
“Cara,” I said and moved forwards. Sitting
beside her, I enveloped her in a hu-g which she
responded eagerly.
“I… I am sorry I didn’t come to take the
brownies yesterday. I had fever.” she muttered
as she rested her head on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. And guess what, I brou-ght your
favourite choco lava cookies for you.” I said
and she smiled, looking too weak to jump
excitedly like usual.
“Can I have one?” she asked, staring at the
box.
“Yes, you can. But first, you have to finish this
soup.” I said and took the bowl of soup from
her babysitter who then excused herself to go
to toilet.
I shifted inside the blanket with her and
wrapped one arm around her shoulder, bringing
the spoon to her mouth with the other hand.
She took the bite and then her face contorted
at the taste but she ate it nevertheless.
I lifted my head to look at Evan Parker silently
staring at us with a weird, conflicted
expression on his face. Noticing my attention,
he looked away and then said, “I’ll be in study
room. Whenever you are free, ask my driver to
drop you back.”
Nodding, I turned my focus back to Cara and
made her eat the whole bowl. Then I gave her
a cookie which she couldn’t eat more than
half. My heart was drowning in my che-st at her
condition. In just last two months, Cara had
become an integral pa-rt of my life and I
couldn’t see her in pain.
Once she lay down, I lay beside her and
m@$$aged her head lightly. She was still
burning with fever, despite the medicines put
on the side table of the bed.
“My head hurts,” she said, snuggling closer to
me.
“I will pray to God for you and you will get
better.” I said to console her.
“Scarlet, can I tell you a secret?” she said on
hearing that and I nodded. “I wish that I don’t
get better.”
Her words bothered me and I couldn’t
un-derstand why she would wish that. “Don’t say
that, Cara. Why would you wish that?” I asked.
She lifted her head from my che-st and her blue
eyes sparked with a strange emotion. “Because
Geena says mommy is in heaven. I want to go
there too so I can meet her.”
Saying this, she closed her eyes again but I
had lost all the peace of my mind. I was both
shocked and tormented on hearing what was
going on in her innocent mind. For a little girl
of 5 to think like that, I couldn’t imagine how
lonely she felt.
I had lost my mother too. And even though I
was much older than Cara, the pain was too
much to bear. She was just a child who didn’t
know why her friends had a mother and she
didn’t. She didn’t know why her father ignored
her. She didn’t know why she never got to
experience the love of a parent.
This girl didn’t deserve this.
……….
Standing outside the study room of Mr. Evan
Parker, I gently knocked on it. A voice came
from inside, ordering me to come in so I did
the same. Opening the door, I stepped in and
the moment his eyes fell on me, they wide-ned
in surprise.
“I am ready to marry you.” I said, lowering my
gaze to the floor.
I couldn’t see his expression but the way he
exhaled loudly told me that he was surprised.
It took him a minute to respond finally.
“Sit,” he said and motioned towards the seat in
front of him. With silent steps, I walked
towards him and settled on the comfortable
seat.
His face @$$essed me for a minute and I
couldn’t help but blus-h un-der his calculative
gaze. After staring at me for almost a minute,
his hands moved to a drawer of his desk and
he pulled something out.
“How much money do you want in return?” he
said and signed on a blank cheque.
Indignation filled me at his words and I once
again contemplated my decision. Marrying him
was going to be the biggest mistake of my life
but I had to do it. Otherwise, I would never be
able to forgive myself if something happened
to Cara.
“I don’t nee-d your money.” I said and his blue
eyes bulged out more, if that was even
possible.
“Why are you doing this then?” he asked,
propping his elbows on the desk and leaning
forwards
“For Cara.” I whispered.
He looked like he didn’t believe me at all but
for some reason, he didn’t ask further.
“Okay. Then it’s decided. We are getting
married next week. It will be a small
ceremony, nothing fancy. After marriage, we
will live our lives the way we live now. You will
be my wife but just on papers and for Cara.
Anytime any of us decides that this marriage
isn’t working, we have the right to dissolve it.
In return of doing me this favour, I’ll give you
the right to take whatever pa-rt of my money
you want, if you ever decide you nee-d it.” he
said in a dry tone, as if he were stating a
business proposal.
His words hurt me because they made me
realise that I was marrying a machine. I didn’t
know if I will fall in love with someone in this
life but it was clear that my first marriage
would be a disaster, one that I will never
forget.
“Deal,” I said.
_____________________
➡➡➡⏺️LOVE AGAIN ⏺️⬅️⬅️⬅️
??????????
*???? EPISODE 08 ????*
??????????
From U.S Bah ❤ ✌?
*****
EVAN
“Sir, Miss. Grey is here.” Gabe told me and I
prepared myself for Helena’s drama. I knew
that by know, the news of my marriage to
Scarlet would have reached her and knowing
her, she won’t waste another minute before
barging in here.
“Send her in,” I said and continued reading the
contract papers of a deal.
After few seconds, Helena stormed inside with
a scowl plastered on her face. She seated
herself in front of me and then crossed her
arms in front of her che-st.
“So, is it true? Is the Evan Parker getting
married?” she asked sarcastically while
@$$essing me with her green eyes.
“Yes, it is true.” I lifted my head for a moment
and then lowered it to the file again.
“Why? When I asked you out, you clearly said
that you don’t want to be R0m-ntically involved
with anyone. What changed now?” Her voice
was filled with hurt and indignation.
“Nothing changed, Helena. This marriage is
just for Cara’s sake. She nee-ds a mother.” I
replied honestly.
“You know I love Cara. Then why some random
girl and not me?” she demanded as she leaned
forwards and glared at me.
“Because marrying me would have ruined your
life.” I explained to her as shortly as possible.
Her expression changed from anger to
confusion and then back to anger. “You are a
hypocrite, Evan. I pity that girl because she has
no idea what an inconsiderate person you are!”
she insulted me in her signature calm and
relaxed way.
Her words hurt me a little but I not-so-subtly
ignored them. “If you are done talking, can you
leave me alone? I have some work to do.” I
said dryly.
She looked murderous and I feared if she
would throw something at me but thankfully,
she didn’t. Mumbling something un-der her
breath, she stood up and stomped out of my
office, with her heels clic-king on the marbled
floor.
………
I left the office early today. It was four days
before my supposed wedding with Scarlet Ray
so I had preponed my one-day visit to New
York. I had my flight at midnight so I decided
to go to my house early so I can take a
shower and freshen myself.
Once I walked throu-ghthe door, the sound of
talking and giggling reached my ears.
Confused, I made my way inside the dining
room and found my mother, Scarlet and Cara
busy in a nonsense conversation there.
“Evan, you’re early today?” Mom asked when
she noticed me and beside her, Scarlet
stiffened.
“Yeah, I have a flight. I am leaving for New
York tonight.” I said and sat myself on one of
the seats and ordered Kelly to bring me
something to eat. I didn’t take breakfast today
so by now, my stomach was grumbling.
“Come on, young man. Take a few days off
before your wedding.” Mom said.
“Why in God’s name would I take any
vacation? It’s my wedding, not my funeral.” I
said while I watched Kelly place a plate of
sandwich in front of me.
“I am sure you won’t take a day off even on
your own funeral.” My mother grumbled and
both Scarlet and Cara let out a chuckle, earning
a frown from me.
“Dad,” Cara called me after a minute and I
turned towards her. “Scarlet bought her
wedding dress today. She looked really pwe-tty
in that.”
My eyes switched to Scarlet who was staring
at me with her signature kind smile gracing her
mouth. “I am sure she did,” I said to act
natural in front of Cara. Hearing this, crimson
color appeared on Scarlet’s face and her
dimples dee-pened.
It wasn’t completely a lie because she was
beautiful. She didn’t pa-rticularly have ‘se-xy’ or
‘hot’ looks but she had attrac-tive features.
Most of the times I saw her, she wore baggy
sweatshirts and jeans that never revealed any
skin but her fashion sense, although mellow,
was overall good.
A cough from my side pulled me out of the
trance and I realised I had been staring at her
for too long. Mom had a teasing expression
on her face which soured my already irritated
mood. Drawing my eyebrows closer, I lowered
my head and began eating the sandwich from
my plate.
“I should leave now.” Scarlet stood up and
held the shopping bags in her hands.
“How will you go?” Mom asked her.
“I’ll catch a cab.” she said.
“Why cab? Evan will drop you home.” she said
and I choked on the sandwich.
Why in hell would I drop her home?
“I’m sure she would be fine.” I told my mother
in an irritated voice. “Besides, I have given my
driver a day off because of the flight.”
“Yes, I’ll be fine.” Scarlet said.
“If the driver isn’t here, drive the car yourself.
Cara sweetie, don’t you think Daddy should
drive Scarlet back?” My controlling mother
asked Cara who nodded innocently.
gr-unting angrily, I threw daggers at Mom who
just smi-rked at me in return. Leaving the
sandwich half-eaten, I asked Scarlet to follow
me out of the house.
“You don’t have to drive me back.” Her
flustered voice came from behind me.
“Well, clearly I have to,” I replied as I slid onto
the driver seat. Slowly, she made her way to
the p@$$enger seat and placed the bags in the
backseat.
While I drove the car, Scarlet kept playing with
her fingers, while her feet tapped the car
repeatedly. She told me her address and I
turned the car towards the busy area of the
city.
“Are you upset with me?” she finally asked
after being a nervous mess for the whole
drive. The panic in her voice for-ced me to feel
pity for her because she was clearly not a
person used to any dry behaviour.
“No.” I commented. “It’s my mother who just
keeps manipulating me.”
“That is because she wants your best.” she
defended her in her absence.
“Really? Do you know her as much as I do?” I
asked when the car stopped at a signal and I
turned to her.
She gulped for a moment and then replied,
“No, but I know that I would do anything to go
back to the time when my mother was alive
and hu-g her for every time I misbehaved with
her.”
Her words disturbed me because as much I
hate to admit, she was right. Controlling or not,
she was my only family left beside Cara and
losing her would be a hell for me.
But instead of telling that to her, I snarled
instead. “Whatever.”
A frown appeared on her forehead but instead
of saying anything, she looked away. This girl
had a lot of patience. She knew when to fight
and when to shut up, and I had a feeling I
would enjoy pushing her bu-ttons.
Sighing, I turned my focus back to the road
and drove the car towards the address she just
told me.
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*TO BE CONTINUED