Jake’s house was terrible.
Jake kneeled in the yard.
His family glared at him.
<
His Dad said, “We don’t interfere with your
life, but this is too far!”
He sighed.
“Bethany knows you only wanted to marry her
for selfish reasons. She broke off the
engagement. You’ve embarrassed the family!”
His grandpa beat the ground with his cane.
“Worthless! You’re someone on emotions!
Idiot!”
He shouted. “I don’t care that you have a mistress! As long as you end it before you
marry! But you didn’t! The woman had a
<
baby! So Bethany’s gone! And so is the
money. You’ve embarrassed the family!”
Jake was crushed, and asked, “She knows that I only wanted to marry her for selfish reasons?”
Chloe laughed.
“She heard your conversation at the bar. Then there was the car crash, the amnesia, the
miscarriage. You happy?”
“Miscarriage…” Jake couldn’t accept it.
His grandpa looked sick.
<
“Idiot! That was our blood! You got rid of it!”
His mom glared at Chloe, and then took the
grandpa inside.
Chloe shrugged, and looked at Jake.
Jake was sad, and empty.
He felt stupid.
He thought he controlled everything, but he’d
lost it all.
- 6.
Ben and I had fun.
<
But I had a failed relationship.
So, I distanced myself from him, and I
became formal.
Ben noticed.
He didn’t say anything and didn’t push me.
I was uncomfortable.
I tried to get busy, and stay away from him.
I remembered my friend Chloe.
She was afraid to call me because of Jake.
So, I called her.
く
Chloe screamed, “I thought aliens got you!”
I said, “I didn’t want to cause you problems.”
“Jake has gone insane!”
I asked, “How so?”
“After you left, he realized that he loved you,
not Ashley! He’s been looking all over for
you!”
I laughed. “He realized that when I left? What about his perfect first love?”
“That’s the best part!” Chloe laughed. “He blamed Ashley! So, he looked into her and
<
she was using his money on other men! The
pregnancy was a lie! It’s a mess! The family’s
upset!”
laughed. “Why are you so happy?”
“I’m happy because my folks are giving me a
shot! They’re going to train me to be the heir.
When I control the family, I’ll help you crush
Jake!”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting for that!”
“How are you? What about the marriage?
How’s the guy? Is he great?” Chloe asked.
I blushed. “He is great, but I’m scared. It’s
<
another marriage for money.” I sighed. “We’ll
see.‘
“Tell me! Is he great?”
I blushed, and said, “He is!”
Then I felt someone breathing behind me.
Ben stood by the bed, smiling.
He said, “He’s great, is he? Are you talking about me?”
“Ah!” I said, and hung up, diving under the
covers.
<
“I didn’t say you!”
Ben laughed and pulled off the covers.
He looked serious. “You’ve been avoiding me
for a while.”
His stare made me nervous.
“Are you scared of me?”
He paused. “I want an answer.”
I tried to push him away, but he held my wrist.
The silence was heavy.
く
I took a breath, and looked at him.
“Ben,” I said, “Marriage is serious. I was hurt.
I had a child and it died. I don’t want to lose
you. After years you’ll be gone. I don’t want to be in the marriage ever again.”
I interrupted him.
“I know you might be interested right now, but you should think about it. It’s not just us,
it’s our families. If you think about it, we can discuss it.”
I looked away.
- 7.
<
- 7.
Ben didn’t call after that.
I felt empty.
I started stabbing his stuffed animal. “Guys all suck! What’s the point of being great!”
Then Mom and Dad knocked on the door.
“He’s here!”
I sat up. “Jake?”
“Yeah! Hide!” Mom said.
Dad said “Don’t hidel
<
Dad said, “Don’t hide! I’ll teach him a lesson!”
We went outside and Jake was kneeling.
Dad said, “Jake, what do you want?”
Jake kneeled and looked up. “I’m sorry! Let
me see Bethany, just once!”
“No way!” Dad swung a bat and hit Jake’s
shoulder. “You ruined her life! You can’t see
her!”
Jake cried.
Mom said, “Go away! Bethany’s great, and she doesn’t need you! She’s getting married,
<
and the guy is good! You’re terrible! She’ll
never pick you!”
Jake looked depressed.
I went to the door. “Go away. I don’t want to
see you again.”
Jake looked up, with hope.
He started to stand, but someone pushed him
away.
Ben hugged me.
He said to my parents, “I’m here to marry
Bethany!”
<
I was shocked.
He was giving me an out.
But his eyes were real.
I held Ben’s hand and said, “I’m getting
married, so go away.”
Jake looked at me, and left.
I married Ben.
We set the date and I realized what I had
done.
I nudged Ben. “What’s going on? You’re in my
<
house at four, and you’re telling my parents to
get married?”
Ben looked surprised. “I get up early. I
exercise at four.”
I didn’t believe him. “That’s not right!”
Ben said. “Okay, I was hiding in your house
for a day. I saw the guy show up, and I knew it was my shot.”
I laughed.
Then I asked, “What if you fall for someone
else?”
<
Ben said, “Our family is loving, and we only
love one person. And I’ll turn over my assets
to you, so I’m leaving you! You don’t have to
be scared of me!”
“So, trust the money?”
He looked at me. “You said I was great. You gotta be responsible.”
Mom and Dad were staring.
I covered his mouth. “Don’t say everything!”
Ben said, “Will you marry me?!”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine! I’m not saying no!”
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