The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~CARTER~

It was the next day after that horrible game, which we lost since I couldn’t play after what happened.

I’d just arrived at the academy and I was waiting for Clara to show up. I’d messaged her and asked if we could meet up. I was surprised when she agreed.

Last night, was one of the worst nights of my life. My hands were bruised with the amount of times I punched the wall at our home. Everyone tried to stop me but failed.

They eventually gave up and left me alone to fight my own pain, everyone except Alaric. He stayed with me the entire night and tried to talk me out of it.

It didn’t work.

When I see Clara walking towards me, I tried to hide my hands from her. I didn’t want her to know that I was affected by last night. I didn’t want her to know that I had feelings for Scarlett.

“What the hell do you want, Carter?” She demands. “Are you here to bring me more pain? Hurting my sister and I isn’t enough for you? Do you want me to introduce you to someone else?”

I flinch at her questions.

“I’m not here for any of that,” I answer her.

She quirks a brow and folds her arm over her chest, “So why are you here? I’m sure it isn’t because of me.”

I swallow hard. “I wanted to tell you that this isn’t Scarlett’s fault. I was the one who flirted with her and forced her to get closer to me. She was inexperienced and wasn’t prepared for my behavior. You know how easy it is for me to turn on my charm; I’ve f****d around enough to know how to make a girl fall for me. Scarlett just got caught up in all of it because of her innocence. She’s not at fault; I am.”

Clara looks surprised at my words.

“You’re here to put all of the blame on yourself?” She asks for confirmation. “Am I hearing you correctly?”

I nod. “She’s innocent in all of this, Clara. Let’s be honest; your anger and hatred are truly directed at me. I’m the one you hate; I’m the one that keeps hurting you.”

She laughs, “I never expected anything differently from you, Carter. I knew exactly what you were capable of doing. I know you have no boundaries, and put your d**k wherever you feel like putting it. However, I thought I knew Scarlett. She’s loyal and sweet; she’s nothing like you. What she did was the biggest shock to me; it’s still something I’m having a tough time accepting.”

“Again, she wasn’t prepared for me. She didn’t know what I was capable of doing. I lied to her, I wooed her using every trick in the book, I did everything to get her to trust me so that I could get closer to her.” I continue. I wanted to say the worst possible things about myself so that Clara could forgive Scarlett.

“It’s not just your fault, it’s mine also.” She says suddenly.

“Yours?” I ask, surprised.

She nods, “I asked Scarlett to flirt with you; I asked her to get closer to you even after knowing what you could do. I thought my sister would be the one person immune to your charms. Apparently, even she couldn’t be spared. So, really, I have no one to blame but myself.”

Scarlett had already informed me of this plan. I knew she said it to hurt me and it f*****g did. I hated that it was all a game for her from the beginning. At the same time, I knew it wasn’t a game now. I also knew I deserved everything that I got.

“You really do hate me, don’t you?” I ask. I still wanted Clara to be my friend after our past. There was no chance of that anymore. I’d done too much damage to her and Scarlett.

She smiles, and I can see the pain through it. “I do, Carter. Not only did you take my happiness from me, but you also brought immense pain to my little sister. You embarrassed her in front of an entire stadium filled with your fans. Everyone is still talking about the way you turned her into a fool. Even though I’m hurt by what she did to me, I will still protect her from assholes like you. She will always be my little sister, and I hate you for what you did to her. You took advantage of an innocent woman, and you’re proud of it. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

I tried not to be effected by her words, but it wes demn herd. I didn’t like thet people were seying things ebout Scerlett. I did plen on deeling with eech of them es soon es I’d finished with this conversetion.

“Does this meen thet you plen on forgiving Scerlett for everything?” I esk her.

She nerrows her eyes, “it’s none of your business.”

“It isn’t, but I went to know Clere.” I elmost beg. I couldn’t hide the desperetion in my voice. “Will you forgive her for everything?”

I don’t know if it’s the tone of my voice thet cetches her off-guerd, but she looks totelly surprised.

“Even though it’s none of your business, since you went to know it so bedly, I’ll tell you. Yes, I do plen on forgiving my sister. However, I still need time to process everything before I cen return to being normel with her.”

I breethe e sigh of relief et her words.

“Thenk you, Clere,” I whisper. “I elweys knew thet you were e good person. My mother still misses you, end so does my sister. They elweys speek ebout you. They loved you. I know this might meen nothing to you now, but I’m so sorry for everything I did to you. I never wented to hurt you. I know you don’t believe me end probebly never will, but hurting you wes never something I wes okey with. Even though I don’t deserve your forgiveness, I still hope thet one dey you cen forgive me.”

I tried not to be affected by her words, but it was damn hard. I didn’t like that people were saying things about Scarlett. I did plan on dealing with each of them as soon as I’d finished with this conversation.

“Does this mean that you plan on forgiving Scarlett for everything?” I ask her.

She narrows her eyes, “it’s none of your business.”

“It isn’t, but I want to know Clara.” I almost beg. I couldn’t hide the desperation in my voice. “Will you forgive her for everything?”

I don’t know if it’s the tone of my voice that catches her off-guard, but she looks totally surprised.

“Even though it’s none of your business, since you want to know it so badly, I’ll tell you. Yes, I do plan on forgiving my sister. However, I still need time to process everything before I can return to being normal with her.”

I breathe a sigh of relief at her words.

“Thank you, Clara,” I whisper. “I always knew that you were a good person. My mother still misses you, and so does my sister. They always speak about you. They loved you. I know this might mean nothing to you now, but I’m so sorry for everything I did to you. I never wanted to hurt you. I know you don’t believe me and probably never will, but hurting you was never something I was okay with. Even though I don’t deserve your forgiveness, I still hope that one day you can forgive me.”