The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~SCARLETT~

“Marry me?” I ask him.

There’s no possible way that I’d just heard him correctly. Carter would never willingly agree to marry me.

He nods and turns to my father. “I will marry Scarlett. It’s my promise to you and her.”

No.

I will not allow this, not like this.

“You don’t want to be with me. Why will you marry me?” I demand. “You made it clear to me that everything that happened between us was a mistake, Carter. You made it clear that we should continue to keep our distance. Why are you suddenly suggesting marriage?”

I didn’t feel like having this conversation in front of our families, but I didn’t have a choice. Our families were involved in our relationship now. We were in too deeply. It didn’t just concern us alone anymore.

“Scarlett, I know I’m a horrible person.” He tells me. “I know what you think about me. However, I will not stand back and do nothing while you’re pregnant with our baby. I don’t care what anyone says; I am marrying you tomorrow. This marriage will happen. The only person that can stop this marriage from taking place is you.”

This isn’t enough for me. I didn’t want him to marry me because he had no choice. I wanted him to marry me because he loved me! And he didn’t.

Carter didn’t love me. He was only marrying me because of our parents. He wanted to please them. It had nothing to do with me and our baby.

I couldn’t let this happen. I could never be happy this way.

“No.” I snap. “I don’t want to force you into anything. I disagree with this. I will not let this wedding happen.”

“Scarlett, will you just—”

“I don’t need your pity, Carter,” I assure him. “I’ve proven before that I can take care of myself.”

“I never said you couldn’t. . . But I can’t let you do this on your own. I won’t let that happen.” He insists.

“I will not marry you like this!” I hiss.

“Scarlett.” My father cuts in. “Think about the future of your child. Marrying Carter is the best option for you. People will talk, and they will insult you and your baby. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, then think about him.”

I close my eyes in pain. My father was right, even though I wished he wasn’t. This wasn’t about me. This was about my baby and what was the right thing to do for him.

Carter took a step forward so that we were inches apart. “I will marry you. And I promise you, I will take care of our baby. I will care for you. I will not look or touch another woman while I’m married to you. I can promise you this.”

It still wasn’t the three words I wanted to hear from him. However, for now, I had to accept it. If I wanted my baby to have a good relationship with his father, I had to push my feelings aside.

“What do you say, Scarlett?” His mother asks me. “Will you marry my son?”

I slowly nod my head.

“W-what?” Clara demands. “Scarlett, he used you and hurt you multiple times!”

I turn towards her, and I can see the raw horror on her face. Was she upset because she still had feelings for Carter, or was my sister worried about me?

“It’s okay,” I assure her. “I can do this. You know more than anyone that I can take care of myself. I’m only doing this for my baby.”

“Father,” she gasps as she turns to him. “Are you going to let her marry him? He will only hurt her more. You saw what our breakup did to me, but you didn’t see what heartbreak did to Scarlett. I was there; I saw everything. I don’t want to see that happen to her again.”

I knew that Clara was worried about me, but I could take care of myself. Even if Carter hurt me again, I could handle it. I would be strong for my baby. At least, I would try my best to be.

I’m about to walk over to Clara and comfort her, but I’m shocked when Alaric walks past everyone and pulls her into his arms.

Everyone looks on in wonder as we watch him rub her back and whisper soothing words.

“I’m right here.” He promises her. “I will make sure that Carter doesn’t hurt Scarlett again. This is my promise to you.”

Clara freezes in his arms for a second, but that doesn’t last long; she practically melts in his arms afterward and hugs him back.

“What the hell is this?” I hear someone shout from the doorway.

I turn to look at the door and am not surprised when I see Alaric’s wife.

Alaric immediately tenses when he sees her. He’s not the only one; his entire family looks worried now that she’s here. Why? Did they not have a good relationship with her?

“ALARIC?” she screams his name.