The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~CARTER~

Everything that happened today has been on my mind ever since I returned home with Scarlett. She refused to talk to me the entire ride home.

I didn’t blame her. I was keeping my dark secrets from her. Who would be able to trust their husband if he kept on lying to them?

I knock on my parent’s bedroom door, and a few seconds later, my mother opens it to greet me.

“Carter,” she smiles as she hugs me. “I was told that you and Scarlett had a rough day today.”

I knew the news would have reached them by now.

Our phones were going crazy with incoming calls. Everyone wanted to know if I married Scarlett only because she was pregnant.

The videos from earlier were everywhere.

We still didn’t know who was the one who leaked that information, but I planned on doing everything in my power to find out the truth.

I wouldn’t rest until I found the person behind it and made them pay.

“It wasn’t the best,” I say as I run a hand through my hair. “I don’t think the academy is the best place for Scarlett to be right now.”

My father frowns, “what are you trying to say?”

“Do you want us to move her to another academy?” My mother asks.

“No.” I disagree. “I want to keep her away from the academy for a few days. I know that everyone must know the truth by now. Things will only get worse in the following days. I want to protect her from that.”

My father nods, “I agree with you, son. Our family should take a mini-vacation to one of our islands. It would be good for us to spend some time away.”

That wasn’t exactly what I was suggesting. A mini-vacation? I don’t think Scarlett would even want that. Not when she was still angry with me.

“I don’t know if—”

“It’s a good plan.” My mother says, cutting me off. “You and Scarlett haven’t gone for your honeymoon yet, and this is a good opportunity. We have multiple houses on Royal Island. You and Scarlett can take one, and everyone else can stay in another.”

Scarlett and me alone in a house together? That screamed trouble. I knew she wouldn’t drop the topic of the full moon for our entire trip. However, I was still willing to take the risk if it meant she wouldn’t have to deal with ridiculous girls from our academy.

I didn’t want anything to stress her out. The stress wouldn’t be good for our baby either.

I would do anything to protect them both.

“Okay.” I agree. “You can inform the others.”

“Inform the others about what?” Alaric asks as he enters the room. “Is there something going on that I should know about?”

My mother claps her hands together with excitement. At least someone was happy about the trip.

“Since things are rough for Scarlett at the academy, we’ve decided that now is a good time for a mini-vacation.” My mom informs him. “We’ll be going to Royal Island for a few days. I think our family is in need of something like this.”

Alaric looks nervous and says, “If we’re going to Royal Island, I would be happy if Nicole can join us.”

I stiffen at his request.

Oh, hell no.

That woman would spoil it for the rest of us.

“You want Nicole there?” My mother asks for confirmation. “I thought that you were planning on divorcing her.”

He sighs, “She told me that she wants to try one more time.”

“I don’t know if—”

I freeze. “And you’re willing to try with her again after everything she’s put you and our family through?”

“I know no one will be happy with this decision, but I’m not ready to give up on our marriage.” He informs me. “If she’s willing to work things out between us, I want to do the same.”

I squeeze my temples in frustration. I couldn’t believe this madness. We already had so much to deal with; I couldn’t handle that crazy woman around my pregnant wife.

“If you want this, Alaric, we will support you.” My mother tells him. “But I hope that you’re making the right choice.”

He nods, “I think I am, mother. She promised to try and be better. She also agreed to be more understanding. And she even apologized for the things she said to Scarlett. She felt horrible and promised me that something like that wouldn’t happen again. I think this is best for all of us. If Nicole is still married to me, I don’t have to worry about her telling outsiders about us. If she’s close to me, I can see exactly what she’s up to.”

I knew that woman would find a way to mess with his head. After everything she’s said to us and about us, how could Alaric still believe a single word out of her mouth?

Why does she suddenly want to make their marriage work? She was begging and threatening Alaric for a divorce just a few days ago, and suddenly, she was ready to try again.

I knew that there had to be more than this.

She was hiding something from us. I didn’t know what it was, but the second I fixed things with Scarlett, I would do everything in my power to find out the truth about Nicole.