“To fulfill the last rite into the Fraternitas, the original male heir must select a bride when they come of age. But five original bloodline male heirs must come together every five generations to choose one wife, ensuring the continuation of a strong original bloodline,” my father begins.
He wasn’t originally on board with doing this now. However, I relayed our grievances over continuing in a long courtship process when we haven’t gone on a single date since our first ones with any of the girls, except Emma.
Pulling the black cube-shaped box from his pinstriped suit pocket, he hands it to me and continues, “Rowaniel as the original head male heir, you are charged with proposing. Who have you all selected to be your bride?”
I step forward, taking the box from his hand and turning to face the girls. Then, clearing my throat, I announce, “We, the heirs of Calloway, in our last act before becoming full members of the Fraternitas select,” I open the box to the sparkling princess-cut four-carat diamond centered on a platinum band lined with four two-carat stones. “Samantha-.”
I don’t finish my words before chaos erupts. A fist flies at my face just before I see Emma run from the room, a hand covering her mouth and tears streaming down her face.
“Emma, I’m so-,” but it’s too late. She’s gone.
I was hoping to explain to make it all make sense. I’m only trying to do what’s best. I know I could make it all right if I had time, but I didn’t have any time.
“Don’t be mad because he made the best choice,” Sam’s godforsaken voice chimes.
Liam launches himself at her, hoisting her up by her neck. “You better shut the fuck up before another ends up dead,” he shouts.
Another fist flies, cracking me in my ribs, and I don’t fight.
August points at me and snarls, “You better pray I catch her before she leaves!” Then he tears out of the room in the same direction she went.
I slump to the floor, my face in my palms.
What does one do when you’re forced to choose?
Either decision would have fucked us. I just went with the one that leaves the girl I think I’m in love with shattered.
Fuck!
EMMA
I
‘m going to be sick. I head straight for the bushes and throw up. Once the contents of my stomach are emptied into the green bushes, I run straight for Thomas and the waiting car.
“Miss Bradford?” He stares in confusion but opens the door.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this stupid fucking last name. This name brought me to this fucked up town where my heart was yanked from my chest.
Tears stream freely down my face. I try to compose myself as I hear the car door slam.
“Emma,” Thomas tries again.
“Please just get me out of here,” I plead.
He takes off as I see August run out of the building, but their treachery needs no explanation.
They didn’t choose me. I thought their feelings were genuine, but as Rowan said, they selected the person who would be Fraternitas’s wife material, and I’m not that.
My stomach churns as we pull up to the house. I don’t wait for Thomas to let me out. Once the car’s in park, I throw the car door open and rush for the bathroom, praying I make it before I heave again.
I make it up the stairs in time to put my face into the toilet bowl. The events of the last thirty minutes and the stress of the last few weeks have finally caught up to me.
How fucking stupid of you, Ry. I let them in, and they played me.
My grandmother appears, and I hear the sound of the faucet turning on between retches.
She kneels next, her hand rubbing my back. “Get it all out.”
Once my stomach finally settles, she flushes the toilet as I fall to my ass on the bathroom floor.
She takes the cool cloth and wipes at my feverish skin. Tears still stream down my face as I try to speak, but nothing comes out.
“Shh, child. Just let it out,” she whispers, sitting on the floor next to me and pulling me into her arms. “We can worry about the who’s and what’s later.” And I do just that.
After what feels like twenty minutes, my tears finally cease. I need a plan.
Sitting up, I brace my hand on the floor when the room feels like it’s spinning.
Fucking Hell. I’m over these damn dizzy spells.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
Finally getting to my feet, I huff a sigh and reply, “I’ll be fine. I’ve just been having dizzy spells lately.”
“Let me get you some tea,” she offers.
“No, I’ll be okay. I just need a moment.”
I feel my grandmother’s eyes on me, but she says nothing.
Turning, I face her and give her a slight nod, and she finally relents, leaving the bathroom.
I make my way to the sink, peering at my face in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot and puffy from crying, and my skin looks pale.
Footsteps sound, and I turn in time to see my grandmother approach and then place the things in her hands on the counter.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.