Chapter 12: 12.

ARTEMIS

Mom gasped as though she had just remembered something, and she was on her feet as well.

“That man was Kieran Archibald right?” she asked, worry crossing her features, “How do you know someone like that? Your dad has always warned you to stay away from him. He is a dangerous man,”

“Yes, Artemis,” Dad spoke. “Kieran is not a man you want to be with. I’ve heard a lot of negative things about him, when I still managed the business,”

“Calm down,” I held a hand out, “Kieran is not as bad as he seems. I had never met him before this, but we have to admit he did us a favour by letting Van sign the divorce.”

The words tasted like acid on my tongue. Why was I defending him when he ruined my marriage?

Marriage? I guess I should stop calling it that. Van never saw it as marriage, and even though I hated Kieran for what he did, I had to admit that it was for the best. Not my choice, but something I should have done when the maltreatment started.

“So this has something to do with him? Why are you trusting someone blindly after…” Mom caught herself, but she didn’t have to. It was obvious what she wanted to say.

“Atri, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” She reached for me and I didn’t move away.

I gave her a small smile as my eyes burned, “It’s okay, Mom. You are right. I am the one who put us in this situation by trusting the wrong person. That’s why I want to make everything right again now that we’ve been given the chance to start over,”

“Your mother was just emotional.” Dad said, “You weren’t wrong to fall in love and trust them. That’s not your fault. It’s all on Van. We don’t blame you,”

“Dad is right, Arti. We don’t blame you. Van is the villain,”

“Then let me fix it,” I told them, eyes filled with determination. “You may not like how I do it, but trust me to take us out of this mess. I promise things will get better,”

My family studied me with hesitation, “Are you sure you can do this?” My brother asked, “You sound like you have a solid plan this time,”

I nodded, “It’s a risk, but I want to take it,”

I was happy and relieved when they dropped the topic. I followed them to the back where the small ponds they survived on were. There were barely any fish in them but Dad told me not to worry. They had enough money to get by for a few more weeks.

I promised him that it wouldn’t be up to weeks, and I would make sure they no longer had to count meals. They looked like they didn’t believe me, and I didn’t bother to try and convince them anymore. I would just do it instead.

The rest of the day blurred as we caught up. Ares finally confessed that he was thankful to Kieran for forcing Van to divorce me. When I was married to Van, he would have never let me stay this late. I barely stayed ten minutes with them before I was dragged back home.

It was late already when Mom asked, “Where are you staying? And don’t think I forgot that you didn’t tell me who that man was.” She said pointing to the door.

I sighed. There was no need to hide it because they would find out soon, “That’s the driver Kieran assigned to me. And I’m staying with him for now,”

“Driver?” Ares scoffed, “More like a bodyguard. Is he keeping you caged?”

“Ares!” I exclaimed, “I thought you liked him? Didn’t you say you were happy he got me out?” He was right. Kieran was keeping me hostage to an extent, but I wanted to keep that part a secret from them.

“And?” he tsked, “That doesn’t mean I like him. If he hurt you…”

“He won’t” I said, instead of telling him that he wouldn’t be able to take on Kieran when he couldn’t do anything to Van. “I’m there because I want to,”

“So, you live with him? Why?” Dad asked with curious eyes pinned on me.

“There will be an announcement soon. Don’t worry because I wasn’t forced. Remember, I need you all to trust me,” I said, standing up.

“Are you leaving?” Mom got up as well. She turned sad, and I hugged her.

“Kieran has been helping me, and I don’t want to take advantage of that. It’s late, but I promise to come more often. He gives me more freedom than Van ever did,”

Kieran was waiting when I got to the house. He was seated on the couch when I entered, “How was it at your parents?” He asked without looking up.

I turned to Marcus who shook his head, denying having told him anything.

“Marcus doesn’t have to tell me anything,” he said, answering my silent question.

I walked further in front of him, “Did you have me followed?”

Kieran finally looked up, an amused smirk on his lips, “I don’t need to have you followed to know where you went.”

“But you…” I opened my mouth to protest.

“Have you made a decision?” Kieran cut me off before I could complete my statement.

“Yes,” I told him. I had made up my mind, “I’ll marry you,”

Kieran arched a surprised brow like he didn’t expect me to agree so quickly when he was the same person who told me I had less than twenty-four hours to decide.

It wasn’t that hard to decide after I thought of my position. My parents sufferings, my brother’s education, Van getting everything despite being the cause of the man, and the selfish want of the power Kieran promised me.

Why should I fight to get what I want when someone was handing it to me on a somewhat black platter?

He then smirked and rose slowly to his feet, “You made the right choice,” his words felt gentle, almost like a caress, “I hope you understand the decision you’ve made? The marriage would be on my terms,”

I nodded, already expecting it. “What are the terms?”

“I have plans that you’ll be a part of. My world isn’t as easy as Van’s. There are sharks but you’ll have to be ready, and trust me,”

“I’m ready. What other terms are there?” I asked because that couldn’t be it.

“A contract marriage. One year. I’ll restore your family’s name and reputation while you’ll play my loyal wife, but there is a catch”

I knew it. There was no way he would offer all that without a selfish reason.

“If you fall in love with me by the end of the year, the marriage becomes real. If you don’t, you get to walk away with 20 million dollars,”