Chapter 111 Chaos
Kristen's POV
"Are you insane?"
I meant what I said, father."
It's Ben and his father, arguing. I'm on the West Wing but I can hear them arguing and it's giving me chills.
"How can you cancel the marriage when it's only a few days away? Maeve is to be your wife and Luna," His father yells at him.
And I can feel my eyes growing huge in their sockets.
Did Ben cancel his marriage with Maeve? Why in the seven hell would he even do that? Is this some sort of prank he's trying to pull?
There are a few more things I can't hear because I have my ear pressed against the door.
So this time, I unlock the door and silently open to listen to their argument.
"I'm sorry, I can't be with her," Ben says quietly.
And my jaw drops to the floor.
"What has gotten into you?" Mr. Gregory yells at his son in utter disappointment.
"I love another," Ben hesitates before letting this out.
"What did you just say!?" Mr. Gregory raises his voice once more.
And I flinch as if I sustained a whip in the back.
Ben didn't just let that out.
Why do I feel it has to do with me? Like I'm the one he's referring to.
Or maybe it's someone else. Because he cannot call off his wedding with the Maeve girl because of me. When I'm even carrying Calhoun's child. This is insane.
"I've loved her for a long time and I'm afraid I can't love anyone else but her," Ben continues. And at this, my brain finally registers that it's me he's talking about.
Is he freaking out of his mind?
"What!?"
"It's true, father. I can't be with a woman I don't love," Ben's voice is more audible this time.
And I can't hear sniffing in the background, something which makes me peek at them once more, only to see Maeve standing a few meters away from them, sobbing really hard.
Wait a minute, she's been there this whole time?
"I never loved your mother in the first place, it was an arranged marriage between my father and her father," Mr. Gregory informs his son.
"I am not you, Father," Ben swats his father's hands off his collars and pushes himself away from the wall.
"You were okay with an arranged Marriage," Mr. Gregory stared at his son with disappointment.
"Not anymore," Ben clenches his jaw and maintains eye contact with his father.
"Don't tell me this is because of Kristen," Mr. Gregory has disbelief in his eyes as he looks at his son.
Ben stays silent instead.
"Are you out of your mind? Calhoun's pregnant mate?" Mr. Gregory exclaims.
"He doesn't deserve her," Ben replies softly, after sighing.
And I want this to be surreal. Like a figment of my imagination. But it's not.
"How can you call off your marriage with Maeve just so you could be with another man's woman?" From the way Mr. Gregory is staring at his son, it's almost like he's one step away from landing a hefty punch in his face.
"The heart wants what it wants," Ben smiles sadly.
And his father pushes him against the wall.
"Shut your gob!" Mr. Gregory yells in his face.
But Ben doesn't even flinch.
"You're not Alpha anymore, I am. And I do what I want,"
What the heck has gotten into Ben? To the extent of challenging his own father?
Is he okay in the head?
Upon closing my eyes in dismay, I try to shut the door soundlessly but it gives out a loud thud and I shudder.
Is Ben insane?
How can he do that?
It was wrong of me to come here in the first place.
I never knew showing up in front of Ben would regenerate those feelings he had for me.
And this time it's even stronger. To the extent that he wants to
cancel his marriage with the girl who's supposed to be his Luna.
Cold runs deep through my veins and I shudder for the umpteenth
time.
It was a bad idea to come here anyway.
My staying here just ruined things and now the only alternative I
have is to leave.
Christ! How could Ben...
I am disrupted from my thoughts when someone jerks the door open.
And my heart jumps in my chest because it's Maeve.
Her face is seething in ten shades of red and she has tears brimmed
in her eyes.
I take a rough gulp because it seems like I will get attacked or
something.
"It was your whole idea, huh?" She doesn't even bother to dry the tears from her eyes as she sneers at me.
"I have no idea of what you mean," I respond quietly, pretending I have no idea of what transpired.
And she smacks me hard across the cheek. Something which turns my face to my side and causes my cheek to tingle with pain.
"How dare you!?" She growls.
"How dare you do this? You turned him down countlessly and when
Calhoun hurt you, you came running to him," she stares at me with
so much contempt.
I let out a heavy breath before clenching my teeth until my jaw
begins to hurt.
"He wants to fucking cancel the marriage all because of you," Maeve
yells.
"And you think I made him do this?" I can't hide my glare as well.
"Just stop fucking talking," she raises her hand to smack me across the cheek again, but I swiftly hold her wrist to refrain from it.
"I never had plans on taking Ben away from you. I am in love with another," I try to explain, even though I am starting to get upset. "Liar," Maeve accuses, "I saw the way he looked at you all along. He couldn't see no one else except you,"
I release her hand with force before glaring at her.
"I am leaving this instance, there's no need to create such a fuss. I never should have shown up here anyway," I grit out, regretting everything.
Maeve seems a bit mature. She stands back and continues sniffing,
while I grab my bag and start making my way out. Determined to go as far away from here as possible.
"Kristen, wait," Ben grabs my wrist when I get to his side.
Thankfully his dad isn't here, but I still have my back to him.
"I don't want you talking to me," I warn, in a low tone.
"Please," he implores, tightening his hold on my hand.
"How could you do such a thing, Ben?" Finally, I turn to face him.
With tears brimming in my eyes because it's been one problem after
the other.
"I had no choice and I don't even love her," Ben's eyes don't even waver as he holds my gaze.
"Do you think I'll develop feelings for you if you're good to me?" I
force these words out of my throat, even though I never intended to. "But you can't be with Calhoun anymore, he hurt you," Ben doesn't even look like he cares.
"Don't ruin things with your bride-to-be, go back and apologize," I
snatch my hand away from his hold and attempt to leave when I immediately hear a familiar voice shouting downstairs.
Calhoun?