The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~SCARLETT~

"It's none of your business, Carter." She snaps at him as she waves her hand in front of his face.

"I'll say the fact that you're upsetting my pregnant wife is definitely my business." He growls.

My silly heart was doing that thing again, where it behaved wildly, but only because of him.

"Is something wrong?" Alaric asks as he joins the conversation.

Carter turns to his brother, and he looks pissed at even him, "You said that she promised not to start any more arguments with any of us. She hasn't changed at all. If she has nothing good to say, I don't want her around Scarlett."

"What's going on?" Carter's father asks as he realizes there was a commotion.

"Nicole is stirring up trouble, as usual, father." Violet sighs. "She doesn't want us to have a good time. That's why she's here."

Nicole folds her arms over her chest and glares at us.

I still didn't understand her at all.

"Nicole?" His father calls her name as he looks at her. "What's going on?"

"It's nothing, father." Alaric comes to her rescue. "I think she's just exhausted. I'll take her inside."

"And keep her in there." Carter growls.

"Why do they always pick on me, Alaric?" I hear her cry. It was definitely a fake cry. Did she enjoy manipulating him?

Alaric has to drag his wife away from us for her to leave. I was beginning to think that she had a mental problem. No sane person would behave the way that she did.

She seemed to have a problem with everyone around her. Was there anyone that she was nice to?

Carter turns to look at me now that Nicole is nowhere around.

He places both hands on either side of the chair and leans into me. "Did she say anything to you again?"

There's a look of panic and worry on his face. My heart rate doubles, and I try to catch my breath.

"Nothing that you need to worry about," I assure him.

He looks to Violet for confirmation, and she nods her head. He trusts her completely. I could tell by the way his shoulders immediately relaxed.

"If she tries to harass you again, tell me immediately." He tells me. He was so close to me that I could smell him.

I wish he could trust me just a little. I've never betrayed him; he should know by now that I would never hurt him.

That wasn't exactly true. I did go along with Clara's revenge plan to hurt him in the beginning.

I wasn't exactly innocent in all of this, either.

"Carter!" Cole shouts as he pelts a basketball our way. I gasp when Carter stops it from colliding with my face.

He angrily spins around and slams the ball into his brother's chest. "What the fuck were you trying to aim it for?"

Cole looks genuinely concerned as he looks over at me. "I'm sorry, sis!" He apologizes. "That was meant for Carter."

My heart melts after hearing him call me sis. Cole looked like a sweetheart.

"It's okay, Carter," I assure him. "It's not like it was intentional, and it didn't hit me because of you."

He stops glaring at his brother to look at me. I can see the surprise in his eyes, but I can also spot pride. It almost looks like he's proud that I'm his wife.

That couldn't be true. He was forced into this marriage with me. Why would he be proud to call me his wife?

"Who's ready to lose?" Apollo asks as he takes the ball from Cole.

"Not me," Conor shouts as he tries to take the ball from his brother.

"I think Alaric has already lost." Ares growls as he joins in on the game. © NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

"I know," Apollo complains. "I can't believe he's brought that woman back into our lives. I thought she would be gone for good."

"We were stupid for ever thinking she would leave his life that easily," Carter says as he returns to the basketball court right next to the pool. "She isn't resting until she ruins his life completely."

Ares nods in agreement. "I believe she only agreed to make this marriage work because she saw that he was finally ready to let her go. She likes to play mind games with our brother."

"I wish he would find someone who loves him." Apollo sighs. "I feel sorry for him."

Clara looks at me, and Violet does, too.

"He's right." She whispers. "I wish my brother could find someone who loves him. Nicole is just playing with his heart, and he doesn't deserve it. Alaric is the sweetest man I know, and I'm not just saying it because he's my brother. He's kind and gentle. He listens to all of us. He's our protector. Not even Mom and Dad have been there for all of us like he has been. It hurts me to see what Nicole is doing to him."

I look at Clara, and I can see that this conversation makes her uncomfortable.

"Do they have a basketball court at every house your family owns?" I ask Violet. I wanted to change the topic so that my sister could relax a little.

She chuckles, "They do. I always read my books while they play, but they make the most noise."

"You love to read?" I ask with excitement.

She nods with a wide smile. "I brought not one but ten books for this trip, and I plan on reading all of them before we return home."

"I can't believe this," Clara whispers. "I'm not stuck with one but two of you bookworms."

Violet's eyes widen, "you love reading also?"

I grin, "I think I'm just as obsessed as you are."

"You know, Scarlett, the book I'm reading is a story similar to your life with my brother," Violet says suddenly. "Her boyfriend is keeping a secret from her. She uses her art of seduction to get him to confess."

Clara claps, "Now, this is a book I can actually read."

"Maybe Scarlett could try something like that to get Carter to tell her the truth." Violet continues.

"Seduction?" I ask her.

She nods.

"I think that's a wonderful plan, Violet." Clara praises her. "In fact, let's test that theory right now."

"What do you mean?" I ask her as I narrow my eyes.

"We're going to get you changed!" She tells me as she pulls me out of the chair and back into the house.

I already knew I was about to regret this.