"Dad, Caden called me to say that he is coming any minute from now and I need to prepare to come with him so that we can get married." Nova burst into the room panting and surprised her father.
"Right now? That is so last minute, let me hurry and pack so we can head to him straight away."
"I'm sorry dad but you can't come with us, Caden thinks that it will be better for us to go alone and he will be coming to get me." Nova explained.
She looked sadly at her father who looked very disappointed, she had always known that he dreamed of being able to lead her down the aisle and now thanks to her stupid actions that constantly dodged her steps he would not get the chance. She was paying for it now and she would have accepted her punishment willingly if it was not also affecting her father. It was so disgraceful that she was having to run away in order to get married.
It was not like she wanted the type of huge wedding that aunt Julia had dreamed of but she would have at least hoped to get married without shame. She sighed and shrugged, she was willing to do anything if it would pull out her family from the mire of debt they had fallen into.
"I promise it will be okay." Nova tried to reassure her father but his face crumbled with agony.
"Forgive me my child, forgive me for making you go through all this. You should not have to bear all this on your own, you should find love that will make you happy. Not this sham simply to secure our family's future." Elijah cried and Nova held his hands.
"You said yourself that Caden seems like a good guy, maybe it will not be so bad after all." Nova said and hugged him, remembering when she had been a small child and her father never let anything hurt her.
Despite all she had said to reassure her father she was not convinced about a single word she had just said. One of the upsides to this marriage thing with Caden was that he was autistic, prior to finding out about his condition she did not know a lot about Autism but she did some research since then and apparently a lot of autistic people did not enjoy physical contact with people so she was hoping that he would be like that and not be interested in her performing any wifely duties.
Thanks to modern science they did not even need to sleep together in order to make a baby so that would not even be a problem. She considered that this might even be the best marriage she could have, she would be a wife in name only and help ensure that his family had a heir while he secured her family's future and they would not need to complicate things by having a physical relationship.
"What is happening?" Julia interrupted their tender moment when she suddenly walked into the room.
"Caden is coming to take Nova away to get married and we cannot come along." Elijah said tearfully as they drew apart.
Julia could not stop the look of disappointment that came on her face and before she could hide it Nova saw it and misinterpreted it as disappointment over the wedding ceremony which was going to be held in secret instead of the big society shindig that Julia had been so excited to prepare.
"Don't worry aunt Julia, we will hold a party for our first year anniversary and you will be in charge of it all." She consoled her and Julia smiled while she was cursing in her mind.
She had not expected that Caden would find a way so soon, Paisley was due back just tomorrow.
"Are you sure? What is the rush? Maybe Callie will change her mind and we will be able to have the big celebration that you deserve." She said and Nova narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"You are the one that wanted a quick resolution Aunt." She reminded her.
"Yes, I know that but it just does not make any sense that you are running away like a criminal when you were the one who was wronged." Julia protested.
"It does not matter, Caden is already on his way and he should be here any moment now." Nova sighed.
"Sorry to bother you but Mr Knox is here and asking for Ms Nova." A maid appeared before them and said with a curtsy.
Julia felt the last of her hope slipping away. This was actually happening, Nova was going to get married into one of the wealthiest families in their society. As much as she was dealing with a lot of turmoil inside her she would have to pretend to be happy.
Standing as Nova stood up she hugged her then looked around.
"where are your bags? Please tell me that you have already gotten all that you need ready." She sighed in frustration.
"Caden told me not to bother packing anything as he would arrange it all for me, all I have is this tote bag with my essentials." Nova explained and Julia felt a pinch of jealousy. It should be Paisley enjoying that not her.
"Alright let's get going, we cannot keep Caden waiting." Elijah said as he ushered both women out of the room.
They went to the front room where Caden stood in shorts and a polo shirt, he seemed impatient and when he heard the footsteps he turned and nodded at them.
"Mr Addison, Ms Addison, Nova." He greeted then continued without preamble. "I hope that you are ready so that we can leave immediately." He said, his eyes going to the bag that Nova held in her hand.
She turned and tearfully hugged her father and aunt before going out the door where a chauffeur driven Town Car waited in the driveway.
Elijah and Julia watched and waved as the couple got into the car and it drove off and out of the compound.
"So where are they going?" Julia asked.
"I have no idea." Elijah replied, startled that he did not think to ask but he waved off the incredulous look on Julia's face. "… she will be fine, I am certain Caden will take care of her." He said and they both went back into the house.
********
Later that night as Elijah and Julia were settling in to eat dinner they heard a door slam shut and some commotion before Callie barged into the dinning room closely followed by a maid.
"I am sorry Mr Addison, she refused to wait for me to announce her." She explained out of breath.
"Don't worry about it Andrea, you can go back to your post." He said softly then turned to Callie with a hard glint in his eyes. "And what can I do for you Mrs Knox, why have you barged into my home?" he asked calmly.
"You know why I am here, I demand that you get your lowlife skank of a daughter and bring her down right now so that she can tell me what she has done with my son." An outraged Callie demanded.
"I don't know what you are speaking of, I will certainly not ask Nova down as she is still dealing with the traumatic events that cause the calling off of the engagement." He said, seemingly unfazed by the angry woman before him.
"You must not know about me, I am not the one to be played with and I will ensure that you receive the maximum effect of my wrath." She threatened and Elijah jumped up from his seat and threw the napkin on the table.
"How dare you think that you can come into my house and threaten me? Get out this instant!" Elijah roared and Callie sized him up before turning around and walking out angrily.
Elijah lowered himself back in his seat while Julia stood up and stared at him. "Why did you speak to her that way? Don't you know that she can destroy us?" she asked before running out of the door after Callie.
She went out of the house and ran after Callie who was angrily striding towards a car with a chauffer standing beside the open passenger door.
"Callie! Callie!! Mrs Knox, I have something to tell you." Julia said after her and Cllie stopped and turned around and raised her eyebrows contemptuously.
"Caden and Nova have gone off to get married but I don't know where." She panted out of breath while Callie's face hardened.