Ariel' POV
Congratulations," one of the performing artists in my production says. Cecilia, I guess that's her name ? "When I got the invite, I didn't know it would be something like this, but for some reason, I thought it'd be Loretta and you. l always thought there was something going on between you two, but it all makes sense now . You were only looking out for your sister-in-law."
My heart clenches agonisingly at the thought of Loretta being my sister-in-law, however that's precisely what she is as of now. I drive a grin to my face and Arielle tenses next to me. "The Rowans and the Warren have always been great friends," I say to her, uncertain what else to say. She looks at Arielle and smiles. "I figure this clarifies why there have never been any rumours concerning you. You were furtively dating Ariel ." I fix my hold on Arielle's midriff and drag her closer. "Yes," Arielle says. "Ariel and I are both exceptionally private individuals, so we've tried our best to remain out of the spotlight, and we'll proceed to do so." I gesture and press a delicate kiss to her sanctuary, tired of this fucking charade. It's been a perpetual torrent of questions that none of us has answers to, and I'm depleted. I'm beyond any doubt Arielle is as well.
She droops against me once Cecilia strolls away, and I drag her closer with an enormous fake grin on my face. "Let's get the fuck out of here," I told her. She smiles at me so cheerfully that I imagine I'm betrayed for a minute. "Gladly," she snaps, grinning brightly. I chuckle. I can't help you with it. "This is fucking strange, but let's put on our final act for the night," I told her, before bowing down and lifting her into my arms. Cheers erupt around us as I carry her in a bridal way, both of us grinning the way that's anticipated of us. There's a limousine holding up for us, and I carefully put Arielle down before it. The calm murmur that gets away her lips grates on me. I assume a little portion of me wishes that she didn't abhor each moment of today regretting wedding to me. I hold the door open for her, and she solidifies for a minute before getting in. It isn't until I sit besides her that I get her response. Grandmother is sitting in the car, her arms crossed and a misleadingly quiet grin on her face. "Arielle Warren," she says. "Welcome to the family." Arielle tenses and gestures. She's grinning the way she did all through the day, but I take note the way her hands tremble. "Why are you here, Grandma?" I inquire, exhausted. Today has been a total mess, and I'm not beyond any doubt how much more I can take. "Everything went as I had anticipated today, but I get it that both of you're befuddled and confused about your future, so I'd like to take the liberty to refresh your mind with the rules you must abide by all through the first three years of your marriage." She looks at me at that point. "You can remember but Arielle is not." "I can—" "No," she cuts me off. "It's best that I clarify this myself, and it's best for both of you to go into this knowing what is anticipated of you." I moan and look at Arielle, my heart throbbing. I can't envision how difficult today must be for her, and the last thing I need for her is to be overwhelmed with limitations and rules. "Arielle ," Grandmother says, her voice delicate and gentle. "In order for Ariel to get his inheritance and for you to acquire your parents' stake in the company we'll be merging, there are a couple of rules you must abide by. I'm not beyond any doubt how much you know as of now, so I'll clarify everything, okay?" She gestures reluctantly. "One. Ariel and you'll not spend more than three continuous evenings apart." Arielle tenses and wraps her arms around herself, looking awkward. I hadn't given much thought to anything since today, and the idea of us sharing a room seems… bizarre. I can't indeed envision what that could be like. Whereas I care for her profoundly, we've never gone through more than some hours together, and once in a while totally alone. "Two. When you're together, you must share a bed. You cannot live isolated lives, nor can you have separate bedrooms." I see the way Arielle tenses, and I wonder if I'mshe's attempting to think of ways around Grandma's rules. I assume she's about to find out in a hard way that grandmother isn't to be fooled with. "Three. You must stay married for three years. In the event that, after that time, you choose you genuinely aren't well-suited, you'll be able to get a divorce without punishment. In any case, there has never been a divorce in the Warren family, and I have full confidence that your marriage will not be an exception." Arielle looks at me, her look incoherent. I continuously said that I'd never get a divorce, but that was with Loretta .With Arielle? I'm not so beyond any doubt. Maybe a divorce is the solution to all our issues. "Four. You must be faithful to each other. In the event that either of you cheats on the other, you both lose everything. You'll lose your parents' company, and Ariel will lose his legacy. Family is at the centre of everything we are, everything we've built. And your family? It begins with each other." Arielle gestures, an indication of hesitance in her expression. Unquestionably she didn't think I'd permit her to fuck around whereas she carries my name ? I clench my jaw and look away. Everything about this marriage could be a clusterfuck. "The fifth but the most important one is that you must give your marriage a fair chance to thrive. Be open and this will work out for both of you." Grandmother looks between the two of us, a sweet grin on her face. It's odd how really sweet she looks whereas she's got both of our lives in a hold. "Don't cling to the lives you had before marriage. Grant each other a fair chance, and in three years time, I'll sign the printed material pronouncing the company mutually yours, making the two of you the proprietors of this country's biggest media company. You will be given your legacy as well, Ariel ." She pursed her lips, her look moving between the both of us. I know this is quite exceptionally sudden, so for the following four weeks, I will exempt you from all family commitments. You won't got to go to family dinners or charity occasions. All I need you to do for now is focus on your marriage. Spend time together, get to know each other on a distinctive level. Before long, the whole world will find out about you, and the pressure will add additional strain to your marriage. Spend enough quality time together so that you lift all that weighs you down." Arielle and I both gesture, in spite of the fact that neither of us does this with conviction. I can't offer assistance but wonder what she's considering. I have no idea what a marriage between us would look like, and I'm not beyond any doubt what she wants,what she expects. I do not know where I stand with Loretta, either. Everything could be a fucking mess, and Arielle is caught in the center of it. "Carry your bride in the way you should," Grandmother orders when the car stops before my apartment .I nodded submissively and stepped out of the car, my eyes locking with Arielle's as I bow down and reach for her. She looks reluctant and frightened, and I despise that I've put that look in her eyes. I despise that she was constrained to do this at all. I wrap one arm around her midsection and the other underneath her knees as I lift her into my arms. Arielle wheezes, her arms finding their way around my neck. "Ariel !" She looks at me, and the expression in her lovely hazel eyes stops me in my tracks. "You do not have to do this." She sounds harmed, broken. Today can be difficult on me, but it's fair as difficult on her. We both misplaced a parcel today. "You listened to Grandma," I said to her, my voice delicate. "Besides, the staff will all be observing us." As if they are on cue, Mrs Bedwin , my housekeeper, appears at the entrance .She keeps her eyes fixed on the floor, but her interest is discernible. Our family staff were all anticipating Loretta. I know they won't say a word about it, but it still feels unsettling. I carry Arielle into my home, my heart throbbing as I walk toward the living room with her in my arms. I can feel her look on me, but I couldn't summon the courage to look at her face . She has no idea how numerous times I've envisioned carrying her sister this way… but in case I need to do right by her, I have to make sure she's never reminded of that.