The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride

Aidan's POV

I can remember my mother said father shouldn't know about Anna yet until our plan has been executed and that plan will be executed on the award night. Mother and I have a lot to talk about but we couldn't talk because of the presence of Anna.

From what we discussed with mother the last time, I need to pretend like I want Tessa too but I know it is going to be hard doing that since I hate pretense. If I let my father think I am agreeing to his term, he will tell Tessa's father and they will help me. But if I don't, I won't get any help even though I wish I can get the help from somewhere else and not from my selfish, monstrous father.

Now I remember my mother's bandaged arm as I stand with Anna by the doorway. I want to rush to him and punch the living hell out of my father but I know I can't. I need to control myself. I need to be calm so I won't ruin things way too fast. I seriously need to get my mother out of this hellhole.

"Aidan", he calls again as he approaches.

I am happy Anna and I aren't holding hands like we did when we entered the house. I take a step sideways and whisper to Anna. "Play along."

I didn't wait for a nod to show that she agrees and understands like earlier before I turn back to face father. I bow. Anna stares at him in nervousness and bow.

Father looks from me to Anna, suspiciously.

"Good morning, Father", I greet politely.

This is how I behave in the presence of strangers. Even though Anna isn't a stranger, I have to do this because of what I want in return. I am going to get the help indirectly.

I didn't know I would meet my father at home by this time of the day. He is barely at home, except when he has guests coming to visit. Even if the father doesn't have anything to do in the office, he goes there just to avoid having contact with his wife.

I see Anna looking at me with a questioning gaze from my peripheral view. I know what she wants to ask me is why I only introduced her to my mother.

Father on the other hand is staring at Anna and shifting the gaze to me at intervals for me to explain who she is. He stops walking when he is close enough and folds his arms.

"Who is this?" He asks me again when I am not offering any explanation.

"This is my new secretary, Anna", I point to Anna. Anna didn't show any sign of surprise, instead, she bows again with a smile.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful lady", my father smiles back and I feel like punching him.

"I didn't know you were in", I say, to stop him from ogling Anna like the shameless man that he is.

"Oh!" He looks at me. "Yes, I won't be going out today. As you can see your mother is ill and I want to take care of her."

"Really?" I am being sarcastic. I can't help it. I can't help not being rude to the man before me, even if I am not rude to others.

"Yes. We had a guest this morning and while she was drinking wine from her glass cup, the accident happened. I think she was holding it too firmly and it got broken, piercing her hand." He explains. I didn't ask him for an explanation but here he is offering me some, just to cover up his horrible acts. I regret the day he met mom. I am going to make him suffer after taking my mother away from him.

But for now, I will stick to my mother's advice. I need to pretend to be good to him for three weeks and that will be all. This means I have to also make him think I believe his cock and bull story.

The scrubbing the maids were doing earlier when Anna and I entered is enough evidence. I assume they were scrubbing blood from the floor. I am sure whatever happened between them happened last night or this morning. They were trying to get rid of the evidence that father had beaten mother till she began to bleed.

My heart is breaking into pieces as I stand here, watching father. I am hurt because I can't do anything now. I am hurt because this beating started all because of me.

Whenever father wants to beat me and mother takes my side, he beats us together. I am hurt and I feel like crying. I wish I have magical powers to make all my wishes come true at this moment.

At second thought, I feel like going against my mother and ignoring Anna's presence by venting my anger on my father.

"Anna, when did you begin work with Aidan?" He asks Anna, jerking me out of my reverie.

"A few days ago, sir", Anna answers calmly.

"What happened to Chloe?"

"Clumsy as always. I sacked her when she made me lose the deal with one of my clients", I lie.

"Which of your clients?" He asks with curiosity. I know he might offer to help if I tell him but I am not interested. I only need one help from him and I am going to get it whether he likes it or not. I feel entitled to it already.

"You don't know him. Can we see in private?"

"I was about to ask the same thing", he says. I know what he wants to talk to me about. I have not been picking up his calls as always.

"Anna, you should go wait for me in the car", I instruct her.

"What? Why can't she stay in the living room while we talk upstairs?" Father suggests.

Father is trying to play smart. He wants to have Anna close by so I won't be able to shout at him when we are alone like I always do.

"Alright", I agree. I don't need to pretend much. If Anna is downstairs and I agree to whatever he wants to tell me, he will think I did that because of Anna's presence. "Go wait in the living room, Anna. "Alright, sir", she bows and walks to the living room.

"She is a nice girl. I like her", father comments as we take the stairs up. I only nod without uttering a word.

We get to his study and he enters before I follow him in. He takes his seat and I quietly sit opposite him.

"You haven't been picking my calls", he starts. I can't remember the last time my father and I talked on the phone. I have not picked his calls in years.

"I've been busy", I utter my usual excuse.

"I know. I've been meaning to come to see you in the office about Tessa. You need to reconsider, Aidan. Tessa is a good girl and I want us to use this to our advantage. I don't want you to lose this award to that stupid boy. You know what it means if that happens." He is speaking softly.

I am glad my nerves are calm and I am thinking of what to say so he won't suspect anything. I feel the beating has to do with Tessa.

Did he beat my mother because she refused to persuade me? What did mother tell him?

I decide to make him feel I am doing this because of my mother.

"Are you the one that asks my mother to come to see me concerning this issue?" I ask him. "What?" He chuckles. "Of course not, she came to see you?" I nod. "I never knew she did." "Yes, she did." I lean forward.

"Aidan, I know we haven't been on good terms but I want you to know I am doing this for you. Julian is really mad because of the rejection and I want us to appease him in a way so he can help us. We have just three weeks...."

"I know", I rub my hand over my face. I want it to look like I am frustrated and indecisive.

"I just feel Tessa will keep whoring around."

"What? Have you ever caught her doing that?" He questions with wide eyes.

"Of course not, it's just a feeling. I don't know what to do."

"Tessa will make a good wife, don't worry. Let's do our parts so Julian can do his too. I want us to make everything official on the award night. When the media sees you two together, they will question you and it will be announced to them that you are getting married to her. What do you think?" He grins.

I keep staring at him. I wish I could let go of my hatred for once but it is impossible.

The hatred keeps increasing each time we see and he does something wrong to me or my mother. Trying to persuade me to marry Tessa is another wrong thing.

"I will think about it", I am keeping up with the pretense.

"Think about it?" He sneers. "We have just a few days to go. I need to tell Julian that you rejected her because...."

"What do you want me to do then? I shouldn't think about it before venturing into something that might not last?"

"You won't regret marrying Tessa", he argues.

"Are you vouching for her?"

He gulps and answers. "Yes, I am."

"Really?"

"Really."

I nod and keep quiet. "No problem then."

"What?" He is surprised that I am agreeing to do this without any hassle. I know he will think my mother is behind my sudden gentility and acceptance.

"Yeah, since that's what you want. As long as I am going to win the award, I'm ok with it " I stand up.

"Waw, I'm so glad", he laughs.

"Just make sure I don't regret it", I begin to walk to the door.

"You won't, son." He promise.

"But if I find out she is a slut like I told you earlier, that will be all", I say to him when I get to the door.

After making sure he gets the message, I smile to myself and walk out.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐