Shattered

4. A Pawn or a Friend?

"Excuse me?" Beth gave an amused smile.

"Beth, I have an inheritance case that I need to win that and to win it, Alec needs to be married. So, I am asking-"

"You want me to marry your son so that you can win some case?"

"Yes-"

"Mother please, you-" Alec tried to speak but Beth stopped him.

"Sshh.... Let her continue this Alec, I want to hear this." Her tone grew more sharper with every syllable that came out of her mouth.

"Beth, I know it sounds harsh but I really need your help. The only reason I called you both today was to see if you both can get along well and you do. I know it is a lot I am asking, but Beth please, my family house is at stake. Everything will be according to your terms, but please just marry my son for an year."

"Mother, please! I told you we can still turn things around. I will figure out things." Alec said.

"Alec, even you know it's impossible. I know you are trying hard but the will is made in such a way that there is no way out of it."

"Mother, how can you expect me to marry someone after everything that had happened?"

"It won't be a long marriage son, just according to the will."

"But-"

"Enough!" Beth's voice echoed through the room. She got up from the table. "You both are speaking as if I have said yes for the marriage. I have not! I am not your pawn Grace that you will ask me to marry your son to save your house and I will. Understand that and understand it fast. It is your problem, deal with it. Some problems are best dealt alone. This is one of them."

"Beth-" Grace tried to speak again but Beth didn't let her.

"Shush! I have heard enough Grace. I know exactly where this idea came from." She eyed her mother. "I have heard enough and I am leaving. Thank you for a wonderful evening." She pulled her mother's wheelchair and walked out of the room.

"Beth listen to me, please." Grace ran after her but Beth ignored her calls. Before Grace could stop her, Beth had already got in her car. Grace stood on the porch and watched her leave helplessly.

•

"They left." Grace said, entering the dinning room.

Alec got up and prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?" Grace asked urgently.

"I am going back. I was waiting for you to return."

"At least have your dinner."

"After the whole scene you put up, I am not hungry."

"Scene?" Grace shouted. "You think it was a scene? I am trying to figure out a way for us to win the case and you call that a scene?"

"Yes it was. Why didn't you ask me before taking such a huge step?"

"I was going to ask you now."

"And you thought my answer would have been yes?"

"After meeting Beth, I was hoping for a positive response."

"Why? Why after meeting Beth? Because you think she is perfect for me. Because you think she will do some good in my life. Well I don't!"

"You both got along well this evening."

"So, I get along just fine with everyone, doesn't mean I should marry them. Mother, she will never be perfect for me! No will be! Because the one person who was is no more!" Alec's eyes were filled with old memories. He picked up his coat and walked as fast as he could away from his mother. She ran after him but he jumped in his car and asked Roger to drive away.

When he reached his home, he ran to his room. On the bedstand laid a picture. It was the picture of a lady with bright red hair standing on the beach in a bright floral shirt. He picked it up and hugged it.

•

The car was speeding through the city. With constant honking and jerky braking, the ride was becoming very uncomfortable for Nora.

She looked at her daughter. She could see the anger surging beneath her skin. She knew the bombshell had caused destruction and the aftermath was going to be far worse than what she was expecting.

Beth had a bad temper. Most of the days, it stayed under control but in times likes this, it was a fire that couldn't be controlled.

"Beth?" She asked meekly.

"Mother I know that idea came from your mind. I know it. You must be the one who suggested it to Grace."

"Beth I just wanted you to be happy."

"And you think marrying someone I don't know will make me happy. Marrying someone who is using marriage to win an inheritance case will make me happy. Did you really think I would be jumping around with happiness on hearing this?"

"No, I knew you would say no, but I thought we will be able to convince you."

Beth hit the brakes harshly as she stopped the car in front of the hospital. If the seat belt wasn't there, Nora would have flown out of the windshield. They got out of the car.

"Mother, no one, I mean no one will be able to convince me to marry that guy. It is not because I don't like him or anything but because I am not interested. Please understand that." She said as she entered the lift in the hospital.

"But Beth," Nora spoke as Beth helped her getting out of the car. "why not? How long will you stay single like this?"

They reached the same corridor where Nora's room was.

"Mother you know I don't like to talk about this."

"Beth please, we both know you hate being alone."

"I am not alone mother. You know that." Instinctively, Beth's hands reached for the ring on her right hand.

"Beth, you aren't understanding things. What I am trying to say is-" Suddenly Nora felt a wave of dizziness. The world just started spinning. The room grew farther and farther.

Beth realised something was wrong and was already kneeling in front of her.

"Mother? Mother, are you okay? Nurse!" Beth called for an attended. "Nurse!"

That was the last thing Nora could hear. She could see the lights spinning above her, nurses running towards them and suddenly everything went black.

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Hi guys, so this update took a lot of time mainly because when you are studying medicine, most of your mind is occupied by human body and not the storyline for your next chapter. XD

Okay, so recently a reader had a question,

If Alec was married before, how is he losing the inheritance case?

Well, my answer will be that his grandfather passed away after he lost his first wife. Also, grandfather wasn't told about his first marriage due thier lack of communication.
Simple.

Last thing, this chapter is dedicated to one of my very old readers, a reader who has been a constant support for my previous book, Maw-nee-sha. Thanks for all your help.

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