Arranged Marriage: The Lost Bet

Chapter One

Heartbroken and terrified by her father's actions, Arianna immersed herself in her work, hoping the events of the previous night were just a nightmare. But when she woke up the next morning, reality hit her hard.

"Ari, you have a visitor," Captain Joe said as he peeked into the kitchen. Fearing it might be her father or Jake, she pushed her chair back and walked into the bay.

"Did you think you could run from me?" a voice called from behind. She turned and gasped. He had found her. Fear etched across her face as she faced the handsome yet menacing man leaning against the fire truck, his arms crossed over his broad chest, making him appear even more intimidating.

"I hoped this was just a terrible dream, but clearly, it's not, since you're here at my workplace," she replied, backing away as he approached.

"I don't like this any more than you do, but I'm claiming what's mine," he said, his voice so cold it sent a shiver down her spine.

""I am not a piece of meat. If you want to discuss this nonsense, we can after—" But before she could finish, the alarm blared in the bay. Springing into action, Arianna rushed to the ambulance. While waiting for her partner, she shot a smirk at the cold stranger and focused on the task at hand: a two-car accident with three injured and one DOA.

♤ ♡ ♢ ♧

Lucas watched in shock as the firefighters and EMTs rushed out of the bay. Arianna bolted into the ambulance like a woman on a mission, piquing his curiosity about what she did.

He parked his car along the street and stepped out to observe the scene. Leaning against a building, he watched as the team worked on the victims.

Arianna was unaware of her audience as she delivered chest compressions to a young boy.

She focused intently on the task, trying not to look at the child's face.

"Come on!!!" she shouted, continuing her efforts. Lucas was amazed by her determination, even though he knew the child was likely beyond help.

""Ari..." Zack, a fellow EMT, grabbed her arm, his expression somber. "You tried, love. He's gone."

"No, Z, he's going to come back! Get me the defibrillator!" she yelled, her voice a mix of desperation and determination. Zack nodded, sprinting to the squad to grab the equipment. He returned quickly, setting it down beside her and turning it on.

"All clear... delivering shock," Arianna stated, her focus unwavering as she watched the child's body lift momentarily from the ground. After the shock, she immediately delivered two breaths before resuming chest compressions.

"Ari... you have to stop, sweetie. He's gone," Captain Joe said as he crouched beside her, his voice gentle yet firm. "You did an amazing job, but you have to stop." Reluctantly, Arianna nodded, allowing Joe to help her up from the ground, her heart heavy with the weight of her failure.

Nearby, Lucas noticed two other EMTs standing close, preparing to lay a sheet over the child's body. The scene, so raw and visceral, tugged at something deep within him, yet he felt detached, as if watching from behind a glass wall. Pushing himself away from the wall, he turned and fled the scene, unable to process the emotions swirling inside him.

As he drove away, he couldn't shake the image of Arianna—her fierce determination, her refusal to give up—etched into his mind. Perhaps she was more than just a cold stranger; perhaps she was a force of nature he hadn't anticipated. But for now, he needed distance from the chaos, both outside and within himself.

♤ ♡ ♢ ♧

As Lucas drove through the city streets, the sirens faded into the background, replaced by the dull thrum of his own heartbeat. The weight of the scene lingered in his mind, replaying the image of Arianna's frantic efforts to save the boy. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had just witnessed something profound, something that transcended the chaos of the emergency.