Entangled Love

Fiona p.o.v

Life sucks!

A big time.

Yes, sure! I might not have a typical sad story of a broken home or domestic abuse, but I still cannot help but wonder what wrong I ever did in my life or to others to end up here.

All alone.

And not to mention miserable!

One might think that I am exaggerating. But no, I am not. Well, maybe a little bit. But that is because what I was thrown into is not an easy thing to live with.

And I have only one person to blame: the one and only, my Grams.

Listening to my grandmother was one of the biggest mistakes that I have ever committed.

I don't know why and how I always let my Grams manipulate me to do something which I clearly don't want to do. It is only because of her cleverness and my sensitive heart that I am stuck in this life-changing situation.

Instead of having the time of my life with either my family, friends, or my so-called dearest husband, I am trapped here in Hummington Town alone on what should have possibly been my honeymoon.

Some honeymoon it is!

Rather than exploring different places together, eating a variety of foods, and clicking tonnes of pictures, here I am, standing in the café zall by myself.

I am to have my coffee all alone with a small backpack large enough to hold all my crap, a red cap on my head covering my chocolate brown hair, which is not confined with any kind of clip or band, earplugs in my ears, and a phone placed in the back pocket of my shorts.

Now the question is, where my dearest husband is? The one who should have been accompanying me, sitting with me, and enjoying this delicious beverage on our lovely honeymoon. The one who should have held my hand, stolen kisses, and whispered loving words into my ears.

Oh, right! He is attending a meeting. A god damn meeting. The nerve of this guy!

Well, scratch everything.

This is not a honeymoon of fifteen days but a business trip of three days, where Justin Carter, my so-called husband and CEO of Carter's Enterprise, is busy with his work. And me being me, stupid Fiona McGuire, now changed into stupid Fiona Carter, exploring this new, foolish place all alone.

And if you ask why?

It is because I am stuck in a goddamn forced marriage where my not-so-sweet grandmother emotionally blackmailed me into marrying this idiotic workaholic jerk who, I doubt, even gave me a second glance after signing our marriage certificate.

Yes! We signed our marriage certificate.

Some wedding, it was!

Except for our parents and grandmothers, the two of us were ready to get out of the registrar's office. But the universe, however, was not on our side. It had an idea of its own. Everyone was happy except us. Worst of all, our parents were okay with us not having a grand wedding.

Apart from that, as soon as we were married in the eyes of the law, Justin vanished into thin air, only to re-appear the next day. It was simply to let me know about our so-called honeymoon, aka a business trip to Hummington Town. Frankly, it sounded more like an order than a humble request. I had the impression that I was in a territory where dictatorship was the only possible foundation.

He had been working on his laptop all through the plane journey of two hours. As far as I was concerned, I had to indulge in my typical pastime: reading a book and filling the silence with music. Mind you, the book was very interesting, which is more than I could have said about my husband, who only had his eyes for the laptop screen.

To take his not-so-appealing actions further, as soon as we arrived at our destination, he wore his invisible cloak and disappeared into thin air once again.

I am not going to lie and pretend it didn't hurt.

It did. I cried. Not a lot, but enough for my eyes to swell and my nose and cheeks to red. But that's about it. I allowed my tears to flow for a few minutes, stayed depressed for another few, walked around like a zombie for another few, and finally, after a shout from my best friend, I was able to pull myself back to my regular self.

After all, along with him, even I was a victim of our grandmother's conspiracy, so why the hell should I be the only one drowning myself in this misery?

It is not fair.

So, with some encouragement from my best friend, I did the unimaginable.

I decided to go exploring on my own. All alone with no company. Only me, moi, and myself.

You must know one thing. I hate to travel alone, let alone explore. So, yes! This is a massive step for me.

A big pat on my back. Maybe a standing ovation, too.

But what the hell!

For everything, there is a first time. Moreover, I couldn't spend all day in the suite alone for another day. I would have died of boredom, and it's not like Justin would even notice me gone. That is, if he remembers that I even exist at all.

Yes! I, Fiona McGuire... Oops!! Now Fiona Carter does not exist for her husband.

Some marriage, it is!!

Fiona was standing near the table where the barista was busy working, holding a cup of coffee when she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Excuse me, Ma'am,"

This caused her to spin a complete one-eighty-degree turn.

"Yes?" She asked politely of a man standing in front of her.

He was around six feet one inch tall, and he had a handsome face to go with it. Green eyes, silky brown hair that falls a little on his brow. He was dressed in a dark grey suit.

"You dropped this scarf." The unknown man handed over the cheetah-printed cloth to her with a smile on his face.

"Thank you so much." She thanked him with a genuine smile and took her scarf.

"By any chance, are you studying at the university nearby?" He asked her curiously. It was clear that he was trying to strike a conversation with her. She was a little flattered, as she was not that young as he was making her out to be.

"No, I am just a tourist in this town." She replied with a slight grin. He doesn't need to know that she was a tourist, not by choice.

"Aah! Let me guess; this is your first time here?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Yup." She nodded her head.

"So what are you doing in this big town, exploring alone? Unless your friends or boyfriend are hiding somewhere around the corner," He asked. It was clear that he was interested in her. However, Fiona didn't think much about it. But he found her pretty. Beautiful, to be honest.

The mysterious man's last statement made her chuckle.

"If you mean my boyfriend who loves to wear an invisible cloak or my so-called amazing friends who are eagerly waiting for me to bring them the infamous magical broomstick back home? Then no, I am not adventuring out here, alone." She tried to maintain a serious face, but it was as successful as she wanted, or rather wished it to be.

But her failed attempt at cracking a joke, on the other hand, did make the stranger laugh out loud with amusement in his eyes.

"Well, then I must say that your invisible boyfriend is one lucky person to be with such a gorgeous girl." He meant every word that he said. She was one hell of an amazing-looking person, along with a pleasant vibe.

"Really? Do you think so? Would you mind telling him that? At least then he'll remove his cloak more often. But dang my life!" She said this with a sad look on her face, which was totally fake. So, to save herself from any more embarrassment, she showed her left hand. "I am married; that means he will never remove his cloak."

"As the saying goes, all good ones are taken." The man placed his right palm on his heart and tried to look hurt, but had a big smile on his face.

"Naah! I think the best ones are left for the last." Fiona shrugged nonchalantly.

"So, you came to this city with your husband?" He asked her casually. He didn't seem like a paedophile, and he wasn't flirting after she showed him her ring finger. Therefore, Fiona felt safe to answer him. He appeared to be a decent individual.

"Yes." She said.

"Do you mind if I ask where he is?" He asked her hesitantly. He didn't want to come off wrongly as she was married. But at the same time, he couldn't stop himself from asking her. She had that aura, which is not easy to explain.

"He is currently in a business meeting," she stated. Looking at his confused expression, she explained him further.

"Well, he had an important meeting in this town, so I tagged along. And to pull out of the boredom of the room, I thought, why not explore this amazing place?" It wasn't a complete lie, and he was a stranger, so she didn't owe him any kind of explanation.

"Wow, and your husband doesn't mind that you are venturing out alone in this big town. If I were him, I doubt I would have even attended the meeting."

"He is incredible, and we have an understanding. Moreover, it is a win-win situation. He can finish his work, and I can travel around. Plus, with such a busy and fast life, solo exploration is good for not only your health but also your sanity."

'Darn, she is getting good at this.' She thought. 'Bless you, my maniac best friend, for influencing me with your tactics.'

He was about to say more, but then his phone vibrated.

"Well, that's my queue to leave. I have a meeting to attend. Anyway, I have a suggestion if you want. Two blocks away, there is a wonderful art gallery called 'The Artistry.' It might catch your interest." He suggested to her.

"Really? Thanks a lot." Fiona was excited. Nothing could beat the peace you get from looking at the beautiful art that one living creature can create. It is both a blessing and a gift. Plus, it would kill time.

"If you want, I can drop you off." He asked her.

"No, that is okay. I will manage."

"Are you sure?" He asked her again. However, he had no ulterior motive.

"Yes, I have got master of all directions - google with me. So, I will be fine. Thanks, though." She told him appreciatively. It was a bit odd for him to offer her a ride, but maybe he was genuinely a nice person; after all, she was roaming around alone.

With a smile, he returned the nod and walked away.

'So good guys do exist.' Fiona thought after she saw him leaving the cafe.

Forced marriage or not, Fiona will not let her miserable life on display for the world to see, nor will she drown herself in misery. Justin can ignore her for all she cares. She is a strong, independent woman who is more than capable of taking care of herself.

God knows why her Grams thought otherwise.

"Where the hell were you? You are fifteen minutes late." Justin curiously whispered to his good friend Oliver as soon as he entered the conference room and sat beside him.

He had been waiting for his pal for an hour now. On the other hand, the meeting was about to begin in a few minutes.

"Sorry, got caught up somewhere." Justin's brows tilted with interest at Oliver's reason.

This was interesting, as Oliver Winston was hardly ever late.

"I will tell you after this meeting." He told Justin so that his friend would drop it for the time being.

After five long damn hours of the meeting, both friends were catching up in Oliver's office. They were drinking coffee and chowing down on sandwiches.

"So, tell me, what brought you here so late? I doubt you even wanted to come here with the smile you still have on your face." Justin asked him with interest.

It was out of the ordinary for Oliver to react in such a manner. He is one of the most composed guys that he has ever met. His emotions are always in check. But at present, even after the tedious meeting they just had, Oliver looked content with a small smile pasted on his face.

"Ha-ha, hilarious. It's not as big of a deal as you are making it out to be. It is just that I bumped into an interesting girl in a café downtown while I was coming here." Oliver tried to calm his friend's nerves. Justin can be really inquisitive when he wants to be.

"And let me guess. You tried to charm your way through her and got yourself a date?" Justin asked him with a smirk.

"How I wish that were true, but no." Olive sighed before continuing, "I would have liked to try it, though. But unfortunately, she is a married woman and extremely faithful to her husband. Not that I would have dated her if she wasn't. A married woman is a big no. Aside from that, the fascinating thing is, while her husband was busy in a meeting, she was busy exploring the town alone with not a single frown on her face."

Oliver's last statement triggered something inside Justin. A realization struck him, which did not make him feel good about himself. However, Oliver, unaware of Justin's uncomfortable and stressful musing, continued. "I asked her if she wanted me to drop her off somewhere, and she flat-out declined. Where can you find that kind of woman nowadays? Normally, any woman would be pissed if her husband ditched her for a meeting, but she didn't have a single ounce of frustration on her face. In our circle, most of them are bitching about their husband or boyfriend when they leave their other half for a meeting, let alone a few days trips, but not her. I have to say that the guy is fortunate as it must have taken lots of restraining for him to let her wander around the city alone."

Justin truly hoped Fiona was not strolling out on her own. He was jerk enough to ignore her since the time they got married, but he didn't want her to venture out alone. God only knows what might happen to her in this new unknown place. God! He does not even know if she has ever visited Hummington Town.

He tried to block out his own thoughts and listened to Oliver.

"You really like her, don't you?" Justin asked him curiously.

"Like enough to be in a long-term relationship with someone like her, then sure." Oliver shrugged his shoulders. He was forthright in his response.

"You only met her for a few minutes." Justin pointed out. It was strange, even for Justin, to think that his friend liked someone within a matter of a few minutes of a conversation.

"Trust me. Those few minutes were enough to get to know her - a genuine smile, no flirty tricks, and an odd sense of humor. You can't help but wish to befriend her. And let's face it, sometimes a few minutes is all it takes to figure out what kind of person someone is, and sometimes even after knowing someone for a lifetime, they can be strangers to you."

"Well, now that is something I cannot argue with you." Justin shook his head sideways, unable to come up with anything else to say. Because of their line of work, they are usually aware of the types of people they are dealing with most of the time. It happens when you frequently meet plenty of new people on a regular basis.

"Anyway, what is your so-called lady friend's name?" Justin asked him while taking a sip from his black coffee.

"I don't know," Oliver said, a blank expression on his face as he realized he had forgotten to ask her name, but it didn't matter. It was not like he was going to meet her ever again.

"Huh! Are you kidding me?" Justin exclaimed with a surprised look. Leave it to Oliver to forget to ask the girl's name, whom he has developed a little crush on.

"No. I never bothered asking. We did not exchange names. She is married, for god's sake! Plus, I doubt we will ever meet again. And to give it a thought, I would have asked her name if you did not message me."

This made Justin roll his eyes. Yeah, blame him for ruining his chance to be friends with a married woman.

"Anyway, that's enough about me. When am I going to meet your wife? It is sad enough that you guys didn't have a proper wedding, but turning your honeymoon into a business trip is even worse. Seriously, dude. What the hell were you thinking? This is a whole new level of being a workaholic. "

"Oliver, we had a hush-hush wedding. I know it was wrong to turn our honeymoon into a business trip, but this deal is very important. And you should know that my wife is extremely supportive of me. Way more than I could possibly imagine. So, to make it up to her, I promised her a proper getaway once everything is settled."

Yes, he is such a jerk for lying so blatantly, especially when the other person is such a good friend of his. But, if given a chance, he would definitely like to take Fiona on a proper vacation once they have a much-needed conversation.

"That is no excuse. We are having dinner tonight, and you better bring your wife with you. I want to meet the girl you have decided to settle down with. It is not every day that 'The Justin Carter' likes anyone, let alone marries one. She has to be special."

"Sure, I am positive that you will like her." He told Oliver casually, but on insight, he was freaking out. He did not want his friend to figure out his messed up marriage.

He really hates his Grams at the moment for making him deal with this kind of situation.

Why couldn't he have a typical grandmother who forced him to go on dates, even blind ones for that matter, or coerce him to meet new girls?

But no! Instead, he got stuck with one who emotionally blackmailed him to get married to Fiona.

Damn the planet for having both of their grandmothers as best friends and abnormal humans in this entire universe.

What on earth were they thinking?

His grandmother, in particular. Playing him like a fool and staging her own poor health to convince him to get married. And his parents, who were way too happy for this marriage to have taken place.

Not a single word against it.

As Fiona worked at Carter's Enterprise, his father knew her well. Whereas his mom was concerned, she has also met Fiona a few times. Both his parents were delighted to have her as their daughter-in-law.

Over the moon, in fact.

Leaving aside the whole situation of being trapped in an unconventional marriage, Justin personally knew that she wasn't a bad person. Based on what he has seen and observed, she is a decent human. She seemed to be a sweet, sincere, and hard-working person. He has only exchanged a few words with her, but that was way before the marriage fiasco was even in the picture.

He really is a jerk for leaving her alone in the room.

He has hardly exchanged any words with Fiona since they got married. Even before that, they only offered brief acknowledgements or professional briefings. God knows what is going to happen at dinner.

Oliver is one of his really good friend. They went to university together and have maintained a strong bond ever since. They have never let their professional or personal relationships get in the way of each other. He will be somewhat surprised if Oliver doesn't suspect anything is wrong between him and Fiona.

On the other hand, Justin did intend to break the silence with Fiona. That is, once his meeting here was settled, but he was not ready to do it now. Maybe when they reach their home, or better yet, when he gathers enough courage to talk to her.

It will be better if she initiates it herself.

He was well aware that he was being a coward about it. But a guy could hope, right? After all, he is only human.

After Justin's brief reunion with his good old friend, he walked into their hotel suite and looked around for Fiona. But she was nowhere to be found. He hesitantly knocked on her door, but there was no answer from the other side. So, without thinking, he went into her room, only to find it empty.

Justin had reserved a premium suite in the Hotel Imperial. It was only a fifteen-minute drive away from the airport. The suite he had booked had two rooms and a living area, which was ideal for their current situation. But Justin was worried right now because he could not find his goddamn wife. He would never be able to live with himself if anything were to happen to her.

It was six o'clock in the evening, and he was about to call her when she entered their suite through the main door.

Just when Fiona set foot in the room, Justin didn't even give her a chance before asking, "Where the hell were you?"

He may have asked her too quickly for his liking. But as soon as he saw her face, that moment was enough to send relief through him. At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder about her whereabouts.

His tone, however, was louder than he intended. He realized that when he looked at Fiona's wide eyes. Even though he could see Fiona was not hurt in any way with his own eyes, he could not justify his raised tone.

"I was... Um..." Fiona was struggling to find the right words when Justin cut her off.

"Never mind. My friend wants to have dinner with us tonight. So I will meet you by seven here." With that, Justin left.

More like hurrying from there.

It wasn't polite, and he knew that as well. He didn't mean to interrupt her, but he blurted it out without thinking. There has been far too much silence between them.

How the hell is he supposed to talk to her? What the hell is he supposed to do with her, which won't make him jerk in front of her?

Somewhere in his mind, he knew that he was making things worse for them, but apparently, his actions had been far more impulse-like than they had ever been in his entire life.

Whereas Fiona was concerned, she felt like strangling Justin's neck for good.

Who the hell does he think he is? They are both trapped in this marriage in the same way. But no, he believes that he is the victim here. At the very least, she was not cold with him. Nor was she treating him like an invisible person or dictating him around like a queen.

Emily was absolutely right about him. He is unquestionably a jerk who deserves to have his neck strangulated by her or anyone else, for that matter. She was wrong to give him any kind of benefit of the doubt.

'Damn you, Emily, for ruining my innocent mind.' She thought, but that's what happens when you have a crazy best friend.