Chapter 4: The Proposal: Yes, I'll marry you

Aurora's POV

“Where am I?” My head throbbed badly as I struggled to sit up. I felt strong arms behind me, but I was too weak to look back.

“You passed out,” a young lady in a blue body-fitted gown informed me. I assumed she was the nurse, and I wondered if they were allowed to wear such body-fitting uniforms, “so we had to attend to you as soon as possible.”

“How long have I been here?” I asked, searching the room for a wall clock of some sort.

“Ten minutes,” a masculine voice answered from behind me.

I could feel the hairs on my body standing, as I tried to register the voice…

“I'm Edward. Edward Hamster.”

Sara's Edward?

He came to sit in front of me and leaned a little too

close.

Why was he here?

Ignoring him and the persistent ache I felt, I sprang up from the bed, “my mama!”

“She's fine,” Edward said, “but she'd need to be operated on as soon as possible.”

“How do you know that?”

“Do I have a reason to lie to you?” He raised one brow as if he couldn't believe I just asked him that question.

“I must get to her. I have to see her,” without sparing him another look, I started to walk out of the room.

“There's a problem, though!” He called out, and I stopped in my tracks.

He came to stand in front of me, then continued,” Marry me, then I would take care of your mama's hospital bills, and any other thing you need.”

I wasn't sure I heard currently, so I said nothing, but then he repeated what he said again, which made me instantly flare up.

“Did you just propose to me? Are you sure you are ok?” I was sure that if looks could kill, Edward would already be dead by now. I don't know what disgusted me more… his guts, or his unsolicited help and pity.

Ignoring my question, he calmly explained, “My grandfather has passed away, and someone has to fully take charge of the company…

“...I can't do that if I'm still single, even though my grandfather already passed down the baton to me, but I still have to honor his wish.

“...My grandfather's one dying wish I'd that I marry you. Not that I can if you aren't up for it…

“... Sometime earlier, I stopped by at your house, although you weren't around. At that moment, I wasn't sure if I was at the right place…

“...I honestly wasn't aware that you are related to my ex… not until some minutes ago…

“...I visited, hoping I would see you, but your Aunt and cousin told me that you weren't yet back from school…

“... I just recently found out from the doctor that you are the ‘Aurora’ that I have been looking for…”

My head was spinning and I wasn't sure that I could keep up with the story, or if I even wanted to continue listening to him.

“How are you sure that I am the same “Aurora?” For all I know, there are so many other ladies with that same name…”

“Aren't you Aurora Peterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Jacob Peterson? You turned eighteen last month, on June…”

How can a total stranger know so much about me?

I unconsciously began to take careful steps backward when he averted his gaze.

“What are you doing?” He looked at me as if to say ‘’Are you serious?’ Bringing both arms into a fold in front of his chest, he said, “You have every right to be wary and scared. Honestly, I don't know how my grandfather knows a lot about you and your family. That's one story that he never told me…”

He was in front of me, and I looked up to meet his eyes. How could a man be this tall?

“Are you keeping tabs on me, or have you been stalking me?” I shifted again, uncomfortable with the little distance between us.

“Your cousin is my ex-girlfriend,” he added, “I didn't know you both were related until I found out about your surname. That was purely coincidental.

“I did none of the things you mentioned. I never actually knew who to begin with. I'm just realizing that you are my ex-girlfriend’s cousin; but, every other information I have, I got those from my grandfather. Even when I was with Sara, he always wanted me to go for you. I never bothered to find out anything about you because I was madly in love with Sara…

“The thing is, I have to get married before the end of the month, and take charge of the company. I don't know how much my grandfather knows about you and why he specifically told me to marry you…

“However, the marriage, if it happens, would be beneficial to both of us. You get to have financial liberation, and I get to have a wife and take charge over the company, if not my step brother might actually step up and conceit my position as the CEO of E and E apparel.”

‘…And, maybe somehow, Sara might come to love me again, if I can use you to get to her and make her jealous and mine, once again,’ I said to myself.

I was tired of going back and forth with Edward. I couldn't think straight or make any rational decision, but I knew I had to save my mama.

Oh God! Please, help me!

I didn't want to get married to a man that I didn't love or know anything about.

Moreso, I didn't want to have anything to do with my cousin’s ex-boyfriend.

What'd happen to my going to college? How's my life about to change for good with the twinkle of an eye?

I knew that accepting to marry Mr. Edward was an open declaration of war against Sara, coupled with the fact that it was going to have a huge impact on my life and situation.

I glanced at the time and I couldn't believe my eyes. I had just ten minutes to make a decision and get back to the doctor.

I was sure Edward could hear my heartbeats. My legs felt too weak to move, so I just settled into the armchair beside me. Edward came to sit with me.

“You don't have to worry. The marriage would only be in the me. We don't have to act like an actual couple.” He draped his arm around my shoulders , but, I felt so weak that I couldn't react or push him away.

I felt as though he was deliberately trying to seduce me.

In truth, he was going to use me to get what he wanted. But, if he was going to use me, why not use him, too?

How's it that even in my dilemma, I still found him attractive?

“Please, save my mama,” I sighed, “that's all that matters to me, right now.”

“... And?”

“Yes, I'll marry you.”

He gave me one final look before he proceeded to bring out his phone and make the necessary phone calls and payments.

We moved out of the room and into the hallway. My mama was already being wheeled me on the stretcher to the theater.

I wondered if I hadn't wasted time trying to make a good decision. I wondered if my mama would make it.

I paced outside the theater, as uneasiness gnawed at my chest. I peeped through the shut doors of the theater, hoping to make out one or two things from there, but it was futile.

Edward seemed to be absentminded and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on through his mind.

After about a decade of waiting, the doctors finally came out wearing long faces.

It seemed they bore bad news!