The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride

Anna's POV

New beginnings frighten me a lot and I wonder if it frightens other people too. I am frightened of fresh beginnings because I have no idea how it will end and turn out.

Am I weird because I am scared of a new beginning?

Aidan's statement left me with my mouth agape. I thought we were beginning to be civil with each other.

He was calm and gentle a few minutes ago and now he is back to being harsh, arrogant, and rude? I never said I wanted him, why is he making it too obvious that I am unwanted?

I didn't say all of that because I am expecting us to fall in love with each other, I am only trying to see that things don't turn out to be messy on the long run. I am having a second doubt about sticking to Pamela's suggestion. I don't fucking care about what he thinks anymore. He can go to hell for all I care.

The massive gate before us opens and he drives in before pulling over. He gets out of the car and waits for me to come out too. I gulp before coming out, trying to calm my nerves. The anxiety I was having earlier has been replaced by a feeling I have no idea about.

Is it fear? I have no idea.

He walks towards me and brings out his arm for me to take. I am hesitant because I don't know why he keeps behaving like a gentleman this minute and like a jerk the next minute. Does he have multiple personality disorder?

He takes a step forward and it jerks me out of my reverie. We walk together inside and I see the place is empty. I look around until my eyes falls on the two maids bent down.

One of them is mopping the floor and the other is scrubbing the floor. The mansion is big and there are antiques everywhere in the large living room. It looks like an old house with a little touch of modernity. The maid scrubbing the floor stands upright with arms akimbo and she meets Aidan's gaze. She bows. "Welcome, sir."

The other maid stands up abruptly too and bows in greeting. Aidan and I move forward.

"Is mother inside?"

"Yes, sir", they both answered.

Aidan turns and begins to walk towards a small door. I am expecting him to take the staircase by the right but he is going to the door by the left.

Is this where his mother stays? I ask inwardly.

He knocks on the door and signals me to wait outside for a minute until he asks me to come in. I nod in understanding.

I know he wants to surprise her and I admire the fact that he respects and adores his mother. He opens the door and goes in.

I wait outside, looking around as a sudden uneasiness wash through me. I hope Aidan's mother will like me. But if she doesn't, this will be a gateway to my escape from being an unwanted bride.

****

Aidan's POV

I can't wait to see the reaction on my mother's face. I am giddy with excitement.

I asked Anna to stay outside for a while so I can go in first. I was surprised to see her nodding in agreement. I thought she was going to ask me why I am asking her to stay outside when the major reason for our visit is to see my mother.

Mother didn't get up from the bed when I enter. She is on her bed, facing the other side.

Is she sleeping?

"Mother?" I call.

She stirs but didn't turn. I move over to the bed and sit on her bed. I tap her and she sits up.

"Son?" She smiles. I am watching her intently. Her smile isn't genuine, it looks like the smile she used to give me when I was little and oblivious to the trouble going on in the house.

She was always doing that to hide the fact that she is not on good terms with my father. Even when I hear her screams at night, she always deny it.

I gaze down until my eyes are on her bandaged hand. I almost gasp when I feel a sudden rush of anger. She touches me.

"Aidan", she calls me again. I stare at her again and I notice her mouth is swollen a little.

"What the hell happened?" I rise in anger. I know what happened and I feel having Anna here is bad timing. All I want to do now is to meet father wherever he is and give him twice the beating he has given

mom.

"Sit, Aidan. It's not what you think", she stretches her hand to hold me.

"Who did this to you?" I point at her hand.

"No one did this, Aidan. It was just a little accident", she lies. I know she is lying but I don't want to shout so Anna won't hear.

How long has this been going on again? I thought father had stopped assaulting her?

I sit beside her again in a hurry. "Mother, you need to come with me, mother."

"No, Aidan."

"Don't tell me no, mother."

"I am fine, Aidan. Trust me", she places her hand on my cheeks, dissolving my anger. She is denying it. She keeps denying it.

"Why are you here?"

I remember I kept Anna waiting outside. "I brought Anna." I am sad. I wanted to record the moment of bringing Anna into the room in my head so I can relive the memory whenever I am in a foul mood. "Anna? Your bride?" Her face lights up In excitement.

"Yes", I stand up from the bed and move to the door. I throw the door open and I beckon to her to come in, feeling sorry for keeping her waiting.

"Anna?" Mother stretches her arm, shaking her legs on the bed. It is in moments like this that I wish my mother can walk. We have done all we can to make sure she walks again, all to no avail.

I want to give another doctor a try when she is safely in my house but my mother is refusing to stay with me and the thought of it makes me vulnerable.

I watch Anna spread her arms wide and hug my mother. Mother begins to sob as she disengages and kisses her forehead. Anna wipes her tears and hugs her again. I stand watching the drama between them.

"I am so happy", she mutters in between sobs.

After a while, Anna releases her from the hug.

"I am Natalie, you must be Anna, right?"

"Yes, ma'am", Anna smiles.

"How have you been and how is the baby?" Her gaze shifts to her belly.

"We are both doing great, ma'am."

"How are you doing and how is your health?" Anna asks with concern. I know she must be thinking the bandage she is seeing on her hand is part of her mother's ill-health that I told her about.

"I am great. Now that I see you, I am more than fine." She chuckles and I marvel at how good my mother is at hiding her emotions.

"I hope my son is treating you well?" She asks Anna. Anna nods and a wave of guilt wash through me. We aren't married yet and I am not good to her, yet she is defending me.

"Aidan", my mother looks up at me where I stand with folded arms. "Are you treating her well?" She asks me again as if doubting Anna's honesty on the question.

"She said I am, mother," I reply.

"I heard her, I just want to know if it is true." She glares at me.

"She was giving me a hard time", I say and I hear Anna chuckle.

"She is a lady, you won't know her worth if she doesn't give you a hard time." Mother defends her.

"Really?" I have let go of my anger. Mother's statement is amusing to me. "So this is what you all do?"

Mother nods. "I did the same for your father."

I nod in silence. Mother played hard to get but it didn't end well. Their relationship is ill-fated but I am hoping mine will be different. I will just get my revenge on Anna and let her go after 6 years.

"So when is the wedding, Anna?" Mother questions her. Anna moves to sit with her back to the headboard while I walk to the sofa.

"It depends on when Aidan wants it ma." She responds.

"Are you done with college?"

"No, ma. I am in my finals. I should be done by winter."

"That's great", she mutters and turns to me. "When do you want the wedding, Aidan?"

"Probably after the award night."

"Exactly my thought. That should be in a month. You should go to the event with her by your side but for now, try to avoid your father. I don't want him to see you two together, it might ruin things for us."

"Ok, mom."

"Thank you, Anna, for coming."

"My pleasure, ma'am."

"You can call me Natalie."

"Alright", Anna smiles.

"I guess we should get going now", I stand up. "We need to stop by the hospital before I drop her off at home."

"Oh!" She mumbles, looking at me. I know she is trying to pass across a message so I move close to her. She whispers in my ears. "You haven't done the diagnosis yet?"

"Yes." I didn't whisper back. I see no reason why I should when it's obvious Anna is hearing what we are saying since she is sitting right beside her.

"Alright, but I am sure the result is going to turn out well. Let me know when the result is out", she whispers into my ears again.

"Alright, mom", I stand upright and signal to Anna to do the same. I bend down again to peck mother on the forehead. "Be fine for me, mom. I love you."

"I love you too, son. I'm glad you are getting married to a beautiful girl like Anna. She will make a good wife", she says out aloud and flashes Anna a smile. Anna returns the smile and I nod.

I let her go and Anna hugs her too.

"Goodbye, mom. Take care of yourself."

"I love you too, Anna."

Anna watches her in surprise before pecking her forehead. I hold her arms and we walk to the door. I turn back to look at mom one last time, she smiles and I did the same before Anna and I walk out.

"Mom practically loves everyone", I say to Anna as we move to the door. I don't want to leave mom but I have to go and make plans on how to get her out of here. I need to persuade her more and make her come stay with me after the wedding. I can't let father continue doing this to her.

"Yeah, I can see that", she sniffs and I stop to look at her. I wonder why she is in tears.

Is it because of what my mother said? Is she feeling sympathy for mom?

I am about to ask her to get a grip of herself when I hear a voice that stops me from scolding her.

It is the father.

"Aidan, who is this?" He asks as Anna and I both turn to face him squarely.0000