Third Person’s POV
Two years ago
Jared found himself at the epicenter of a turbulent storm. His world, once familiar and stable, had suddenly become a maelstrom of conflicting desires, expectations, and frustrations.
It all began with a confrontation that would forever change the course of his life. In the dimly lit living room, anger radiated from Jared like a palpable force. His gaze, ablaze with fury, fixated on Colleen, a poised and enigmatic presence seated on an elegant couch.
"You want me to marry her?" Jared's voice boomed, his finger accusingly pointing in Colleen's direction. His outrage was a tempest brewing beneath the surface, threatening to engulf everything in its path.
Colleen remained composed, her eyes meeting Jared's with a calm that seemed to aggravate him further. She was, after all, at the heart of this familial tempest. "I have a girlfriend, and you know that," Jared continued, his voice rising in frustration. "What on earth made you suddenly decide that I should marry this woman?" His words carried the weight of disbelief and indignation.
Ingrid, Jared's sister, couldn't remain silent any longer. "Jared, you're shouting at Mom," she reproached, her voice laced with irritation. "Can't you have a civilized conversation? And what's wrong with Colleen? I can see with my own eyes that she's way better than your girlfriend, whose name I don't even know," she added, her words cutting through the tension in the room.
Jared's anger shifted from Colleen to Ingrid, and his frustration continued to boil over. "Tell me, Ingrid, which part of her surpasses Stacey?" he snapped, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Do I need a reason to love someone? We've been together for four years, four years, Ingrid, and you want me to throw that away." His words were a defiant proclamation of his devotion to Stacey.
Ingrid, unyielding in her stance, fired back. "That's what I don't understand about you," she retorted. "You've been with that woman for four straight years, and yet, you don't seem to know her at all. What have you been doing for the past four years, Jared?" Her accusation hung heavy in the air, challenging her brother's commitment to Stacey.
Jared's patience was wearing thin, and his gaze now returned to Colleen, who remained an enigmatic figure amidst the turmoil. "And what about her? How long have you known that you were willing to throw away my four-year relationship with the woman I love?" he demanded, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. "Mind you, Ingrid, THE WOMAN I LOVE," he emphasized, his love for Stacey resolute and unwavering.
In this cacophony of emotions and accusations, Colleen, the silent observer of this family feud, became the center of attention. Jared's frustration finally found its mark as he turned his piercing gaze on her. "What about her?" he asked, his voice laced with resentment. "Did she feel the same way? Did she like me? For you to claim that she's way better than Stacey, she must have agreed to this. She shouldn't have let me and Stacey break up because of her selfishness," he accused, his words a searing indictment of Colleen's role in the unfolding drama.
Claire, Jared's mother, could no longer bear witness to this tumultuous exchange. Her patience had worn thin, and she decided to interject forcefully. "Jared, that's enough!" Her voice, though tinged with maternal authority, bore traces of exasperation. "I don't want to hear any more of your shouting. If you don't want to marry her, then fine. Ingrid will handle everything. You can resign from your position in the company as well."
The shock that rippled through the room was palpable as both Jared and Ingrid exclaimed in unison, "What?"
Claire's resolve remained unshaken. "Didn't I just say I don't want any more objections?" she retorted, her voice unwavering in its determination.
Ingrid, now faced with an unexpected proposition, tried to voice her concerns. "Mom, you know I'm not really into the business. What about my career?" she protested, seeking a way out of the turbulent family dynamic.
Jared, however, couldn't contain his anger. "What about you, Jared? Why should I consider you?" Claire responded, her tone laced with disappointment. "You're perfectly capable of yelling and shouting without even realizing that I'm your mother, all because of the woman you claim to love."
The ultimatum was clear, and Jared's anger flared as he processed the consequences of his actions. "So, you're firing me from the company? I've worked hard for that position!" he exclaimed, the sting of betrayal and frustration evident in his voice.
Claire's retort was swift and unapologetic. "And I haven't? Your father hasn't? Was it all you?" she countered. Her words were a sobering reminder of the family's collective effort in building the company. "Go to the woman you love, and let's see if she stays with you when you have nothing."
With her final words, Claire turned her attention to Ingrid. "If you don't want to manage the company, find a professional to handle it for me," she instructed, leaving no room for further debate.
As the weight of Claire's decision settled upon them, Ingrid and Jared found themselves alone in the living room, their faces mirroring a mixture of shock, frustration, and uncertainty. Ingrid couldn't help but cast blame on her brother. "This is your fault," she accused, her voice tinged with resentment.
Jared, however, refused to bear the full weight of responsibility. "Isn't this your fault? You're letting me marry a gold digger," he shot back, his anger unabated.
Ingrid, resolute in her position, held her ground. "You don't know Colleen, and I wouldn't want her to marry you either. She's too precious to be with someone like you," she asserted. "If you can't see what Mom and I see, then that's your problem. I think it's best to let a professional handle the company."
With those words, Ingrid left Jared alone in the living room, the echoes of their heated exchange still reverberating in the air. Jared, now left to contemplate his circumstances, retreated to his room. It was there, in the solitude of his thoughts, that he faced the monumental decision before him.
Jared's love for Stacey was undeniable, but so was his desire to preserve the company that had become an integral part of his family's legacy. He had dedicated years of hard work and determination to propel the business to success, and he couldn't bear the thought of relinquishing it.
As he pondered his choices, Jared couldn't help but reflect on his parents' legacy. Claire and his late father had founded the company together, with Claire's brilliant mind and his father's unwavering support driving its success. He understood that Claire's ultimatum was born out of frustration and disappointment in his actions.
That evening, Jared made a momentous decision. He picked up his phone and dialed Stacey's number. "Hello, honey," Stacey answered sweetly, unaware of the turmoil that had gripped Jared's life.
"Honey, can we talk? Let's meet tomorrow at our usual place," Jared requested, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Sure, honey. Is something wrong?" Stacey inquired, her concern palpable.
"Nothing; let's just talk tomorrow," he replied, not wanting to burden her with the weight of his decision just yet.
"Alright, see you tomorrow, honey," Stacey said, her voice filled with love and anticipation.
"Okay, bye," Jared said, ending the call. He lay in bed that night, consumed by the enormity of the choice he had made. While his love for Stacey remained steadfast, his commitment to the family's legacy was equally unwavering.
As the night wore on, Jared made a solemn promise to himself. He would marry Colleen, not out of obligation or pressure but as a testament to his devotion to his family and their enduring legacy. The path ahead was uncertain, but Jared was prepared to face it with resilience and determination, come what may.
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Jared's POV Uncertainty gnawed at me as I contemplated whether Stacey would agree to this unusual arrangement. The prospect of revealing all the intricate details of my impending marriage was daunting. I decided it was best to keep the conversation with Stacey simple and straightforward. She needed to know that I had no intention of severing our relationship because of the company's demands. To be perfectly honest, our relationship was almost too good to be true. We had never experienced those fierce arguments or heated disagreements that often test a couple's bond. Stacey had a remarkable way of managing our relationship with grace and poise. She never lost her temper with me, even when circumstances pushed me to the brink. It was as if she were immune to my flaws. There had been moments when I failed to meet Stacey's expectations, like the time she waited for me at a boutique until it closed. The clothes she desired were sold to another customer because my flight had been delayed
Stacey's POV I was with Derrick, making out in his living room, when Jared called me. I didn't want to answer, but Derrick urged me to do so. I rolled my eyes at him, and he just laughed silently, worried that Jared might hear him. I answered his call in my sweetest voice so he wouldn't notice anything unusual. He said he wanted to talk to me tomorrow, so I agreed. He was always so surprised that he would call me out of nowhere and ask me to see him the next day. I acted worried and asked him if there was anything wrong. He said nothing and just reminded me. He is at tomorrow's meeting. I said yes, and we hung up the call. "What is it?" Derrick asked curiously. "He wanted to see me tomorrow. We just saw each other about two days ago, and yet he wanted to see me. I wonder what it is that he will be giving me,", I told him, and he laughed. "I didn't know that Jared was that idiot; I mean, we had been cheating him from the very beginning, and yet he didn't get any clue. Does his bra
Third Person's POV The breakup with Stacey angered Jared so much. He pitied her for hurting her, and he was sure that Stacey was mad at him now. He thought Stacey loved him so much. That's why he felt frustrated. As for Colleen, the woman he was about to marry, he didn't know what would happen to her. Marriage is a lifetime commitment for him, and he believes in the sanctity of marriage. If there was something in this world that Jared was most serious about, it was marriage. Jared was now in their library and decided to read to get rid of everything that was happening in his life in his head for a moment. For him, reading was the best medicine to clear his mind. He has been a bookworm ever since, and he has brought that up to himself until now. He was sitting on the couch reading a Tom Clancy book when his sister Ingrid got in and got his attention. "What do you want?" he asked, putting the book on his lap. He was sitting comfortably on the couch with a cup of coffee, sitting at th
Ingrid's POV I wanted to pity Jared for being mad about everything. I didn't want that to happen, and I knew Mom as well. When I found out that he was in our library, I gathered myself, went to see him, and had a little chat with him. As I entered the room, I saw him seated on the couch beside the shelf where his favorite author's books were properly lined up according to their date of publication. Yes, from the oldest to the latest. She knew how much Jared liked to read when he was still a kid. I had a feeling that reading calmed him and made him think rationally. That's why I asked mom and dad to put a library at home. I love my little brother so much. Although it was a bit awkward to call him my little brother when he was way taller than me, he even passed as my big brother. He was overprotective of me. You think that because I'm older than him, that makes me dominant over him. But I wasn't. He was dominating me and our entire family. He is really fit to be the CEO of our multi
Jared's POV After my breakup with Stacey, I stayed at home. I was feeling guilty towards her, and I was afraid I might go and see her if I didn't distance myself from her. I needed to calm myself and be rational about everything. I didn't want to have a fight with my mom and sister. They had relied on me ever since my dad passed away, and he asked me to take care of both my mom and sister, Ingrid. I didn't want to break my promise to him, as I knew he had done everything to protect us as well. Now that it was my turn, I had to hold myself back so I wouldn't hate them. I love Stacey, but maybe not as much as I love my family. It's not entirely about the company; that's why I decided to agree with them. It was for them as well. We are close to each other, and I didn't want matters like this to break our family apart. I went to our mini library and decided to calm myself there through reading. I really need it. I asked one of our maids to bring me a cup of coffee as well. I was in my r
Colleen's POV Reading helps me relax, and I make sure to do this from time to time. I didn't want any negativity in life because I don't have much of that. I wanted to spend the rest of my life in peace and harmony. I was now on my small sofa and reading when I heard the message alert tone on my phone. I took it and read the message I received. It was from an unknown number, but I still read it, thinking it was important. "Let's meet at Lin's Café; this is Jared's girlfriend." I thought for a moment. How did she know my number? The only contacts on my phone were Mommy Claire, Ingrid, and my doctor, and I'm sure that none of them would just give my number to anyone. "OK," I replied. I didn't think there was anything wrong with meeting her. Maybe she wanted me not to marry Jared. "3 pm later," she replied. I did not bother texting her back, as I had already confirmed that I would be going. Lin's Cafe was just beside the hospital where I was doing my check-up. I might as well visit m
Dr. Gerard's POV I called Colleen to make sure that she didn't forget her check-up for later. Although she was very punctual, I always made myself present in her daily life. I always feel like I want to protect her with everything. She was my patient, who was about to die in three years if she didn't manage to have her surgery on time. She was alone, and her parents lived separately with their new families, and none of them knew about her condition. I admire her for being strong and good-spirited. I never saw her lose hope when it came to her situation. She was always positive in her way of thinking, and even if she ended up thinking she would die, I never saw her eating sad. I remember when I offered her my help. "Why don't you accept my help?" I asked her. "You already waived your professional fee for me. I didn't want you to spend it on my surgery as well," she replied. "You will have your own family, and the amount of my surgery was enough for you to take care of them and give
Third Person's POV Colleen went home after her check-up. She was happy that nothing happened to her. She didn't know why Stacey acted that way when she thought Claire had canceled their arranged marriage already. She was at home and was done with her dinner when she decided to watch a movie. She likes sci-fi movies, so she didn't know why she decided to watch an old movie by Mandy Moore and Shane West. It was a happy story but had a sad ending. That's in the eyes of many because Mandy Moore ends up dying at the end of the story. But for Colleen, it was still a happy ending because they ended up being together despite Mandy Moore's illness. She then wonders if she will be able to find someone she will love and who will love her back despite her condition. She felt like it was wishful thinking because, unlike her, Mandy Moore had her father to support her while she had no one. It was getting late, and she remembered Dr. Gerard and what he would tell her if he found out that she was