The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~ALARIC~

A fucking date.

She was going out with another man? I couldn't blame her for what I did. But what happened to all those things she said to me in my office earlier?

All that time, did she already know about that date?

No.

Clara wasn't that kind of woman. She was different than most women I knew.

So then, why was she going on a date tonight? Was it because of Nicole? Was she angry that I had brought her back home with me?

I agreed to let Nicole sleep in my room, but I wasn't okay with staying in there with her. I made it clear that I would sleep in one of the guest rooms. I hadn't mentioned that to anyone else.

"I can't believe her," Nicole mumbles. "One minute, she's all over you, and the next, she's already going on a date with someone else. It looks like someone is a player."

My hands tightened into fists, and I felt like punching someone, preferably whoever it was that Clara was going to meet tonight.

I was tempted to follow her and see for myself. What if her date was a complete asshole?

Fuck, but who was the real asshole here? I was the one pushing her away because I got my ex-wife pregnant.

She was better off with anyone else but me.

That didn't mean I was okay with this. It took all my self-control not to run after her and beg her not to do this. It would be selfish of me to ruin her date just because I wanted her for myself when I knew I couldn't act on it.

"Are you okay?" Nicole asks me as she grabs my arm. "You look a little red."

Red? I was fucking pissed and annoyed right now.

"I'm fine." I lie. "Let's get you settled in."

I grab two of her last suitcases and carry them up the stairs. I could feel the eyes of all my siblings on me the second that I stepped into the family room. I was avoiding them, but I knew that I couldn't any longer.

"What the hell is going on?" Apollo demands. "You divorced Nicole just recently. Everything was finalized. She's no longer your wife. Then why is she back home?"

"I thought you were over her." Violet snaps. "We watched that woman make your life miserable for years. Why would you bring her back here the second that you're doing better?"

I knew they were all in shock and worried about me. I couldn't blame them when I was also worried. I knew that things were about to get much worse from now on.

"I know that you all are surprised—"

"Surprised?" Ares cut me off with a grin. "I don't think surprised is the word for it, brother. I know that you're older than the rest of us and don't have to tell us everything that's happening in your life, but this one, don't you think you should have at least given us a heads up?"

"Yeah." Blaze agrees with him. "A heads up would have been nice. You know that we don't exactly have the best relationship with Nicole. She didn't just make your life miserable; she also messed with ours."

"I know this is hard for all of you, but believe me, it's fucking hard for me also," I growl. "I don't feel like talking about the reason she's back just yet. I still need some time to process everything. There's also someone that I need to speak to about all of this before I can break the news to all of you. I want her to be the first to know."

"Okay, now you're just scaring me," Violet whispers. "What exactly did Nicole say to you to make this happen? I know she's blackmailing you; it's the only logical explanation for all of this."

I swallow hard, "I wish it were as simple as blackmailing Violet, but she isn't doing that. It's much more serious than that."

"What the hell could be more serious than that?" Apollo demands.

"Everything will soon make sense to all of you," I assure them. "But for now, I would appreciate it if you all respect my privacy while I deal with this matter." This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

They remain quiet after my request.

After they exit the room, Scarlett enters. I was glad to see her. She would have a better idea about this date that Clara had to go to.

"There is something that I want to ask you," I inform her.

She looks surprised, "you want to ask me something? I'm the one that has a million questions for you."

I'm sure she did.

"It's about Clara," I inform her.

"Clara?" she asks, suddenly interested in what I had to ask.

I nod, "she mentioned to Nicole earlier that she had a date tonight. Do you know who she's planning on seeing?"

Her eyes widen a bit at my question.

"A date?" she asks. "Clara told me that she had to leave early, but there was no mention of a date. I know that many guys ask her out daily, but she never mentioned accepting any of their offers."

I stiffen at her words.

Many guys?

FUCK!

Then who the hell was she planning on meeting tonight?