Love's Cure

Chapter 2

ELEVEN DAYS EARLIER

My name is Cecilia Love, and right now, I'm wondering if the man sitting in front of me has any clue that I am not the same Cecilia that he grew up with. Back then my name was Cecilia Clowater, but I'm not that person anymore. I'm not that loving, trusting fool that constantly had her heart broken by the people who were supposed to love her. I'm not the same fool that used to love the boy next door. Not at all, because both my parents and the man sitting in front of me made sure I grew up and faced reality.

I stared at Kaden Jones after I heard his ridiculous proposal. At first, I thought he was playing some kind of sick joke on me, so I looked around to see if anyone was watching, ready to jump out, laugh, and say 'surprise, you're on candid camera'. When I understood that he was completely serious, I felt fury build within me. What kind of fool did he think I was? The gall of the man, the audacity.

Even so, I couldn't help but think about the past. I had known Kaden since we were children. We grew up together in the same affluent neighborhood in Toronto, played together, attended the same school. He had sympathized with me about how distant my parents were with me. How I despaired of ever gaining their love and acceptance. How nothing I did was ever good enough for them.

Kaden and Cecelia. Cecilia and Kaden. The two of us were never far apart growing up. I had considered him as my best friend. We had even shared our first kiss on my 16th birthday. But that was as far as it went.

The very next day, Kaden met the girl that became the center of his universe. Andrea Cole was tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and slender. She was everything I was not. One look into her eyes, and Kaden was hooked. All thoughts of me and our friendship left Kaden's head as he relentlessly pursued Andrea. A lifetime of friendship was tossed aside by Kaden because Andrea was jealous of his friendship with me. So Kaden just cut me out of his life like I was a cancerous growth. Something to be excised from his heart, his head, and his life.

At first, I was heartbroken. How could I not be? I had loved Kaden for years. At one time, I had even thought he returned my feelings. But when Andrea showed up, any feelings he once had for me disappeared like a puff of smoke torn apart by the prevailing winds. I was his forgotten past, while Andrea became his present and his future. When he told me that Andrea's family came from money, big money, that did it for me. Anyone who put money above a person wasn't deserving of my love or care.

That left me to do the only logical thing I could do. I continued to maintain my relationships with my other friends. Made new friends as time went on. I buried my heartache and got on with my life and my studies. I was smart enough to know that wallowing in heartbreak would do no good whatsoever. I had to build a future for myself, one without Kaden Jones.

It ended up being easier than I thought it would be. I guess when you're tossed aside like garbage, you lose love and respect for the one throwing you away. I had already learned that lesson from my parents.

I graduated high school three months after I turned 16 and immediately moved to live with my grandfather in the city of Halifax, in which my university was located. I completed my BSc degree in 3 years, then graduated from an accelerated program with my medical degree.

Now, at age 23, having already completed one year of residency, I was invited to complete the other two years of residency at a prestigious teaching hospital in London, England, as well as the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Austrailia. Both positions were set to start in six weeks. I had yet to accept either one yet, wanting to meet personally with the recruitment specialist before making a decision.

I had chosen to visit London first since my grandfather owned a flat there that I could live in. I was set to leave in two days' time, on Sunday, was fully packed, and ready to go.

Not that my parents knew this, mind you. They had been too immersed in their own selfish pursuits to pay attention to me and what I was doing. I had come to accept it and quietly cut my parents out of my life. I had my grandfather, and he was all I needed for family support.

Now, here was Kaden, showing up out of the blue, asking me to put my life on hold for a year. To give up my dreams and this once in a lifetime opportunity. Just so I could marry him in a contract marriage? He had the gall to sit there and say I should do this for the sake of our friendship. That I would be his wife in name only. What kind of a life is that, I ask you? What kind of fool did he think I was?

"Why in the name of God would you ask me to do that? You expect me to move back to Toronto? It's too late for me to apply for an residency position in a hospital there. It will be at least another year before I can get a placement." I hissed, completely floored by his audacity. "You have ignored me for the past seven years, acted like I didn't exist, and now you think I will drop everything to marry you? What ever gave you the idea or the balls to even ask this of me?" I was now wondering why I had ever loved him, knowing those feelings had died long ago. "You should marry Andrea. I'm sure she would be more than happy to do so. Why haven't you asked her?"

"I did ask her." Kaden responded woodenly. "Her parents won't let her marry me. Which puts me behind the eight ball. Dad says I have to be married before he will promote me to a VP position. Since I can't marry Andrea right now, I had to find someone I could tolerate for at least a year. "

"I see." Nothing like being a last resort and being 'tolerable', I thought in disgust. "And why won't they let her marry you? You two have dated for the past seven years. What's their problem? And again, what made you think I would agree to this?"

He didn't respond to my question about why Andrea's parents won't let them marry, but he did answer the last question. "Your parents agreed that you would marry me for a year in exchange for Dad's company signing a multi-year cooperation contract with your parents' company. It's a win/win for everyone."

It was all I could do not to punch him in the face. A win/win? For them, maybe. Certainly not for me should I be foolish enough to agree to it. No way in hell would I ever do that.

"Really? You're saying my parents agreed to sell me into an arranged marriage just to benefit their company? How much is the multi-year contract valued at?" I asked in a dead-calm voice. "And why are they so desperate for this to happen?"

"I can't say for sure why, but I'm guessing their company is struggling since Covid. And it's valued at twenty million dollars over five years. Why? Are you looking for a cut of it?" Kaden asked, thinking he had me hooked.

What a jerk, I thought. "Just wondering how much was at stake. I knew it had to be a boat load of money if it prompted them to even consider that I might be useful to them." I was under no illusion about my parents and their motivation. Makes me wonder why they even bothered to have a child since they cared so little for me.

"You haven't told me why Andrea's parents won't agree to her marrying you." I prompted. "I think that I deserve to know that considering what you all are asking, no, expecting me to do."

Kaden huffed, a muscle in his jaw ticking with anger. "They arranged a marriage for her with the son of one of their business rivals. It's a way to join the two companies under the management of Andrea's new husband's family. Her family gains one hundred million overnight, and the other family gets control of their rival company."

"That must sting just a bit, eh? Knowing your beloved's family doesn't think you or your family is good enough for them?" Yeah, I was being mean and poking the bear, but so what? "So when is their 'wedding' supposed to take place? And who is the dude?"

"Next Friday evening. A week from today. His name is Alexander Webster." He answered, his voice filled with rage.

Oh wow. No wonder Kaden is pissed. Andrea isn't going to ever want to give up the lifestyle the Webster name and wealth will give her. Kaden and his family's business comes in a poor second or even third compared to what she will be marrying into.

"And when is our 'wedding' supposed to be?" Might as well find out so I can disappear in plenty of time.

"A week from today." Kaden smirked at me, thinking I was going to agree to this ridiculous charade. "Our mothers are arranging everything. Your mother asked me to tell you the dress fitting is arranged for Thursday at 2:00 in the afternoon at your parent's house. They said for you to fly in on Wednesday."

"Both wedding on the same day. Interesting." I mused. "I'm sure there is some face-saving reason for that."

"Yeah, our parents think it's important that our wedding not be seen as a rebound thing. So we are going to have to play the lovey dovey couple." His sneer was meant as an insult, which was not very smart of him considering what he was asking me to do. What an asshole.

"I see. Good to know." I stood up from the cafe table, grabbed my phone and purse, and headed to the door. "See you." Then I was gone, out the door, down the sidewalk to the bus stop where I jumped on the first bus, paid my fare, and sat down.

Pulling out my cell phone, my fingers flew over the keypad as I sent a text to my grandfather, asking him to pick me up at the Chapters store by the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth

There was no delay in his response, thank goodness. "I'll be there in half an hour, pumpkin. Meet me in their cafe area. If you don't mind, order me my usual."

I couldn't help but giggle when I read that. Gramps loves his coffee and cinnamon rolls. Who could blame him?