The Second Marriage Chance

Philip

Sarah’s relationship with Amir left me perplexed. Despite her insistence that it was not romantic, I couldn’t shake the nagging question of how she became pregnant when she asked for a breakup. The thought of me being the father of her child sent shivers down my spine. And why, if I were the father, would she seek a divorce? Was there an abortion involved? What secrets was Sarah concealing?

‘Philip, your lack of care for her may be the root cause,’ my conscience echoed, offering a possible explanation.

Feeling unsettled, I resolved to delve deeper into the matter. The puzzle pieces didn’t align- those I had gathered, the scenes I had witnessed, and the information I got from Ethan.

My mother’s interference in Sarah’s affairs added another layer of complexity. Perhaps that held the key to unraveling the truth.

Surveying the scene with the drone, I caught sight of Sarah engaged in conversation with Bronn Martin. A surge of frustration gripped me, witnessing Bronn’s protective demeanor towards her.

This woman! Her interactions with other men grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. But what got under my skin was how she smiled at Bronn, as if they shared some secret bond forged over years of meetings. With irritation gnawing at me, I stormed outside to retrieve the drone.

The drama was over; time to give the little rebel a spank on her perfect ass! And of course, just my luck, I run into Bronn on his way to his ride.

“Mr. Cornell! What a pleasant surprise to see you here,” he greeted, shaking my hand. His eyes flickered with amusement upon noticing the hexacopter in my arms. “You seem to be keeping an eye on Sarah.”

“Indeed, I’m looking forward to having her back in my life,” I remarked casually, subtly hinting at my intentions to Bronn.

“Interestingly, we seem to share the same goal,” Bronn responded.

“She happens to be my ex-wife,” I stated, emphasizing the depth of my connection with Sarah.

“Sarah is your ex-wife?” He furrowed his brow in surprise. “Ah, that clarifies things. If you’re divorced, it suggests she wasn’t content in your relationship. I apologize, Mr. Cornell, but that hasn’t deterred me from pursuing her.”

I maintained composure, concealing any bitterness I might have felt towards Bronn’s words. Though he bruised my pride, I remained stoic in his presence.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“May the best man win,” I declared with a confident grin.

“And that man is me,” he asserted.

Bronn’s words landed like a double blow, crashing in from all angles. Now, the imperative to reclaim Sarah’s heart resonates with a newfound urgency within me. Bronn has ascended as a formidable adversary in the battle for Sarah’s affections, stoking the flames of rivalry to a fever pitch within my soul.

***

Sarah

“What? Amir was the owner of the drone earlier?”

Shock registered on my face. I couldn’t fathom Amir embarrassing his fiancee like that, especially on the eve of their wedding. Mr. Reynolds ushered me away from Amir’s room, gently filling me in on the situation.

“When you instructed me to contact the previous wedding planner, and I uncovered information about her infidelity, it became my duty to inform Boss Amir as the assistant. He’s been under immense stress lately due to the wedding. He hasn’t slept since yesterday because of the barrage of negative information he’s received about Ms. Jessica. I believe he simply pieced it all together.”

“Perhaps you weren’t aware, but Boss Amir learned yesterday from a friend that Ms. Jessica also had an affair with said friend. The friend reached out to the boss yesterday. While conversing in the bar area earlier, Boss Amir called me. It was then that Ms. Jessica and the groomsman mysteriously vanished. Surveillance captured their departure.”

My heart ached for Amir. I could see how deeply he cared for Jessica.

“Can I speak with him?” I inquired.

“You can try,” Mr. Reynolds replied.

Returning to Amir’s room, I knocked softly. “Amir, it’s me… Can we talk?”

“You may,” came his weary response. With a heavy heart, I turned the doorknob and entered.

I found Amir reclining halfway on the bed, his feet dangling above the floor, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. A palpable sense of negativity lingered in the room.

“Amir, I’m deeply sorry… I realize now that my reaction only added to your burden. As your sister, I shouldn’t have felt relieved about your breakup with Jessica, let alone voiced it. But I’ve been honest about my doubts regarding her, and I truly believe a healthy relationship between Jessica and me is simply unattainable.”

I also owed Amir an apology for my eagerness to reveal Jessica’s true nature earlier. Had he not beaten me to it, he might be even angrier with me now.

Instead of a direct response, Amir glanced my way. “Sarah, I let you down because of her. You’ve been warning me for ages about Jessica’s infidelity and lack of genuine affection. And now, I’ve painfully come to realize she’s more invested in the idea of the wedding than truly loving me. We’ve been at odds for days over trivial details; she wants things that aren’t important for the wedding.

“My friends weren’t here. As you pointed out, everyone at the wedding seemed to favor her family. She splurged excessively, whereas all I ever wanted was the prospect of marrying her because I genuinely love her.

“I was prepared to devote myself to her completely, but I couldn’t discern her genuine feelings for me… I was blind! And I’m ashamed that I neglected you because of her… When I first laid eyes on Jessica, I was genuinely smitten, and I foolishly pledged her everything.”

“I’ve been consumed with business, traveling excessively, engaging with various people. I’ve neglected her in the process. I never thought that would end up working in her favor. People are mocking me for being dumb. Heck, maybe even you would crack up at what I did for her.”

I gripped Amir’s hand reassuringly. “Certainly not, brother.”

“But I abandoned you for three years, Sarah! I was oblivious to your needs. I accused you of driving a wedge between Jessica and me. I failed to support you when you faced issues with Dad.”

My chest constricted at the mention of his father.

“It’s alright! I found solace with Philip Cornell back then. And now, I have you and Grandpa again,” I replied.

“Do you still care for Philip Cornell?” he inquired.

“Do you still love Jessica?” I countered.

“You’re impossible! I detest that man for you!” he retorted with frustration.

“You needn’t fret about that. Philip and I are incompatible. Just as Jessica is to you, Philip doesn’t harbor genuine affection for me. He’s enamored with the idea of having me in his villa.”

After a few conversations with Amir, I bid farewell to his room to allow him some rest. I sensed the sadness within him, though tears did not fall. It seemed as though Amir struggled to embrace positivity but was steadfast in keeping his composure. The burden of tonight’s issue weighed heavily on him.

I ventured into the adjacent building in search of Philip, recalling that I had abandoned that scoundrel in a small chamber.

Suddenly, I felt a force yank me into a dimly lit room, and fear surged through me like a torrent!