The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

acknowledge your relationship, you know? I always felt like you deserved better than that, so no, I’m
not upset she broke things off with you. Someone had to do it, and I know you never would. You’d
stick with her, even if it’s just to comply with Grandma’s terms.”
Lex looks at me, his expression pained. “Ares,” he says, “tell us the truth. Were you happy with
her in recent years, or had you just gotten used to the status quo?”
I grit my teeth and look away. “What the fuck are you? Socrates?” I snap.
Luca shakes his head. “He’s avoiding the question, boys. You know what that means, right? Ares
knows he wasn’t happy, but he’s loyal till the fucking end. Won’t admit it even now.”
My brothers nod in agreement, and I rise to my feet. I’ve had enough of this shit. I don’t need this
right now. Just as I’m about to walk away, I’m stopped in my tracks by a sweet, soft voice.
“Ares.”
I turn to face my grandmother, finding her standing in the doorway with Sierra by her side. Great.
Why don’t we just have a full-blown family get-together in my house, huh?
Sierra smiles at me apologetically, as though she knows my family is overwhelming me at the
worst possible time. While my sister has never said a bad word about Hannah, the fact that she didn’t
warm up to her even after years of us dating says enough. I’m surprised I never saw it before.
“I’m sorry Hannah broke things off,” Grandma says, “but that wedding is happening with or
without her.”
“What?” I ask, confused. “What do you mean, Grams?”
Grandma smiles. “Hannah isn’t the woman I wanted you to marry in the first place. This just
proves that I was right. I made an exception for you, and I shouldn’t have.”
I sink back into my seat, dread washing over me. What is she talking about? She can’t be saying
what I think she is, right? Surely Sierra wouldn’t be standing there so calmly if she was?
“If Hannah won’t marry you, then Raven must. If Raven also refuses, the deal with the Du Ponts is
off the table, and I’ll slash your inheritance in half regardless of whether I find you another girl.”
“Grandma! I… I can’t marry Raven. This… this is ridiculous.” I turn to look at my brothers for
support, but their expressions are carefully blank, as though they dare not admit that they agree with
Grandma. What the fuck?
“I can’t. Not her, Grandma. She’s a friend. I’ve always seen her the same way I see Sierra, you
know that.” I look at my sister, but there isn’t even a hint of defiance on her face. The same girl who
turned completely feral whenever I teased Raven about her braces back in the day just stares at me
with a serene smile on her face. Is she truly not going to say a word in Raven’s defense?
“Raven would never agree to it,” I add. “I dated her sister for years. Why would she ever even
consider marrying me?”
The mere thought of forcing Raven into something she doesn’t want sickens me. She’d do it out of
obligation, and she’d resent me for it.
“Don’t do this to her,” I plead. “Raven isn’t meant to be tied down. It can’t be her, Grandma. Give
me some time, and I’ll make Hannah see reason. She’ll be there, Grams.”
Grandma smiles at me. “She won’t be. I highly recommend that you speak to Raven before I do,
Ares. I never should have given you as much freedom as I did. There’s a reason your marriages are
decided upon by me. It’s a centuries long tradition that has never failed us, yet we deviated with you.
I was in the wrong for doing so, and I’ll be correcting my mistake as swiftly as possible. I’m not
canceling your wedding. It’ll happen, and you’ll marry the woman I chose for you.”
“Sierra,” I snap. “Are you seriously just going to stand there and let this happen to Raven?”
She smiles at me and grabs Grandma’s hand. “I trust Grams,” she tells me. “She knows what’s