A Jackpot Wedding

As soon as I reached home, my Mom began crying.

“What happened, Mom?” I asked in a concerned voice.

“Claire, Belle called me and asked me to call off her marriage. She said she had found someone better.” She replied while crying.

“Yeah, I know.” I replied flatly, “My fiance…”

“Claire…”

“I have moved past it, Mom. I don't care.” I replied in an indifferent voice to cut her off. I didn't want to see her worried about me. She sighed before saying, “We are so stressed, Claire. She just called off the marriage and didn't consider her father's image in the business world. Mr. Daniel Parker is a well known business tycoon. If he hears about it, he will make things difficult for your father.”

She paused for a while. I remained silent. I was not ready for any kind of conversation as I was still trying to recover from the shock that I received a few hours ago. My Mom hesitated for a moment before she continued, “Your father and I have decided to let you take Belle’s place and marry his son, James Parker. I know you will not disappoint us like Belle, right Claire?”

James Parker was the illegitimate son of Daniel Park. Rumors had it that his face was disfigured in a fight and he looked really ugly. There were also some rumors about his inability in bed. I was stunned when I came to know my little sister was marrying such a person just to save Dad’s business. I once sympathized with her and asked her to cancel the marriage. However, I didn't know she was cooking something else in her evil mind. She must have planned this, seducing my fiance and letting me take her place to marry a disfigured man.

“Mom, you know I was not in favor of wedding Belle to an illegitimate son of Mr. Daniel. Then, how did you even think that I would marry him?” I asked while raising my eyebrows. My Mom wiped tears from the corner of her eyes before saying, “Claire, you know your father's business was running at a loss for the past few years. He is in a huge debt. He took money from the Mafia world as well. Now they are threatening your father. We were expecting financial support from Mr. Daniel. But, if the marriage calls off, we would get nothing and your father…”

She began crying before she could complete her sentence. I wiped her tears and supported her. I was already at a loss because of Jayden infidelity and now seeing my mother crying like this, made me emotionally weak. I couldn't think anything straight. I knew I was being used in my sister's plan and hated it. However, considering my family's helplessness and my obligations towards my parents, I sighed before saying, “ Okay, I’ll marry James Parker. Don't cry, Mom. I can't see you like this.”

“Claire…” my Mom stammered, “ I knew you wouldn't disappoint us. You are my darling. I’m sorry that you have to go through this. First your fiance’s betrayal and now this. I wish you didn't have to…”

“Mom, let's just not talk about it.” I cut her off. She nodded her head and then suddenly looked up at me as if she just remembered something. She then said, “ Claire, we received a call from James early in the morning. He wants to meet the bride before the wedding. We fixed the date tomorrow. We didn't know about Belle's affair then. Now, you have to go meet him.”

“Alright!” I said before walking up to my room. I laid on my bed and began scrolling my phone. My hands abruptly searched for ‘James Parker’ and all sorts of adverse information about him appeared on the internet with the title ‘Black ship of the Parkers’ family’.