Chapter 11

The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn Chapter 11 ~ATTICUS~

My heart was racing; Damon had informed me that Anya had gotten into an accident. He sent me the location on my phone, and I was almost there.

“Call Griffin.”

He answers on the first ring. “How can I be of assistance?” He asks in a teasing manner.

“I need you to pick Autumn up from the jewelry store and drop her back home, “I tell him.

“What?” He shouts on the other end. “You went with her. Why didn’t you drop her back home?”

My jaw clenches, “Anya got into an accident. I’m going to make sure that she’s alright.”

I could practically see the annoyance on Griffin’s face through the phone without actually seeing him.

“She’s not your problem anymore. Leaving Autumn behind was a stupid move.”

“Griffin,” I growl. “I didn’t ask for your opinion. Just tell me if you can pick her up.”

“Yes, I can care for your beautiful future wife since you can’t do it for yourself.” He says before ending the call.

My jaw clenches, and I try not to let his words bother me. But it does. The thought of anyone else but me taking care of Autumn doesn’t sit right with me. But what the hell was I supposed to do?

I knew that Autumn would have to come first eventually after she became my wife, but for now, I want to do whatever I can to be there for Anya. These are the last moments I’ll have to spend with her. I didn’t want to waste any opportunity to do that. I’ve hurt her, and I chose my family over her; I felt I owed her plenty. I felt guilty. And that guilt felt like it was stifling me.

I pull to the side when I spot her car. The same car I had bought for her last year. I jump out of the vehicle. Damon and Dante are already here, and they’re comforting her.

It hurts me to know I’m the last of the three of us to be there for her when she needs me. This was something I would have to get used to, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Seeing my brothers do what I loved and knowing I couldn’t do it anymore was enough to send me insane with anger.

I noticed that the accident was not a bad one. The bumper was the only thing with a scrape on it, but Anya still looked shaken up.

Her gaze falls on me, and she narrows her eyes, “what is he doing here?” She demands from my brothers. “I thought I told you I didn’t want to see him unless he ended this marriage with Autumn.”

“I’m sorry, Anya.” Dante apologizes to her. “We knew you wanted to see him even though you said otherwise. We can feel how much you miss him.”

Hearing that she missed me didn’t make me feel any better. I was the one doing this to her. I was making her cry and be in all this emotional pain. No one was to blame but me. I was sacrificing my happiness for the sake of my family. I was giving my brothers a chance to have her. I was making it easier for them. And I was doing this for my grandmother. I hope she’s proud of me for fulfilling her wishes.

“Please leave,” Anya begs. “I do not want to see you. Not after what you did. Not after what you both did to me. You’re both traitors, and I don’t want to see either of you unless you stop this madness.”

I couldn’t take her in my arms or wipe her tears. I had to stay still and let her vent her anger toward me. It hurt, but it felt good to be able to see her. It felt good to hear her voice. But I couldn’t do what she wanted from me, and because of that, I turned and left as she asked me to.

It was f*****g hard, but I did it anyway.

. . . . . . . . . .

~Autumn~

My eyes are stuck on the red diamond ring in front of me. I knew how much Atticus loved red diamonds, and this ring would surely catch his eyes.

“You have wonderful taste,” Brent tells me. “Do you want to purchase it?”

I hand him my card. “Yes.”

I knew Atticus told me that he would take care of it, but I didn’t want him to. This way, I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable that he spent so much on my ring.

“We already have his measurements on our system. This will fit him perfectly.”

I smile. I wasn’t sure if Atticus would be happy or upset that I’d purchased this ring without him after he’d told me not to, but I was willing to take the risk.

“Is AutumnRivera in here?” Someone asks.

I turn towards the sound and find Griffin looking for me. I wave for him to spot me, and when he does, he smiles. “Are you ready?”

I nod and take the rings from Brent, who thanks me once more for purchasing the ring.

“I’m sorry my brother left you stranded,” he apologizes as we enter his car.

“It’s okay,” I assure him. “I know how much Anya means to him. Besides, he didn’t leave me stranded. He made sure that you came for me.”

Griffin sighs, “if you keep thinking that way, he will always do things like this to you. You need to stand your ground with my brother and tell him if you don’t like something. If not, he’s going to keep thinking that you’re okay with it and keep on doing it.”

I’m surprised that he’s telling me this. It seems like he’s looking out for me, and I’m amazed that he would do that, knowing how much Atticus loved Anya. I thought he would also be upset that his brother was being forced into this marriage with me.

“You don’t have to be so shocked that I want my brother to do the right thing. I’m not an asshole.” He assured me with a grin.

” I know Atticus told me to drop you home, but I have a better idea.” He tells me as he reverses out of the parking lot.

“I’m not sure—,”

“We’re going to the beach. I have a few friends that are having a party down there. It’s good for you to make some new friends now that Anya considers you a traitor. She wasn’t that good of a friend, to begin with. You’re going to love my friends. Just trust me.”

Trust him? Griffin did seem like someone I could easily trust. Meeting new friends may not be the worse thing in the world.