Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Meet Miranda The blood drained from my face, turning it paler than pale. Aren had a fiancée?! A real, uncontracted fiancée?! If Aren and Miranda had been engaged, then why did they break up?! I was confused. I didn’t even know how to behave in front of her right now... “Oh,” I voiced out, giving her a blank stare. She burst into laughter, slightly slapping my shoulder. “Hey! I didn’t mean to freak you out; I’m just teasing you!”

I guess Miranda found her own words amusing, but I still didn’t get the joke. “So… Were you, or weren’t you Aren’s fiancée?” I asked, both flustered and annoyed.

“I was… for about six hours… until we sobered up.” She chuckled before shooting me a beaming grin. “But you… you are in a real relationship with him. I must admit that it fascinates me.”

I felt even more baffled. “Wait… so what is YOUR relationship with Aren?”

“We’re friends… nothing more than friends,” she stated firmly.

“So what was it about that thing with Aren’s ear?” I frowned.

She smirked. “I’ll tell you what… Let’s get those tests done, and then we will meet for a coffee or a drink I will tell you everything you want to know and more.”

I sighed, pretending to be cool about it, even if I wasn’t. “All right. Let’s do like you said.” She smiled before putting on a doctor’s mask. I couldn’t help but admire that professional change. It was as if she had turned into a different person. She had done a basic checkup on me, and then she typed it all down on her computer form before collecting my blood for further testing.

“Now, you need to go upstairs for the ultrasound and MRI. After you’re done, we’ll meet for some coffee and chat,” she said, in between calling for a nurse to come and take me to the rest of my examinations.

I nodded yet was still uncertain whether Miranda was a friend or foe. As soon as I left her office, I texted Neil, asking him to tell me anything about my new doctor. He called me instead.

“Did Ms. Corbyn say anything inappropriate?” he asked as I answered, concern more than obvious in the tone of his voice.

said that Aren and she were engaged once. That knocked me off guard and that’s why I asked…” I replied, lowering my voice as I followed the nurse to the examination room. Neil cleared his throat. “Well, she can be a little peculiar sometimes, but she is one of

said that they are friends,” I added. “I suppose that is true. Ms. Corbyn and Mr. Lan have known

wn

Meet Miranda

Neil,” I muttered before

have known a lot about Aren. Aren trusted her… and that alone made me feel inferior. Then again, I couldn’t explain why I cared so much about being in his inner circle. After all, we would have nothing in common when

an empty stomach. My desires were simple: I needed food and rest in some quiet place, far away from

around my shoulder and directing me to the

to get close

almost therapeutic atmosphere. I couldn’t wait until I would get to sit on one of those wooden chairs with linen covered cushions set by one of the many tables inside the room, but Miranda decided to take us to the small patio area, which appeared to be much more private. There was one table set in the corner. It was separated from the rest of the bistro spots with

come here whenever I want to eat in peace

smiling as she stared at me, and it frustrated me that I couldn’t read through her joyful expression. “I’m glad, you know?” She chortled. “Aren deserved to actually be with

ago.”

at the sincerity in her voice. It instantly made

each other?” I made a desperate attempt to

Winton’s mansion. I hated his stepmother, though, and his half-brother… He was the most hateful kid I’ve ever met. Could you believe that Aren was treated like the stepson in the family just because his mother, the real Mrs. Winton, died?!” I could feel her anger when she told me about Aren’s past, and I had to say that I instantly shared her anger. Aren must have suffered a lot when he was a child. As I saw the agitation in Miranda’s eyes, I learned that she certainly cared about Aren… but did she care about him as a friend or more as a

More Miranda

your engagement?” I decided to cut

and I studied together. I was after a tough breakup… or more like I was dumped, and I made Aren drink with me to drown my sorrows. I was stupid, and I sort of used him as my remedy for a broken heart. We were completely wasted and ended up in bed. When we woke up, Aren started to apologize and said that he would take responsibility and marry me. Who does that, right?” she

was guilty because in his mind I was supposed to be that one woman that he would never touch… He always acted like an absolute jerk. He’s never been