Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 119

And she did.

His heart soared.

"I'm afraid my son has already left, my good man," Arthur answered Headford wryly, his lips twitching. "As well as Miss Mathison."

His face crumpled. "Left, your grace? But I haven't even shared my felicitations to the young lord on his forthcoming nuptials to Miss Mathison!"

"Which is very fortunate, indeed, Headford," Arthur said with a chuckle. "I fear he'd have popped you one in the eye, were he to hear your congrats."

When the butler left, Arthur urged everyone to grab a champagne flute, then he picked up the bottle of sparkling cider, opened it, and poured some into each one. With a determined grin, he lifted his glass in a solitary toast. "To your forthcoming marriage, my son!"

I didn't go out for days after the scene I'd witnessed. I just stayed at home, kept burying my head under the covers, and hid in the comfort of my room with a tub of ice cream while watching a Girls marathon.

The Cuttings (except Colton, of course) tried to visit me, but I explicitly begged my relatives to keep them out so Uncle Eddie shooed them away right after Aunt Mary took selfies with the reluctant visitors and posted them on Instagram. I repeat: like, why?

I felt like I'd just broken up with someone; it was so ridiculous! And it was hard to pretend everything was okay every time your family and boyfriend called you because you didn't want to worry them. Also, local news of my stupid "engagement" kept popping! I'd been so nervous, I hadn't slept properly because what the heck would I say when my family began calling me once it breached the States? I could tell them the truth but I thought I'd simply burst into tears.

I also knew Oliver was getting pretty suspicious because the last time he'd talked to me on FaceTime and had asked if I'd found my English knight in shining armour yet, my lips had grown smaller and smaller until I'd had to make an excuse about Brad needing some tea, which was stupid because Brad was an obese cat who detested tea. And the ridiculous creature hated me anyway. He'd rather bury himself in Uncle Eddie's mountain man beard and moustache than be with his real owner. It was so depressing. Aughh.

I was at the part when Lena Dunham's character, Hannah, got her OCD back when Oliver called my phone. I groaned and engulfed my head under my quilt but the thing kept ringing Taylor Swift's song that I started growling and had no choice but to answer. It was seven a.m. here so it was around three p.m. there. Under my quilt, I suddenly felt exhausted.

I whimpered, "Whaaaat?"

Oliver paused for about five seconds. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I sniffled, seeing Lena Dunham closing the door eight times in rapid succession on TV.

"No, you're not," he scoffed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

I embraced my pillow tighter, my stomach clenching. Now what could be wrong? Oliver was always cheerful and charming, so it was pretty rare to catch him pissed off, which he totally sounded right now. He could even be downright scary when he got angry.

"Just say it," I pleaded shakily.

"I --" He took a quavering breath and groaned. "Hell, Livvy! This is so hard. And I hate to be the one to break it to you but --"

"Spit it out," I moaned, biting my lip. I was totally frightened now. "Never mind. Don't. I'll check it myself." With that, I switched my phone back on and opened my Facebook. I had a few messages, but there was a recent one from Brett. Shakily, I pressed on the missive and nearly shook from the shock.

You're ENGAGED to a BRITISH LORD? What the hell? Maybe that's why you went to England in the first place! Because a LORD is waiting for you. You know what, since you've lied to me, I guess we're going to have to part ways. I'm sorry, Olivia. I can't take this. Have fun with your new life with that guy.

I let go of my phone and moaned.

"What did you do?" my brother demanded urgently.

"I --" I gulped back a few sobs as I scrambled for my phone again "-- read his breakup text saying that --" Okay, never mind. I couldn't possibly tell my brother the real reason. But either way, looks like Ollie had a story of his own.