Arranged Marriages & Forbidden Love - Chapter 12
Notes: Finally! The long-awaited chapter twelve is finally here! Thank you so much guys for bearing with me through the down week when I postponed this chapter. Your support makes my heart happy. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations, and I hope the next chapter will be even better ;)
Summary: You have to face Tony and Harley after the events of last night.
Arranged Marriages & Forbidden Love - Chapter 12
Peter Parker x Stark!Reader
Word Count: 1,577
Warnings: None? Usual angst and fluff
| Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 |
Your dad walks into the room a few minutes after Peter has left, giving you no time to think about your situation yet.
“That seems like it was an interesting conversation. Care to share what he was talking to you about after two years?” He asks, taking a long sip of his coffee. You’re convinced he only did it for a dramatic pause.
“He was upset I didn’t tell him about my hand. We were arguing.” You roll your eyes.
“Oh? And is that why I saw him leaving your room this morning?” He hums, arching an eyebrow at you. Your cheeks burn.
“That’s not what you think, dad! He was comforting me last night because I had a rough night. That’s all.” You glare at him, cheeks still hot from the accusation.
“Mhm. I don’t want to see that happen ever again, (Y/n). If word gets out that you and Parker are going behind my back again...well, this time you have a fiancé. This cheating scandal would cause an uproar for our family.” He grits his teeth, giving you a stern look.
“I’m not having an affair, dad!” You growl, taking a defiant step toward him. The fact that he would even put it out there as a possibility for you is insulting. Sure, you had a thing with Peter before Harley was even your boyfriend, but you haven’t spoken to Peter in years. Surely he has more faith in you than he’s letting on, right?
Then again, you are trying to choose whether or not you’re going to marry Harley or run away to be with Peter right now.
“Whatever you say, (Y/n)...you and Harley are going to brunch today, so get dressed and ready for that.” He informs you, giving you one last skeptical look before he walks out of your room. You groan and throw yourself on your bed, clutching the blanket from earlier in your hands. You wrap it around yourself, wishing to go back to last night. Even though you were in pain, you could just enjoy Peter’s embrace without the mess of everything else.
You get ready for your brunch date, putting on a pair of jeans and a cute blouse.
“There she is.” Harley holds out his arms warmly once you step out of your room. You give him a small smile, but everyone in the room knows it’s fake. Harley knows that you’re mad at him. Things haven’t changed since last night.
“Where are we eating?” You hum, not letting your true emotions show. You don’t want to be here.
“I was thinking we could just order in and sit out on the balcony. How does that sound?” He crosses to you, grabbing your hand in his. You gulp and nod, not trusting yourself to say anything.
“I’ve already ordered the food. You two go ahead and go to the balcony, we’ll bring the food out when it arrives.” Tony gives you two a smile, but you see the threatening undertone to it.
Harley leads you out to the balcony. You see a small table has been set out for the two of you. He pulls out your chair and you sit down.
“This is nice.” You say lightly, looking to the closed glass door beside you. Harley nods.
“Why don’t we get a little more privacy, huh?” He chuckles and closes the blinds to the glass door, leaving the two of you completely alone on the balcony.
The same balcony that you, him, and Peter were standing on last night.
“We’re not exactly in private no matter where we are, Harley. You should know this.” You point out the paparazzi below that are trying to get pictures of the two of you.
“They won’t be able to see up here that well, darling. Don’t worry about them.” Harley sits down across from you and grabs your hand in his.
“Trust me, I’m not the one who has to worry. Tell me, do you think I don’t know why you brought me to this specific balcony?” You muse, slipping your hand out of his grasp to take a drink of water. He grits his teeth and sits back in his chair, crossing his legs and arms as if to say ‘go ahead’ to you.
You say nothing.
“Well? Why did I bring you to this specific balcony?” He asks, grabbing his own water to sip on.
“To finish the conversation from last night. You thought I was hitting on Parker, did you not? Well, you specifically thought he was hitting on me, but I know you don’t think I was innocent in the matter.” You smirk. He sighs.
“I...I want to know the truth.” He gives up his high and mighty demeanor, opting instead to let his shoulders sag and head fall.
“I wasn’t hitting on Peter. As you already know, Peter had previously told me that night that he was still in love with me. I...I declined his advances.” You swallow hard, not knowing what to say next.
“I know. I also know that...you still love him, don’t you?” He asks, raising his head to look you in the eyes. You bite your lip.
“I...I do.” You nod once before looking down at your mechanical hand. It’s covered by a glove, as it always is.
“I was afraid you’d say that. I, uh, I’m sorry for the way I acted last night. It was out of line and...I was being an idiot. I shouldn’t have told Peter your secrets that I was supposed to keep. I understand if you don’t trust me anymore…” Harley trails off, a sincere look of hurt in his eyes. He’s truly sorry.
It doesn’t change what he did, but it is a start.
“I can’t forgive you quite yet, Harley. Not after you exposed my secret and lied to me for two years. But...I’m not cruel and I will try to eventually forgive you.” You whisper, laying a hand over his.
No, you don’t trust Harley completely. However, you do know that he acted rashly when he exposed your secret to Peter. That, and he was just trying to protect you and himself when he lied to you for two years.
He was being dumb, but you have to strategize what you’re about to go through with. And, unfortunately, he has to be part of your strategy. Even if you can’t fully trust him.
“Thank you.” He squeezes your hand.
“I do want you to know that I’m not going through with this marriage, though.” You frown, leaning back in your chair.
“I’m sorry, what?” Harley almost spits out his water.
“I’m not in love with you Harley. Besides, as you said, I can’t trust you right now. I don’t know how long it will be until I can trust you again. I can’t marry a man I don’t love or trust.” You explain, running a hand through your hair.
“I understand…but your father won’t like this.” He frowns, mulling over your options. He would never admit it now, but he was starting to fall in love with you. If you’re not happy, though, he doesn’t want you to stay.
“I don’t care. Peter and I…” You trail off, realizing you had just told him your intentions. Harley’s frown gets deeper, but you can tell he’s not surprised.
“You and Peter what?” He prompts you, waving his hand nonchalantly. You know this is hurting him, though.
“Peter and I are going to run away or...or something. I just need you to know that the wedding will not happen, no matter what I do. I-I can’t stay like this. I’m sorry.” You apologize, looking him in the eyes.
“It’s okay. Maybe since you and Peter will be gone, I can finally go after MJ.” Harley cracks a joke. You giggle.
“You did always fancy her a little bit back in high school.” You nudge his leg with your foot. You’re glad he’s not taking this too hard.
“I did, didn’t I?” He blushes, running his fingers through his curly hair. The two of you stay in comfortable silence for a few moments.
“If I plan to run away, I will say goodbye to you beforehand. I swear it.” You promise, leaning forward to intertwine your fingers with his again. You may not love him in a romantic way, but he will always be like a brother to you.
“I’m holding you to that.” He chuckles, and this time he’s the one to pull his hand away from your grip.
“I keep my word and you know that!” You laugh. Harley rolls his eyes jokingly.
“Yeah, okay, says the girl who has told her father for years that she’s going to marry a guy that she never intended to marry.” He sticks out his tongue at you.
“Oh, so we’re already joking about the situation? Okay, I see how it is.” You crinkle your nose and kick him lightly in the shin.
“Unfair! That’s foul play!” He kicks you back. You laugh.
“It’s not unfair if you kick back!” You kick again. The two of you laugh and kick the night away until your food comes, and even then you still do it sometimes.
Even though the rest of your world seems like it’s crumbling, you’re glad that you can enjoy your time with Harley again, and you’re glad that he’s okay with the decision you’re making.
Maybe things will work out after all.
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