章 224: Getting Engaged

Fleur shook her head and softly explained, "Arix, I'm not joking. I would never joke about something this serious."

Arix couldn't believe what she was hearing—was she really being pushed into an arranged marriage?

"Mom, are you trying to get rid of me because I eat too much at home?" Arix asked, tugging at Fleur's sleeve, feeling a mix of hurt and disbelief.

"Honey, this is way too soon. Arix is too young," Thaddeus chimed in, clearly not on board with the idea either.

Fleur pulled Arix into a tight hug, tears welling up in her eyes. She gently stroked Arix's hair and said, her voice breaking, "Arix, I don't want this either, but someone warned me that if you don't get engaged to Cassian this year, you'll be in danger again. I can't take that chance. Please understand."

"But..." Arix started to argue but stopped when she saw the tears in her mother's eyes.