บท 5: Arranged marriage [EDITED]

Ah… now she understood. He was forced to be here. No wonder he looked so surprised back then when the old man introduced him as her fiancé. It was an arranged marriage. An arrangement that she has no knowledge of… or maybe she had? She really didn't know with her head empty of the memories of her past.

"E-even if that's the case…" she stammered. She gazed at him for a few seconds, hesitantly.

This beautiful man in front of her should at least treat her kindly even if they were not lovers. "Aren't we supposed to be… childhood friends?"

Bai Jingye stared down at her in contempt. Even if he didn't say a word, she could see how much he belittled her. He turned and left her there without saying anything else.

The iciness and the suffocating atmosphere coming from him disappeared, making her finally gasp for air. She didn't realize that she was actually holding her breath when she had the staring contest with him.

What should she do? She had nothing. Did she do something wrong to him before the accident took her memories away? Had she sinned against him? Was that the reason he always looked mad at her?

Well now that she knew where her room was, it should be alright to look around, right?

But the thought of meeting her mother-in-law made her change her mind. What if she got lost in this huge place? Even most of the servants eyed her with disdain so they might ignore her instead of helping her if she got lost.

She finally turned and looked at the room Bai Keran prepared for her. With wide-eyed, she was surprised at the grandeur of it. In front of the windows, heavy velvet curtains hung. Next to the lovely canopied bed was a gilded wardrobe.

That's rich people for you alright. Wherever her eyes landed, it always spelled expensively. Flaunting their money was their specialty even without saying a word.

She should go back downstairs. She needed to learn the truth from Bai Keran. She wanted to check if there were photos or any kind of evidence that proved her connection with the Bai family. If she asked him, maybe he would have no choice but to tell the truth about everything, including her real relationship with his grandson.

With those thoughts, she left her room.

"But father! How can you let someone like her, a peasant! Why did you allow her to enter this house?!"

Upon hearing the loud screech of a woman coming from downstairs, Mengmeng hurriedly hid at the corner of the stairs.

They were talking about her, right? No one else was new in the manor but her so it was easy to guess that.

"Even if she saved you, you can't just give my son's hand in marriage! This is too much!"

From the corner, Mengmeng saw the frosty glare that the old man was aiming at the woman who was complaining at him.

"My decision is final."

The iciness of the voice sent chills in her body. A sudden fear entered Mengmeng's body when she heard the change in the old man's voice.

He sounded so different... Was he really the same gentle and kind old man who had accepted her in this family? He looked like he changed into another person!

Just… what has she gotten into?

Doubts began to fill her mind but at the same time, she didn't have a choice but to trust the old man. He was the only person who was thinking of her. He never treated her badly.

During her stay at the hospital, he was fun and easy to get along with whenever he visited her. She was his adoptive granddaughter… adoptive.

The woman said that she saved him… could it be possible that… he was repaying her for saving his life?

He was protecting her right now. The only reason why his mother didn't lash out at her was because of the old man's presence. She only needed to continue getting on the elder's good side just so she could have his protection.

The poor girl was clueless about her background and, in the end, all she could do was trust the only person who was kind to her, Bai Keran.

She gave up on the idea of finding proof of her connection to their family. Somewhere in her mind, she thought that it was better not to know. It was the safer choice for someone like her. She should cling to the Patriarch of the house.

...

During her stay at the old man's place, she was easily getting along with him. Acting like his filial granddaughter. She never complained about being engaged to his grandson since she liked him despite how indifferent he was to her.

At the same time, her wedding was being prepared in the same week. Her help was unnecessary so they never included her in the preparation of the wedding nor did they ask about her opinions.

At first, she found it strange but she knew that she shouldn't complain. She shouldn't, especially when she had already received so much kindness from Bai Keran.