章節 16: Can I not marry Ryan?
Arwen's days with Gianna passed peacefully. The only drawback was that during the period, she had to endure Gianna constantly talking about her old and handsome uncle.
"Wennie, the breakfast is ready. Come and have it." Gianna called, setting down the last dish she had ordered.
Arwen heard her and slowly made her way out of the room with her crutches. "You ordered it from outside again? Anna, I would have asked my butler to bring something. The chef at my place isn't bad. I have grown up on their dishes, and they are my favorites."
"I know but we can't wait for your butler, right?" Gianna reasoned, reminding her of the distance between her place and the Quinn estate. "Besides, the place where I order food is not bad. They prepare it nicely and with care. Living alone, I have grown used to their taste. And it's healthy."
Arwen pursed her lips at her as she pulled the chair to settle herself. "Cooking isn't tough. You should take some time to learn it."
"Like you did for Ryan?" Gianna never held back. She loved Arwen to her core, but she always made a point to remind her that Ryan wasn't worth it. She wished her dear friend would understand that and leave Ryan-the-jerk-Foster for good. "Sorry, boss. Not happening. The man I end up with will cook for me. I am not settling for anything less."
Arwen didn't respond. She nibbled on the sandwich, keeping a smile on her face.
Gianna sighed as she looked at her. "What? You don't have courage to admit he is not worth all that you do for him? Wennie, you know this in your heart, but you always force yourself to believe otherwise."
"Anna, let's not discuss that now."
Gianna shook her head. "I can't ignore it. The date is getting closer, and you are still not cancelling it. Don't tell me, on 29th, you are actually going to the Civil Affairs Bureau with him?"
Arwen looked up at her and nodded, showing no sign of disapproval. "The date has been set for the long time. I have to go with him and get the procedures done. There is no other option."
"There is, Arwen. You are just too scared to choose it.," Gianna said, but her words failed to provoke Arwen to reconsider. "Can't you see, Arwen? It's been days since your accident and over a week since you left the hospital, yet he hasn't come to see you or even called to ask how you are doing. Does he even deserve to be your fiancé?"
"Anna, I know you are concerned for me, but nothing you say now will change anything. The date has been decided by our families, and I can't back away and hurt my parents," Arwen said, her gaze revealing the hints of anger and disappointment.
Gianna looked at her, waiting to suggest, but Arwen raised her hand to stop her. "Let's not discuss this. Please." Though Gianna was reluctant, she agreed.
The two had their breakfast in peace, and when they were done, Arwen phone rang. Seeing that it was her parents calling, she answered. "Dad!"
"How is my treasure doing?" Idris Quinn asked cheerfully. He hadn't had the time to call his daughter in the recent days, and he missed her terribly.
Arwen smiled. She hadn't told them anything about her accident. Her parents were away for work, and she wanted them to complete their business in peace. Telling them about her accident might have worried them, especially her father, so, she hadn't mentioned it. "I am doing well, just waiting for your return. How is work going?"
"Do you think anything could go wrong with your father around?"
"Definitely not. With my Dad around, nothing can go wrong." Arwen cheered, only to hear her mother's voice next.
"Your Dad is not all you have, Arwen. You have a mother too, you know," Catrin chimed in.
"Mama!"
"How are you doing? Are you eating on time?" Catrin asked, but before Arwen could even reply, she continued, "And tell me, how is Ryan? Are you two doing well? Arwen, you have to treat him well. He works so hard, and your Aunt Beca trusts you with him so much. You can't let her down."
The smile that had appeared on Arwen's face for a split second disappeared again. She almost thought her mother was prioritizing her well-being, but once again she proven wrong. Her mother cared more for Ryan than she did for her own daughter.
But again, Arwen couldn't complain. The friendship that her mother shared with Aunt Beca was special. Both ladies loved each other dearly. While her mother treated Ryan better than her, Aunt Beca also never treated Arwen poorly.
"Mama, Ryan is good too," Arwen replied, answering all her mother's questions in one small sentence.
And with the assurance that Ryan was doing great, it seemed like her mother needed to hear nothing more. She already sounded content as she said, "Great. Take care of him, Arwen. It's just a matter of a few more days, and you two will be legally married. We won't be there, but make sure you go to the Civil Affairs Bureau on time. Don't miss the date. Handle it well. I am so happy for you."
Arwen heard her and suddenly felt anxious. Yes, the date was not far away now. She had waited for it all this time, but suddenly she felt like she lacked the courage. She knew she couldn't back out, but she wished for a chance where she could decide on her own.
Couldn't she just have one chance? Every girl deserved to make this choice —why was she so unlucky not have one?
When Catrin didn't hear Arwen speak for a while, she asked, "Arwen, what happened? Is everything okay?"
"Mama, can I make a choice?" Arwen suddenly asked before adding, "Can I not marry Ryan? Can I choose it not to be him?"
創作者的想法 
Scarlet_Shine
Scarlet_Shine Creation is hard, cheer me up! Please do share your thoughis in the comments and do keep voting.
Yours dearest Author
章節 17: Beauty and looks are very subjective topics.
Arwen was lost in her thoughts. She hadn't realized she had spoken them aloud until she heard her mother's reproach.
"Arwen, what are you talking about? Are you even in your senses?" Catrin rushed, almost panicking. "Ryan is a good child. You two have grown up together. If not him, who could be a better choice?"
Arwen might not have intended to voice her thoughts, but even if she did, she never expected her mother to reproach her instead of asking why she felt that way. "Mama, I –"
"Enough, Arwen! I don't want to hear anything. The date is already fixed. Now, don't try to embarrass us in front of the Fosters. What will your Aunt Beca think? She has always adored you." As her mother continued listing reasons why she should not make such a decision, Arwen heard her father interrupt her mom.
"Catrin, at least hear what Arwen has to say. She might have a reason. Don't force her into something that she doesn't want."
But just when her father took her side, her mother chided him. "Honey, you are spoiling her. Don't you know Ryan? We have seen him grow. How could he be the wrong choice for our daughter? And I have known Beca for years. With her in the family, our daughter will become everyone's favorite. What other family could be better for our daughter than the one that adores her? She will have beautiful life with the Fosters."
"But Catrin, if Arwen is having hesitation –being her parents, we should listen to her."
Arwen heard her father try again, but her mother was simply too biased. No matter what happened, she wouldn't try to understand Arwen's heart and wishes.
"I don't care, Idris. I am her mother and I know what's best for her," Catrin said adamantly. In the end, Arwen interrupted them.
"I was simply speaking, Mama. I have no intention of backing out. Don't worry," she said, and then added for her father's sake. "Dad, please don't fight over such a small thing. I am sensible. Of course, I won't back out now that we are so close to the date. Ryan is really good to me, and I am happy with him."
"Are you sure, honey?" Idris asked his daughter. But before Arwen could reply, her mother spoke up again.
"That wasn't a topic to joke about, Arwen. You almost gave me a panic attack. I really thought something big had happened between you and Ryan."
Arwen couldn't help but laugh with a hint of self-mockery. Her mother guessed that something might have happened between her and Ryan, yet she did not bother to ask what it was. Or ask her what was it about? Did she already assume that Arwen had caused some trouble?
"Everything is fine, Mama. I have something to do, so I will hang up now. Let's talk later." Arwen said, no longer in the mood to handle her mother. She waited for her mother to acknowledge her, but after a few seconds it was her father who spoke again.
"Okay, dear. Take care. I will call you again when we have time."
And there it went again. Her mother got upset without any proper reason. It had always been this way. Whenever Arwen wished for something or said something that didn't align with her mother's thoughts, she would get upset, expecting Arwen to come forward and apologize for being inconsiderate.
"Arwen, are you okay?"
Suddenly Arwen realized that she wasn't alone. Gianna was sitting there with her. She might not have heard it all, but with traces of conversation audible, it wasn't that hard to guess.
Arwen looked at her friend and smiled, nodding. "I am good." Then she glanced down at her plate. "Breakfast is done. What do we have next in our plan."
"Gianna knew Arwen was trying her best not to cry. After all, her mother never understood her, and nothing pained Arwen more than that. So, to help her friend, Gianna pretended the call never happened.
Looking down at her empty plate, she said, "After breakfast, next we have to do the dishes. Can you lend me your presence, my lady? I usually get bored washing them alone. With you around, we can chat."
Arwen looked at her and nodded. "Sure, why not? But on one condition." She said, raising one finger of hers.
"What is it?" Gianna asked.
Arwen gave a sheepish smile and then said very seriously, "You are not going to start talking about your uncle again. I am all bored with it and definitely not interested in him."
"Shouldn't you be interested in him?" Gianna asked, and Arwen raised her brows.
"Why should I be?"
"Because I wanted to set you two up. You both are my favorites, and you would look good together." Gianna said, and Arwen pointed a finger at her. Setting her up with her old uncle? What absurd revenge was Gianna planning on her?
Gianna, you better give up that thought. Or else, I will curse you to have an aged husband who simply won't be able to sati–"
"Arwen, you better not say more," Gianna warned, picking up the jug of water, ready to throw it on Arwen. "How could you even curse me like that? Am I even your friend?"
Arwen pursed her lips, before saying, "Same as you could think of marrying me off to your uncle. Am I your friend?"
"My uncle is better than anyone. You haven't met him, so you don't know. He might be a little older, but that doesn't matter. Come with me to meet him, and if you don't start drooling on his looks, I will admit defeat." Gianna challenged.
But Arwen wasn't interested. "No need. Beauty and looks are very subjective topics. I don't want to debate with you. You can consider your uncle's look drool-worthy, but I am not interested."
"Want to take up the challenge?" Gianna suddenly asked, making Arwen tug her brows together.
"What challenge?"
"Come with me to meet him. If you still don't agree with me, I won't pester you again," Gianna confidently set out the challenge for Arwen to consider.
創作者的想法
Scarlet_Shine
Scarlet_Shine
Creation is hard, cheer me up! Please do send your votes, love and support to cheer the work. Also, please drop a review to help the book get the rating that it deserves. It will help a lot.
Thank you!
Yours dearest Author
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