The Overpowering Betrothal Gift
After Aria Bennett learned that her parents were “Selling their daughters for glory,” she hurried home.
As soon as she entered the house, she saw a mountain of gifts piled up by the door. She just stood there. She placed her hands on her hips and shouted loudly, “Dad! Mom! Come out and explain what this is!”
Hearing her voice, Aria Bennett's mother came over and poked Aria’s flushed cheeks. “Look at you. You’re in such a hurry. You don’t look ladylike at all.”
“If I didn’t look ladylike you would’ve sold me off by now. Looking ladylike doesn’t do me any favours either,” Aria Bennett grumbled and kicked the presents that were in her way. Then, she angrily followed Mrs. Bennett to the living room and sat down.
Mr. Bennett sat a little ways away and drank his tea silently. His usual cheery face was full of worry. Even Aria Bennett's gentle and generous mother wore a worried expression. Aria Bennett rolled her eyes. She had just finished her final exams for her sophomore year. Before she could arrange her holiday itinerary, she heard that someone had come to her house to ask for her hand in marriage. Her parents had even accepted the betrothal gifts. Aria Bennett did not ask for details and just hurried home.
But now, it seemed that the situation was not quite what she had expected. No matter how she looked at it, her parents did not seem to be selling her for wealth.
“Dad, mom, those things...” Aria Bennett raised her chin at the gift mountain at the door and asked, “Who sent them?”
Mr. Bennett glanced at her, put down the teacup, and sighed. “The Cross family.”
Who?! Whose family?! Aria Bennett was stunned. She sat on the sofa with a shocked expression, unable to move as if she had been struck by lightning. No wonder her parents were so worried. The Bennett family certainly could not offend the Cross family. In new york, the Cross family was a behemoth that could shake the country’s economy with a single stomp.
“Today, a person who identified himself as the Cross family’s butler came to our house with gifts. He said that his master thinks that you are a perfect match for him and wants our families to join in marriage. He even made a lunch appointment for tomorrow. Your father and I wanted to refuse, but his demeanour was polite and uncompromising. He insisted on settling the matter. We didn’t even have the chance to refuse.” Mother Aria held Aria Bennett's hand, her well taken care of face was full of worry. “aria, tell me, why are you acquainted with the cross family? How could Old Master cross...”
Never mind Old Master cross, Aria Bennett had been so busy recently that she had barely even met any men!
“Mother, I have no relationship with the cross family, and I don’t know Old Master cross .” Aria Bennett cupped her chin as she thought. “As for what the cross family wants, we can just ask them tomorrow.” In any case, with the cross family’s influence, they had to attend the dinner, even if they did not want to.
Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Bennett looked at each other, their eyes filled with uncontrollable worry.
......
The next day, Aria Bennett and her parents arrived at the restaurant as promised. However, Aria Bennett’s originally fair and tender little face was now covered with red scars and blemishes. When she grinned, one could see that two of her front teeth were missing. Her hair was messy and looked like it had not been washed in 800 years. Mrs. Bennett was shocked when she saw her, and Old Master cross would no doubt have a worse reaction.
Mr. Bennett coaxed Aria Bennett forward and introduced her to Old Master cross. “Old Master cross, this is my daughter, Aria Bennett.”
Old Master cross’s hair was white, and his face was full of wrinkles. He looked at Aria Bennett with a little doubt in his expression. “This... Are there any other girls in the Bennett family who are of age?”
Mr. Bennett coughed softly and shook his head. “No, Aria is the only daughter in our family.”
Old Master cross frowned, put on his glasses, and compared the photo he had of Aria Bennett with the girl before him. In the photo, Aria Bennett had delicate features, and when she smiled, her eyes were bright and sweet. No matter how hard he looked, this slovenly girl before him did not resemble the girl in the photo.
Aria Bennett could guess what Old Master cross was thinking. She deliberately used her finger to pick her nose. She pretended to be inconsiderate and rude. “There’s no need to look so closely. The person in the photo is me. You’re too old to understand modern technology. Photo editing applications now have beauty filters that can people look beautiful.”
Old Master cross hesitated for a moment. If he were to set this girl up with his second son, dominic cross, his second son would sever their father-son relationship, right?
