Chapter 7: A Marriage of Convenience
940 Words
"Well... Catherine, it’s like this—you're not exactly young anymore, are you?"
Catherine Shang swallowed hard, quickly shaking her head. “I’m fine. I’m only twenty-four.”
“Twenty-four, and you say that’s fine!” Diana Wang patted her hand. “Let me tell you, dear, a woman's youth is fleeting.” Then, with a glance, she noticed her three sisters nodding in agreement.
Seeing this, Catherine’s mind screamed warnings—whatever this was about, it couldn’t be good.
Diana Wang continued, “When I was twenty-four, I’d already had Emily.”
“Mom, get to the point,” Emily chimed in, nudging her mother with her elbow as she leaned in.
Catherine observed the interaction.
“Oh! Right.” Diana Wang quickly beamed, holding Catherine’s hand tightly. “Catherine, your mother is looking out for you. It’s time for you to get married.”
"I...,” Of course, this wasn’t good. “It’s still... still too early, besides, I don’t even have a boyfriend,” Catherine stammered.
“I knew it! Mom, do you believe me now? Big Sis doesn’t even have anyone!” Emily Shang was ecstatic, as though she’d won the lottery.
“Alright, alright, that settles it,” Diana Wang chimed in.
“What settles it?” Catherine was immediately overwhelmed by a bad feeling.
“Your marriage, Big Sis!” This time, it was Lily who piped up, snickering unapologetically.
“My marriage?” What...?
“You’ll go on a date first, then marry him. And the guy is the heir to the Long Group!” Sophia said, her face beaming with joy.
The heir to the Long Group?!
Catherine was skeptical. If he was really such a catch, why didn’t her three materialistic sisters want him? He was probably either a short, ugly man or missing an arm or an eye.
“I don’t want to get married so soon!”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than four pairs of wide, astonished eyes stared at her.
“Catherine! How ungrateful can you be? Don’t you realize how amazing Young Master Long’s conditions are?” Her mother was the first to scold her.
“If his conditions are so good, then why doesn’t Sophia marry him?” Catherine shot back. Didn’t her mother usually favor Sophia the most?
“Big Sis, stop trying to get me in trouble. I’m not even seventeen yet!” Sophia protested loudly.
Though, judging by the way she dressed, she hardly ever looked like she was only seventeen.
“Well, then Lily can marry him!” Wasn’t Lily turning twenty this year?
“Big Sis, if you hate me, just say so! Why do you have to sabotage me like this? I already have a boyfriend! Mom even met him and said he was handsome and talented.”
“Then Emily…” Catherine turned her gaze toward Emily.
Emily raised her hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me. You know I’m already engaged. I’ll be getting married right after I graduate from college.”
“...” Catherine fell silent, but in her heart, she’d already made up her mind.
No matter what, she couldn’t give in this time. Even if it meant running away, severing ties with her family forever... she absolutely couldn’t agree.
But that thought only lasted a few seconds because before her eyes—
“Catherine!” The same Diana Wang who had been scolding her a moment ago was now sniffling dramatically. “Your mother doesn’t want to see you get married either! But think about it—your Uncle Shang raised you all these years. Even if he didn’t do much, he still worked hard for you, didn’t he? And now, all he’s asking is for you to go on a blind date, to marry someone, and you’re acting like you’d rather die than comply…”
Catherine frowned, watching her mother. Then, she looked over at her three sisters, all of whom now had tear-filled eyes, as if they were about to cry.
“Big Sis, you’re the only one who can save this family now,” Sophia said, wiping her eyes dramatically.
“Uncle Shang said if this business deal succeeds, our family will be set for generations,” Lily added, grabbing Catherine’s hand and shaking it, her voice filled with exaggerated pleading.
“Just think of it as repaying Uncle Shang,” Emily chimed in.
“We’ve been struggling for so long to find a buyer for this land, and he’s even letting us invest and develop a resort together,” Diana Wang’s tears were forgotten as her eyes gleamed at the mention of the future prospects.
“I…” Catherine, you need to refuse! You need to refuse! Her heart was screaming it over and over again, but she couldn’t bring herself to say no.
Emily watched her for a moment, then discreetly gave her mother a thumbs-up.
“I knew Big Sis would come around,” Emily said as she turned and headed upstairs.
“Big Sis, Dad will be grateful for this,” Sophia added, following suit.
“Big Sis, good luck with the blind date!” Lily said, quickly slipping away.
At last, only Catherine and her mother remained in the now empty living room.
“Catherine, you must seize this opportunity. The Long family is wealthy beyond imagination,” Diana Wang finally got to the point.
Catherine glanced at her mother, biting her lip, unable to say a single word.
Her heart sank, mourning the future that was slipping away.
She could only blame herself for being too soft-hearted. She deserved it.
- Writer
