The Marriage Clause

Chapter 8

Julia

It took all the self-control in me to not shout that I love him or do something as stupid as press my lips hard on his.

He looked at me, sighed, then moved away.

“Let's eat."

I watched him, not sure if I look as confused as I feel. Why is he hesitant? If he likes me as more than a friend, why can't he say it? Am I reading too much meaning into his actions? Maybe I am nothing, but a good friend to him? But, why did he beg him to come with him yesterday?

I brooded on this thought, as I sat on the sheet next to him. He looked at me. I didn't know why or how, but my mood improved immediately.

As if on cue, Andrew opened the lunchbox he had brought with him for the picnic. It was a dish of fried rice and fried chicken. My mood brighten incredibly.

“Oh! Chicken!" I exclaimed excitedly, with a clap of my hands.

“Meat lover. " He teased, with a laugh. “What do you have in your lunch box?"

Without waiting for my response, he opened the lid of the box. His face immediately light up as he saw the content.

“Fried potatoes! Did you made it for me?"

“You wish! Potato lover." I returned, using his own words back at him.

He eat the fried potatoes heartily, while I did the same with the rice.

Shortly afterwards, all the food were gone. We lied on our backs on the sheet, looking up at the sky. I sat up.

“You brought juice, right?" I asked.

“Yes. It's in the green flask." He replied.

Is that a smirk I see on his face? Or is it a smile?

I drank directly from the flask, but immediately spat out the content that poured into my mouth, because what I drank from the green flask wasn't juice, but lemon grass tea without any sweetener.

“This is not juice! " I yelled.

He began to laugh heartily.

“Andrew!" I yelled.

“Yeah. I tricked you into drinking what you wouldn't have drank otherwise." He confessed, stick out his tongue at me and ran away.

“I will make you drink it instead!" I screamed and ran after him.

Thus, the chase around the field began.

The following day, the lawyers returned again. We took our seats in the Breakfast room.

“Please,let read this second Will today and bring an end to all this Will Reading issue. I am sick and tired of it." Madam Virginia stressed out.

“Alright." Lawyer Philip agreed. “ So the Reading commence."

I sat up straight in my seat. This Will would contain what Andrew must do to stay in the Mansion and Company. His life from now on, depends greatly on what would be read in the next seconds. This isn't a matter of choice or option, it's mandatory.

The lawyer began to read.

“... Now that my son Andrew James has chosen option A. He and my wife must work obediently under the new Chairman. If my wife wishes to remarry, she can, but she must immediately leaves the house and would lose all privileges associated with my name. But, if she doesn't, she can continue to live in the Mansion and remain the Director of J&J Boutique and Shopping Mall, if she can acquire enough shares to own and run it."

I sighed. Seems like Andrew isn't the only one who would experience change. The lawyer resumed reading.

“For Andrew to own and remain in the mansion and company as CEO, he must marry Julia Matthew within three days after this Will is read."

The world around me immediately went blurry. I could feel all eyes on me, but could only see one; Andrew's.

He didn't even look at me, not really. Just that same hard stare he had mastered over the years, the one that said everything without saying a word.

“And that, is the end of the Will." Lawyer Philip announced, but at that point, no one was listening anymore.

I have to marry Andrew. I have to marry Andrew. I have to marry Andrew.

It keep repeating and ringing in my head like a broken record.

“ Julia." I heard my Mom called out to me.

Her voice pulled me out of my trance.

“What did I just hear? Did you knew about this before hand?" She asked me.

I didn't answer, couldn't answer. Not when that ringing still persisted in my ears.

“Julia! Come with me, right now!" Dad ordered and stormed out of the room.

I stood up and followed him. My Mom and brother behind me.

Andrew

“Andrew James must marry Julia Matthew within the next three days."

Immediately those statement were uttered,my world went still. First, her father, now her?

I looked at her and there she was, sitting there like a porcelain saint, like she didn't already know. I find it hard to accept that my Dad wouldn't have informed her about it. She knew all this while, yet this whole time she acted like she didn't?

I watched her parents took her out, astonished. Grandma Ann was the only one in the room,who wasn't shocked. Hence she still have the energy to see the lawyers out.

My Mom gasped.

“An apple they say doesn't fall far from it tree. Who would have thought that innocent Julia would somehow find a honorable mention in my husband's Will. Have she always known about this?" Mom wondered. She shook her head and walked out of the room.

Everyone, except Caleb and I remained in the room, still on our seats. I couldn't bring myself to wonder why he is as frozen as I am,not as my own head is still roaring with so many unanswered questions. We sat in silence....until.

“The marriage....will you do it?" He asked.

Will I do it? Can I trust her to spend the rest of my life with her? There was no way on earth Dad wouldn't have informed her about the arrangements. She heard, agreed and didn't even deem it necessary to tell me. But, was there a proper time for such a conversation?

“Will you do it?" I heard Caleb repeated. Oh right. I haven't answered his question yet. Why does it bother him anyway? And is this a matter of whether I want to or not? Was it my wish to have my inheritance taken?

“You heard the Will, didn't you? This... isn't about if I want to or not. It's not optional, it's mandatory." I answered.

“You have a choice. You have always had a choice,when it is Esther. Why aren't you resisting this? Do you want to do it?" He asked.

I looked up at him,but said nothing. My head is too full to make a decision right now. Caleb gasped and stormed out of the room, leaving me to my cloudy thoughts.