Ties Of Marriage

GIVE HIM A CHANCE, PRINCESS

Chapter 2

“He is your future husband.”

We were all occupied at the dining table, but my mind was still stuck on that very sentence. Unable to comprehend, I dumbly stared at my grandfather while he was chatting with the guests. I could feel the hard glare of that ‘soon to be my husband’ man on me.

I dazedly had dinner and escaped to my bedroom. My cousin Delilah followed me upstairs.

“Why were you so absentminded down there?” she immediately asked.

“Did you know all of that was bound to happen…my marriage?”

“Yeah.” “Didn’t you know?”

“What does it look like from my f*cking face”, I retorted angrily, taking her by surprise.

“Alright…cool down sis.” She uttered, handing me a glass of water from the nightstand.

I sighed and sat on my bed, feeling much better. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I thought you knew.” She shrugged.

“Yeah, in hell I knew.” I groused.

At that very moment, my mother entered. She engulfed me in her embrace. “Are you fine dear?” I sat still without paying any heed to her.

“Aunt Roma, she knew nothing.” Delilah acknowledged her. My mother exclaimed. “What!? Weren’t you informed?”

I gingerly shook my head in negation.

“But I remember dad had called you.” She gave me a scrutinizing look.

“Ah… I was busy so didn’t pick up.” I half lied. Oh, Jenny, why didn’t you call him back? Ah, my life sucks!

“Oh dear…he is the grandson of Laura Hawking, your grandmother’s good friend. Remember her? It was their wish to get you two married. You were already so occupied with life that we didn’t want to trouble you. It was your grandmother’s last wish, so we couldn’t even refuse it.” Oh, god!! Granny!!! Yeah, I do remember Laura Hawking. She used to visit us when I was a child, but then it suddenly stopped. Oh, and her grandson would be accompanying him most of the days. He was a brat as much as I can remember. He had pushed me into a puddle of mud over a little conflict, messing up my favorite dress.

“Again mummy…what’s his name??” I probed further.

“Charles Hawking, the coolest CEO of Deluxe Enterprises.” Delilah chirped from aside. Whoa…was that adoration in her eyes! For him!? Ahh…that rude man is a billionaire boss??

“Jenny, come with me.” John chimed from outside the room. When did he come? As much as I remember, he wasn’t present earlier. “Trust me, everything will be fine.” My mother assured me for the last time, taking me into her arms.

*****

“You know everything?” I inquired while going down the stairs with my brother.

“Yeah.” Came his direct response. The nerve of him! So even he knew, only I was kept in the dark. I understood why he was giving those strange looks in the morning.

“Ahh…” I punched him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I snapped.

“I thought you knew.” I kept quiet. Yeah, I am omniscient to know everything!!

As we passed through the living room, everyone gave me knowing looks while grandfather snickered at me. ‘Hey grandpa, I will get back at you. Just wait and watch!’ I glared at him, rolling my eyes. I noticed the elderly man and woman beside him.

“Are you fine now, Jenny?” the lady, or should I say Mrs Hawking, asked. “Yes, aunty.” I shyly grinned.

“My dear, call me mom. I am so delighted to have you in our family.” She held my hands and beamed with happiness. I tried to act normal though my insides were screaming with panic. “Go, you should follow your brother.” I nodded and scurried toward my brother.

We entered the backyard when John patted my head and went back. What the hell!? “Hey…where are you going?” I was about to follow him when I noticed a shadow of a man lurking by the pond.

I hastily walked towards him. Abruptly, the man turned around, crashing our gazes…once again!

“Jennifer?” my ‘soon to be husband’ called out in his deep baritone voice. I blinked my eyes, trying to clear my mind. His cold eyes glared straight at me as if trying to look through me. Pretending not to be intimidated, I glared back.

“Yes?” I whispered, trying to put a brave act in front of him.

“Well…we will be getting our marriage certificates, so you can pack your bags and shift to my penthouse by tomorrow.” He commanded. What?! Have I even agreed to this absurd marriage? And who the hell is he to order me? Ahh… I have already had enough of this bloody marriage.

“Listen Cha...” “It’s Mr. hawking to you,” he interrupted me. Yeah, yeah…as if I’m dying to say your name, you prick!

“Fine… Mr. Hawking.” I snapped. I really felt like hitting him with the pebbles below my feet or even pushing him into the pond behind him. What an arrogant man!

“Let me tell you one thing I am least interested in about this stupid marriage. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have come here.” Not satisfied, I once again snarled, “I would rather marry a dog than you.” He just looked at me unbothered. Wow!!

Annoyed, I immediately walked out of the mansion. The mere sight of him irritated me to no end. How am I supposed to marry such a man? Grandma must be blind to choose such a man to be my husband. What should I do now?

Walking along the road, I felt so powerless. I rubbed my arms to keep myself sane. I don’t even know why I felt like crying. Promptly someone patted my shoulder.

“Dad…” I cried out, wrapping my arms around him.

*****

After a few moments,

“I don’t want to marry him dad.” Finally, I let him out. He just sighed, “I know princess.”

Later at night, we sat on the balcony of my bedroom. My future in-laws had left, and I was still baffled by the situation I was currently in.

The rain had started to pour.

I stared at the drizzling water with my head on dad’s shoulder. We were both lost in our own thoughts.

“You have grown up so fast.” My father expressed. “Hmm…?” I looked up at him with a pouty face. He gave me a soft smile and continued, “I just feel so helpless to see you get married in such circumstances after everything that you have gone through.”

For the first time I noticed his wrinkled skin. The reminder that he is aging. I blinked away my suppressed tears. I silently held his hand. “Just go with the flow, everything will be alright.” I could see the concern on his face. "You remember how hard you were crying on your first day of school. We were so worried, and you held my hand so tightly, refusing to let go. I went along with you to the classroom and stayed outside your school throughout the whole day. You had sneak glances at me at every chance you got." I laughed, reminiscing about this story as my mother had videotaped it.

He took a slight pause before continuing again, “I have faith in Charles. Give him a chance, princess.”

Tears poured through my eyes. I don’t want to burden him anymore…he always stood by me, even in the rough times that I brought up on me. He always believed in me. Maybe I should just agree to this…everything would be fine. At least, they would be happy.

My mind swirled about my childhood days when everything was so much simpler. At that time, marriage was such a surreal dream for me. Can someone please take me back in time?!

I cried on his shoulder while he patted my back, seemingly comforting me. “Dad… I…will…marry him”, I murmured through the tears.

Yes, I will marry him!