It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 14

- Lily Jane Collin  -

I was totally stunned by Eric while meeting with him for the second time. We were still at the coffee shop. I was just looking at him unbelievably. How could he do that to me. He was a more dangerous man than I ever thought. He was the type of person that I didn't want to meet as my partner. I was scared about the way he wanted to take control on everything. I was also so stunned by the fact that he changed his decision. He definitely clearly said that he didn’t want to marry me and now suddenly he wanted to marry me. Not just that he also wanted me to give up and marry him. 

I was so irritated, frustrated and angry at him and I needed to calm myself down. I didn’t want to create a sense in the public place. My head kept telling me I need coffee to calm down. I quickly called the waiter and ordered coffee. But unexpectedly Eric stopped my order again. 

“No coffee, just water fine,” he said to the waiter. The waiter was looking at us confusingly. 

I looked at the waiter and told him “no water, just coffee,” I said, talking my best in a calm tone.  

 “No, just water,” he interrupted  again. Amazingly the waiter listened to him and just gave me the water. 

“Who are you to me mister? You have no right to interfere with my life,” I said angrily. And I looked at him with a deadly glance and told him “don’t even dream that I’ll agree on this marriage”. 

“You will eventually end up marrying me. Don’t try to waste your energy,” he said while laughing at me. I was so mad at him how dared he laughed at me. “You know, you are an asshole,” I said to him. 

I finished up all the water from the cup and I asked the waiter for the bill. Before I could pay, Eric handed his card to the waiter and paid the bill. “I can pay for my own. Here take it,” I said while handing cash to him. He looked at me with an unpleasant look and he pushed my money back to me. “I don’t need your money,” he said and then looked away at me. 

I didn’t want to argue with him anymore so I took the money back and went to the order counter to order a coffee. “Enough with your coffee,” he said while grabbing my arms and took me out of the shop. 

“What’s wrong with you?” I groaned at him. He totally ignored my question and asked me “where did you park your car?” “I didn’t bring it,” I said while looking at the road, searching taxis. “I’ll send you back, get into the car,” he said, pointing at his car. 

“No, thanks. I can take a cab,” I said, hoping a taxi would pass by. 

“Why are you so stubborn. Why can’t you just do as I said,” he said annoyingly. 

I didn’t say anything back and I was just waiting for the taxi. While I was waiting for the taxi, a strong grip grabbed my arm and dragged me to the parking lot. 

“Get in,” he said, opening the car door and pushing me inside. 

I decided it would be better to let him drive back and I just sat silently. I didn’t say any words till we arrived at my house. I was too tired to talk to him and also I was too busy thinking how to convince mom to cancel the marriage. I just said thank you and went inside to the house. 

I was walking towards the stairs, I heard mom's voice coming from the living room. Instead of going up, I decided to go to the living room. Everyone was there, at the living room chatting. 

“Sweetie when did you come back?” Mom asked. “Just now,” I replied to her. I looked at them with a heavy thought, should I talk to them about the marriage now or not. I was conflicting a lot because I didn’t want to ruin the evening too. 

“Honey, is everything okay?” granny asked. 

“Ahh, can I talk to you all?” I asked cautiously, looking at them. 

After I finished my sentence everyone's attention was on me. The whole room was suddenly deadly silent. 

“Sure honey. What do you wanna talk about?”granny replied and that broke the silence. 

“Ahh it’s about marriage,” I sassy carefully, observing their faces especially mom and granny. 

“Lily, I told you last time. There’s no more to discuss about this anymore,” mom said. Her voice was full of seriousness. I gulped nervously, then trying to talk to her again. 

“But mom___ I don’t wanna marry him. I told you last time too. Why can’t you be reasonable on this matter?” I said. I saw mom’s face was changed into cold and hardened. 

I put all my courage and tried to change my mom’s decision. I couldn’t understand her this time. Normally mom was not like that. She was my best friend and my best supporter. She always listened to me and let me decide for myself. But this time she was not like that and pushed me to follow her decision. 

I looked at my brothers and sent a single to help me. “Mom why don’t you listen to Lily first?”Steve said to mom. “Yeah mom, I think it’s not right to let her do without her concern,” Nick also backed me up. 

“Honey, why don’t you want to marry Eric? He is a great kid,” granny said, patting my back. 

“Granny how can I marry a stranger plus I’ve my own career and future plan that I want to pursue,” I said. 

“Oh honey, granny thought you have a big unsolvable reason. If you are worried about your career don’t worry you can still pursue after you are married,” granny said and left me speechless. 

“But granny____” 

“No but honey, please take this as your granny's last wish,” she said. 

I was trapped in this difficult situation. How could I say no to granny's last wish. We all knew she didn’t have that much time to stay with us. I looked at my brothers, they gave me the looks that there’s nothing they can do. 

I didn’t want to regret my decision later and I decided to rebel this time. I went against mom and granny. I was always an obedient kid, always listened to them.

“Sorry mom, sorry granny I can’t do this. I hope you understand me,” I said, walking out of the living room. 

I heard mom's voice calling me from the living room. I didn’t answer her and walked straight to the staircase. I heard Steve's faded voice telling mom “mom give her some time.” 

I was in my room thinking about all the mess. The more I think the more I resent and angry at Eric. The knocking sound broke my thoughts. I walked toward the door and opened the door. When I opened the door, my brothers were standing there. 

“Don’t try to convince me to accept the marriage,” I warned them before letting them get into my room. After they got in I closed the door. We took a seat and Steve asked “how do you feel, sis?” 

“Not good at all,” I said angrily. “Both of you are no help at all too,” I continued. 

“Sorry, mom and granny look so determined about this,” Nick said. 

We all just looked at each other and sighed. 

“So what are you gonna do next?” Nick asked me. 

“I don’t know” I murmured and sighed. 

“Nick and I will always be by your side whatever the final outcome is. Don’t think too much. Take a good sleep first sis. Good night. Love you” Steve comforted me. I was left alone again in my room with full of thoughts.