Chapter 6: The Aftermath

"Allison, why is it now that you're telling me this?" Ryker asked calmly as his finger rhythmically tapped the arm of the couch he was seated on.

To his right was his mother who had a nasty sneer on her face as she played with the ring on her finger while on his left, was his twin sister, Allison, who wished she could crawl into a hole.

All three of them were in Ryker's study room in his house.

"I knew that girl was trouble... this is what happens when you bring a poor person into our family..." His mother, Lillian hissed as she leaned deeper into the couch.

Ryker on the other hand was angry, not because his soon-to-be wife had caused him some trouble but because of how long his sister waited to inform him of such a matter. Sadly, he couldn't show his anger, he couldn't give his mother the satisfaction of seeing him upset.

Even though the room wasn't used regularly, it was still spotless and neat. Like most of the other rooms in the Rivera family’s mansion, this room also had an earthly and natural smell to it.

The chairs, although fancy, were still comfortable to sit on and they fit perfectly with the glass table that was in the middle of the room.

Since the room was a study room, the amount of decor present was little. Only a few paintings and flowers attempted to brighten up the atmosphere whenever a meeting was taking place.

Allison on the other hand was completely silent as her mother and brother spoke their thoughts before she began to retell what had happened at the mall a few hours ago.

She honestly couldn't remember the last time she saw her mother and brother in the same place together but here they were.

All because of some girl.

“She doesn't have what it takes to be in the family, Ryker. As your twin, I am advising you to cancel the marriage.” Allison advised softly to her brother.

If anyone else apart from her family saw Allison and the way she was acting now, they'd be stunned.

Where did the proud and rude girl from before disappear to? They would wonder.

“I've made up my mind, Allison, and you can't change it. Shouldn't you be happy that I'm getting married?” Ryker asked both of them as he stared at his mother and sister with indifference.

“After all, isn't that what you wanted..?” He questioned them after some time, rendering them speechless.

“If it were anyone else, I'd be happy, but to think your standards are so low...”

“When did both of you start going out that you're already planning to marry her?”

Lillian and Allison asked simultaneously after their long period of silence making Allison receive a harsh glare from her mother.

“Sorry...” Allison muttered a small apology before glaring at the pillow beside her.

There was nothing else she could do.

“How about breaking the contract before your father hears about this?” Ryker’s mother suggested.

She was a persistent lady.

“Mother is right, brother and the problem with Mrs. L can easily be resolved.” Allison tried again to convince her brother.

Feeling a bit awkward as they didn't receive a reply even after two minutes of silence, Allison and Lillian shared a knowing glance.

He wasn't going to bend to their tune that easily.

“If that’s all, I’ll be leaving. I have things to do…”

Ryker stood up from his chair after saying that.

He was dismissing them in such a way that it made them feel embarrassed.

“Ryker..!” His mother, Lillian couldn’t stand it anymore.

Her authoritative voice subconsciously made him pause, but that was only for a fraction of a second before he continued.

“You brat! Because of some woman..! You..! You..!” Lillian couldn’t even finish her sentence due to the overwhelming rage that she felt.

What happened to her obedient son?

Was it all an act?

“Mother...calm down...” Allison who felt guilty about the whole situation tried her best to appease her raging mother.

Her eyes drifted to the door her brother walked out from and sneered.

How could her brother be so foolish to fall for such a woman?

Even suggesting marriage...

Ridiculous.

++++

“Arya, how could you offend someone like that?!” Her mother scolded.

The three members of the Pierce family all had sullen faces.

Upon hearing the news of what had happened during their daughter’s shopping trip, they were speechless.

“Even after I told you what had happened, you still blame me, why?!”

Arya was starting to get angry at the way her mother wasn't even on her side.

She knew this was what was going to happen if she told them, it was one of the reasons why she waited for two days.

She shouldn't have been surprised but she was still hurt.

In her mother’s eyes, the rich is supreme.

“I'm not blaming you, Arya... I'm saying you should have been more gentle. That lady, from what you told me is a very influential person, and what if...”

Her mother started another round of ranting and scoffed at her daughter’s behavior.

“-And don’t think that because the second son of the Rivera family has his eyes on you, you can do anything, you haven't even married him yet.”

That was it.

“Do you think I want to marry him?” Arya calmly asked her mother.

“You were ignorant at first but you've come to your senses now and chosen to marry him.” Her mother said as she took a seat next to her husband who hasn't said a word since the start of her argument.

When she took a seat on the dining room chair she was immediately dissatisfied at the horrible creaking noise it made and let out a sad sigh.

“Tell me, Arya, do you want to continue living like this..?” Her father for the first time spoke up about the issue.

That shocked her greatly since she thought he didn't want anything to do with it after he had betrayed her and sent her to the enemy’s lair.

“What- no, of course not-”

“Then why are you still complaining?”

“...”

Why she was complaining?

Was he asking her that?

“See, Arya, as your parents we know what's good for you. This marriage is good for you and even if you don't like it-”

“-it would only last until Ryker’s position in the main company is stable.” Her father finished her mother’s sentence with an unhurried tone.

Arya didn't know what to do anymore. She took a look at her surroundings and once again felt bad.

From the peeled and rotten painted walls to the rough floor and old carpets that couldn't even do their jobs properly.

Even though she was angry at her parents for forcing her into such a marriage, she also felt guilty.

The only reason that their family was so low was because of her, her family wanted to give her proper education, and even if it was only up to the high school level they pushed themselves and collected loans from banks.

They managed to pay off their loans but now, they were at a financial point of no return.

“Look-”, Arya sighed as she began to talk to her parents, “I’m grateful for all you've done for me but that doesn't mean that I’ll willingly sell myself just for your satisfaction. I don't want to get married but I'll manage it just for the money...” She continued.

“Thank-”

“I’m going to my room,” Arya interjected.

She was already halfway to her room when she heard a knock on the front door.

She was startled.

The only people who would come to their house were the Riveras and her ex-boyfriend...

“Jace..?” Arya muttered under her breath as she went to the front door.

But to her utter disappointment, it wasn't her ex, instead, it was two men in...suits?

The man in front wore a standard black and white suit that didn't look as expensive as the blue suit the man behind him wore.

When they realized that the door was open, the man that wore the blue suit let out a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and stretched out his arm.

“Good afternoon...my name is Jacob Lutheran...but you can call me Mr. L.” Mr. L greeted and introduced himself politely.

Upon hearing his name, the expression on the family of three’s face changed. Deciding that it was better to hear the man out, they invited him inside the palour.

“Lovely home you have here...” The man complimented before taking another sip of water.

All of them- apart from the man in the black suit who they found out was a bodyguard- were seated on the worn-out couches in the parlor.

“I'm positive it's nothing compared to your own home...” Arya’s mother, Emilly, flattered shamelessly with a forced smile.

What the man had said was clearly an insult to mock them.

“...Why are you here? I'm sure the famous Mr. L wouldn't come to our rundown home without a reason.” Arya’s father asked the question that had bothered the three of them as nicely as possible.

“I came to apologize of course. My wife had offended the future wife of a member of the River family...” The man smiled as he said that.

Did everyone already know about her? Arya wondered.

Without waiting for the people on the other side of the couch to take what he had said, Mr. L skillfully snapped his fingers calmly.

It was clear from all his actions so far that he was born into a wealthy family. From his sitting posture to even the way he sipped water.

His action, although soft, managed to snap the family members out of their confused daze. It was then they realized that in the bodyguard’s hand was a thin slip of paper.

“...A cheque..?” Arya started the obvious.

“Yes, as an apology gift, here’s a cheque for a hundred thousand.” The man smiled lightly as he said that. He paid no mind to the bodyguard who put the cheque on the table, although he let out a small grimace when he got too close.

Arya could tell just from the change in atmosphere that her parents were too stunned to speak.

The amount that the man was offering them was something they wouldn't dare to imagine gaining even if they worked for two lifetimes with their shabby jobs.

“Thank you for your apology but I'm sorry we cannot accept your money...” Arya finally spoke up as she rose from the couch.

Maybe it was because her parents had angered her before Mr. L came or it was because of the arrogant air that Mr. L and even his bodyguard had around them but Arya’s time came out harsher than she had expected.