Chapter 3

Present day

2 years later, in 2017

Adeline’s POV:

I awoke suddenly with a distasteful sensation. The domino effect of first seeing where I am; home? Check. What’s that awful smell; alcohol breath? Check. That toe curing sensation; migraine. Lavishing, amazing, lovely! I would say I would never go within a 5-meter diameter with alcohol but who am I kidding, I’ve said that since freshman year in university.

I would say it's a coping mechanism for most students, especially law students who feel like they had a small nuclear attack inside of their brains so there needs to be alcohol to ensure a destination because if I'm being honest at this point I would be lost if I didn't have a Sunday night wild party.

So yes it's a Monday afternoon now so I get up and the first thing I do is to go flopping towards the bathroom trying to fit in my other slipper at the same time. I'm very surprised mum or dad didn't run in here complaining about the same thing over and over again, and it's the latest I have ever awoken. Hmph, that's weird. Anyways after I answer the call to mother nature I go brush my teeth and wash my face then jump into the shower.

After a while, I came out and wore my outfit of the day, a simple polka-dot yellow summer dress and I decided to let my hair down today. So you guys have to acknowledge the fact that breakfast for me is at 6 am or 3 pm.

As I am walking out I announce to everyone the princess has awoken.

“Good morning gentlemen and women your princess has awoken and now she's off to university so... Adios!”

My mum calls out to me from the kitchen. “Addie! Go eat lunch before you go, and don't be silly you lazy lamb, it's almost 4 so what do you mean by good morning?”

“Oh right, I'll just grab a coffee I'm not feeling food right now” I totally didn't just avoid the other part of the sentence.

She pops her head out and sticks her tongue out at me, “that's what happens when your out till 3 am to party like energetic kangaroos”

Did she just... Compare high on “grass” kids to energetic kangaroos...

I throw my head back and laugh “oh mama you did not just say that, I can't believe you!”

I walk towards the door, you see my mum tends to be childish just like her kids, I guess dad has to baby all of us including his big bad wife.

It's now just after sunset and I just came back from a brain decomposing lecture, (may God give me strength, amen) I get into my tesla S model and drive home. Once I drive into the driveway I notice my dad’s car there too. Hmm, maybe we are having dinner together for an important topic.

I get out and walk towards the door and unlock it, I announce to everyone the princess has arrived. “Well hello gentlemen and women, your princess has arrived from her private yacht and request your presence-”

My brother, Micheal walks in and cuts me off “what princess, don't kid yourself you got demoted to a 6-bedroom home adz”. He dared to snort after insulting me.

“Oh, what did you say, yes duke of trash I heard you and I concluded that I shall Ignore your smelly presence so shut the hell up.” I stick my tongue out at him and before he has something to say my dad walks in.

“That's enough you two, you aren't kids anymore why are you still at each other's neck at your old age?”

My brother sniggers, “Dad tell her to stop acting like a spoiled little princess that vomits out pink glitter everywhere.”

I huff “boy you better take that back”

Dad to the rescue, “of course my daughter is a princess and at least she doesn't blow out green from behind.” this time dad snorts.

“Daddy, did you just say that? Wait till mum hears this!” I wipe my tears from laughing so hard.

My brother groans and runs upstairs muttering curses under his breath. That's what I thought, duke of trash.

“Daddy, why are you home so early today?”

“Can I not come home early to see my lovely princess?”

“Of course you can but don't try to fool me daddy, it's something important right? You never come home for dinner unless it's to discuss something important at the dinner table.”

He slumps his shoulders, “ahh, you caught me darling, this... Actually concerns you.”

“Me? What do you need to say about me?”

He walks backwards after kissing my forehead, “it's a topic that will be discussed in dinner, wait till your mother comes back”

I'm left there still standing alone, what could dad talk about with me? I groan inwardly, it better not be about Axel again or anything to do with taking over the Carter law firm, or... To get married?

It's 9 pm now, the maids finished setting up the table and my mama just arrived from her shift as a radiologist. So here we are sitting in the dining room. Although there is constant bickering between me and my brother and my sister Angela constantly bullying me, there seems to be a tense atmosphere between my mum and dad. They share a look and talk through eye contact. Like not the oh, I gotta tell you once we go to the bedroom we get down and dirty, but the look that says, I'm not saying it you talk first. Let's play rock paper scissors with our eyes... Yeah no.

So I break the thick conflict between them by speaking up for them. “Okay shut the heck up now duke of trash your opinion is irrelevant, Amelia I'm getting back at you for selling my 5 years old crusty and moldy slime from high school for only 60 cents... And mum, dad why are you guys so quiet? If it's about that topic, you can tell us now that we are all here.”

They snap their heads towards me like they were shocked to see me catch them in the act and happy that someone else spoke up for them. My parents are weird introverts. Anyways dad clears his throat and puts his knife and fork down. All of us follow after him to show him our full attention.

“Right so... No one shall speak till I finish talking. Capeesh?”

We all sang “capeesh” seriously the suspense is killing me, is he thinking of creating a new sibling for us? Why so scared?

“Adeline we know you said that you were over Axel but you haven't started dating anyone after that so I got this perfect opportunity, we... Well, you got a marriage proposal and your mother and I had agreed to it...”

All of them just shared a look with each other, I tried to make eye contact with my mother but she was so obviously acting oblivious. Why would they get me married just because I haven't dated anyone after axel? I just want a break from relationships, that's all, they never get that. I share another look with my siblings and we all acknowledge that my parents just don't understand my own way of coping and moving on.

“Well... I wouldn't bring up this topic here, but honey, it's from our biggest investor - his son also goes to your university and studies medicine, that man, CEO Grayson of international companies and national, can you believe it? It would indeed be good for our business hence I wanted to discuss it with you... To see if you agree.”

Dad takes a long pause so I take that opportunity to try and clarify once again “dad, believe it or not I am over that douchebag and I will not marry another without getting to know them first, and who knows? What if the person you want me to marry is a bigger douche than the douchebag himself?”

Micheal smirks at my comment and extends his hand to high five, I pretend to high five him then show him the finger instead. He sticks his tongue out and high-fives Amelia’s forehead instead.

Before this becomes another sibling fight my mother speaks up.

“Honey, you know we will never force you even if it will do us a big favour, we genuinely think you are just trying to make us stop worrying and we want you to get over him as quick as you can, we don’t want to see our kids go through sadness in this life”

I respond with a neutral expression, I’m tired of explaining myself over and over again. “Thank you mum and dad but I made up my mind and my answer is no, so you can take it from here and I’m sorry I can’t sacrifice myself for your business, since it doesn’t benefit me anyway.

I got to say the last word and got up and left the dining table. I can feel my parents' pitiful gaze following me and confirming their expressions, dad says “well honey even if you give him up we will look for someone else for you to marry and fall in love with, either that or you get sent to England to live with your grandma.”

I see where this is going, I have to choose to show them I am indeed over him by finding someone myself or live with grandma because even if the world ends, I will never marry a stuck up person like him. So much for having the last word.