CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Clara was so exhausted the next thing on her mind was to flop into her bed and get carried away into an island of sleep. But then, her parents thought otherwise.

“Clara, dear. I thought your dad informed you that we had a general discussion. Didn’t you tell her, Mark? I think I reminded you at the party.”

“Oh. Skipped my mind. What’s up?” She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.

“Ok.” Her dad sat beside her while her mom sat across her. Clara knew that instant that what she was about to hear was going to blow her mind. She was just sure. Whenever her parents sat in that manner to ‘discuss' with her, it just meant something bad had happened or is about to happen.

The last time such happened, it was her kindergarten teacher that had died. She had a great bonding with the woman. When she got back from school, they sat her down and announced Ms. Garter's passing. Clara hoped that wouldn’t be the case tonight.

“Who died?”

“Died? No one, darling. Why would you ask that sort of question?”

“Then, what’s up? I don’t like when you get all serious, mum.”

Clara was met with no reply, her parents just stood still. No expressions, not a sigh, a laugh nor a word. She folded her knees and tucked her legs under her on the sofa. She leaned her chin on her palm and just stared at her mum.

“Clara, I need you to understand that whatever I say right now is for your benefit. We do not hate you, we don not want to decide for you…”

“It is not like you don’t always do the decision making.” Clara chuckled.

“…we just want the best for you, love.” Her mum continued despite her interruption.

Clara zoned out and looked up at her dad that was still perched at the arm of the sofa. He was starting straight dead at her mum, as if to say, “No, I don’t agree with you but ok. Ride on, bonita.”

“…that is it, Clara. For family.”

“Ok mum. Family. Myself. Benefit. Blah blah blah. This whole suspense thing is so not funny anymore. I need to know what exactly is going on. All these suspense is really not for me.”

“Alright sweetie. I will just go straight to the point. You. Would. Be. Getting. Married!” Her mother announced each word with such happiness. She was having a great ‘tada!’ moment. It was all funny to Clara. Clara burst into loud bouts of laughter. When she quieted down, her parents were staring at her shockingly like she grew a third head all of a sudden.

“Wait! You are not serious, are you? Getting married? Who? When? Why? What made you think about me getting married? I don’t even a boyfriend not to mention a fiancé.” She laughed again but this time quieter than before. “I really should get to bed, long day tomorrow.” Clara stood up abruptly, about to leave the sitting room.

Her mouth jumped up to follow her, she stood in front of Clara. “I am very serious, Clara. I am. You would be getting married to Aiden Smith by next month.”

“Aiden? What are you talking about, mum? Dad?” She looked at her father, expecting him to intervene and speak up for her. She was hurt when he looked away from her instead.

“Are you guys kidding me right now? Are you giving me away to the Smiths because of money? Are you selling your daughter away? I refuse to believe this.” Clara has never been involved in a confrontation with her parents. She always listened to them, maybe a bit of arguments but that’s just it. She never raised her voice.

“Clara. Listen to your mother.”

“No! I will not sit down and listen to anything that comes out of her mouth. What is she on about? What is wrong with her?” Clara had lost her temper real quick, she watched her mum with her mouth opened in shock. “Is this one of mum's daydreaming episodes? Those episodes where she thinks she is a little princess getting married to some Prince Charming in Wonderland?”

“And what’s wrong in having an excellent imaginary mind? Imagining good things?”

“They are not real! That is it!”

“You won’t talk to you mother in that manner, young woman!” Her dad boomed out. “Now, I want both if you to calm down and take your seats.” They both sat down without arguing, they engaged in a stare down contest.

“Clara dear, I’m sorry this discussion ended this way. The thing is, it is an arranged marriage.”

Clara felt herself gasp involuntarily.

“To answer the question on your mind, this wasn’t my doing brother is it your mother’s. She just got over excited, don’t blame her for that.”

Shaking her head in disbelief, Clara said, “ If you are both denying your involvement in this, who then orchestrated the whole arrangement?”

“Your grandparents.” Her mother said calmly.

“No way. They wouldn’t do that. I don’t even know them!”

“There is a legal documentation to back these claims. Properly documented. We really need this, Clara. I’m not sure we rally have a choice.”

“In the 24th century? Who does that? And about the choice, oh we do have a choice. Everyone does.” Clara walked angrily towards her room.

“What do we do, Mark?”

“Let her go.” That was the last thing she was as she shut the door of her role with a loud bang.

Clara couldn’t sleep all night, she tossed and turned in her bed. She hoped she could just fall asleep and wake up to everything that was said about an hour being nothing but a dream. Clara wasn’t prepared to get married, not now and certainly not in about five years. Then out of nowhere, her parents announced her marriage. To Aiden! Aiden Smith! Was that why he had been fawning over her this past week? It was like he was in every place she was, cramming up her space and taunting her with his words.

She thought about calling her friends. But it was so late she didn’t w to ruin Maddison's beauty sleep. Also, Jane had probably overworked herself so much that she needed to rest. Who could she talk to? Getting too uncomfortable, Clara opened the door of her, it creaked announcing her escape from the prison she was. Just like Rapunzel. That made her giggle to herself, she would never be Rapunzel, she didn’t have the hair. She walked around the house, thinking of solutions to her new problem. She could run away but where could she go? Another option is to reason things out with her parents but she was even easy to speak to them, they seemed so decided on the marriage too. How about she appears in Aiden's dreams and child the life out of him? That sounds fair, if he died, she wouldn’t need to marry him or even stare at those perfect eyes of his. He had such beautiful eyes and nose and mouth. Focus girl, she instructed herself.

Oh. She could reason with him. If she offered him a deal, he could rebel and find a way out of the marriage. It wasn’t l he would be happy to have her as his wife. It would be a win-win situation for both of them. Tomorrow, she would talk to sweet evil, Aiden.

Clara walked last her parents' room and she could hear them murmur. They were still awake. She wanted to walk past but instead, she tiptoed closer and put her ears to the door.

“I feel so bad that we are doing this to Clara.” That was her dad.

“I have never seen her that broken. I like that she gets to be a Smith. That’s the dream of every girl in town.”

Clara scowled at her mum's utterance. That isn’t my own dream, she whispered in her head.

“I know that isn’t Clara's dreams. If not for the business, I would rule out against the marriage.”

“And breach the words of my ancestors?”

“What ancestors? This is our only daughter. Come on, love.”

“Ok. I understand. I’m just glad it is the Smiths and not some other lowlife family.”

Clara shook her head, her mother was really good in being a stuck up rich asshole. She is remind her of the Elite Eight, a group of rich women that were in charge of their community’s welfare. Her mother wasn’t one of them only because they weren’t as rich but she sure as hell has their attitudes.

“I know Aiden wouldn’t hurt her, that is what gives me relief. The company needs that money. I wish I could source the funds from elsewhere.”

“You’ve done that and it’s not working. This is our way out!”

Clara never knew the company facing bankruptcy, she knew nothing about business. Her dad didn’t mention it at all. She felt pitiful for her dad, he dedicated his whole life to the company while growing up. Now, she has to help him out. Too bad she had to forfeit her plans of eliminating Aiden. It would have given her much pleasure. Clara walked back to her room and laid on her bed. Saving Jones & Jones rest on her shoulders right now.