Chapter 7
"Come in, Evelyn! Welcome to our humble abode!" Natalie invited Evelyn and Tobias in with a big smile on her face.
"Oh Natalie, what is so humble about your house? Your lawn is gorgeous, so many different kinds of flowers, my lawn couldn't possibly top that!" Evelyn responded, she was never been one to be arrogant or stuck-up from her husband's status and wealth.
"Mrs Eaton, welcome. Do come in…" Tris stood behind her mother, inviting the guests in.
"Beatrice, don't be so formal. Call me Aunt Evelyn. If we're lucky, you will be calling me 'Mom'." Evelyn winked at Tris, while giving her a hug, followed by a kiss on her right and left cheek.
"Tobias, take a look at Beatrice. Isn't she sweet? I'll be so lucky if she's my daughter in law." Tris could feel the heat travelling to her face. With her fair complexion, everyone will know that she's embarrassed by the compliment. She looked down, not wanting to look at Tobias in the eye. Evelyn smiled looking at Tris' reaction. Beatrice is definitely a rare gem.
Tobias did not respond, only spotting a small smile to Natalie. Tris excused herself to the kitchen, pretending to be busy with last minute preparations with the food. It's actually all ready to be served before their guests reached.
Tris took a deep breath, before bringing the tray out to the dining table. Once she's there, all conversation stopped, and she could feel 3 pairs of eyes looking at her every move. She, then, invited them all to dig in while pulling out a chair to sit next to her mother.
"This is delicious! Did you cook this, Beatrice?" Evelyn complimented the food.
"Mom did, I was her helper. And please, Aunt Evelyn, call me Tris." She replied with a smile. Tris sneaked a look at Tobias, who was playing with the food with his spoon, taking small bites here and there. He had a bored look on his face, clearly being forced to accompany his mother today.
Evelyn threw several questions in Tris' way, asking her about her experience in London, her education, about her siblings as well. Tris answered the questions one at a time. Tobias kept quiet throughout the conversation, continuing to play with the food remnants on his plate. Once all of them finished their food, that's when the nightmare started.
"Tris, your parents have told you about our proposal to you?" Evelyn asked, while looking straight into Tris' eyes. The younger woman looked down to her hands on her lap. What am I going to say? Thoughts are rolling in her head. I don't want to, but thinking of Dad, I have to. She's too shy to say yes, especially with Tobias sitting across the table. In the end, the question went unanswered.
"We're actually here to ask for your answer, dear. If you are agreeable, my family and I will be extremely thankful that you will be a part of our family. Should you decline, well, we'll be sad, but we will respect your decision," Evelyn said softly. Tris still kept quiet, not knowing how to answer to the question. Her eyes were still glued to her hands, not even looking up to see Tobias' expression.
"Tris? Are you dating someone? Is that why you are hesitant?" Evelyn probed further. Tris slowly shook her head.
"Is your son willing to accept me? I'm just a simple girl, Aunt Evelyn…" Tris asked while finally looking at Tobias, giving him an opportunity to back out.
"We have discussed this as a family, and we have all agreed on this, including Tobias." Evelyn replied, while patting her son on the back lovingly.
"Mom, Mrs Prior, can I have a moment with Tris alone, please?" Tobias finally voiced out, surprising all the 3 women.
"Natalie, maybe you can show me the beautiful flowers in your lawn. I didn't manage to look at them closely earlier." Evelyn came up with an excuse to leave the dining room.
"Sure, sure, let's go." Natalie got up, followed by Evelyn.
As soon as they left the dining room, Tobias shoot Tris a statement. "Yesterday, you made it sure that you didn't want to get married to me."
"Yes, I did." Tris answered carefully.
"Then? Why weren't you being honest with my mother?"
"I don't understand you. You also made it clear that you don't want this. And yet, why are you here with your mother?" Tris answered his question with another question.
"Actually, Beatrice, I myself don't understand why my mother likes you so much. She's the one who wants me to marry you. I came because I was forced to." Tobias is an extremely handsome man, but at this moment, in Tris' eyes, he's the ugliest man she has ever seen. She could feel her anger rising within, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. Come on Tris, think of Dad.
"If that's the case, why not you tell them that you don't agree to this marriage."
"No, you tell them and reject my mother's proposal." Tobias trying very hard to keep his voice down, to avoid their mothers hearing them.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." Tris replied.
"Why not? Because your father has instructed you to marry me no matter what? So that he can secure the contract with my dad? Wow, in this time and age, there's still people willing to sell off their child!"
"There's no need for you to insult my father." Tris bit down on her lower lip, preventing her to say anything further to make this situation worse.
"It's the truth, right? He's fucking desperate. His company is going bankrupt, and he has no other way except to sell off his daughter!"
Tris stood up and clenched her fists. She walked over to Tobias, and pointed her index finger on his chest. "Leave my father out of this! Did you forget that your family is the one who wants me to marry you? If you don't agree, be a man and tell them yourself! Don't expect me to do the dirty job for you!"
Tobias could feel his blood boiling. He knows his face is turning red. Due to his love for his parents, he has to agree with their plans. There's no other way for him to get out of this, unless he makes the girl hate him so that she will reject the proposal.
"So you will agree to this, then? Are you willing to marry someone who doesn't want you? Are you even sane right now? This is just prove that your father is forcing you to do it, isn't it?" Tobias pushed her finger away, glaring at her, while rising from the table so that he can tower over her.
Tris could no longer keep her anger in check, she raised her hand and landed a tight slap to his left cheek. "I will tell you one more time, leave my father out of this. This is my decision, and mine alone." She didn't know where the strength came from, she has never been this angry before. Her father is nicest man she has ever known, and she's willing to hit whoever dares to insult him.
"You little bitch!" Tobias rubbed his stinging cheek. No girl has slapped him before, even when he's being insulting! He glared at her, but instead of seeing a small weak girl, he saw a feisty woman standing up for what she loves. He could feel the fire radiating from her blue-grey eyes, and saw a bit of blonde hair coming out from her otherwise neat bun. 'Wow, she's really something… Wait, what? I can't think that. She wants to play with fire? OK then… We'll see who will get burnt.' He thought while still rubbing his cheek.
"Don't regret this, Beatrice. You think your plans will work? You want to marry me so badly? Fine. We will go through with it. Beatrice Prior, you will be my wife. Do you think that you've won? Oh no. I will ensure that every single day of our married life, you will be regretting this decision that you made today." Tobias said, while staring into her eyes.
Tris gulped, and swallowed slowly. Shit, what have I done?
