CHAPTER TEN

Arianna's POV. 

I was not expecting to be pulled into a tight hug immediately we alighted from the car and entered the house. “I knew you were so beautiful, more than he had explained to us about you. Darling, come see the beautiful lady your son brought home for us.” Evan's mother gushed over me. 

I looked at Evan for help, but he stared at his mother fondly. This was the only time I had seen him without a signature scowl. That man always had reasons to be angry, and sometimes I was pissed that I ever got close to him. 

A pair of heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and I felt myself waiting in anticipation. There were a lot of things wrong with this scenario, but I couldn't help but go along with it because what choice did I have? 

A man bearing a striking resemblance to Evan appeared in my line of vision, the only difference being a greying hairline. 

He pinned me with the same stare his son did before staring at his son again. A silent exchange happened between them, making me wonder what his father knew. He didn't look surprised to see me like his mother had. 

Maybe the mother was left in a loop. I could almost envisage Evan’s father doing the same thing that I always accused his son of. Apparently, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree and it was my duty to pluck it, bring it closer, and squash it. 

“She is lovely, I knew my son was never going to disappoint me.” He said before glancing at his son again. 

I couldn't even find it in me to be angry at his mother, who looked like she was truly happy to see me. I could read energy and realized that this was pure. 

It wasn't hard to forget that his son existed; why would it be hard to forget that his father did? 

“Why are you standing all the way there instead of here?” His mother chided him. “Are both of you fighting?” she inquired. 

Ohh… we hadn't even rested yet, and she had begun her quizzing. She was truly a psychology professor indeed. “No, ma'am, we are probably just tired from the long flight and need a place to crash. I promise you we will be back on track in no time.” Evan answered respectfully 

So he was very obedient to his parents. I wonder if they knew that he was making my life a living hell, and even if they did, would they be able to save me because I had chosen a stupid path just to spite Landon. 

Now I was left with the consequences, with no one to pet me even if things went sour. 

“Martha would help you with your things, you just go in, you can use your former room. It's been cleaned for both of you. I hope you enjoy your stay. Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. I hope you enjoy everything I have cooked for you,” she called as we made our way to the room. 

“I hope you cooked your signature pot roast? I can't deal with the nonsense I have been eating in those restaurants!” Evan yelled. 

“You refused to come home often, so why are you complaining about those places?!” His mother returned with an infectious energy.

If he grew up around such delectable people, why did he end up this way? 

“Can you take your eyes off me now? We are no longer in their presence. You are going to make this stay a painful one for me because now my mother is going to dote over you, leaving me out of the conversation, and I would have to be with my father,” he complained as he led the way to his room.

I refused to allow him to say much because I think I had someone on my side right now instead of when I had to grapple for backup and be bored out of my mind. 

“I think this is the best place you have ever taken me to, not like you have taken me anywhere or I expect you to, I am going to enjoy every bit of this, it's not going to hurt you to be on the receiving side of your mother's wrath.” I smiled cheekily.

“You will do no such thing as embarrassing me before my parents. I hold them in high regard and would never let them down for any reason. If you do so, I could just sever the contract and leave you open to being reclaimed by Landon. I hope you can recover from that shock.” 

That was all I needed from him. His annoyance was cute because that meant I had high hopes for getting my answers as soon as possible, and he was going to help me with them. 

“Listen carefully, I don't care about whatever you think you have over me, but I'm going to enjoy myself to the fullest. The earlier you know this, the better for you, and if you cannot deal with it, then we can just return to your prison.” 

“My house is not a prison.” He grunted, with eyes blazing like he was about to go off on me.

I moved out of his reach. I didn't want to die so soon, so I need to be sensible about my new actions. If it was going to upset him, then I needed to find a way of ending it so that it didn't continue. 

“You are just a boring soul. I wonder how your mother copes with you sometimes. That woman is so nice for you to have come out of her.” I goaded him again, finally having sufficient reasons to. 

“I hope you still talk this way in the next few days because we will be out of here, and then we'll see how spineless you become.”

“Why don't you just go ahead with handling that while I handle this?”