Won't love him

Chapter Eight: Won’t love him.

Anna heard a knock on the door, she rose from the couch and paused the movie she was watching. “Arya, is that you?” she opened the door and smiled.

 “Good evening.” Arya bowed, and went to her sister for a hug. Anna brightly enveloped her in a hug.

 She noticed her little sister wasn’t letting go and gave her a pat on the back gently. “Don’t worry, everything will work out dear. Come inside.” She ushered her in.

 Arya wiped her wet face, she smiled seeing the series her sister was watching on Tv. “I never knew these household dramas could happen in real life.”

 “Oh, it can. It surely can.” Anna exhaled, plopping down on the couch. She got up again. “Do you want me to make food for you. You’re staying here, right?”

 The younger sister nodded. “Yeah, do you have chicken?”

 Anna rolled her eyes, sighing. “Look how you are being picky? Do you know how expensive chicken is?”

 Arya smiled, she watched her elder sister, still grumbling, leave to make food for her. Her mind went back to Mr. Wade who had accompanied her through her stressful day.

She wondered if he had gone home safely since it was still raining. They hadn’t share contact info so she couldn’t call.

 “Stop worrying about that man. He played his part, I’d be always grateful but I really need to know more about Sir. Damien before marriage.” She mumbled.

 With that, she rose from the couch she was on and sauntered into the kitchen where her sister was. “Anna, I'd like to know something.”

Anna glanced at her, then at the plate she was washing. “What is it?”

 “What kind of man is Sir Damien? I’ve never met him before..”

 “Oh.” Anna smirked. “He’s filthy rich. That’s the important part of him.”

 Arya frowned. “I’m serious.”

 “I am too. But that’s not the most important. Actually, he is the only son of his family and is a perfectionist and a workaholic. He’s the perfect husband too.” She winked.

 Arya rolled her eyes. She dreaded perfectionists. As a budding engineer and teenager, she knew she hadn’t gone far in life and wouldn’t want someone who’d look down on her efforts.

 “He will like you, don’t worry.” Anna began frying some pieces of chicken.

 “That’s not why I asked. And he’d like me? This is a contract marriage, you know, right? I don’t need him to like me.” Her younger sister huffed.

 Anna placed down her spatula and gazed at her sister, like she was staring at an alien.

 “A contract marriage doesn’t mean you can’t love him. It just has terms; a kid before this limit, be his wife for this limit…” she paused, looking at Arya, realizing she overemphasized.

 “You know, right?” Arya sniffed.

 “Know what?” she tried to act clueless.

 “You know our parents' marriage was a contract.” Arya sighed. “Mom was to bear dad a son and make sure the marriage lasts ten years or else she will pay $100,000.”

 Anna’s eyes dimmed on her sister. “Who told you that?” She didn’t know that part.

 “Dad, that’s why he wanted me to marry and get money from it.” Arya looked down.

 Anna had an unreadable expression. If it was all a contract then it’d explain why her father never loved her mother and cheated on her with aunt Jenna.

 “Dad has been in love with aunt Jenna for a long while. I think mom got in the way and married him with a contract.” She revealed to Arya.

 It wasn’t very surprising to Arya that her father was a cheat, she had her suspicions. It still hurt her very much though.

 “Well, the contract marriage I’d have with Sir Damien will be spelt out. I am not bearing him a child and as he said, it’s still I find a man.” Arya nodded at her words.

 Anna was looking at her again like she was an alien.

 “Does it make sense? He said but does he mean it? Why marry a woman who won’t bear you a child and will leave when she sees another man!” Anna slammed her hand on the kitchen cabinet.

 Arya froze. But that was what Sir Damien agreed with her. “I don’t know him or love him. He is only helping me get away from dad.”

 “That’s what you think? He’d pay $100,000 just to help you. And why? Who are you to him? You’re getting married, Arya.” Her sister pointed at her.

 She dropped her hands down and imagined how her younger sister could be so immature.

 Arya folded her arms, across her chest. “You know you sound like dad now, right? I am to marry a man I know nothing about just because he paid some bills?”

  Anna sighed, trying to stop herself from overreacting. She knew Damien had been in love with her sister for long and the marriage wasn’t just to help but actually marry her.

 “Won’t you try to like the man before concluding?”

 “I like someone else!” Arya replied.

 “Who? Since when?” Anna frowned, flipping the side of the chicken.

 “I like that guy, Seth. If Sir Damien will be going back on his words, then I better call him now and tell him to cancel…”

 “Wait!” Anna shouted as her younger sister whipped out her phone to call.

 She didn’t want to be the reason Damien will lose the girl he loved again. If his plan was to marry her and then make her fall for him, she should let it play along.

 “I was just saying. It’s not about Sir Damien. I just feel it’d be sad to leave the marriage after creating a bond. Also, people will say bad about you for being a divorcee, you know.” She chuckled nervously.

 Arya replaced the phone back in her pocket. “I don’t care what people will say, it’s my life.”

 Her sister made no more reaction, apart from the plastered smile on her face. The meal she was preparing got ready and she dished it out for her younger sister.

 “Come eat, Arya. As you asked, I’d tell you a thing or two about Damien so you’d get along during the time you’d stay with him.” Anna said.

 Arya plopped down on the dining seat and smiled at the meal in front of her. “Thanks, sis.” Her sister nodded on response.

  “So you see, Damien is not someone you need to fear or anything. He has a cold exterior but is really warm inside.”

 Arya glared at her sister. With her explanation, it sounded like she was still trying to make her love the man, she shook her head and continued eating.

 “You won’t believe me? Then let me show you his picture, he’s really an eye candy.” Anna smiled, searching through her gallery for a picture.

 “How can you have a guy’s photo when you have a boyfriend?” Arya accused.

 “Please, do you know how many Kpop idols pictures in my phone? My boyfriend shouldn’t be jealous. Also, I knew Damien before him so he should stay chill.” She flared then sighed.

 Arya laughed at her sister’s reaction and bit on her chicken. A picture was flashed on her face and her eyes darted to it. The piece of chicken, she had bitten, fell from her mouth back to the plate.

 “Oh, you’re enthralled already? That’s not even his best picture. Here.” Anna smiled, while scrolling through her phone for more pictures of Damien.

 Arya’s eyes shook as she saw each picture and realization hit her. Mr. Wade, her romance counselor was Sir Damien! How in the damn world had that happened?