บททั้งหมดของ 21st Century Bride : บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

Vida took a deep breath and ran her hand over her face. She had to convince him that she did not haet him but she could not tell him that she was jealous of the close relationship between her father and him. Every time she saw the two of them, it reminded her of what could have been between them, but she blew it all off because of a life she wanted to have. If she was being honest, she could be all she wanted while being at her father's side, but she wanted to prove what was not, and she could not tell why she had done that."I do not hate you," she said finally."Well, it does not seem that way; it seems very much to me like you despise the sight of me," he said."I just do not like how my father constantly brings up marriage to you. I do not want to get married to you," she said, and he frowned. "Oh, don't worry, it's nothing against you; if my father had brought any other Tom, I would have rejected him as well. I have no intention of getting married, like it is a business deal or c

She could sense his nervousness, but she wanted to hear him speak before she jumped to any conclusions. Axel shifted to the edge of the seat and rubbed his hands together again. He thought of how best to say what he wanted to. He had stayed up all night thinking about it, and now that it was time for him to talk, it felt like he was not going to be able to do it."I brought snacks," Maria announced as she walked into the room. She set the tray on the stool before dragging it to a position where they could both gain access when they wanted. "Mr. Manchester, at least I get to see you again," Maria said, causing Axel to turn to her with a smile. "I mean, I thought I was never going to see you again since Mr. Van Allen had a heart attack. You've stayed away and proven to me that it is only him you like very much.""Oh my, you've gotten it all wrong; I did not mean it that way. It's been a lot trying to juggle everything, and I really do wish I could come around to say hello, but I've got

Vida knew that she should be excited that her father had forgiven her, but she felt like he only did so because she agreed to marry Axel. Even though it was most likely not anything like that. She should be happy but she felt her mood grow sour, especially as she watched Axel and her father bond so much.John had always been a free person, but she did not expect that her father would replace her with this man just because she was away. She began to feel so angry that she had left in the first place just because she wanted a better life for herself. She hated that she was not able to make a little sacrifice for her father and be there with him after all he had spent all of his young days caring and nurturing her; why could she not do the same for him?She sat there watching them silently as her father spoke about everything, and Axel seemed to understand him without having to think about it twice. If anyone who did not know them saw the scenario, they would swear that Axel was John's s

Vida pulled the covers over herself and stared at the closed window blinds. She did not know how long she had been awake, but she knew it was such a long time. She did not want to get out of bed as she thought over everything she had gone through in the past few days and how much it was taking a toll on her. She felt like she needed some more peace in her life, and she was not getting anything there. Since she got back to the city, all she could think about was how things would have been different if she had not moved away after her education; if she had come back and learnt the ropes of the business, would she have been able to save it from getting to this stage? Would she have been able to take better care of her father to make sure he did not suffer a second heart attack? Would she have been so good at her work that her father would not need to put her up for marriage to a man she did not know?As she thought over it all and beat herself up, she could not find answers to all of her

"Little miss?" a voice called from her door, startling her. Vida did not understand why she was so jumpy that morning. She sighed, taking off the covers from her body and walking to the door. She knew from the voice that it was Maria, but she wondered what she wanted as she opened the door."Hi, Maria," she said as she opened the door and stood there."Hello, Vida, your dad sent a crew here.""A crew?" Vida asked with a frown. Why would her dad send a crew to the house? "What kind of crew?" she followed up when she realised she did not have the full details of what was going on."A wedding crew," Maria replied. Her face creased, and her eyes fell shut as she smiled. "You did not tell me that you were getting married," she added."Oh yeah, I forgot." Vida could not believe that she had forgotten to inform Maria that she and Axel were finally tying the knot."You forgot? You do not want me to be a part of your big day? How weird," the words fell from Maria's mouth all at once."Oh, come