Beautiful Lion

Chapter 9

Arabella 🌹

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I sit in front of my vanity putting the final touches on my makeup. Tonight was the engagement party and it was painfully going to be hosted here at the penthouse. I had spent the entire day with Maddy and the party planner. At least if I was going to suffer through this whole ordeal it would be to my liking. 

A few minutes later I hear a knock on my door. Assuming it was Maddison I say come in. What I wasn't expecting was my mother.

"Mamma?" I say turning around. I could already feel the tears building in my eyes. I hadn't seen my mother since the start of this whole ordeal and we hadn't spoken about it either. I was too stubborn to go to the house or call and every time she's tried to call me I ignored it.

Seeing her here now brings up every emotions I've been trying to fight away.

She rushes over to me noticing my tears. "Oh no do not cry cara, you will mess up that beautiful face you worked so hard on." My mother says grabbing a napkin.

"You're here." I say more to myself.

"Of course I'm here, why would I miss my own daughter's engagement party." she says having a seat on my bed and patting for me to join her.

When I walk over and sit she takes both of my hands and holds them in hers.

"How are you doing tesoro?" she asks looking me in my eyes. "Your father does nothing but rant instead of telling me how my child is actually doing."

"Maybe because papa doesn't care about anything other than making sure this stupid arrangement works out." I huff

"Now Bella you know that isn't true, your father-"

"Did you really come up here to defend him and his actions," I say pulling my hands away from hers. I stand and walk to the center of the room. "He is forcing me to marry! Of course I am not okay!"

"it's not as though you are marrying a stranger? this is Asher, and he is a very good boy, and I'm sure once you two are past your differences you will see that this was all for the best."

"That is not the point mamma!" I say trying to keep my temper under control.

"Then what is it?"

It's clear my father has told her nothing, or at least nothing that I have already told him, which angers me more because all that means is that he was never listening in the first place.

"He went behind my back knowing full well he never had any intentions of handing the company over to just me. He knew for YEARS that he had made arrangements for us to be married and said nothing! He left me completely in the dark about a choice that should have been my own! And then had the audacity to make it seem as though I do not care about the company!"

My mother sits there silent for a moment, clear remorse showing on her face.

"You have all rights to be upset with your father, frankly I am just as upset. Your surprise is as good as mine about this arrangement."

"He never told you?"

"No, he didn't. Your father has always kept business separate from me and for the most part I enjoy it. But having it involve my daughter... this was something as a mother I needed to know. I never wanted this for you Arabella, truly. All I can say is that I'm happy it is with Asher and not some other stranger."

I scoff and look away from her.

"As if it being Asher makes it any better. I'm sure I would have gotten along much better with a complete stranger rather than it being Asher. The man is a nuisance!"