Arranged marriage : I hate you

Chapter 49

Riley awoke to hastened knocking on her bedroom door. She opened her eyes and attempted to stretch, momentarily stopping when she felt weight on her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked down, her expression softening as a smile blessed her still very sleepy face.

Jennie, still very much asleep despite the persistent knocking on their door, rested her head on Riley's chest. Her hair curtained parts of her face in an adorable way. One of her arms was crossed over Riley's torso under the blanket while their legs tangled. Her lips were in a small pout and for a second, Riley was tempted to steal a kiss.

Yesterday was amazing for both women but today would be a difficult day. Which would explain the persistent knocking on her bedroom door. Being sure to make less noise, she gently and slowly removed herself from Jennie's grip and made her way to the door in her sleeping shorts and vest.

She opened the door to see the face of a panicked Mary.

"Mama?" Riley asked sleepily, her head tilting to the side in confusion as she walked out of the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

"The girl's father is here demanding to see you and his daughter. He has refused to leave," Mary responded in all seriousness, her face an image of fear and panic.

Riley's mouth opened slightly and the rest of her sleep disappeared, replaced by a feeling of anger and annoyance.

"What?" She finally asked, eyebrows furrowing as her shoulders tensed. Just as she asked, the door opened behind her to reveal Jennie who had finally been woken up by all the noise.

"Good morning," she greeted the two while yawning and rubbing her eyes, the door remaining open. Mary glanced at Riley, a silent message passed between the two as she readied herself to leave.

"Good morning Mrs Brown. I hope you had a good night's sleep," Mary greeted with a small smile before turning on her heels and walking away before Jennie had the chance to reply. Jennie's eyebrows furrowed then as she looked at Riley in confusion.

"Is there a problem?" She asked, sensing that there was an issue by the look on Riley's face. The older woman looked at her and sighed deeply.

"Your father's here," she replied, her words coming as a shock to Jennie, especially since she had spoken to the man on her birthday and told him that she was okay at the Brown's mansion. Panic flickered in her eyes as she watched Riley run her fingers in her hair, ruffling it while in deep thought.

This can't be good.

.......

Thirty minutes later, Riley and Jennie walked into the lounge hand-in-hand to meet Joshua Paul Smith. He was sitting down on one of the singular couches feasting on tea and cookies offered to him by the maids. He looked looked up at the two when they walked in, his eyes quickly falling to their intertwined fingers for a second before he looked away, putting down his cup of half-drank tea.

"Mr Smith," Riley greeted in a bold voice as she and Jennie stood a few feet away from the older man, patiently watching as he stood up and fixed his neat suit. He wore a poker-face that made it hard for the two women to decipher his emotions and reasons for showing up unannounced and uninvited so early in the morning.

"I came here to talk to you both," he said, his voice strangely calm. Riley squinted her eyes at him. She definitely didn't trust her father-in-law, which didn't come as a surprise considering their lack of mutual understanding for each other.

"About what?" She asked, tightened her hold on Jennie's hand. The younger woman stayed silent, a nervous look on her face as her gaze switched between the two. A part of her wanted her father to just leave them alone, especially now that things seemed to be falling into place for and Riley. But, another part of her was curious to hear her father's reasons for this visit. Plus, he didn't look like he came for war so it is only fair to give him a chance to state his case.