The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 29 Part 2

I may not be posting for a while. 

Prisoner

I looked at my mom who had given me the "script" I was doing in two weeks' time.

The disgust on my face surely showed.

"Childhood sweethearts?" I spat out the words, "We're six years apart! What in the world should a thirteen year-old have in common with a nineteen year-old? You gotta be kidding me."

My mind went back to Jace's words the day this marriage was agreed upon. "I've been bested by a child?"

I threw the folder down on the coffee table while staring at my mother. It took everything not to growl out my frustration. This was the story they wanted me to stick to? That they wanted Jace to stick to?

"No," I said, "We're not going with this. Have your creative writers make another."

Mom calmly looked at me as she sipped on her afternoon tea. Sighing, I stood up.

"You're both hoteliers," she stated.

Exasperated, I sat back down. "Which means?"

Mom smiled simply, "You asked me what you had in common at those ages."

My eyes closed, "No. Be realistic, Mom! I'm going back to my room."

Standing up, I'd turned away.

"I saw you last night," Mom spoke.

I paused, "I saw you last night too. Which makes perfect sense considering we were both in the same venue hall."

"Lose that attitude," she warned. "I saw your Dad pull you aside last night. After which, you danced with him. That wasn't on the program."

Mom wasn't stupid. And if she was being like this, Grandma was probably onto something already.

Masking my emotions, I turned around to face my mother.

"It was a good addition to the program though."

Mom gave me a long stare, "I agree. However, for the next two weeks, you are ordered not to leave the house until the interview date for which I have to accompany you at all times. You would be monitored by the staff. And he asked me to take your phone and laptop."

"What?"

He did what? My hands itched to ball into fists but I did not let them.

Mom was still watching me critically. "Which prompts the question... why would he do such a thing? He'd explicitly asked me not to tell chairman about this arrangement as well."

My father wanted me to keep the issue from our other family members and he does this. It made one wonder what really went on inside his head.

For a split second, I was tempted. I was tempted to tell my mother what went on last night.

For what?

To be disappointed when she acts the way my father did? Mom was the only person, besides me, who was always inside this house. I only had to remind myself of Anyna's engagement party and all that happened after that.

My family, collectively, were happy with the engagement. It was for business purposes. There was nothing personal about the marriage.

And if that was the speech my mother would go for after I tell her about Jace... I wasn't sure how I was going to react.