CHAPTER FOURTEEN: DECISION
Upon returning home, all eyes were on Ciara, eagerly awaiting her reaction. She could sense the curiosity and anticipation radiating from everyone, including her parents. Summoning her courage, she spoke up and said, "Well... I think she likes me." Her mother then asked, "What about him?"
"I haven't met him; he left for a journey," she replied quickly and her grandmother, Lady Mirabelle, sighed softly before standing up and moving closer to her, gently holding her hand and said, "I heard everything from your father and am very sorry that you have been going through all these but Ciara, I want you to know that our family has more to lose than to gain from your marriage to royal family. Yet, we have still accepted it. However, I have made up my mind that I will not spend the rest of my life watching you suffer and force you into that marriage. My dear, all I ever wanted was to see you happy and smiling. So, I will do everything within my power to ensure the engagement is canceled."
Upon hearing this, Ciara quickly responded, saying, "I'm truly grateful that you care about me and have made this difficult decision for my sake, Grandma. But honestly, I don't want our family to face any troubles because of me. Canceling the engagement would bring severe punishment upon our family, and I do not want that. So, I will handle it myself." Mirabelle told her that there was no need for her to bear such a heavy burden at such a young age and Vivian quickly interjected,
"Ciara, you have to listen to your grandmother. Do you understand how difficult it was for us to make this decision? But we did it because we all care about you." As Ciara looked at Vivian, she could see a smirk on her face but decided to ignore it and then turned to her grandmother, insisting on the marriage. Her mother and father also urged her to follow the family's decision. As everyone spoke all at once, Ciara finally burst out, "I am not going to cancel the engagement because I love him."
Immediately, silence enveloped the room, and everyone stared at her. She continued, "Mother, I am ready for anything, whether it's training or any challenges. I am willing to become the perfect lady that everyone will admire, including the Crown Prince and I promise to protect this family and I will never disappoint you all." She said this with a smile. Everyone continued to stare at her, particularly her astonished parents, who were amazed by the sudden change of heart.
Leonard turned to Clarissa, who sat beside him, and asked, "Is it possible to suddenly fall in love with someone you once despised?"
"I have no idea either," Clarissa said staring at Ciara in awe
***Edward's Mansion***
Vivian screamed in anger as she got home and started breaking things apart. She angrily turned to Eugene and slapped her hard which makes her fall down and tears streamed down her face as her mother's madness had begun again.
How could you let her fall in love with him when you were right there with her? Are you this useless? You should at least do something good for me since your father can't do anything in his miserable life, am not asking you for much, am I?." Vivian said in anger
"What am I supposed to do? Should I cover her eyes when we don't even know who he was at first? Or should I force her not to fall in love with him? You always tell me not to get close to her, that she is dangerous and evil, and now you are blaming me for something else," Eugen replied as her heartache for being treated like a trash by her own mother. As Vivian wanted to hit her again, Edward entered and stopped her and then helped Eugene up,
"What do you think you are doing?" He yelled at Vivian
"I should be asking you that, what do you think you are doing to be interfering in my matter?" Vivian yelled back and then staggered to have her sit and bursted into tears.
"Why did I have such bad luck? My sister stole the man I was supposed to marry, and I ended up being given to this brute by my own father. Ciara should be my daughter, Leonard should be my husband, and I should be the future Empress mother. But here I am, stuck together with these two. What am I going to do? I am already doomed," Vivian wailed. Eugene wasn't surprised by all what her mother had said; she had been hearing it since she was born. Edward helped her away from her distraught mother while Vivian continued to cry.