“Gerald, I bought these fruits for you. I’ve already washed them, so come over and eat them!”
Giya set a tray of fruits down upon the coffee table, then took an apple herself and began munching on it as she watched the television.
Rather than a runaway fiancée escaping an arranged marriage, Gerald thought she looked more like she’d come for a pleasant holiday.
He’d returned half an hour ago. After helping Giya get settled in, he’d gone to take a bath.
At the moment, he wasn’t sure what to say about this relaxed, untroubled mood she was in. Regarding the luxurious suite he was in, Gerald had only mumbled some throw-away excuse so far.
His earlier attempt at theatrics had flopped, and now he was no longer in the mood. Imagine bringing it up out of nowhere…
Gerald took a seat. “So, about your engagement… I think it’s best to talk things through with your father. Certainly, you can’t keep running away from it forever. The trouble with his business will ease in time—surely it’s not worth sacrificing his daughter’s happiness forever?”
Anyway, if the Quarrington family was facing any financial issues, he could simply make an investment in their interests.
“I get that… but it’s not as simple as you think! Gah, I finally managed to calm myself down a little—could you not keep bringing that up?” Giya sulked at him.
Then, with a simpering smile, she said, “Gerald, I haven’t seen you in a while… Your skin’s turned fairer, and you’ve become so handsome now!”
“Is that so…” Gerald chuckled dryly.
That was when Giya’s phone rang. It was easy to see that she didn’t want to pick up, but after a moment, she did.
“What is it? I already said I’m not going back! Don’t try to find me, either! I’m not coming home until you call this whole thing off! There’s no way I’m marrying him! I don’t like a single thing about him! In fact, I despise him! And I don’t plan to get hitched so soon, whatever you say! I’m doing just fine over here! If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up!”
Giya tossed the phone down on the table, in abject misery.
Some moments later, Giya finished with her phone call, then came back.
Sheepishly, she said to him, “Gerald… they all know I’m with you right now. I didn’t want to raise a scandal, so I also told them that you’re my boyfriend. You don’t mind, right?”
Gerald shook his head. “Not at all!” What else could he say?
“Also, Tammy said she’d be swinging by in a bit. She’s got a relative staying in these parts—let’s all go out and have some fun together! I mean, if you don’t go, then they might start to think…” Giya was pleading with him.
“Alright, I’ll go!” Since he’d already promised to help her, he couldn’t very well refuse.
It was almost noon when Tammy arrived with a younger cousin sister—a high school girl from Mayberry.
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