"You are … a lecturer? How old are you now?" asked Anna in surprise.
"This year I turn twenty-four," Aubrey replied kindly.
"Wow, that's great. In the past, my dream was to become a lecturer. But unfortunately, when I got pregnant with my first child I was very drunk and until I got pregnant with Liam I couldn't go anywhere, just lying on my bed from pregnancy to delivery." Anna answered with a sad face.
"It's all right, madam. Being a mother is also very noble, even more, noble than a lecturer." Aubrey answered sincerely. In her eyes, Anna is a mother who loves her children very much and is very humble. Aubrey couldn't bear to refuse this matchmaking.
"Good morning all." In the midst of a fairly warm chat, suddenly Liam came, the man Aubrey really wanted to avoid. The woman with golden blonde hair stood up to welcome the young master of this house.
"Liam, it's exactly right that you came. We have Aubrey and her father just arrived. If you're not busy, come join us." Anna approached her youngest child who looked shy and embarrassed.
"No mommy, I'm here because I forgot to bring something and I'll take it now," Liam said politely to his mommy and didn't dare look Aubrey in the eye in front of the crowd.
"Liam, have a seat. The arrival of Mr. Jerry and his daughter also has something to do with you." Phil said. Anna looked at the child gently and nodded asking Liam to come to sit with them.
"In that case, okay." Anna gently pulled her son's arm to sit on her left. While Aubrey was on her right.
"Okay Jerry, what do you want to say?" Phil turned his face to Jerry who immediately smiled hesitantly.
"Phil, Anna, my daughter, and I have come here to tell you something. This is about an arranged marriage involving our two children. Liam and Aubrey." Jerry paused for a moment and then took a deep breath with his eyes on Aubrey, as if to say, "Aubrey, now it's your turn to say everything."
Aubrey caught the code from her father. The girl with golden blonde hair took a deep breath before starting to open her lips to speak. Liam watched Aubrey's movements out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm sorry if my arrival this morning seemed sudden. Regarding the arranged marriage, I sincerely apologize if I… refuse." Aubrey said with her face looking straight at the people present, Liam was no exception, whose expression was flat.
"If I may know, what is the reason you refuse this arranged marriage? Is it… because… the future husband you are going to set up with you is… William?" Anna looked sadly at the face of the beautiful woman sitting on her right.
"No, not at all. Not because of him or anyone. But, because I still want a career. I still want to pursue my professorship title, I still want to grow my coffee shop business, I still want to work and save to have my own house. I'm afraid, by getting married, all of that I will not be able to get." Aubrey said as she looked back at Anna, the very gentle and motherly woman.
"Oh so just because of that? My dear, you can still get all that. We will not hinder all your plans to get all the career paths you want. We would never have our daughters-in-law cooped up at home all day." said Anna.
"Oh, you are such a good mother. I'm glad to hear that. ' answered Aubrey.
"Okay, okay, now please drink first." Aubrey also nodded her thanks and immediately took the cup containing the drink that had been provided.
" I just want, to hug a grandchild before I die." Said Anna sadly.
BYUURRRRR!
Aubrey reflexively spits out the sweet tea that was still in her mouth. The word 'grandchild' made the beautiful woman so shocked that she accidentally vomited the water she was drinking.
"Oh sorry sorry, I didn't mean to." Aubrey looked panicked and took a tissue to wipe her clothes as well as Anna's clothes which were slightly blown off. "I'm sorry madam. I was shocked to hear madam's words so I accidentally spit out a drink." Aubrey said innocently with shame. Liam smirked at her. Anna felt very comforted by the panicked behavior of her future daughter-in-law.
"That's okay. Don't worry, I'm fine. But, your clothes got dirty. Even though you're going to teach, aren't you?" Anna answered while taking the tissue in Aubrey's hand.
"Oh, how did you know?"
"You come in formal clothes like that, anyone knows that after here, you'll definitely go straight to work." Answered Anna.
"Oh. Sorry, madam, if that's the case, I'll let ask permission to you that I can go home first to change clothes before going to campus. Dad, I'll be home first." Aubrey was about to step outside but suddenly Anna grabbed her arm and led her somewhere.
"Come on follow me."
"But, madam …"
"Come on, just come with me." Anna grabbed Aubrey's arm and forced her to follow her. The three men who were left could only stare in silence.
Apparently, Anna took her to her private room.
"Come here, I have a lot of beautiful clothes and I've only worn them once. Would you like to wear it, if you don't mind?" Anna said with a wide smile on her mother's face.
"But madam, these clothes are expensive. I can't afford to wear it." Aubrey replied, waving her hands in front of her.
"Is it because I used secondhand clothes that you don't want to wear them?" Anna looked sad, her good intentions were not accepted by Aubrey.
"It's not like that, madam. Some of my clothes were also from my mother. All my mother's clothes I keep in the closet and I wear it from time to time. So it doesn't matter to me. What I want to ask is why madam is so nice to me? I haven't made a decision whether or not to marry William." Aubrey replied with a guilty face.
"Aubrey, William is a good boy. He has many advantages over its disadvantages. As soon as I saw your figure, I immediately believed that William had found a life partner who could match his nature. Try to go out with him before getting married, so you can get chemistry ." Anna said with a pitiful face and body.
"Excuse me, if I may ask, what disease does the madam have? I can see that the madam is not suffering from any pain. And you looked healthy. " Aubrey felt this very unpretentious woman looked healthy inside and out. It's just that her eyes are weak and seem less passionate.
"Actually I've never said this to anyone other than my family. But, I see that you are a good child and obedient to your parents, so I will tell you. It started when I gave birth to my first child. And every time I got pregnant I would suffer from such pain that I couldn't breathe, my heart was beating so fast, and I couldn't eat or drink for several days. Lately, my condition is getting worse every day. The doctor also doesn't know what kind of pain I have, because all the X-rays, CT Scans, Labs are fine." Anna explained everything while sitting on the edge of the bed with her head down.
Aubrey came over and knelt down on the floor in front of Anna.
"Madam, since I was little I have not had a mother. No one cares if I'm sick, sad, difficult, and so on. Seeing you, I immediately felt that you are a very good mother and role model for your children and also a very loyal wife. Will you treat me as a child?" Aubrey looked at Anna with eyes full of sincerity and a very gentle smile.
"You… you want to consider me this sick woman to be your mother?" Anna asked not understanding.
"Why not? That's also if you don't mind. Forgive me for being presumptuous." Aubrey clasped Anna's hands together. The soft skin of the woman with blonde hair could feel how fragile the woman's body was. With all the possessions she has, children, and a healthy husband, she should be happier than other people who are less fortunate.
"I won't go wrong. You are indeed suitable to be my William's wife. He needs a wife like you who is very brave, firm, and not spoiled." Answered Anna.
"Oh, can we not talk about matchmaking anymore? I still haven't agreed to get married." Now it was Aubrey's turn to look sluggish after hearing Anna talk about matchmaking again.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. All of this must be too sudden for you. But can you grant this dying woman just one wish?" Anna smiled softly as she brushed the strands of hair that fell on Aubrey's cheeks behind her ears.
"What's that? I hope I can grant it." Aubrey replied with a furrowed brow.
"Will you be William's lover for the next three months at least?" Aubrey furrowed her brows at the strange request. A mother wanted another daughter to be her child's love but only in three months.
"Become William's lover? Isn't this the same as getting engaged?" Aubrey took a deep breath.
Without the two women knowing, William was listening to their conversation from behind the walls of his mother's room. His heart was not wrong. William was determined to make Aubrey his wife and no other girl.