Taking one deep breath. He nodded and replied. "What I am trying to say is that they are not workers but a fiance for you. You're gonna select your fiance out of one of them today. Did I forget to tell you that?"
"..."
"..."
"..." The room stayed quiet for a while. Strangely no one dared to say a word. Both sides had their share of fear. Neither of them was prepared for the next thing that was about to come. Gathering up all his courage, knowing that it was important, Dexter took a deep breath and called for her.
"Baby?"
Grasping each and every single word once again in her mind, Ivy shouted at the top of her lungs. "What!!!!"
Dexter gulped harder. "..."
"What did you say?"
"Select your Fiance," Dexter repeated.
"You are kidding me right?" Ivy aggressively looked at her father.
"Of course not. I always told you that you are destined to be married off to another family. Why are you suddenly behaving like this?" Dexter asked casually as if nothing was wrong with his words or with his demand.
Ivy speechlessly looked at him. Rolling her tongue in dismay, she smirked hard. "Because that was just nothing but a joke to me when you said that! Why are you suddenly saying all this to me? I am not understanding you at all Dad!"
Ivy was stunned to her core. How could this happen to her all of a sudden? In fact why? Nothing makes sense to her.
"It's not a sudden thing, baby. It was always decided that you would select your fiance from those four leaders' families. You are already 18. I think it's a good age for your engagement."
"Good age my foot!" Ivy shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Baby it's only right for you to get married to one of these families only. After me and your brother, only your fiance will have the right to protect you. He will always stay beside you like us." Dexter added with a face, full of smiles. And that smile irked Ivy more and more.
Hearing all the nonsensical talk from her father, Ivy unbelievably looked at her father. "Are you being serious here Dad?"
"I can't be a more serious baby." This time he firmly replied, as if each and every word means a lot to him.
"Stop calling me baby when you are doing this to me!!! Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to you? Is it that hard for you to take care of me? Is it that important for you to appoint a guardian for me all the time? First you then, brother, and now some so-called fiance!"
"Ivy-"
"Moreover, how is that related to my sudden engagement plans? Why from nowhere are you telling me this now? You could have told me earlier or yesterday or any other time. But now? When we are about to go downstairs and meet your guest? What are you even thinking Dad? I can't believe you."
"I-"
"I wanted to say Happy birthday to you with my happy-go-lucky face, but no! You don't deserve it! So take my angry wish. Happy Birthday!!! Now get out!" Ivy said as loud as she could.
"Huh?" Dexter gave a confused look at Ivy. He wanted to hold her, tell her how wrong she is and how much he loves but controlled himself with all his might.
"I said Get out at once Dad!" Saying that Ivy started pushing Dexter outside the room angrily. She couldn't bear to see him anymore. Her breath got all uneven with all her frustration.
"But wait- Anna-" Before he could say another word, he was already outside the room and the door was closed too. He regretfully looked at the door. Shutting his eyes for a while he said nothing.
'Sorry baby, but I had to do this for you.' Dexter thought to himself.
"What are you doing here standing like this?" Oliver asked as he passed by him in the corridor.
"I was thrown out of her room," Dexter replied with a deep sigh.
"What did you do?" Unbothered by his words, Oliver asked again.
"Just showed her those photos."
"Ahh." Oliver understandably nodded. "You should have done that by this morning already." He sympathetically added.
"My greediness to see her one more moment sent me here," Dexter said in a depressing tone.
"Well, you are greedy. No doubt." Oliver affirmatively nodded again and walked away.
"Brat, I will kick your ass one day!" Dexter shouted at Oliver.
"What did you just say!" Hearing that, Ivy opened the door immediately.
"Huh?" Dexter scaredly looked back. Seeing Ivy's red face he instantly ran away.
***
"I can't believe he is doing this to me! I mean who would do this to her own daughter? Only if he told me about this yesterday, I would have left this place long ago. But now? Why? I was just about to meet those losers and wouldn't even know that my dad is trusting my future without my permission to be one of them! Dad, I am really not going to forgive you for this!" Ivy kept murmuring to herself as she put all the clothes and the rest of her necessities in her bag.
Ivy was about to change her clothes when she heard the knock on her door. "Ivy! Baby, we are getting late. Will you come out now?" Oliver called for her.
Ivy pursed her lips. She wanted to change her clothes before leaving, but now she has no time for that. Remember she didn't even get the chance to take the money and the card from her friend before leaving.
Because of the instant change in plans, Ivy just took the money she saved up all this time on her own as she went out of the closet room and close the window before answering Oliver. "Yes, brother. Just give me ten minutes more."
Saying she didn't wait for Oliver's reply before jumping out of the window in her gown.