"No... Please don't..."
Ariana seemed to be able to guess Duchess Hermine's request. She knew it would be a favor that involved Zayn, her beloved son. And yet, she felt a strong reluctance to agree. She had already invested too much in her relationship with Zayn, and she feared the consequences of crossing that line further. The thought of being the one left broken was unbearable. She was at her limit.
But as if knowing what Ariana was afraid of, Duchess Hermine grabbed her daughter-in-law's hand.
"Don't tell me that you didn't care about him, Ariana. Do you lie to yourself because you're afraid of getting hurt?"
"I have my own goal that I want to achieve, and I'm sorry Mom, but his love is never one of them." Ariana doesn't want the woman to expect too much from her, so she tells her straight.
"So you won't be by his side forever?"
