"I want to offer you a wife. Me!" Ava had thought of thousands of ways to pitch the offer to him. In the end, it turned out they were all for nothing. Because with the rate at which their conversation was going, she knew he wouldn't want to listen to any story from her. So it's best to just go straight to the point rather than going round in circles.
God! What's his deal with staring, he still hasn't reacted yet. Well, he did, when she gave him the 'blow'..... His first reaction was.... To stare. Who was she kidding, he didn't even change his facial expression, let alone reacting. How was she supposed to know what he was thinking?
Meanwhile, the balcony's intricate stone railing glowed softly in the fading light, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene. The sound of laughter and music drifted from the ballroom right behind the balcony's closed doors, a stark contrast to the tense silence between Ava and Ethan.
He blinked....
She blinked....
They blinked....
He stared....
She stared.....
They stared...
He stared again..... And that's how the cycle was, with none of them looking away, just staring at each other. However, Ava had other plans, she had no time to waste on this 'staring contest'. She had waited for three years, and now that her only alternative is here, why bother delaying. It's not like she had any other alternatives whatso– he interrupted her mid sentence.
"Who on earth told you that I was in need of a wife? And even if I was in need of one, why would I want to marry a woman like you?" He replied in a cold voice after what seems like decades.
Finally! He finally said something, bringing her out of her chaotic mind once again. Well, she hadn't expected that question. No one told her that he needed a wife though. Hmmm... What is she going to say now? Jeez! She couldn't think of anything. But what on earth was he trying to imply with his second question?
Ethan was still staring at her, waiting for her response. Honestly, he was surprised when she told him about her motives of meeting with him. But there was absolutely no way he'd allow her to read him again. Fine, this wasn't the first time women would want to be Mrs. Hall. But they all used one skill in which they were perfect in – Acting. Pretending to be innocent and all.
But this Hamilton woman, who 'stalked' him, 'lectured' him and didn't even bother to put on the facade of an innocent woman wants to marry him. He scoffed. What made her think he'd choose her over those beautiful ladies slash 'actresses' who were waiting in line for his attention. He scoffed again. It's not like Ava wasn't beautiful, it's just that.... He couldn't pinpoint what the problem was.
"No one told me that you were in need of a wife, but who doesn't need a wife when they're at an eligible age to get married? And what do you mean by a woman like me? That's a rude thing to say." Yes... She was pissed off with that sentence. Fine, if he doesn't want to marry her, he should just decline with a simple "no" or "not interested" or.... Whatever! He could have really replied with any other thing but that. Hmph!
"What will I gain by marrying a woman like you?" He rephrased his sentence, ignoring her first question. Ava's mouth went 'o', so that was what he meant. She thought, while putting on a sheepish smile.
"Do people get married for gains?" She asked confusedly. She had always thought that it's only arranged marriages that they usually get married for gains from each other. It turns out all wealthy people think the same way, tsk. But who was she to judge? She also wants to get married to him for his resources, his strong backing, his protection and so on.
"Look her, Hamilton," he said while putting his two hands in his pants pocket."I. Am. Not. In. Need. Of. A. Wife" he continued while putting an emphasis on each word. Ava felt a surge of frustration.
"Aren't you going to listen to my reasons first?" She retorted, but instead of getting a reply from him, what she got was his retreating back, as he turned around to leave the balcony.
As Ava stood there, reeling from Ethan's rejection, she felt a spark of determination ignite within her. 'No! No! No! This can't happen, how on earth am I going to make him agree?' She thought, while crying internally.
She couldn't think of anything, and while her mind was preoccupied with thinking of a solution, he left. As Ethan turned his back on her and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoed through the balcony, leaving Ava feeling defeated and frustrated. And just like that, he disappeared into the ballroom along with the sound of music and murmurs that came from the ballroom.
"He left? Wow! He truly left. Just like that! Do I have to look for someone else who can provide me with a strong backing? No! Ava Hamilton, your parents raised no quitter. I won't back down!" She said with conviction as she clenched her hands into fists while glaring daggers at the closed balcony doors where Ethan walked through like she was glaring at him instead.
She left the balcony as well.
___________________________
Have a nice day
.....Purplenim...