The dining hall atmosphere became heated, despite the cold temperature outside. Anastasia couldn't seem to stay seated after she heard everything.
"I'm not going to marry him, Mom, Dad," Anastasia declared, her frustration clear. "I mean it. I don't even know what he looks like, and I'm sure he doesn't know me either."
"What year is this? Arranged marriage? Sounds like b**lshit," Bella muttered under her breath. Although her voice was low, it was clear to their ears. She was probably doing that just to provoke their parents' anger.
Flynn's gaze was sharp, and he tried his best not to be angry with Bella's attitude at that moment. "I know it's hard for you to accept. Perhaps, you can meet him first and then think about it…"
"So, you're telling me that he chose me?" Anastasia asked, just wanting to be clear.
Marleen shook her head. "No, his mother. I heard she likes you."
"How so?" Anastasia quickly replied. "Mom…" Her voice shrieked as she grew more frustrated. "That's completely impossible. I don't know her, I don't know her son, and, Mom… I haven't even met them once."
"Can you please think about it first?" Flynn's voice sounded like a plea.
"Dad… is this final? I mean, it sounds like I don't have a choice from both of your reactions." Anastasia looked straight into Flynn's eyes, then she turned to Marleen for an answer.
Flynn looked at Marleen, then he stood up, letting out a weak sigh. "Just take your time to think…" he walked past them and headed upstairs, leaving Anastasia with no answer.
"Mom…" Anastasia turned to Marleen, hoping she could answer what was on her mind.
"We'll talk tomorrow, and Bella, you too…" Marleen said, standing up.
Bella pouted, crossing her arms and stomping her foot. "Why? Do you need to break my heart more?" she whined, glaring sharply at Marleen. "It's not fair! You always think about Anna first! What about me? No one cares about what I want!"
"Everyone loves you," Marleen's voice wavered with sadness. Since marrying Flynn, she had always tried to think about Bella's needs even more than her own daughter's. She had feared this kind of reaction might come from either Flynn or Bella, but she never thought she would hear it today.
Bella huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, right! If everyone loved me, you wouldn't be trying to marry off Anna to Ethan!"
Marleen sighed, feeling the weight of Bella's words. "Bella, we're just trying to do what's best for everyone. It's not about loving one of you more than the other."
Bella shook her head furiously, tears welling up in her eyes. "It sure feels like it, Mom. It sure feels like it." She turned and rushed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Marleen watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt and sadness. She turned back to Anastasia, who looked equally troubled. "We'll sort this out, Anna. I promise," she said, but the promise felt hollow in the tense atmosphere.
=====
"Ah sh*t..." The pain in Daniel's head hit him like a freight train as soon as he opened his eyes, making him curse. Last night he had spent drinking until he was wasted with his buddy, Leo. Slowly moving his body, he realised there was a hand wrapped around his waist. Since it was covered, he couldn't see who it was.
Carefully, he uncovered the blanket from his body and peeked under it. "Damn it!" he shouted, reflexively kicking Leo out of the bed.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Leo yelled, hitting the floor with a thud and rubbing his sore bottom. "What the hell, man?!"
"Wake up with a hand wrapped around me?" Daniel shook his head in disgust, "I almost thought that I was too wasted and even brought a girl back."
Daniel's eyes scanned the room, taking in the mess from last night. Empty bottles and crumpled snack wrappers were strewn about.
"Seriously, what happened last night?" Daniel asked as he rubbed his temples. "Did we really get that messed up?"
Leo, still nursing his sore backside, grumbled, "I can't remember the last time I drank that much."
Daniel shot him a look. "Well, it's not every day you get into a drunken debate about arranged marriages."
Leo chuckled, "You were on a roll. I thought you were going to start a revolution or something."
Daniel groaned, trying to sit up. "Yeah, well, I'm feeling the aftermath of that little revolution right now. What time is it?"
Leo glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "It's just past noon. You've got a headache, a mess to clean up, and your family's drama to face. Fun times ahead."
Daniel winced at the thought. "Great. Just what I need." He took his phone from the bedside table and checked the missed calls. "Mom…mom…dad…more mom…" he muttered, scrolling through the notifications. He then proceeded to the messages. Checking one by one, he stopped at a name. "Shit! I forgot!" He checked the timestamp of the message, sent yesterday at nine thirty in the evening.
"Crap! She waited that long?!" Daniel realised his forgetfulness had caused trouble. "Should I message her to apologise?" he mumbled to himself.
"Yes, you probably should…" Leo teased with a laugh. "What's up?"
Daniel shook his head. "Nothing, it's just that I asked my staff to wait to report details to me, and I forgot."
"Ah, what a bad boss," Leo teased with a grin. "But hey, speaking of bad decisions, you know what's also a tough spot? This whole arranged marriage situation."
Daniel raised an eyebrow and then burst out laughing. "Suddenly? I guess alcohol really did mess with your head. You went from calling me a bad boss to discussing my arranged marriage just like that?"
"Well… sometimes I can't even understand how my brain works," Leo chuckled.
Daniel glanced down at his phone. "I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now, and even if I were, Bella would never be on the list. She's more like a sister to me."
Leo shrugged. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to talk to them. You might be surprised. Or at least clear things up so you don't keep stressing about it. Are you still waiting for your first love who might not even show up until you are fifty?"
The 'first love' words that came from Leo's mouth made Daniel raise his head. "Why fifty?" He held back his laughter; Leo was always so random.
"Man's life begins at forty, right? So, by fifty, you'll have had a whole decade to get your act together," Leo teased.
Daniel chuckled. "You know, you might be onto something. But seriously, fifty? I'd be an old man by then."
Leo laughed. "Old man or not, love doesn't care about age. Besides, by then, you'll have perfected your grumpy old man routine."
Daniel's smile faded as he slowly lowered his head. "I might not need to wait until I'm fifty."