Before Arwen could say anything, the call was abruptly cut off. It felt strange to her that, for her mother, preserving the friendship with Aunt Beca was more important than her own daughter's life. Her mother would rather have Arwen stay in a loveless marriage for her entire life than take the time to explain things to her friend.
How could her mother be like that? And to her –her own daughter?
But with all this, Arwen realized one thing: no matter how determined she was, her mother would never allow her to make this decision on her own. Even if she decided to cancel her marriage with Ryan today, tomorrow her mother would find a way to force her back into it. The cycle wouldn't stop until Arwen left her mother with no leverage to use against her.
As this thought ran through her mind, Arwen's eyes darted around. Since it was already evening, close to the end of the working day, there was not much of a crowd around.
There was no way she was returning home today without handing this matter. She glanced at her watch, then looked around again, muttering to herself, "There is still time, Arwen. You can do this." She thought to herself as she turned to find someone.
And that's when she spotted someone. She might have chosen to ignore him before, but right now, when she was desperately searching for someone suitable, she couldn't dismiss him any longer.
She knew what she was planning to do was not right. But at the moment, nothing seemed better. She just couldn't let her mother dictate her life again and force her to stay with Ryan.
With that thought, she took a step ahead, murmuring to herself as if chanting some sacred mantra to build her confidence. "Arwen, you won't be able to set yourself free without doing this. It's just putting your signature next to his. Since no strings of emotions are attached, there's nothing to worry about. He works at the magistrate's office; he must be a decent guy. Asking for his help to put on a pretense won't hurt much."
As she was thinking and taking steps forward, Arwen failed to notice someone else heading her way. His gaze had noticed her line of sight, and the way it darkened was enough to tell that he had already read her thoughts.
"Ah–" Arwen yelped when she suddenly stumbled. She didn't realize how it happened, but someone's firm grasp on her hand prevented her from falling.
Maybe it was her recovering legs. In her anxiety to find an escape, she had momentarily forgotten about them and had tripped.
"I am sorry. I didn't see you," she apologized without even looking at who had helped her. But then her gaze met with his magnetic dark ones, stilling everything around her. Arwen never knew the chestnut brown orbs could hold such depth in it until today. One could easily spend a lifetime exploring them.
But there was something in his gaze that felt familiar to Arwen. Her expression softened as she asked, "Do I know you?"
Aiden's expression froze before it slowly hardened. The way his jaws flexed told Arwen that he was controlling his anger. But wait, did she make him angry?
She frowned not understanding for a moment, but then, realizing the way she was holding onto his hands, she could guess why.
He might have misinterpreted something. Arwen quickly steadied herself on her feet before pulling her hands away from him. "I am sorry, I didn't mean it. Thank you for saving me, though. If it weren't for you, I would have surely fallen." She explained quickly before moving her fingers to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ears.
Aiden's gaze followed her movement. "It's fine," he replied, looking at her deeply. Under his gaze, Arwen felt the same familiarity again, but this time she held herself back from asking him.
Giving him a polite nod, she reminded herself of what she was supposed to do before turning to look towards the magistrate's office. But to her dismay, the man she had seen earlier was no longer there.
Her brows furrowed in frustration as she desperately looked around for him. But no matter where she looked, that man was nowhere in sight. Did he leave?
"Are you looking for someone?"
Arwen heard Aiden ask, and she turned to look at him. There was an edge in his voice that she didn't notice. Shaking her head, she said, "No, nothing. I mean no one."
If she didn't get a man today, she would have to come back tomorrow to get married. It would be another hassle but that was the only way of escape left for her now.
As Arwen sighed inwardly, she realized something and looked up at the man before glancing behind him. Seeing no one around, her eyes sparkled, but she kept her hopes in check. After all, she still needed to be sure.
"Are you also waiting for someone here?" Arwen asked, and Aiden looked at her with a gaze of interest that Arwen easily read. She quickly explained, "I am asking because you are standing at the Civil Affairs Bureau with no woman by your side. So –"
"Do I need a woman by my side when I come here?" he asked again, and Arwen shrugged nonchalantly.
"Usually yes, because couples come here to get their marriage certificates."
Aiden smiled, and that small curl of lips dazzled Arwen for a moment. But then she blinked and caught his words in time.
"Then I don't see your fiancé around either. Are you also waiting for someone?"
Arwen felt a little embarrassed. He had all easily made her realize that she was invading his personal space. Awkwardly, she scratched the corner of her brows and then said, "I was waiting before but now, I am not. My fiancé abandoned me here. He didn't come."
She said with such ease that it amused Aiden. Staring at her, he asked, "So, what do you want now?"
"The marriage certificate." Arwen replied without any formality.