"Wait, what?!" Adele exclaimed looking over at her Dad who just looked away.
She gave an inaudible laugh of disbelief. "Dad, what the hell is she saying? It's total gibberish, right?" She asked but the chairman kept his gaze away from hers.
"Daddy, look at me," she spoke in a surprisingly calm tone.
"Look, I'm so sorry, pumpkin. It's just...." The man was saying.
"What exactly is she on about? That's what I want to know. Who's being married off? And to whom exactly?" Adele asked, confusion etched on her pretty face.
"The thing is, ADL Global Group is this close to collapsing. And though the Chairman hates to admit it, the truth is, we. Need. Help. Luck seemed to be on our side cause someone contacted us with a proposal."
Adele drank in all that was being said by Lucy, her eyes pinned on her father's. She couldn't understand a thing.
With how close she was with chairman Marino, she found it hard to believe that she wasn't informed. The company was falling and he didn't think to tell her about it?
Sure, she knew absolutely nothing about business and the likes but at least she'd have tried looking for a way to curb the situation. That was what family does for each other, wasn't it? Support one another no matter how huge a problem it was.
She was beyond disappointed in her Dad. But that wasn't the problem now. The issue was, someone knew of the trouble ADL was facing and decided to use it to their advantage.
"What proposal was given?" Adele asked lowly. "Getting married to a stranger in return for his help? Is that it?" She asked, sounding slightly angry. For all she knew, he could be anybody. A rapist or even a serial killer. Was she supposed to live with someone she knew nothing about? No effing way.
"Well.... Not really," Margaret mumbled, shoving a forkful of burrito into a mouth. She picked a mouth wipe, dabbing it against her stained mouth.
"Truth be told, you weren't initially involved in this," she spoke after swallowing. "I was the one he wanted to marry," she admitted.
"So if that's the case, what does it have to do with me? Don't tell me he changed his mind," Adele spoke, a frown plastered on her face.
"It has everything to do with you because she isn't even ready for marriage talk more of marrying someone she doesn't even know. No one knows how he looks like, he could be an ugly looking frog for all she cares," Stanley butted in, wearing an arrogant smirk while supporting his sister.
"Oh so I'm ready? I'm perfect for marrying an unknown stranger who could possibly look like a deformed frog? Are you all kidding me right now?"she spoke angrily.
" You heard him, sis. I'm not ready for anything called marriage okay? "Margaret yawned boringly as though it wasn't Adele's life being put on the line.
"And I'm ready? Excuse me, but does maturity come with free dumbbells for you both? I'm 24 for fucking Dracula's sake. My career as a doctor has only just begun. I can't jeopardize my future for marriage. Dad, tell them, "Adele spoke in frustration.
All Margaret ever did was party all night and shop all day. She was a definition of the word, jobless. If she wasn't ready to sacrifice her jobless lifestyle at that moment, was it even sensible for Adele to sacrifice her entire existence either? The more Adele thought about it, the more annoying the whole scenario became.
" I'm sorry to break it to you, but your Dad doesn't have a say in this. The board's on his neck as it is and this.... This is the only way out, "Lucy spoke as a matter of factly.
" I'm not saying I'm totally against the idea. What I'm saying is, I can't and won't be marrying anyone. Marriage isn't a part of my plans for now. Don't you get it? "
" Listen here sweetie. You don't get to make the decisions here, I do. You however have a very few choices. It's either you marry this man and keep your perfect life as a doctor to yourself, or.... You refuse and I'll make sure your career is left of nothing but shreds. I suppose you wouldn't want that now, would you? "Lucy spoke, a triumphant smile on her face.
Adele could see her world crumbling down. Her life as a doctor was everything. Saving lives within the four corners of those white rooms was everything to her. She couldn't imagine how fucked up her life would be without it. Hw could they want to take it away from her like that? They knew she wouldn't let it happen.
" Dad, are you seriously going to do this? You're going to join them in pushing me into grief? You know I won't be happy!"Adele clasped the chairman's hand with hers.
Chairman Marino sighed. " I'm so sorry, pumpkin. But my hands are tied. I'm as helpless as you are, "his words made Adele's heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to her at all, but when has life ever been fair to anyone? To think that Margaret's Fate was pushed..... Forced on her and all they had to do to succeed was put her career on the line. It hurt so much.
" So... What's it going to be, Adele? Marriage or your career? "Stanley taunted and Adele just wanted to rip the smug grin off his face.
"You're asking me? Does my opinion matter here? You've all made the decision for me, "Adele replied bitterly, letting go of the chairman's hand.
"Pumpkin...." He made to touch her.
"Don't...." She moved away.
"You've said your mind and I totally understand. Your company needs to survive and the happiness of your daughter happened to be the sacrifice that you CHOSE to offer. I get it," she passed him a forced smile.
Her heart was bleeding, slowly breaking, but the last thing she would do was give them the satisfaction of seeing her tears. She wouldn't let them see just how much they got to her.
"It's not like that. I didn't have much of a choice," the man tried bailing himself out.
"But did you even try convincing Margaret to marry him? Did you think about how this decision of yours is going to ruin my life?" Adele asked and the chairman fell silent.
"Yeah, I thought so too," she mumbled and the man looked at her apologetically. Margaret scoffed.
"Why the hell are you even apologizing to her? It's not like she's your daughter or something. She's just an outcast here. A pest that was only lucky to have been adopted into this family. Always was, always will be,"Margaret chortled.
"That's enough Margaret! I won't....." The chairman was saying.
"I don't need you to defend me. It's not like she's wrong anyways. My place here has always been that of a mess cleaner. I think that point has been proven clearly today. I'll take my leave now," she got up, picking her bag and ignoring her father's pleading gaze.
"Thanks for the dinner," she managed to say firmly before turning around and walking away.
"Remember you're getting married in two weeks!!" Margaret called after her.
"Yeah, and his name's Giovanni Ricci! I hope you like him even though he might be deformed!" Stanley also yelled out and behind her, she could hear the faint laughter of mockery coming from Lucy and her kids.
Adele's hold on her handbag tightened as she increased her steps wanting to get out of there.
So that was what they saw her as? A doll without feelings? Without emotions? Ever since she had been adopted, that family made her choices for her. If it wasn't for the chairman who loved her dearly, she probably would've been acting. The chairman fought for her and that was why she had a chance with medicine as a profession.
But now....? This case was different. It was marriage and hell, it was a life changing decision. Once she was in it, there was no way out. No escape. She'd be trapped, and was that the life she wanted for herself? No, it wasn't.
She wanted a home filled with laughter. Filled with joy and above all, filled with love. She wanted to have all what she was deprived of as a kid. Someone to love her unconditionally, someone to comfort her when she was down, someone to share all of her problems and successes with.
She didn't want a stranger for a husband. She didn't want to be married just on paper. She didn't want to live under a depressing and silent roof for the rest of her life.
Why wasn't anyone else seeing it from her point of view?
Adele made to open the door to her car when Lucy's voice stopped her.
"Adele," she called making the girl turn around.
"What? Haven't had enough to laugh about?" She cocked a brow.
"I was serious about what I said earlier. Your marriage or your career...." Lucy was saying.
"And I've heard you. Repeat that one more time and I'll just throw up,"Adele lashed out and made to get into her car.
"I'm not finished, Adele. Listen, Julio has been taking care of you since your adoption. He never let you lack anything. He made sure you were protected from those who wanted to hurt you, me inclusive. This is the one time you can ever help him out of a problem, will you really turn a blind eye and pursue your own happiness instead? That man LIVED for you, Adele. If it were me, I'd go to heaven and back to help him out. You may decide to still remain stubborn even with your career on the line,but remember, Chairman Marino loved you more than his own kids. Don't make him regret it, "Lucy spoke before turning around and leaving.
Her words left a huge weight in Adele's heart. What on Earth was she supposed to do now?
This was a critical situation, she only hoped to make the right decision.