"The young master of the who, Mother?" She narrowed her eyes on Evelyn. Somehow, she was starting to resent her mother, and he never wanted that.
"You are going to marry him, Anna. This is not up for discussion. You have turned down everyone else, but luckily, he is the best choice for you," Although she felt chills run down her spine from Anna's cold gaze, Evelyn still said it.
"I already hate you, mother, don't make me resent you. I am begging you. Please, don't make me," Anna said, her expression changing as she spoke, and by the time she was done, her face was blank, showing no expression at all.
Evelyn was taken aback, stunned by those hurtful words. How could her daughter say such things to her? After everything she had done to raise her to the woman she is today, these were the things she had to say to her?
"You ungrateful…"
"Mother…" Anna interrupted her, her expression and gaze sharp. "I am begging you, just leave me be, please," Despite her anger, she tried to be as polite as possible. Evelyn was, after all, still her mother.
Evelyn stared at her daughter. She didn't know whether she should feel disappointed or angry. How could she? How dare she say such words to her?
"The Dillons will be here for breakfast tomorrow. Make you are available," she said with finality. "The date to announce the engagement will be set as well."
"I have a question, Mother," Anna said. She leaned against the headrest, but her eyes strained at her mother. "Were you forced to marry my father?" Evelyn's eyes narrowed at her, but Anna didn't back down and maintained eye contact.
"That has nothing to do with this…" Evelyn started but was interrupted again.
"But it does. You are so obsessed with an arranged marriage as if it has become a part of you," Anna said, only to receive a sharp glare from Evelyn. "I will be there for breakfast, but about that engagement, let's not discuss it now." Anna picked up the file from the bed and reopened it, ignoring Evelyn's presence.
"You can't ignore me like this, Anna. You can't ignore the engagement either. The Dillons will secure your future and that of our business."
"My marriage will not be another business contract for you to sign, Mother. Not as long as I have a say in it," Anna replied without looking at Evelyn.
"You still have feelings for that boy, don't you?" Evelyn said as though just realizing it now.
Anna glanced briefly at her but didn't utter a word.
"You can't be serious, Anna!" Evelyn stared incredulously at her daughter. "Annabelle!?"
"Mother, please stop," Anna felt a headache coming. They had gone round and round in circles, dragging the same conversation for a very long time now. Their conversations have always circulated similar topics, and she was tired of hearing them already. "Just go and let me be "
Evelyne took one look at her, left the room and banged the door behind her without uttering another word.
**
Back at Empire City,
Lloyd stood, leaning against the door as he watched his mother Vivian put Pearl to sleep. He had a soft smile on his lips as he admired the sight before him. He was grateful to her, even though she was his mother, she was not convicted to take care of Pearl but she had been there every step of the way. Not just for him, but for Pearl, too.
He pushed himself off the door frame and walked inside. Getting to her side, he hugged her and kissed her temple. "Thank you, Mum," he uttered while she blushed and pushed him away.
"Lower your voice or you'll wake her up," Vivian said in a warning tone.
"And you'll still be here to put her back to sleep. That's just how caring my mother is," he said. His tone started playfully but took a serious edge at the end.
Vivian sighed in defeat. He was right. She would stay back to lull Pearl back to sleep if she were to wake up now. "You and I need to talk," her eyes returned to the sleeping Pearl, emotions flooded them, but she managed a subtle smile. "Come on now. This isn't the right place to talk."
Lloyd looked at her already having ideas of what she wanted to talk about, but he still nodded his head. "Give me a moment, I'll be with you," he said and she hummed before leaving.
Once Vivian was gone, Lloyd sat at the edge of the bed, holding Pearl's little hand in his much larger one. He gazed at her face and couldn't help thinking back to when she was born and the night everything changed. She looked too much like her mother for him to ignore. In the end, he leaned and kissed her forehead. He couldn't find the right words to speak and that was the only way he could convey his emotions even though she was sleeping.
He left the room and found Vivian waiting in the lounge area. "Mum," he called as he sat beside her.
His mum, Vivian looked at him with a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "Lloyd…" she began but went silent again causing a frown to appear on his face. "Don't you think it's time you moved on and got married?" She looked at him but his face had only a subtle frown on it. "Pearl needs a mother. I might be here for her, but it's not the same as having a mother."
"Mum…" Lloyd began but she spoke before he could utter any more words.
"I am her grandmother–It's not the same as having a mother," she stressed, now pleading with him. "She needs one. And you need to move on. Annabelle is gone and you know that. It is time you broke the shackles you have put on yourself and move on. There are many lovely women out there. Find one to marry and make yourself and Pearl happy."
"Do I look like I am not happy?" Lloyd asked, although he asked that, he didn't know the answer himself and needed her to tell him. He sounded like a mama's boy even in his own head but who cares?
"You are not," Vivian's voice came, resolute without any hint of doubt or hesitation. "You are not happy, Lloyd. I have seen and know when you are happy and this…" she pointed at his face, "...is not your happy face." Vivian moved closer to his side and held his hand. "It is time to let her go and focus on yourself and your daughter."
"It is not that easy to just forget and move on," he replied. He knew holding on to the past like that was becoming a curse in his end but what could he do? Anna was his daughter's mother, he could never forget her.
"You don't have to forget her, but you can move on," Vivian said in an understanding tone. "And you can start by letting go of this." she said, picking up a necklace from beside her.