Chapter 170

• PLAN GOING SOUTH ON THE FIRST SCENE
• We saunter back into the castle, to the smiley faces of our parents around the table. Their loud hums as Damian and I take our respective seats beside each other as reserved for us halt. From the look on their faces, they ought to have debated a lot in our absence, and I hope it is nothing as insane as this—the marriage agreement. If they were crazy enough before to come up with something as absurd as this marriage arrangement, I don't even want to speculate what else they can come up with. Perhaps the number of grandchildren they want to have? Beh!
• I throw a quick glance at Papa. His expression doesn't look so optimistic. It is nearly flat, and I understand why. He probably thinks I chose the choice he gave me. It makes me wonder, though. If he was okay health-wise, and if Damian came clean on time, this would be such a beautiful gathering, right? This lying jerk would conceivably be slipping the second engagement ring on my finger right now. It would have been a blissful event, with everyone happy. I wish that was the case, but too bad. Just too bad. He had to ruin it all. Remind me why I am still wearing his ring. I should have slapped it in the face before we walked back here, right?