Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Like, a lot.
"Stop that."
Summerine jumped involuntarily at her father's tone, and his glare had her unclenching her fists in a hurry. George thought the mannerism unladylike and unbecoming, and she had never had the courage to tell him that she never meant to do it deliberately.
It only happened when she was anxious, and unfortunately for all of them, there was nothing more anxiety-inducing for Summerine than being in the presence of her parents.
George surveyed their surroundings with satisfaction. "You've done a very good job, Annie."
Their entire home had recently been featured by a local morning show, and her parents' costly remodeling had garnered praise from its hosts.
I've never seen 'ornate' done so tastefully!
The way they've woven red silk in every room is impressive!
And those Oriental lanterns, oh my!
To the whole of San Antonio, their penthouse apartment was a visual celebration of their Chinese-American heritage.
But to Summerine, it was nothing but her gilded prison.
And the only way to escape it...was that.
Everyone in the living room tensed at the sound of their front door opening and their butler showing their visitor in.
George suddenly gestured to Summerine. "Is it new?" he asked his wife under his breath.
"It's for an upcoming season. It hasn't even been released."
"Won't make a difference if he doesn't know that."
"Oh, he'll know," his wife said with confidence. "Once their engagement photos are released, the press won't be able to stop talking about it. This dress cost us many, many favors."
Summerine was used to her parents discussing her as if she wasn't there, mostly over their disappointment with the way she looked or didn't look. The way she talked or didn't talk. Et cetera, et cetera.
But what she wasn't used to at all was how business-like they sounded. It was as if all she was to them was an asset to sell to the highest bidder, and maybe...
Maybe that was the only reason they even had a child in the first place?
Their butler walked in, and Summerine's heart started pounding.
"Mr. Ryu Harcourt, sir."
She cast her gaze down without knowing why, and her world threatened to spiral as she listened to her parents welcome their visitor like he was a member of royalty.
What do I do?
It was one thing to disobey her parents for the first time in her life. But to do so in front of a stranger?
"And may I present to you our lovely daughter?"
Countless fears invaded her mind upon hearing George introduce her. She could only think of two types of men who would see nothing wrong with buying himself a bride.
A dirty old man with more money than morals.
Or—-
A dirty younger man, also with more money than morals.
"Summerine?"
She tried to lift her gaze, but the thought of spending the rest of her life had Summerine's throat closing up.
It almost...it almost seemed...as if she was about...to...faint.
Now or Never, Pt. 2.
I MEAN IT THIS TIME, Summerine swore as she made eye contact with her reflection. She was dressed in a bridal gown that its designer intended to launch in the upcoming Fashion Week in Paris. It was an intricate creation of silk and lace flowers, and it was just so wonderfully made that it even created a magnificent illusion of Summerine possessing a lovely semblance of cleavage.
But even so.
What good would wearing a fairytale wedding gown do when she didn't even know a single thing about her bridegroom?
It was only three weeks ago that she had fainted at his feet, and Annie had thrown a glass of ice-cold water at Summerine's face to revive her.
"You could've ruined everything for us, you idiot," her mother had hissed.
"I—-I—-"
"You're lucky Mr. Harcourt is such a pragmatic man. He's already signed the contract. Wedding banns will be posted by tonight, and a notice of your engagement will be in tomorrow's papers."
And that was that.
Ryu Harcourt hadn't come back to their home since, and without any access to a mobile phone or the Internet, Summerine hadn't been able to contact him herself. The only recourse left to her was to muster the courage to stand up to her parents.
But each time she had attempted to speak, Summerine would find herself the object of their hard gazes, her courage would flee, and that was why...
It had to be now or never.
And so she lifted her chin and practiced looking serious in front of the mirror.
Because that was important, right?
She had to look serious to be taken seriously.
Right?
Summerine's heart started thudding as soon as she made herself imagine it was her parents standing in front of her.
Mother. Father. I want to speak to you.
Her knees quaked as she imagined the derision in her parents' gazes upon hearing this.
I mean it.
And I won't take no for an answer.
Rehearsing the words already had her stomach twisting itself in knots, but Summerine somehow found it in herself to press on.