Arletta Jessica McDowell POV
"I have my suspicions. Perhaps Dad has planned something bad for you, Sissy." Ben answered my question with a serious look.
I could not comment yet, because what Ben said seemed strange. Dad was annoying, and I often wished for him to die quickly because I could not stand his authoritarian behaviour. Despite all that, it never occurred to me that Dad would do something crazy to us.
"Did you think so?"
I still did not dare speculate further. Dad's attitude in the dining room did show some irregularities because he never discussed my marriage.
"Yes. I was thinking about it. The red flag I noticed was the way he talked about your relationship with Sammy, and he suggested you must break up with him if he was not serious with you. Dad is crazy, but everything he said when we were about to have breakfast was beyond logic."
Ben was smart and analytical. He was indeed a great guy. It was a good thing, yet a blessing, that I had him as my only brother! If Ben had inherited Dad's madness, I would have killed him!
"I was thinking the same thing, but what makes Dad have to do that?"
I did not want to jump to conclusions if I had not found evidence or witnesses to support Ben's suspicions.
"I still do not know, Sissy. You have to be careful because Dad has warned you to give an answer in three months."
Damn! I had forgotten about Dad's threat, but as soon as possible, I remembered it again because Ben reminded me. Why did Dad want me to get married? Maybe he wanted to set me up with someone just like in the novels or movies?
I could only sigh heavily. Well, I never wanted to be born into this family. Err, I mean I did not want to have a crazy father like Rayner. Dad had been making so many demands on his children that we could not anything even argue. Living in this mansion was like living in hell!
"I have no idea. Hopefully, Dad is not that bad, but we all know what he can do."
What could I say? I could not make any accusations, even though suspicions were already arising in my heart, let alone Ben who felt it first.
"Be careful, Sissy. I will try to look into it, even if it seems impossible."
I nodded, out of respect for his opinion. Ben and I did fight sometimes, but not as badly as with Dad.
"Thank you, Ben. I am tired of all of Dad's actions, especially since he was already asking about marriage. It was beyond my imagination because that was a sensitive and serious topic."
None of my peers are married yet. Most of them prefer to stick to their studies and part-time jobs. I have never heard them talk about a long-term commitment, and none of them talk about when the right time to get married was.
"You are not alone, Sissy. Dad also forced me to get into business administration and management, while I wanted to major in chemical and physical biology." Ben began to pour out his feelings, and I just listened.
Sometimes, all we need is someone who is willing to hear all our stories without judgment. That was what I did for Ben, and he did the same.
"When did Dad force you?" I asked as it was a topic I had never heard before from Ben.
"Two days ago, before you went to his office, Sissy," Ben replied with a troubled face. I felt sorry for my only brother because, since childhood, he had always received the same treatment from his Dad.
"So?"
I wish I could do more for Ben and me. Our lives were very complicated, and not everyone could understand. I thought to myself, how long could I hide my identity from Sammy? He did not know about my extraordinary family, especially Mom. Mom was not an ordinary woman and housewife.
"I refused and Dad was furious. I did not give a fuck and left him alone."
Wow! Ben was very brave, and I appreciated the action by whistling once. My brother smiled bitterly, probably because he remembered that bitter event. I did not blame him.
"That was great! I wish I could do it too." I praised Ben because he deserved it.
My only brother walked towards me and I just watched him. Now Ben was standing on my right. Ben was taller, so I had to look up while he looked down. "We would better chat in your room, Sissy. Here, even walls have ears."
"Okay."
We walked back, and Dex was still in my arms. Arlan's face suddenly appeared, which annoyed me so much that I almost swore. Why did that bastard's face always appear at unexpected moments? I needed to find a psychiatrist soon so that it could not interfere with my daily activities, including sleeping.
Ben, Dex and I arrived in front of a room. I opened the door, and it opened by itself. We entered the room, and my brother closed the door.
I walked to the left, where there was a rectangular wooden table. There was a long sofa and two single sofas placed on the left and right sides of the table. When I got there, I sat on the long sofa and then put Dex on my lap. Ben came over and chose to sit on the single sofa on the right.
"Sissy. May I talk something serious here?" Ben opened the conversation, which made me frown.
"Go on. What would you like to talk with me?"
I was curious because Ben rarely acted like this. My brother always talked about everything, including girls who tried to get close, but never asked formally like this. What had happened to him?
"Were you and Sammy happy during the relationship?"
What? What was going on? Why was Ben suddenly asking about my happiness with Sammy? Had Mom told him to find out about my change in attitude yesterday, so he assumed that it was because we had a fight? I would better see where this conversation going.
I laughed spontaneously in order to distract Ben, and it turned out that my efforts were indeed successful. "What is so funny, Sissy?"
"You are the funny one, Ben. Do you have a crush on a girl, so now you want to know what it is like to have a girlfriend?"
Ben shook his head. "I have not thought about that kind of thing. I am asking because I have noticed that you are sometimes happy, but at other times you seem annoyed."
He was right. Sammy could be fun at times, but at other times he could be a real pain in the ass!
"Dating is not always fun, Ben. Sammy often fusses over little things, so we fight a lot."
"Hm... is that really it, Sissy?" Ben did not seem to believe my answer just now.
"So, what do you want to know?" I deliberately provoked Ben's curiosity.
"Have you and Sammy doing-"
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