Chapter 35--Disapproval

AMBER

The air around us is thick, and I struggle to breathe as Ryan’s words hit me like a large boulder. The music in the background seems to fade out and all I can hear is silence. My eyes go wide and I slowly turn my neck until my eyes are on Ryan. He does not return my gaze however, but keeps his eyes fixed on the man and woman that sits in front of him.

These are his parents.

The realization hits me like a slap in the face and I turn to gaze at them once again. It is only then that I can finally see the resemblance.

Mr. And Mrs. Holden are impeccably dressed, with Mrs. Holden adorned in a designer outfit and jewels that sparkle in the light. Her hair is perfectly coiffed, and her makeup is flawlessly applied, giving her an air of superiority.

Mr. Holden, on the other hand, is dressed in a tailored suit that fits him like a glove. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with a chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes that seem to bore into my soul. The way he carries himself exudes confidence and power, leaving me feeling small and insignificant.

As they keep their eyes fixed on me, their noses wrinkle in distaste, making it clear that I don’t meet their standards. I can practically feel their judgmental gaze scanning me from head to toe, assessing my worthiness to be in their presence, or to even be beside their son.

My heart sinks and I cannot hold my gaze any longer. I look to the floor, still feeling their gaze on me.

“This is...Your fiancee?” Mr Holden’s grating voice cut through the air.

I flinch, unable to move as all attention is on me now.

“Yes father, this is my fiancee. You wanted me to introduce her to you, and here she is.”

I hear the sofa creak and I am prompted to shift my gaze away from the floor. Mr Holden is up from the couch and giving Ryan a rather unreadable look.

“Ryan, a word in my study...Now.”

I can feel the reluctance as Ryan let’s go of my hand. His father is already marching away from us, his shoulders tense. Ryan gives me one, last look and I can see a hint of worry in his eyes.

He snakes his hand around my waist, pulling my body flushed against his as he whispers into my ear, “Stay close, and...Do not interact with Jasper.”

Ryan floats away from me and takes long strides after his father, leaving me in a daze. My attention is drawn back to Mrs Holden, whose gaze is on me.

She stands up from the sofa, taking small steps as she approaches me. Her eyes trail my body from head to toe. I swallow hard. She is sizing me up.

“You—“

“Mrs Holden there you are!” another woman chirps, cutting her short.

I snap my head back to see a plump woman sauntering over to us. She begins to converse with Mrs Holden and use this opportunity to slip away from them. As I make my way out of the large living room, I breath a sigh of relief.

My lungs felt choked up in there.

My eyes are met with a broad hallway and I soon realise that I was long. How great. Why don’t I just explore then? And this will be a good opportunity to sort out my thoughts about the whole situation.

I start wandering around the mansion, trying to find a place to clear my head. As I walk through the lavish hallways, I can’t help but notice the luxurious decor. Every room I pass by is adorned with crystal chandeliers, oil paintings, and marble floors. It’s all so grand and intimidating.

I finally stumble upon a balcony overlooking the garden. The cool breeze and the tranquil surroundings bring me some comfort. I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves.

As I look around, I notice the beautifully manicured gardens below me. There are rows of blooming roses, colorful tulips, and a serene pond with a fountain at its center. I can hear the gentle sound of water flowing from the fountain, and it’s so soothing.

I close my eyes and let myself get lost in the peacefulness of the moment. For a brief moment, I forget about the party and Ryan’s parents. I feel like I could stay here forever and forget about all my worries.

But then I hear footsteps approaching, and my peaceful escape is shattered. I turn around to see Ryan’s mother, a cold expression on her face.

“So this where you went. I spent ten whole minutes looking for you,” she says, her tone clipped and icy.

“Mrs Holden, my apologies, I wanted to introduce myself to you, but you seemed preoccupied,” I manage to blurt out.

Mrs Holden eyes me as she struts towards me. “You don’t have to introduce yourself, however, I do have some questions for you.”

Oh no, the tension is back again.

The air is laced with pressure and I can feel beads of sweat pop up on my forehead and right below my chin.

“Of course, I’ll be glad to answer anything,” I reply, flashing a courteous smile.

“How on earth did you get my son to propose to you?”

A blow, in the gut, that is what her question feels like. I blink, trying my best to maintain my composure.

“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand the question.”

“I’m sure you understand what mean,” she says as she starts to walk around me. Her heels click on the marble floor, the sound filling the air and increasing the tension. “From the way you look, it is rather glaring that you are not of high status. How did you bewitch my son into falling in love with you?”

I clench my fists, my teeth gritted as her words incite anger inside of me. “I did not bewitch him,” I say firmly. “Ryan and I are genuinely in love with each other.”

Mrs Holden scoffs. “Love? There is no way my Ryan fell in love with a penniless girl like you. I know exactly what you want.”

She takes a few steps towards me, until we are a few feet apart. “Admit it, you are only with him for the money.”

My blood runs cold as I stare at her, wide eyed. She thinks I am a...gold digger? The words rings in my head and I am still trying to process it. I furrow my eyebrows at her, feeling a mixture of confusion and anger.

“I am not a gold digger. My feelings for Ryan are genuine.”

Mrs Holden chuckles and takes a few steps back from me. “You do not have to lie. I know girls like you. You’re not the first one.”

My heart sinks even further. From the moment I saw the way they looked at me, I knew that I was not liked. The pompous air around them gave it away. My fists are still clenched by my sides and my eyes fixed on the woman in front of me.

“Just so you know, I will never let my son get married to a penniless, gold digger,” she spits.