53 I'll Make It Twelve Hours Tonight

"I'm scared, Jim. So scared."

Jim was quite confused. Few days ago, she was asking him for the marriage, and now she's retreating from it. He stood up, gently held her hand and led him out of the room.

He further led her out into the car and they went to a park nearby. He parked somewhere in a non - crowded area where all they could see were the big foliage of the lofty trees. He knew very well that such places would calm out whatever turmoil she had inside. He opened the windows to let the cool breeze in.

"Now, speak, I am here to listen."

Jim patiently said, holding back the urge to get mad.

"I am afraid of rejection, Jim. I am scared of humilliation." She said sincerely.

"I know very well that you come from a very prominent family. I am sure that in that very moment they would know about our wedding plans, they would object."

"They will curse and despise you for marrying your own housemaid." She laughed in mockery to herself.

"Not just a plain housemaid, but a pregnant woman from another man."

"Jim, your staining your high reputation with my sullied and broken dignity."

"Who would not jump for joy over that fancy wedding you offer? What woman would be so fool enough to refuse the glitters of that diamonds in her wedding dress? Who would not cry in anticipation to walk in that velvet aisle adorned with beautiful flowers? And who would not want to say your vow in the presence of hundreds as your witnesses?"

"I also dream of that wedding, Jim! But if that wedding would cause your downfall and would tarnish your reputation, I'd rather choose a peaceful wedding with only the two of us! What matters most is just the two of us!" Jia was already shaking in her last statement, tears were streaming down her face.

"Sooner or later, my family will know because I will let them know in the first place. But no one is going and will stand in my way, not even my father or my sister!" He gently replied while leaning back comfortably in his seat.

"Their happiness and satisfaction is not mine. I am entitled to my own choice and will fight for it even if it would mean my separation from their world. It is definitely not their right to judge what's wrong or right for me. "

"And I have long detached myself from them, don't you see? Have you seen anybody of them come into our home? Have you seen me attending their events in those six years we have been living together? " He made a hand gesture to emphasize his point.

"Mrs. Wayne, your worries have no ground at all and I am not fascinated with it. So, better compose yourself and behave because every minute you make in delaying the plan would make me increase the total value of the wedding cost."

Jia sobbed. This man's ideals is too overwhelming to believe. And she could never think of something good enough about her to be worthy of his affection and dedication. He sounded so unreal!

"Jim, what is in me that you have loved about? I could not understand! "

In the eyes of Jim, she was asking and acting so foolishly.

"I love you, silly girl, for all that you are. Don't ask me the details because I can't tell, my heart knows it all." Jim answered softly while leaning his back on the seat, eyes closed and hands folded at the back of his head.

"Can you hug me at least for thirty minutes?"

Jia said with pleading eyes. She was a bit annoyed at his being distant all throughout their conversation. He just stayed behind the wheel and looked so calm and relaxed while she was pouring her heart out already.

Still not moving, he replied. "If I do that, we will come back to the wedding planner? "

"Yes... You win." She pouted.

"Then, I'll make it one hour now and twelve hours tonight as a reward." With a big grin, he reached out and locked her in his embrace.