Shattered Calm

The rushing sound coming from the stairs made everyone at the dining table turn their attention there. Bella, who had a sour expression, headed straight toward Anastasia.

"Let's go, sis." She pulled Anastasia up.

The confusion in Anastasia's eyes was clear; she was hesitant but still asked, "Where to?"

"Let's go meet Ethan and tell him you're not willing to go through with this arranged marriage," Bella said. Her tone, although calm, had a pushy undertone that everyone could sense.

"Bella!" Flynn stood up, angry. "Stop acting childish!"

Bella huffed; hearing those words from her own father made her frustrated. "Me? Being childish? I'm just helping Anna. She doesn't want to go through with this marriage, and both of you are forcing your decision on us."

"And what are you to decide for her?" Flynn asked, his frustration evident. He had had enough of Bella's behaviour since yesterday.

"Oh…" Bella released Anastasia's hand and rolled her eyes as she thought for a few seconds. "So, I can't say a word in this decision because I'm nothing? Who am I to you, Dad? Ever since you married her…" She looked sharply at Marleen. "You've really changed."

"Mind your words," Flynn said sternly.

Bella scoffed, then laughed out loud. "I always minded my words before. I welcomed them. I never once mentioned Mom just to make her feel comfortable. I stopped being a needy child so I could become someone easy to take care of, and I left space for her and her daughter..." She paused, looking at everyone. "Never mind. I'll always be the childish one." Her eyes began to water. "I tried my best to accept this, but Dad… Ethan… Ethan… I love him so much that I can't let him be with someone else. Can you please reconsider?"

"You're not helping me right now, Bella." Flynn glanced at Marleen, who was looking down after Bella had let out all those harsh words.

"So, is she helping you?" Bella pointed directly at Anastasia's face.

Anastasia was startled by Bella's sudden change in attitude. She looked at Bella, whom she already thought of as her little sister, with sadness. "What's wrong, Bella? Don't speak like that to Dad." Her soft voice tried to reach Bella's heart.

"Huh? So now you want to portray me as a despicable child?" Bella's cute doe eyes were now full of hatred. "Let's be real now, Anna. You and Mom are really excited, right? Getting married to the son of a powerful family in this country, who wouldn't be?" she scoffed. "Since the day you stepped into this house, I tried to ignore this bad feeling and accept you, but a step will remain a step!"

"Bella!" Flynn shouted in anger.

"What?!" Bella didn't seem to back off. "I will make sure this whole stupid arranged marriage does not proceed. And Dad, why are you so eager to get her married to Ethan?" Her eyes shot a despicable look towards Flynn. "Do you like… get this?" She gestured with her hand, mimicking the sign of money, then smirked.

Flynn's eyes widened in shock. "You're really crossing the line. Are you doing this because you're not the one marrying Ethan?"

"Yes! Why not? I'd do anything to get him, but Dad… how about you? You still haven't answered me. What's in it for you to marry Anna to Ethan and not me?" Bella emphasised each word.

Flynn remained silent, unable to respond. Marleen looked at Flynn, also waiting for an answer. It was a question that had been on her mind ever since Flynn mentioned the Harrington marriage proposal.

Marleen had asked Flynn about it before, but he remained silent. She was deeply worried and stressed, trying to understand why Flynn had agreed to the proposal and what led him to accept it. Though Flynn had sought her opinion on the matter, his eagerness to agree to it made her wonder what was really going on. Was his company in crisis? Had Flynn made a poor decision by borrowing from a loan shark? Or perhaps he was offered something substantial just by marrying Anastasia off to Ethan?

"Don't I get a say in this?" Anastasia, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

All eyes were now on Anastasia, who looked more confused than ever. She continued, "I never said I agreed to this. I don't understand this whole marriage thing. It's so sudden. Can both of you just tell them I rejected their proposal?" She fixed her gaze on Flynn, waiting for his response.

"Can you please think about it first, Anna?" Flynn looked worried by Anastasia's sudden rejection.

"Dad…I've never refused anything you decided for me since ten years ago," Anastasia paused, gathering her thoughts. "But this is something I can't agree to simply because I'm grateful for everything you've done for me."

"No, I didn't mean you need to agree right away. Perhaps you could at least meet—"

"Marriage," Anastasia interrupted, "isn't something I can decide overnight."

"That's why I asked you to take your time," Flynn responded urgently, his desperation palpable.

"Flynn…can you just tell me what's going on?" Marleen asked, her tone pleading. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"

Flynn gave Marleen a vacant look, though the sadness in his eyes was evident. "I will tell them," he immediately replied, glancing at Anastasia. His decision to withhold the truth despite his clear desperation surprised everyone.

"No, stop, Flynn," Marleen said, rushing toward Flynn as he moved toward the door. "I really don't understand this. Are you really going to do this to me? To us? What is really happening?" Her voice trembled with confusion and frustration, reflecting her struggle to comprehend Flynn's behaviour.

"I'm sorry," Flynn said softly, rubbing Marleen's cheek gently. A faint smile appeared on his lips, but it did little to convey genuine happiness. "I realise now that I've been selfish." He turned to Anastasia and said, "I'm sorry, Anna. I'll explain everything to them, and you won't have to worry anymore."

As Flynn tried to reassure everyone, his phone buzzed urgently. He looked at the screen and his face tensed. "I need to take this," he said, his voice tight.

Marleen looked at him, worried. "What's wrong?"

Flynn didn't answer. He gave a quick, apologetic smile and rushed out of the house, leaving everyone confused and uneasy.

Bella, who was still not satisfied with all the things she heard, suddenly yelled, "Great! So great! Everything you said, Dad will listen!"

"I refused that marriage, Bella. You clearly heard me, right? What is wrong with you?" Anastasia frowned. She could feel a headache coming on as she couldn't sleep last night thinking about this messed-up arranged marriage.

"Refusing doesn't mean they will agree. Why don't you convince them? You love me, right? Convince them to let me be the one who replaces your place." Bella's shameless words made Anastasia question her ten years living with her. The drastic change in Bella's attitude and behaviour overnight really baffled her.

"Calm yourself, and when you get your sense back, then let's talk again," Anastasia decided not to continue with this conversation. She headed towards Marleen, who had been standing at the front door, and held her hand. "Let's go, Mom. You need rest. You don't look good."

"Anna…" Marleen's soft voice reached Anastasia's ear. "I have a bad feeling."

"Why?" Reassuring Marleen, Anastasia held her hand warmly.

"I don't know, but I surely don't feel good right now," Marleen said, clutching the collar of her blouse.

"I'm sure everything is okay. You don't need to worry. Just go and get some rest. I'll call you, and let's have lunch together." Once again reassuring Marleen, Anastasia rubbed her mother's shoulder.

Nodding, Marleen finally agreed. She weakly walked toward the stairs, but then the sound of rushed footsteps coming from the front door drew everyone's attention.

"Madam!" the gardener, Jim, shouted as he tried to catch his breath.

"What's wrong, Jim?" Marleen asked.

"Sir… Sir…" Jim's face was pale. "He got into an accident at the crossroad of our neighbourhood," he finally relayed the shocking news to the family.