The Persistent Woman

~A Few Minutes Later~

Sitting across from her mother at the dining area, Anna looked so desperate trying to explain the situation to her.

"Mum, I promise you, it's not what you think."

Mrs. Carter waved the marriage license in the air with a ridiculous look. "I have a marriage licence that proves the legal union between you and some random man. Tell me, why do you think it's not what I think?"

For several seconds, Anna was unable to come up with a substantial answer that could save her from the impending doom.

Her lips kept moving as her gaze stayed on her mother. She was at a loss on what to do or say next.

As it was, her silence was already beginning to infuriate her mother and now, she still had the confidence to maintain eye contact with her like she wasn't guilty of anything.

"Anna!" Mrs. Carter slammed the marriage licence on the table with sheer anger as Anna cringed in fear.

"Mum," she managed to mumble one word and then kept quiet again.

Mrs, Carter fisted her right hand and took in a deep breath before exhailing the next second. She met her daughter's gaze and said to her as calmly as possible. "Anna, don't tell me that the first thing you do after regaining your sight is to marry a random man. Please, I am begging you. Explain this…" 

Mrs. Carter rasied the marriage licence in her left hand again and continued, "…to me so your poor mother will not end up suffering from a heart attack. Huh?"

"Okay, I will even if I am not in the best position to do that. But Mum, I am actually married…"

The second that statement reached Mrs. Carter's ears, she inhaled shortly, but Anna kept going with an increased tone this time around just in case her mother planned to cut her words off.

"… and it wasn't my intention to keep this from you. I-I was just waiting for him to explain everything by himself."

"By him, you mean, Roy Kim? Your husband?" Mrs. Carter retorted with a disappointed gaze.

Anna almost cringed at that link. It felt really weird for her to be married and then refer to some random man as her husband, but knowing that she would probably suffer a worse fate than now if her mother were to find out about the hidden agreement, she comported herself. 

"Y-Yes…" Anna stammered and finally looked away.

"Okay," Mrs. Carter nodded as she withdrew the marriage licence. She never meant to return it to Anna until a proper explanation had been given. But on the other hand, Anna was afraid that her mother might actually tear that red book apart or even burn it up, so she stared nervously at it.

When she stood up and followed her gaze to the red book in her hand, she said to her calmly, "Don't worry, I will feel better destroying you than this precious book."

"Mum, what happened to me being your precious daughter?" Anna asked after her.

"If I really had a precious daughter, she would have been able to understand my feelings and not make decisions that will make me worried given everything we had gone through together in the past."

Having said her piece, Mrs. Carter walked away. "Help me set the table to meet your husband."

A deep fell off Anna's lips as the light in her eyes dimmed. She could tell that her mother was very disappointed with her, and it was never her intention to hurt her.

She really didn't think things properly before deciding to marry Roy. Truthfully, she acted selfishly.

Letting another sigh, Anna rose to her feet and pushed the chair with the back of her legs before walking out in the direction her mother had left.

It was already a surprise that her mother did not react heavily which was unlike her, and instead of wallowing in guilt, it was better to start making it up to her now before Roy arrived.

Speaking about him, his flight should have landed by now.

---

At the dining area, Mrs. Carter glanced at the clock before fixing her gaze on Anna, "When is he coming?"

"I think we should have our lunch first," came Anna's response as she already picked up her spoon.

Her mother scoffed. "Let me tell you something. If he bails on you, this marriage will be dissolved first thing the next morning. Got that?"

Unlike Minister Kim who has a reputation to maintain, Mrs. Carter didn't care much about public image.

That scene that Minister Kim could not cause at the director's office the previous day, she will be taking care of it the very next day.

At least it won't be that bad for in-laws to help each other and it will be quite a thing of celebration after Minister Kim appreciates Mrs. Carter for a job well done.

After lunch, Anna rushed into her bedroom and picked up her phone to dial Roy's number a few times, but they all went into voice mails as the line was busy.

Anna almost face-palmed her forehead. "Why is he not answering," she muttered as she tried to ring his line again but just then, he called her back.

"Who is this woman that has been so persistent in trying to reach me?" Roy asked with a smile in his tone.

"Thank God you called back." Anna stopped pacing up and down and went to sit at the foot of her bed. "I think you should get here quickly before my Mum throws me out of the house."

Instantly, Roy sat up. "What happened?" he inquired with slightly furrowed brows, indicating his seriousness which Anna could only tell from over the phone.

"She found my copy of our marriage licence more than an hour ago," Anna explained.

There was a few seconds of silence before Anna heard Roy asking someone at his end, "How many minutes away?"

"…"

"What floor is your apartment?" Anna heard Roy asking her and quickly recovered. As soon as she gave him the number, he said to her, "I should be there in 12 minutes."

"I'm waiting," Anna said shortly before her hand fell to her side. She released another big sigh of relief before deciding to go back out to inform her mother about the call.