Annoying Future Father-in-law.

"I guess it is a wonderful coincidence, father." The silver-haired man responded to the question of Mr. William.

Father? Did he call him father? Seraphina asked herself with her eyes still wide at the horrible surprises these men have been displaying for her since she bumped into them. 

What a bad timing today. Seraphina further lamented in her head. But wait a minute. Don't tell me this silver-haired man is my future…no, no, no. He's no future anything. You are not agreeing to this marriage, Seraphina. Seraphina thought and internally chided herself with a shake of her head to get rid of the stupid thoughts in her mind.

She stared at the silver-haired man for any resemblance to Mr. William but found none. The silver mask hid his face and obstructed her from seeing his whole face so she could compare and contrast, and maybe prepare her mind if she was going to marry an ugly man. But the man looked handsome.

There is no marriage, and there is no comparison here, Seraphina! What is wrong with you? Have you forgotten the man to whom your heart beats for? Stop thinking about this mysterious silver-haired and masked man because there is no marriage happening. Seraphina chided herself again and kept reminding herself that the marriage was not going to take place.

"Seraphina," Mr. William called, jolting Seraphina back to reality. Her brows scrunched in slight distaste at how Mr. William dropped the formalities and was addressing her like she was well acquainted with him.

Mr. William noticed the look on Seraphina's face and said, "We can drop the formalities since we will soon become one family. Isn't that right, son?" Mr. William asked his silver-haired son with a wide smile adorning his slightly wrinkled face.

Seraphina glanced at Mr. William with narrowed eyes. She took note of how he always asked the silver-haired man he addressed as his son for approval each time he said or asked a question. 

Was there their relationship really that of a father and son? It felt as if, Mr. William is seeking approval from his son. Seraphina thought and saw the man open his mouth to reply to his father.

Knowing he would speak in the favor of Mr. William, Seraphina quickly responded, "I don't think the formalities should be dropped as I am still a single lady."

Mr. William chuckled and said, "Do not worry about that. You will be my daughter-in-law soon. So it is not wrong if we got acquainted with each other now."

Seraphina negatively shook her head and replied to Mr. William's suggestion. "I'm good with just being called Lady Seraphina or Ms. Castiel, Mr. William."

Mr. William stared at Seraphina for a long while before letting out a loud laugh and spoke to no one in particular. "She is quite humorous." 

Turning to Seraphina he said, "Do not worry, I'll address you as wish, Lady Seraphina." The subtle taunt when he called Seraphina, Lady Seraphina didn't go unnoticed by her.

Seraphina felt anger sipped into her blood, rapidly boiling to consume Mr. William who she was glaring daggers at in her heart. How she wished she could slap the man in his mouth. But she couldn't. At least not now her family was greatly indebted to him.

Mr. William not knowing he was adding coal to a raging fire in Seraphina's heart added with a smile now. He announced to the hearing of everyone,

 "When you are officially a member of William's family and will be addressed as Mrs. William, I'll call you daughter, and you to me, father. Doesn't that sound beautiful, son?" Mr. William again questioned the silver-haired man, including him in the conversation that Seraphina hated. She knew he will always speak in his father's favor.

And as Seraphina thought, the silver-haired man said, "It sounds more than beautiful, father." His words made the smile on Mr. William's face widen more, whereas it made Seraphina want to poke the eyes of Mr. William, especially the silver-haired son of his who never for once had stopped watching her.

Seraphina stayed mute, refusing to reply to Mr. William and his crazy words. She felt as if they knowingly came here to annoy her. Who did they think will marry into their household? Not only was her future father-in-law annoying with his words, his son was even more than annoying with his silver hair and stupid mask. He was watching her and only spoke when his father asked for his opinion. Was he a doll baby?

With each passing second Seraphina felt her blood boil in anger directed towards the father and son duo. Not wanting to stay there else she mistakenly smacked someone's face out of anger, Seraphina tugged on Lucy's hand so they would head back home.

She inclined her head to the side in a small bow to Mr. William and announced, "Mr. William, I'm sorry for bumping into you earlier. I'll like to be on my way home now." Her words sounded polite and ladylike, but one could hear the strained voice behind each word if they paid attention to it, which undoubtedly, the silver-haired man noticed that made him narrow his eyes on her with a smirk hidden behind his silver mask.

Mr. William waved his hand in the air at what Seraphina said. He shook his head negatively and expressed his thoughts, "You don't have to apologize. In fact, it is a wonderful coincidence to meet with my future daughter-in-law. So allow me to do the honor and send you home in one of my carriages."

"No," Seraphina blurted immediately in denial. "You don't have to bother yourself with such a menial task. I can go home myself and also my friend here." She dragged Lucy near her as she spoke, ready to bolt from there. The last thing she will do today was to ride with these men. 

"It will be my bad if I allow you to go home without using a carriage. If it makes you feel comfortable, my son will only accompany you. And also, you look as if you're in haste. Why not use the carriage? " Mr. William interjected with a knowing look.

The offer sounded tempting to Seraphina because she needed to be home before her parents but she couldn't accept it too. Her pride and stubbornness wouldn't allow her. She opened her mouth to decline the offer again when suddenly Lucy spoke up.

"Thank you sir for your kind offer," Lucy said with a bow as if she was also declining the offer. This made Seraphina raise her chin in pride directed towards her best friend which crushed as it came when Lucy continued to say,

"We would with all pleasure like to take the carriage as we are in a hurry to get home."

"What? Lucy?" Seraphina called in a hushed tone.

"We don't have all day, Phina. We need to get back before your parents if you want to keep the job a secret." Lucy whispered back to her friend, trying to make her see her reasons.

Seraphina pursed her lips with a small frown on her face. She didn't like this idea, but more than that, she didn't also want her parents to know about the job. 

A few seconds passed as Lucy waited for Seraphina to agree. When she did agree with reluctance, Mr. William clapped and said with a smile.

"There now. I can now feel at ease that my future daughter-in-law will go home safely. Please make sure they safely arrive home, son."

Seraphina felt the anger that had slowly dissipated return when she heard Mr. William call her his future daughter-in-law again. What was with this man addressing her with that stupid title? Perhaps his head needed some reconstruction. She thought and heard the silver-haired man mouth an okay with a bow towards his father.

Immediately, Lucy grabbed Seraphina's hand, leading her toward where the carriage was stationed. They walked behind the silver-haired man leaving Mr. William and Raymond who stood with a gobsmacked expression all the while the conversation went on between Mr. William and Seraphina.

When they got to the carriage, Seraphina hurriedly climbed inside so the silver-haired man wouldn't offer his hand to her. But unfortunately, in her haste to climb inside the carriage, Seraphina stepped on her dress making her legs get entangled with it.

"You will fall," The sliver-haired man warned which went unadhered to by Seraphina.

Seraphina being the stubborn lady she was, hissed and angrily flung her leg to free it from her dress but the dress refused to leave her leg.

 On the second fling, she realized that she shouldn't have hastily climbed the carriage and also shouldn't have flung her leg to free them from her dress. For on the last fling, her legs made her dress pull her from under her feet, and there she lost balance, falling backward and into the arms of the silver-haired man.