Give and take

My eyes widened on their own when I took the image of Amelia.

I cleared my throat quietly and looked away before I was caught ogling her.

You can't blame me. She was really a sizzling beauty who will blind your eyes. Such beautiful genes were her family's.

While mine,......... Never mind! Sorry mom, dad.

"Amelia dear, come. Sit here." He pointed to the space near Samuel.

She sat there with a smile that made me swoon over her. There was really a mesmerizing thing about good girls like her.

Even though it hurt me to see the three of them sitting like a family, it also looked like a comedy.

I mean, Mr. Foster, my Ame, and Amelia were sitting in a space where it was like a closed space.

Such a scene I was blessed to witness!

I mean any one of them can go sit on another couch. Right?

I controlled the urge to snort by biting my lip.

"Why did you call me, Dad?" She asked Mr. Foster while eyeing me for the first time since she came here.

She narrowed her eyes looking at me intently as if she was trying hard to recognize me.

Yeah! Right! She doesn't have any reason to remember me.......

"Yeah! Why did you call her too?" Mrs. Foster's irritated voice came toward me.

I just bit my lips hard to not let any profanities out.

She was really testing my patience.

"There is important news I like to share with you all. I am sure that nobody likes to hear that. So, Obviously, you won't do as I say. But you all will do what I will say without any protest. I won't take any protest or any rejection in this matter." He said folding his hands in front of his chest speaking in a tone that guaranteed the final say.

Everyone looked alarmed at his tone rather than his words. He looked intimidating honestly.

"Am I understood?" He asked narrowing his eyes at everyone at the lack of an answer from everyone.

Everyone nodded gulping audibly, even Amelia too. I just looked blankly at them.

"So, What is it, James?" Mrs. Foster asked him in a soft tone that was laced with visible concern.

My eyes widened at realizing that Mrs. Foster was capable of speaking this way too.

Maybe only for her family........

There was a dramatic silence like you would see in the movies that will indicate the storm that was sure to come.

And this was exactly that.

"Samuel will marry Ms. Mason." He said in a blank tone which...... in short he deadpanned with no emotion in his voice and face.

My Ame began choking on his saliva while everyone shouted 'WHAT' so loudly that my ear became almost deaf. While all this, Mr. Foster remained unfazed.

I shook my head thinking, 'Such a stone!'.

When finally Samuel finished coughing dramatically, he shouted even louder.

"WHAT THE HELL?" He shouted, his eyes nearly bulging out of sockets looking like a comical character at his father.

But Mr. Foster still was sitting like a statue. How man! I want to learn it so bad!

"I can't! How can I, Dad? You know that I am engaged to my Amelia. Hell! You are the one who arranged this engagement. How can you do this to......" He started lamenting while his father don't even listen to it.

Mr. Foster's eyes were looking intently in the direction of Amelia. Her eyes were downcasted but we all can see that she was trying hard to control her tears.

But, a small tear betrayed her. It flowed down her cheek.

I instantly felt for even coming back here. She was a poor soul! She hasn't made any mistakes to deserve this or be involved in this mess.

When I looked at Mr. Foster, a sad smile came to his face like he was hurting to even see her in this state.

While his son, my Ame was still lamenting his nonsense.

To save him from embarrassment and hoping to give some peace to the confused soul sitting next to him.

I looked straight at him. Sensing some gaze on him, he turned to me.

I just raised an eyebrow as if questioning his nonsense.

That's it.

He stopped talking.

He narrowed his eyebrows at me as if telling me to shut up non verbally.

I just sighed at his idiocy and motioned to the figure near him with my eyes.

When he turned to her, the realization set in him. His face morphed into an expression of pain.

And it pained me........

"What about me, dad?' Amelia asked in a strained voice not able to lift her head.

"You will be my daughter and daughter-in-law always, dear! What question is this? They will just be married temporarily only on papers. You are his wife, dear. " As soon as those words came out of his mouth, a big lump was formed in my throat and my eyes burned to warn me of the sure arrival of the unwanted tears.

I gulped that lump in my throat and looked at the faces in front of me.

Samuel looked at me with an eyebrow raised like questioning my earlier painful expression.

I just coughed awkwardly not able to meet his gaze. Thankfully, Mrs. Foster came to my rescue, not intentionally though.

She would never.......

"Then, why do you want to marry our son to this rude girl?" She asked, her tone filled with venom.

I want to laugh at the childish choice of her words.

I just rolled my eyes.

Thankfully no one noticed.

"There is a reason." He said simply.

"Which is?" Surprisingly Samuel's sister spoke for the first time. By the expression on her face, I am dam sure she was enjoying this mess like a story.

"Did you all remember the attack on Amelia last week?" He asked with a painful expression, his eyes on Amelia who was looking at him intently.

Suddenly, everyone's face and expression turned sour and hurt.

And Samuel was worse. He was literally on the edge of tears.

When I wanted to comfort him, I realized that I will not be in that place ever when Amelia place her hand on Samuel's hand, smiling warmly.

My heart pained at the sight of their hands.

I looked away immediately.

"I hope you know the reason for that. And I am sure that I said that I will find a solution. didn't I?" He asked with his eyes now on his beloved son.

Samuel just nodded not knowing what to say.

"This is the solution." He deadpanned again. This man and his way of communication can really go to hell!

"This marriage will end as soon as this problem ends. That's it." He finished his explanation on his part.

"But, We can find another solution." Samuel began to convince his father.

His father just gave him a look which clearly depicted that this is the only way.

"But, Why her? We can hire another one. Anyone but not her." Samuel brutally yelled looking directly into my eyes with venom that threatened to kill me anytime now.

Tears brimmed my eyes. So, that's how much he hates me. He was ready to marry anyone other than me even if it was temporary.

So, I can't marry him temporarily. That's how worse he was seeing me. He was slowly killing me with his venom-coated words. His every word was spreading like a slow poison all around my body. And I am sure that I will be mentally dead even if I come out alive from this marriage.

"Yes! Why her?" Mrs. Foster actively supported him.

It made me feel worse even more.

"Why not her?" Mr. Foster asked with amusement dancing his voice.

While I was here hurting, he was enjoying it.

How dare they treat me like a plaything while I was here in front of them?

I showed my anger to them with my polite words and smile.

"Excuse me, Foster family! If you are not aware, then let me say it. I am still here. I am not a doll or a plaything for you speaking like that. I came here at the request of Mr. Foster. Not on my own. I promised to support him in this mess. Since I have the manners to respect you all even after your behavior, I strongly demand my respect. If you can't give that, then I don't mind giving you the same medicine." I said smiling widely as if warning them with it.

While everyone looked at me shocked, Mr. Foster was smiling happily! What the hell!

"That's why!" Mr. Foster announced smiling widely like he was proud of his selection. What a stupid family!