"Yes, Uncle Robert," Bri said, smiling faintly "We already talked. Don't worry. Everything is fine. We're fine."
William's head lifted slightly. Fine? They were far from fine.
He had not expected her to cover for him. This was her perfect moment, her chance to call him out, to say what she really felt. Yet, instead, she protected him. He looked down at his untouched dessert, a strange heaviness in his chest.
The truth of the matter was that she didn't want to marry him. That much he knew.
When she found out about the arrangement three months ago, all hell broke loose. He had overheard Grandma Eleanor talking to his parents, and from what he gathered, she was very shaken by the news, was barely eating, and had to be hospitalized because of stress.
Was he really that bad of a choice for a husband?
The thought stung more than he cared to admit.
He, on the other hand, was thrilled when he first learned about the arrangement three years ago. Even at 22, he looked forward to the day she would finish college and finally marry him. Little did he know, he was the only one looking forward to the marriage, and even though she finally agreed to marry him, his ego was already too bruised.
William didn't know how Grandma Eleanor managed to convince and calm her to go through with the wedding, but as he had anticipated, on that day, one that should have been the happiest in their lives, Bri was a far cry from a happy bride.
Was going through with the wedding worth it?
Was there any hope for them, or were they doomed to stay in a dysfunctional marriage until death?
Robert's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Are you sure, Brianna?" he asked, his voice full of concern "Don't let him bully you, alright? You need to stand your ground."
Then he smiled faintly. "And onother thing. Call me Dad and Susan here, Mom. We're your parents now, after all."
Bri's eye drifted to Susan, who gave her an approving nod. "Sure, dad." She said, a big smile plastered on her face.
Eleanor chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "See that, Robert? The kids are fine."
Robert wasn't convinced. "Either way, William needs to find a way to stop those articles from being published," he said firmly.
The air relaxed a bit, until Jake suddenly replied, his voice sharp. "Or maybe," he said angrily, "he could just be faithful to his wife. How about that?"