CHAPTER 21
Rachel was hoping to thank him for the days off he gave her but he left in a hurry. Rachel had been looking forward to the opportunity to express her gratitude to her boss for giving her the time off she needed. She knew that it was unusual for someone in his position to be so understanding and accommodating, and she wanted to make sure he knew how much she appreciated it.
But when she got to the office, she realized that he had left in a hurry and she didn’t have the chance to thank him. She felt a twinge of disappointment and wondered if she had missed the opportunity to show her gratitude.
She didn’t want to take his generosity for granted, which was why she had resumed work earlier than scheduled. She had been hoping to thank him for the days off he had given her, but he had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t had the chance.
The rest of her day went well, and she was able to focus on her work. She was determined to make the most of the opportunity her boss had given her, and she put her all into her tasks. As the day came to an end, she made her way to the market square for a little shopping.
The square was bustling with activity, vendors shouting out their wares and the sound of haggling filling the air. The stalls were set up in a large open square, colorful awnings and flags fluttering in the evening breeze. The smells of delicious food and spices wafted through the air, making Rachel’s stomach growl with hunger.
The night was setting in and the market square was lit up with strings of fairy lights, casting a warm glow on the scene. Rachel made her way through the crowds, browsing the different stalls. She passed by vendors selling fresh produce, exotic spices, and handcrafted trinkets.
She found herself drawn to the clothing vendors, and she couldn’t resist trying on a few dresses and blouses. She ended up buying a few new outfits, feeling excited about the new additions to her wardrobe.
As she continued to browse, she realized that she needed to pick up a few things for dinner. She stopped by a stall selling fresh seafood and picked out a few plump shrimp and a piece of salmon for her meal. She also picked up some fresh herbs and vegetables to go with it. She paid for her purchases and made her way back home, her arms filled with bags of groceries and new clothes. She was looking forward to relaxing and settling in to sketch a few designs.
But as she walked into her room, her mother came in and sat down beside her.
Her mother came into her room with a hesitant look on her face, a sense of unease surrounding her.
Rachel could tell something was troubling her and asked if everything was okay. Her mother hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the bed beside her, on a seat on the edge of her bed. Rachel looks up from her sketchbook and gives her mother a small smile.
“How was work today, dear?” her mother asked, trying to make small talk.
“It was good, just busy as usual,” Rachel replied, closing her sketchbook and setting it aside.
Her mother nods and then hesitates, a sad look on her face. Rachel notices the expression on her mother’s face and her heart sinks, she knows something is wrong.
“Is something the matter?” Rachel asked, her voice filled with concern. Her mother took a deep breath before answering,
“I know you’ve been trying to put this out of your mind, but I think it’s best if we talk about it now,” her mother said, her voice soft and sad. Rachel could sense that her mother was about to break some bad news and her heart began to race with anxiety.
Rachel’s mother took a deep breath before continuing. “Both families involved in the contract marriage have set a date, it’s a month away.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper. Rachel felt her heart drop to her stomach as she took in the news. The bag of groceries fell from her hand.
Her mother could see the sadness and worry on her face and reached out to take her hand. “I know this is difficult for you, I wish things could have been different,” her mother said, the tears welling up in her daughter’s eyes. “But please try to keep an open mind. You never know, you might actually like him.”
Rachel couldn’t find the words to respond, her mind was swirling with a mix of emotions. She could see the sadness and guilt on her mother’s face and knew that she was only trying to protect her.
She gave her mother’s hand a reassuring squeeze and tried to put on a brave face, but deep down she felt so bad, she knew that this news would change everything.
Rachel’s heart sank at the news. She had been trying her best to put the thought of the contract marriage out of her mind, but now it was looming closer and closer and it became clearer and clearer that she didn’t know how to deal with it, and there was no way to go about it.
“I know this is difficult for you, Rachel,” her mother said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “But try to keep an open mind. You never know, you might actually like him.”
Rachel couldn’t bring herself to reply. She knew that her mother was trying to be supportive, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that was building inside of her. She didn’t know how to deal with the fact that her future was now set in stone, and she had no say in the matter.
As her mother left the room, Rachel sat there in silence, staring blankly at the sketches in front of her. She didn’t know how to feel or what to think. All she knew was that the contract marriage was a month away.