A Promise

"Mom, why is Dad so eager to marry me to this guy?" Violet Xu asked as she watched her mother laying out fresh linen on her bed.

She had just returned from her bakery and her father had reminded her about her date tomorrow. Seeing that her mother was in her bedroom, Violet decided to have a little chat with her mother.

"He's not in debt to some loan shark, is he? Because I'd rather lose my bakery than watch Dad get into trouble."

Her mother laughed. "Loan shark? Of course not. Do you think that your dad would put you as collateral? You silly girl... Where did you get that idea? Your father is not in any debt with any loan shark or anything."

Violet let out a loud, exasperated sigh. "Then why is he doing this to me? He went as far as threatening to pull his investment from my bakery. And he had never done anything like this before. Dad is always stubborn when he has decided on something, but this isn't like him at all. He never threatened me into anything."

Anna studied her daughter's face and smiled gently. "Your father cares so much for you, you know that, right?"

"I know." Violet tried her best not to roll her eyes at the moment.

Of course, she knew that her father cared for her as much as she did for him. But still, she couldn't comprehend why he wanted to marry her off to someone she never met. Wasn't this almost the same as destroying her future?

"He only wanted the best for you," Anna added.

"By marrying me to some random guy?" Violet snorted. "Who is this guy, anyway? Why haven't I heard anything about the Chen family before? How come his family suddenly appeared out of thin air and suddenly, I found myself engaged to their son when I was a baby?"

"Didn't you hear what your dad told you about the Chen family last night?"

"I was too frustrated with the sudden news that I did not hear anything," Violet confessed. "Everything went through my right ear and out through my left. Anyway, the point is, I was not in the mood to listen after Dad threatened to pull out his investment."

Anna let out a long sigh. "Well," she paused to think of what she should say to calm her daughter. "He is the son of an old friend of your father. We have met him a few times and Ryan is a really nice kid. Actually... Violet, you have met with their family before."

Violet frowned as she eyed her mother suspiciously. "I did?"

"Yes," Anna nodded. "When you were just two."

"Oh my God! Mom!" Violet scowled disapprovingly at her mother's attempt to joke with her. What was it with her mother and her timely joke?

Seeing how angry and frustrated her daughter was at the moment, Anna let out a laugh.

Violet massaged her temple and groaned. "Please don't joke at a time like this. I am already very depressed at the thought of going on a blind date to meet this guy!"

"Sorry. Sorry," Anna bit off her laugh and looked at her daughter apologetically. Then, she sat down on the mattress and patted the space beside her. "Come on. Sit down. Let's talk for a while. I promise I won't make a joke."

With a heavy heart, Violet sat down on the mattress obediently.

"The Chen used to be our neighbors," Anna said. "David Chen, that is, your betrothed's dad was a good friend of your father. They taught at the same university. Then David got a better job offer and the Chen family moved to the US. It was around that time that your father and his friend made this arrangement. The Chen family has always stayed in the US since then. It wasn't until a year ago that they moved back here. Only then that we learn that David passed away four years ago."

"Oh, Violet mouthed. When she heard that Father Chen had passed away, Violet suddenly lost her words. She stared at her feet, trying to absorb the news her mother had told her.

"Anyway, I met with Audrey, that is, Ryan's mother last month and she brought up the arrangement between her late husband and your dad casually. Mrs. Chen was worried about her son who had stayed single for a long time and she suddenly recalled this engagement."

Hearing that this problem of hers sprouted because this guy refused to get himself a girlfriend, Violet was furious. So what if this guy wanted to stay single? Why do they have to get her involved?

"Anyway, it doesn't seem like Ryan was dating anyone. Since both of you were single, we thought it would not be too bad if the two of you were together. This way, we can become a family, and Mr. Chen will get his wish fulfilled."

"Have you ever thought that this guy might have different preferences considering that he decided to stay single? Perhaps, he was not looking to date a girl?"

"Of course not. Mrs. Chen told us that had a girlfriend years ago and broke up. Ryan did not have a girlfriend after that. Look. I know that you don't like this whole arranged marriage thing. But I want you to be nice to Ryan tomorrow, alright? Just because you don't want to get along with Dad's idea, doesn't mean that you should treat Ryan badly." Anna advised. "You have promised Dad that you're going to get to know him for a month, right? So you should keep your promise."

"But Mom, I--"

"Just give it a try," Anna said. "If you still think that you have absolutely no chemistry with him, I will try to convince your father and Mrs. Chen that the marriage idea should not go on."

Violet's eyes sparkled as she heard her mother's words and her lips curled into a bright smile. "Really? Mom! You will do that for me?"

"Yes, I promise," Anna nodded. "But for now, why don't you just go along with your father's plan? Be a good girl."

Violet let out another long frustrated sigh at the thought of meeting that man tomorrow.

"Anyway," Anna patted at her daughter's hair. "There is nothing wrong with meeting him. It's not like you're going to lose everything in this one meeting. Who knows... perhaps, instead of hating this situation, the two of you would hit it off?"