Brotherly Love

Once he realised Jayden doesn't have any intention of giving any reply, he directly dumped the bombshell on her. He said, Anyway, you don't have to do anything; just know well to prepare for your wedding in two weeks, and mind you, don't try to put on any trick or play any funny game; trust that my eyes will be on you always, without waiting for her to recover from her shocked state. Mr Cole walked out on them!

….

Jayden, shocked and dumbfounded, was left speechless. Where she is, her father didn't give her any chance to say anything before heading upstairs.

At the very moment when her father dropped the bombshell, she felt as if she had entered a trance! Her soul temporarily left her body; she felt so overwhelmed that if the pressure should go any higher, she might automatically go crazy.

Who does this to their only daughter? Just because she's in her late twenties, they are pushing so hard for her to settle down, aren't there slots for people in their late thirties and forties doing well for themselves without being under any man?

Shocked as she was, her father really left her with no chance to say anything, even instructing her not to play any tricks, as if she wouldn't dare. After disrupting her own peace, he even went ahead to rest in his room. Did he think her life was too boring, so he decided to stimulate it a bit? This is really more than what she can bear; she can't and won't accept this!

Facing her mother, she let out all the pent-up emotion in her. Mum? Mum? Really, you wouldn't say anything, right? I should have known better when you went out of your way the last time, cajoling me into believing in a one-sided plan. You told me to meet the young man "just" for courtesy's sake but went behind my back to arrange a wedding?

Who does that? Do you really think you are still doing this for me? No! I'm sure you guys will soon let out your hidden agenda; at this point I wouldn't really find it surprising if I found out you've sold me out. I mean, what's the difference with the way you treat me and that of being kidnapped by a human trafficker? At least one would pray to be lucky enough to escape their will, but we, the you guys? It's either a do or due affair!

For my own mental health, I'll choose not to stay here and let you ruin the only inner peace I have left. I'm leaving. After pouring her heart out with tears streaming down her face, she put herself together and ran out of the house like someone being chased with a gun.

Mom, you really do know you should discuss this with Dad, right? He's going too extreme on this young lady; if things should continue in this tender way, it won't be beneficial to any of us. One of them needs to compromise; Sis is no longer a kid; I believe she knows what her heart wants.

You guys are not too old to be in desperate need of grandkids; see matters from her own point of view. I also feel the need for Dad to have a hybrid of habit, a little bit of a lamb and a little bit of a lion. He shouldn't always be as stubborn as a bull, Jaden angrily said all this to his mother while hurriedly chasing after his sister to pacify her.

Madam Cole sighed. She's starting to feel the pressure; this neutral stance of hers is becoming more and more difficult to maintain. She feels so overwhelmed and torn between her own husband and her daughter; they are both looking out for each other, but doing the right thing the wrong way won't make things right.

Had they not been, they are not both hard at heart; they would have understood each other's intention by now. Now, who would want to compromise? Despite all the discussion she had with Jayden last time, she shouldn't have gone there and acted so rudely.

This is becoming a hard nut to crack; standing up, she decided to go have a heart-to-heart discussion with her husband to take things easy for him not to regret doing the right thing the wrong way. If the marriage could no longer be cancelled, then he shouldn't rush the young lady.

Although she might be their child, she's still an independent human being, someone with a heart beating in her chest and a brain functioning do well in her head, she's not some robot programmed to do whatever their owner ordered.

…

Inside the car, Jaden as already meet up with his sister to comfort her; Big Sis, you should know mom and dad loves you, what they are doing right now might not be the best and seems hard for you to accept but everything is for your own good, Dad might have went overboard with his action and letting the wedding announcement catch you off guard it's only just brought forward, if it not on two weeks, it'll be in two month and highest six month which I doubt is possible. Just a matter of time you'll understand, try to sleep over it and you'll be fine. Trust me, okay?

I know, but this is not just about the wedding arrangements. I didn't even plan to accept the marriage in the first place. How can they just force a marriage on me? Not just anybody, but for me to settle with an arranged man? A total stranger? Seriously, they must have had a hidden agenda.

How do they want us to get along? This is already the 21st century, not some eighteen or nineteen centuries where a woman has no choice but to be submissive. Believe me, I, Jayden, refused to be a caged bird! I refused to be tied down! Not now, not ever!.

Dad isn't even facing any problems at the company that need these people's help or interference, and I'll know what I'm sacrificing my happiness for. For this wedding, they'll need to go find a substitute before it's too late.

Sis, every bit of what you said is the truth, and I agree, but I'll still have to say this: not to convince you but for you to understand that a devil our parent knows and introduces is better than an unknown angel. I mean, they can vouch for his character, image, mannerism, looks, wealth, background and even guarantee his health.

Dad already carried out every bit of investigation; moreover, you're not even someone concerned with wealth, background, artificial or material things, so I'll suggest you trust the process. It might seem difficult to accept now, but you'll surely love the result. No parent will knowingly push their daughter into a hellish pit; I'll repeat, no parent will do such a thing.

Think about it yourself; if at all you still find it weird, accept the wedding for a start, lay your rules and regulations to the man; if it is acceptable by him, then you can get along well without being offensive and rude to anyone.

Just know I'll always be behind your step supporting you all the way; whichever decision or route you decide to take, look back, and you'll see this younger brother of yours. All we want is for you to be genuinely happy with a loving smile on your beautiful face. Jaden said with a teasing smile on his face.

Having listened to her brother's comforting words, she finds it hard to still maintain her never-agreeing stance; she finds his words to be comforting to her mind and terrified heart, and she feels so refreshed and relieved.

With a sigh of relief, she hugged her brother with tears, sniffing back her runny nose while expressing her love back at him. "What will I ever do without you? Having you is such a blessing. You've always been supportive with that positive energy and smile."

Trust me to also have your back every time; Jaden took a wipe to clean away his sister's tears. No need to cry; you're such an emotional big baby. He said with a smile.

Hmmm, it's alright; say whatever you want. I'll think about all that you've said and keep you updated with my plan. I'll trust you not to tell anyone about this little conversation of ours. Jayden said.

You can always do. Replied Jayden.

They made a pinky promise to satisfy his sister's childish act, and he offered to drive her to her apartment for her to rest and have some alone time.