04

« Mum, Grandma, Dad. I already asked Nathan to find a house for us, he informed me, he found it this morning. I asked him to seal the deal immediately. So, If nothing come up, we are moving out after lunch today. » Arnold blurted that out of nowhere.

Everyone were shocked. Erica was dumbfounded again. He was fast, no wonder he was this succeed.

« That’s awfully fast, you just told us yesterday and you will moving out today, I thought we will have at least one month with you two before that. » Martha sounded really sad.

« Mum… » Arnold started, but his father cut his off, « You know our third son, Martha. When he decided something, he will try to achieve it as fast as the blink of eyes. There is no way to stop him. I aware of it, son. But you are very damn fast. I almost got heart attack from it. »

« You all should have prepared yourselves for this from the moment I told you yesterday. You can’t blame me. »

« Why ? » Barbara’’s voice broke and shaking.

« Grandma… »

« Don’t you grandma me, you… you just didn’t care who you hurt as long as you get what you want. » she stormed to the stair. That’s, Erica couldn’t agreed more. It was true.

« Grandmaa… » Arnold was annoyed now. He looked at every member of the family, no one seemed want to help him. He hated this, but he have to ask Erica to persuaded Grandma.

Erica knew Arnold was annoyed, this situation made him uncomfortable because it’s out of his control. She always knew him in his worst state, but why she never realized how much he hated her. She saw him kept looking at her and she knew what he wanted. He maybe stubborn and would not changed his decision, but he loved his family, so their understanding meant a lot to him more than he would admit. Especially, his grandmother, seeing her like that must had made him felt really bad. So, Erica saved him a favor for asking her and went after Barbara.

Erica went to Barbara’s room, she knocked, but no answer, so she opened it and nobody was there, she closed it and went to other place to looking for her. Then, she saw her at the balcony, looking at the sky. « Grandma ! » she called, and Barbara turned to her.

« Hey, Erica ! Sorry, you have to see that. Sometimes he just get under my skin and I can’t take it. I maybe could intimidated him a couple of time, but he was too stubborn to listen. Promise me, you will never always let him have his way. » She was so sad. Looked like the ultimatum she gave him was one of her succeed attempt.

« I promised. » Erica reassured her.

« Both of you are total opposite, yet you are so much alike. He used to speak like that when he promised to someone. »

Erica smiled, « Then, you should know better than I do, that this decision of him doesn’t meant any harm from him. He maybe took a quick step and ignored your feeling. But, eventually, someday we will move out, so we just save the time to adjust and do it quicker. Please, understand him ! » She begged her.

« My grandson is one lucky guy to have you. » Barbara hugged her.

I think he has the worst luck to marry me, the person he hated. She thought in her mind while hugged Barbara back.

« Let’s go down. » They made their way to down stair, but when they approached the stair, Barbara stopped suddenly and said, « I will go grab something, why don’t you go first ! »

Erica hesitated. « Okay, » she nodded when she satisfied with the serious look at Barbara’s face and stepped down the stair by herself. While Barbara went to her room and grabbed a box from the drawer in her closet.

When Arnold saw Erica came down alone, he immediately stood up from his sit and approached her, « What happened ? Why you do come down by yourself ? Where is Grandma ? Is she still mad ? »

« Enough, Arnold ! Stop bombarded her with questions like that ! You are gonna scared her away. I’m here. » Everyone turned to Barbara, who stood at the end of stair holding a box in her hands. The box that every member of the family recognized. « And for your last question, yes, I am still mad, » she raised her hand to stop Arnold before he argued, « and I will only forgive you if you manage to persuade Erica to accept this. » she hold up the box.

« What are you talking about, Grandma ? What do you want me to accept ? And why did Arnold have to persuade me ? » Erica felt confused, she looked from Barbara to the box then Arnold.

« This. Is our family necklace, every females in the family have it. » she said, opened up the box to show a very beautiful necklace, it’s chain was made from platinum and the pendant was a heart shaped with diamonds and one big sapphire in center. Probably costed more than million dollars.

Erica looked around, Barbara, Martha and Alice indeed wore the same necklace.

That’s an easy one. I don’t think she even need my persuasion. Arnold thought in his mind with a smirk in his face.

« No ! I won’t accept it. Excuse me, I think I should start packing. » Erica stormed up stair. Everyone stared at her while she walking up the stair, but she refused to look back.

When she was out of their sight, everyone busted to laugh, except Barbara who was frowning and Arnold who face palmed. « Why every daughter in-law in this family have to do this to me ? »

« That because we joined this family to be with the only man we love, not to get any luxury stuffs. » Martha said while staring at Andrew lovingly.

« Anyway, I have told you, Arnold. Do what ever it take to make her accept this necklace if you still want my forgiveness ! » She handed the box to Arnold.

« Don’t you think this is too early, Grandma ? You gave the necklace to Stacy a month after she and Alfred got married. » Arnold refused to take it. Alfred was Arnold’s oldest brother, first son of the family and of course Stacy was his wife.

« I will give this away whenever I feel is the right time. Don’t question me, young man ! »

Arnold stared at his father, and he raised both of his hand, surrender. « Don’t looking for back up from me, sonny. Mum gave the necklace to Martha at our wedding day, I don’t know how it went but she wore it when walking down the aisle. So I have no idea how to do the persuasion. You are a smart man, I believe you will find a way. »

Arnold sighed, defeated. « Okay, I will try my best ! » taking the box, Arnold walked up stair. Not that I think I will have a hard time, but giving this to that gold digger just felt wrong was what inside his head.

In the bedroom, Erica was frowning while shoving her clothes in to suitcase.

« You don’t have to pack your stuffs, you know ! You can just bought a new ones later. » Hearing Arnold’s cold voice, made her jumped a little. When she turned to face him, he was leaning at her closet’s door, holding that box in his hand.

« I’m not gonna take that box. » she pouted.

Arnold rolled his eyes, « Just take it ! » he threw it in to her suitcase.

She stared at it, like she wanted to burn it with her gaze.

« It worth your ten years salary. Just stop acting like you don’t want it. I know you are dying to wear it or even sell it. » each of his word like thorns to her.

She finally lost her control, « Even if it just costed one dollars, I still won’t accept it. You know why ? Because the meaning behind it. It isn’t just a necklace, it was a symbol, A symbol of your family. Even if this marriage was true, I still won’t accept it. Since this marriage was fake, there is no possibility for me to accept it. Why don’t you just keep it and tell her I already accept it ! »

Her anger surprised him, but he once he regained his composure, he said coldly, « She will wish to see you wear it. »

« There is no way I will wear it. Continuing this loveless marriage already stress me out, There is no way I will burden myself more by wearing that necklace. »