Without wasting any time, the dad asked, “Why did you reject Reuben? You can't tell me you are not ready for marriage because that is what you need now. A man that will take good care of you and your child.”
Anabel let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. “I don’t like him," she said flatly. “I’m not just interested in him.” She answered, and her father crossed his arms as he gazed at her. “That doesn’t matter much. What matters is that he loves you. Reuben is a good man. Ever since I knew him, he never caused trouble. All you need is a man that will love and take good care of you. You can start loving him after marriage. You think all those successful marriages started with love? No—commitment comes first, and love follows.”
Anabel shook her head, standing her ground. “That’s not how it works for me, Dad. My heart isn’t in it.”
Sir Orton exhaled slowly as he sensed frustration creeping into him. He wasn’t angry—not yet—but he was growing weary of Anabel's choices. “Anabel, let’s talk about the past,” He said in a firm tone. “How many men have I recommended to you over the years? Men from good families, wealthy, capable, ready to protect and care for you. How many did you reject before you chose Desmond?” He asked, and Anabel stiffened slightly but remained silent. She knew where her father was driving at.
Her father continued, “I let you choose Desmond, but what later happened? You married for love, for romance. You believed that was the better path, that emotions would outweigh every other thing. And where did that lead you? Divorce. Disappointment. Heartbreak. I won’t let you make that mistake again. I'm your father, and I know what is best for you.”
"I understand everything, Dad. I understand your fear, and that is exactly why I’m taking my time now. I don’t want to rush into something just because it looks good on paper.”
Sir Orton frowned, but there was something in the way she spoke that made him pause. There was something she wasn’t telling him. His instincts kicked in, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed her carefully.
“You’re hiding something from us." He said, but Anabel kept her expression neutral, unwilling to give anything away. “I’m not hiding anything,” she said casually and turned her gaze away.
His dad was not convinced. But rather than push the topic further, he pivoted. “Reuben is a man who would be happy to take care of your unborn child. He’s stable, well-established, and from a reputable family. He knows about your situation, and he accepts it. That’s rare, Anabel.”
Anabel looked down, staring at her hands. Sylvester was there already but didn't want to reveal anything about him. No one knew about him—not even her mother. For now, she preferred it that way. She wasn't certain of their relationship. She was yet to investigate something.
“Anabel,” the mom finally spoke, “you should listen to your father. We can't let you fall into a pit. You are our only daughter, and we care about you." The mom added, and Anabel sighed inwardly. She had known this would turn into a family discussion.
Her mother continued. “We would love nothing more than for you to give birth in your husband’s house. There is dignity in that. Meanwhile, are you seeing another man?” She asked, and Anabel tensed before quickly shaking her head. “No.”
“Anabel, you should be open with us. If you are seeing someone, bring him to us. Let us know who he is.” The dad stated, but Anabel shook her head again. “I’m not seeing anyone,” and denied.
Her parents exchanged glances, sensing her unwillingness to be completely transparent with them. But they knew pushing too hard would only make her retreat further.
“Fine. We won’t pressure you further tonight. But we’ll talk again. This discussion isn’t over.” The dad finished, and they made their way to the door.
Anabel watched them as they exited her room, and the door clicked shut behind them. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
She wasn’t sure how long she could keep Sylvester a secret. Maybe she could tell them after she finds out the truth about Sylvester. But for now, she wasn’t ready to let her parents dictate her future.