It's just a fake signature… it's just a fake signature, Avelina tried to calm her raving heart. She had already lost her appetite. How was she even going to tell her parents she had signed a contract with an unknown man? She didn't even want to go to any reverend school. In fact, she wasn't interested at all.
Her mother continued,
"This is great. You are a virgin, and being a reverend sister would be very helpful—not just to you but to us. Father Jude will be coming tomorrow afternoon after your registration to see you," she spoke with certainty.
Avelina was speechless. They had already come to a conclusion and were now just informing her. It wasn't as if she had any say. But this was not right. Her parents always did this—they concluded things for her. She was an adult and could make her own decisions, but it seemed her parents preferred making them on her behalf.
So what did they expect her to do with the news when she hadn't even been allowed to add a single suggestion before it was made?
"I am not going, Mother," she finally spoke. The dining hall fell silent. She picked up the napkin and dabbed her lips gracefully like she had not just shocked them. She could not eat any longer.
"Avelina Smith Green, what did you say?" her mother asked in disbelief. Avelina knew that once her mother called her full name—including her nickname—it meant she was either furious or shocked. It was unusual for Avelina to disagree. Normally, she went along with a smile, and this sudden resistance startled them. Even Alor seemed stunned.
"Mother, one day I would like to get married. I want to work and have children. I can't… please," she begged as she stood.
'You are already married' her inner voice screamed at her.
"Avelina, sit down!" Her father's hand banged against the table. Avelina flinched and quickly sat back down, her body trembling slightly. Even her mother jolted in surprise, as she too hadn't expected that reaction.
"Reverend Jude is coming here tomorrow for the final procedure, and that is final." Mr Smith concluded.
Avelina could not believe her parents. They didn't even let her have a say. A lump formed in her throat.
"T..Thanks, Mother, for the meal," she said softly as she stood. Her mother's eyes rested on her, and for a brief moment, worry seemed to flash through them.
Avelina turned away, holding back her tears. Alor moved quickly, grabbing her plate and pouring her unfinished food into his own. He was glad there was extra.
Avelina's eyes watered. It wasn't just the decision itself—it was the fact that her parents had not even told her beforehand. They had simply jumped to a conclusion, and that hurt her deeply.
"When you're done finding yourself, wash the dishes," her father finally added, making matters even worse. Avelina gritted her teeth as she walked to her small room.
She gently shut the door, though it still opened slightly. Lying on her bed, tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her body trembled. She did not understand her parents at all. Why were they this way? Why were they so strict, always making decisions for her? She pressed her lips together.
She was not going to that school. She would go to the masquerade ball instead, show her husband to her parents, and after that, she would get a divorce. Tomorrow morning, she would have to go early for registration, and then she would think of her next step.
She could not understand her parents. To her, they were confusing. They had told her to study architecture, and now, just as she was about to finish, they were telling her to attend a reverend school. After all these years of pain and suffering, everything would go to waste.
No—she was not going to let that happen.
She didn't even have a gown for the so-called ball. Her life really was messed up. She pressed her lips tighter as she sniffed, trying to calm herself. She needed to be calm. She had exams to focus on, and this was final—she could not fail them.
She stood, wiping her tears, and tried to keep a calm expression as she took several deep breaths. She needed to wash the dishes.
The fact that her mother had actually agreed to this shocked her more than anything. If they were so obsessed with the reverend school, her mother could have simply become a reverend sister herself instead of marrying her father.
What hurt most was that after all the sleepless nights, after all the pain and suffering of preparing for her final exams, her parents chose now to break the news that she was going to a reverend school.
For now, she would just have to sleep it off. Tomorrow, she hoped things would work out well for her. She was going to the masquerade ball.
She could simply borrow a gown from her best friend, Roxie.
Oh, why hadn't she thought of that? What was the worst that could happen…she would be wearing a mask anyway.
Sliding her hand to the back of her pants, she pulled out the card. She stared at it for a while—thank goodness she had kept it. She could marry him. He wasn't that bad after all.
She placed the card on the table, then opened the middle page of her book and slipped it inside.
"Sister Lina," Alor called out as he knocked twice before pushing the door open. Avelina turned and noticed the worried look on his face. As expected, he was concerned. Even though he acted like he wasn't, she knew him too well.
"Come, sit," Avelina said as she sat, patting the bed beside her.
He walked over gently and sat down.
"Sister Lina, Mother and Father will change their minds if you come out in flying colors after your exams. So please, read hard, okay?" he said in determination.
Avelina laughed softly at his determination. Alor's face flushed, embarrassed by her teasing laugh, and he quickly stood up.
"You know what? I'm going to my room," he muttered.
"I'm sorry. And you don't even have a room—the living room is not your room," she said, shaking her head.
"Yes, it is," he argued, looking offended as he pouted.
Avelina laughed again. Her brother was so fun, and that was why she loved him so much.
"Thank you, Aly. I'll study hard. Now go to bed, it's getting late," she said, ruffling his hair despite his earlier warning. He glared at her, and she gave him an innocent oops smile.
He walked to the door, stopped, then turned back.
"And one more thing—stop calling me Aly," he said firmly.
Avelina laughed. "Okay, Aly," she teased.
He ignored her this time. "Goodnight, sis."
Avelina smiled as he left, she sighed softly knowing she still had to wash the plates.
One thing was clear…she would not go to a reverend school.
Maybe marrying him would not be such a bad idea.
Little did she know, fate had other plans.