HOOKED

CHAPTER SIX

The contemplation regarding my current situation has been ongoing inside my headspace for the last few hours of surprises that I have encountered. And the debate inside my mind has left me restless and anxious. With the world suddenly feeling like it's revolving way too fast around me, I was failing to catch up with the process, but neither could I put an end to my run and have myself slip off the edge of this treadmill I was suddenly put on without my own consent. Part of me believed that the rest of the world would continue at its go, despite my argument about it. And so, it would only be a disadvantage for me and no one else if I chose to stop running at their speed. The world would perhaps keep revolving at its own pace nevertheless, and I, being a mere negligible nuisance, would have to suit along with it; whether by being dragged along its tracks without choice, or walking along this path at my own will.

But as Jeremy Peterson sat across from me in the presence of my mother and under the roof of the house I live in, the serotonin rush taking place within my body was building up an unfamiliar crumbling of anxiety in my belly. Was it because I was in the presence of a potential suitor my mother had chosen for me, who was here to woo me based upon an arrangement that should benefit us both, despite us being barely familiar with each other? Or was there more to the context...

As the saying goes wherever he goes, the man sat in all his glory and it was the confidence on his face that happened to fluster me. It is true this man is truly outstanding and it's not like I haven't had my eyes on anyone else for quite a long time now, but I'm not certain about what my feelings for him are. Looking back to the first time we met two years ago and now, when he has become a totally changed person, his effect on me somehow has remained constant.

He looked at me with satisfaction, but I was skeptical. Part of me who did not believe in my self worth, was either convinced he was blind to accept a girl like me or he was yet to see me up close and regret his decision, which could also cause a chaos that I do not wish to sign up for.

Honey biscuits. Mr.Strawberry-Shortcake seemed to be enjoying our homemade honey biscuits with his lemon green tea. And the irony there happened to be about how he was enjoying feeding on honey biscuits whilst having a face that too was just as sweet as ho-

I choked on my own breath at my own objectionable thoughts, catching the attention of my mother and Jeremy Peterson. He reached over, placing his forearm in front of his chest in the form of gentle courtesy as he stretched out his right arm to pass me his handkerchief. My mother seemed satisfied with his etiquette and the look of victory evident on his face made it obvious that that was his intention.

"I suppose the date went well between the two of you." my mother started the conversation, setting down her cup on the tea table. My face was red from slight embarrassment from earlier, which caused my lips to remain sealed.

"It was lovely. We had a delightful time together." Jeremy responded, once again, to please my mother.

There was so much butter in his words, I could slip on it. But part of me also felt impressed at the way he was satisfying my mother, because people rarely succeed in doing so. Tahlia herself has faced a hard time being approved by my mother for some odd reason I do not understand and I am still unsure if she's succeeded at going all the way around. On the other hand, this man already seemed to have clicked well with her and that was intimidating me.

"Siena?" My mother called for me to submit my attention to her and I was instantly summoned. "Tell me what you liked about Jeremy?"

I hesitated, clearing my throat. "U-uh.. he was kind." I accumulated an instant response out of reflex, based upon his latest gesture of passing the handkerchief to me.

"The trait remains." Jeremy chuckled while clearing his throat with the slight hint of mocking me for using past tense, with his facial expression directed towards the flower vase on the tabletop instead.

"The reason I have invited Jeremy here is because there's something that needs to be discussed between the two of you." My mother clarified.

Jeremy did not seem very concerned, which meant he was probably already familiar with what this meeting was about. Well, of course, he must have had a conversation with my mother before I arrived at home, which I could figure from how comfortable he got in my bedroom that his clothes were undone. He explained himself by saying that he was freshening up and my mother had gladly allowed him to use my bedroom, even though we own two vacant guest rooms in this house. I hadn't said yes to the arranged marriage they'd been setting up for us but it seemed like Jeremy was getting comfortable enough, like this was his second home already. And for some reason, that was also making my heart flutter.

"Had he mentioned that he would be coming here, I would have come along with him." I casually spoke with no regard, to serve a slight mockery back, but only to receive a glare from my mother for not holding my tongue to myself.

"Did you not shrug me off, leaving me no opportunity to speak before you rushed out in a hurry after silencing me at the end of our date?" Jeremy responded, chuckling more. That I did. My cheeks flushed red out of embarrassment again. Ugh.

I sighed out, feeling defeated. I was sitting beside my mother as anxiety took over me once again and caused me to fidget with my fingers, but I tried to clasp my hands together to hold my thoughts in place. Serotonin rushed once again throughout my body because it clearly had no time or situation sense whatsoever. At times like this, my body is supposed to help calm me and not be my own enemy.

My mother ignored my behaviour and continued, just like how I figured the world would revolve at its own pace without consideration towards my capability, with no regard if it was dragging me along its track against my choice or if I was willingly walking along its pathway.

"Jeremy has something to present to you." She spoke. "As I have mentioned earlier, this marriage should benefit both of you equally, as a settlement for accepting an arranged marriage that will advantage his father and I." I nodded, knowing I had no option but to move my head up and down. But my heart clenched, trying to muster up the courage to say no but being unable to.

"A contract has been written which lists the few laws and the benefits each party should receive from this mutual agreement." My mother smiled. A mutual agreement. That is what a marriage looked like to my mother, apparently. What she was failing to realize is that this could rather be a life sentence for me.

"Jeremy will be presenting the draft contract to you now. The two of you can make discussions and decide if there are any edits that are required to be made." My mother said as she got up from her seat. "Please be on your best behaviour, Siena dear." She smiled at me but her words came out through gritted teeth alongside the glare she secretly sent me. She exited the room afterwards, leaving me with the man she was trying to tie me to for life.

Jeremy took a seat next to me, formally where my mother was sitting, before handing me the file that held the contract. He looked into my eyes afterwards with a smile of assurance which happened to comfort me for some reason. I breathed in sharply before opening the file with all my courage and patience to begin reading, setting aside all my anxiety.

"Marriage is a civil agreement, entered into by two individuals or those acting on their behalf..." I mumbled as I read out the lines for better understanding. My eyes skimmed through all the basic rules and laws of marriage mentioned.

"..for individuals to have legitimate s****l relationships and to procreate-" My cheeks flushed red but I held a straight face with all my might to not embarrass myself.

"..And because it is a contract, it conveys legal rights and obligations to each spouse." This made me relax for some reason. Perhaps because of how this assured me, while I felt like I had no space to speak so far.

"This marriage contract also establishes the further rights and duties of each spouse. Aside from the basic requirement of "mutual good treatment," which is not legally defined, these rights and duties are differentiated by gender. They are also interdependent: a failure by one spouse to perform a specific duty may jeopardize his or her claim to a particular right and result in compensation."

I continued to read but now in my mind. 'Forty percent of the husband's wealth shall be legally written in the name of his wife and she may save, spend, or invest it however she chooses. In exchange for the share of wealth, the husband shall gain ownership of the marriage and prerequisite for lawful i*********e, and as he possesses this control, he and he alone can unilaterally end the marriage at any time by a pronouncement of repudiation. If the wife wishes to end the marriage, she must either pay him to gain his agreement-'

"Hey, this is not fair-" I exclaimed lowly with a tiny grumpy face, pointing at it.

"Is it not?" Jeremy sighed, chuckling. He caressed the top of my head casually, which shut me up.

'In addition, the wife has a right to lodging, clothing, and support..' blah blah this is getting tiring to read, when will we get to the point. ' If she has co-wives, she also has the right to an equal share of her husband's time-'

"Co-wives-?!" I almost jumped at Jeremy with an exclamation.

"Relax, it is just the laws of all general marriages mentioned. I am not gonna have any second wife." He held me down by the shoulder, sighing. I glared at him while trying to calm down.

'In exchange for his support of his wife, the husband has the right to restrict her movements and to expect that she will be always available for s****l intimacy-' I-

"Jeremy?!" I jumped again, growing grumpier with another gasp.

He held me down by my shoulders again, sighing out with a panic in response. "Just the law, relax!" He looked at me with genuine assurance like he was going to do no such thing, but I could not help but panic.

"Trust me?" He looks into my eyes sincerely, making me sigh.

"If it was that easy... I would." I did not hesitate to mumble out of sheer concern working inside of me.

"I know it is not. But I will make sure it turns out to be." His words brought me further assurance, this time helping me calm down a little. "I promise."



Please do...