Chapter 5

Mark coughed the food in his mouth out. It splashed just beside the one in the plate. 

"What?" Everyone on the table gasped. Mark looked up at Mr. Dandelion. 

"Uhm… sir, that's not why I am here," Mark protested. 

"It is," Dandelion handed him the letter that Mark brought from his boss. It read that Mark was sent there as per agreement between both of them. It was agreed after Mark was to marry Dandelion's youngest daughter. 

"Dad, that's not possible," a lady stood up and bangs the table before her. She shot an angry eye at her father. Her frown made her look fierce. A spitting image of Dandelion himself, except more feminine. Mark wondered if her smile would be as beautiful and reassuring as that of Dandelion. 

"Anna!" A woman responded. 

"What mother? Your husband has spoken and you can't go against him? Why would he pick such a barbaric boy for me? You saw him when he walked in this afternoon, didn't you? He was…"

"Anna!" A man screamed at her. He is the closest to Dandelion. His eyes were directly on Mark didn't notice him. Mark was no longer under shock with what Dandelion said. He knew there was no point in arguing. His master already agreed. He kept on eating his food. 

"Father, can we talk about this?" The man closest to Dandelion on the right said begged. 

"Yes, and you guys will listen. Anna will marry Mark once they are twenty. But for now, Mark will enroll in the same school with his fiancee. And both of them would be staying in the fifth villa," Dandelion ordered. No one said anything. Mark's spoon was the only thing making clunking noise on the plate. 

"Dad! I just want to be sure. He will be attending the same school as me?" Anna groaned. Her father nodded. 

"How…" Anna sighed and she sat down. 

"Father, at least you could have informed us beforehand, right?" A lady said. 

"What difference would it have made?" 

"There is a stranger here."

"It affects him too. So, it's all the same," Dandelion replied. 

Mark finished eating. He picked up the bottle of water before him. He drank it. 

"Father, do you know that this is 2023. No one here has ever complained about whatever decision you make, no matter how patriarchal they are. But you can't choose how I will live my life. At least, I have a choice in how my life turns out," Anna defended herself calmly. Her voice wasn't sounding normal anymore, her eyes were teary. Mark still did not raise his head. 

"I agree," some other young ones in the house said. 

"Even if you wanted to make an arranged marriage, which there is no reason for you to, it can't be with this riff raff from whatever end of the world," the voice sounded familiar. Mark looked up. He gave him bloodshot eyes. It was the boy who had stopped him at the entrance earlier in the afternoon. 

Mark stared at him. He let him know he wasn't afraid. 

"We are your grandchildren, but she is your last daughter. The youngest child that you gave birth to with your old age, don't you think she deserves the best?" Another teenager said. 

"Another beauty who would be unfortunate to marry the beast?" Another said. The elderly ones were surprised at the outburst of the young ones. The adults knew better that such little things won't shake their father. It won't make him consider his thoughts. 

"Mark! Are you done eating?" 

"Yes, Mr. Dandelion," Mark replied. His voice was normal. He didn't sound excited or afraid. 

"Then, I will call Henry. He will take you to your villa. Anna will join you later, okay?" 

"Alright sir?" 

"Father! Are you serious about…" Anna couldn't finish her sentence. Mr. Dandelion's eyes were wild. She had never seen him that way. She swallowed her words and sat down. 

Mr. Dandelion touched a button behind him and Henry came in. 

"Take him to the villa. I will bring Anna," he ordered. Mark stood up immediately. 

"Thank you sir!" He bowed before Mr. Dandelion. 

"You are welcome, my good man!" Mr. Dandelion commended him. 

Henry walked towards the door. He walked comfortably as if they were not over fifteen people, who hate his guts. 

"Thank you all, I would like everyone to leave," he said. Everyone stood up, like they were all eager to, and walked towards the door. 

"Baby," he called. Anna, her mother, and some other females looked back immediately. Others waited too. Mt. Dandelion pointed at his wife. 

"You and Manny, wait," he ordered. His wife turned back, and the man who sat beside him returned to their seats. 

"I am sorry I had to react that way," he apologized to both of them. 

"Yeah, but why the decision?" Manny asked. 

"You told me about Mr. Heisenberg's daughter being kidnapped right? We are his biggest rival, and it's only normal if he thinks we are the one. And Anna is the most vulnerable child in the family. She rejected homeschooling. So…" 

"But father, marriage is a long way off," Manny protested. 

"Have I ever made any wrong decisions when it comes to my children?"   He asked his wife. She sighed, and he smiled at her. 

Mark was alone in his room. He wished he could talk to his master immediately. How could he? That's not the agreement. Even if he wanted to do such a thing, he could at least inform him. He would appreciate it. But here he is receiving the biggest news of his life. Even though it's a wish come through, it should not be this way. 

Marrying a spoiled rich girl whose family doesn't like him. It will be a rough ride, but he hopes it will be enjoyable. Or at least challenging. Anyhow it comes.