Chapter 2: Engagement
Evangeline went to the mansion's garage. She chose Volkswagen Suv, her favorite car. And headed to ''Westfeild Stratford City." A shopping center in Stratford.
Stratford is a buzzing shopping and leisure hub. Popular with families. A great place to eat, drink and relax. From cafes and restaurants to rooftops bars, theaters and shops to city farms.
Evangeline and her family live in the "East Village." East Village is a residential district in Stratford, complete with independent shops, bars, and restaurants. A perfect place for young people, students and professionals alike who like plenty of opportunists for socializing.
It only takes 10 minutes to reach Westfeild Stratford City from East Village. Evangeline parked her car in the parking lot and called Yu Yan.
"Hello? Eva?" A beautiful voice was heard from the other side.
"Yan, I reached the shopping center. Where are you?" Evangeline looked around to find the Yu Yan's car.
"Oh, I am in the cafe." Yu Yan voice was little bit muffled. It seems like she is eating something.
"Which cafe?" Evangeline asked.
"Caffe Concerto."
"Okay, I will be there in 2 minutes." Evangeline hung up the call.
Caffe Concerto is an Italian restaurant. An elegant Italian chain with a menu of main, traditional dishes, salads and baked items. It also offers patisseries and afternoon tea of Italian taste.
Evangeline walked in the Caffe and spotted a cute girl around 18 years old. The girl has long spirals of honey blond hair that hangs in soft ringlets over her fair shoulder. She has a short frame and a cherub's face with a devilish grin. She has naturally pink lips. She is shorter than her but very pretty. She is none other than Yu Yan.
Yu Yan is half Italian and Chinese. Her mother is originally from Italy, a fashion designer and her father is from China, a business man.They shifted to London 3 years ago in their neighborhood. The first time, she saw Yu Yan was when she was 15 years old, eating in the restaurants with her family. She met Yu Yan and her family there and somehow they got along well and now here they are best-buddies.
Evangeline walked toward Yu Yan and took the sit across from Yu Yan.
"You are here, Eva!" Yu Yan excitedly looked at Evangeline. Her pink lips were red from eating cake. She looked pretty cute just like an doll.
"Yep." Evangeline calmly nodded.
"What do you want to eat, Eva? I am eating strawberry cake. Do you wanna have a bite?" Yu Yan asked excitedly as her eyes sparkled.
"Nope." Evangeline shook her head.
"Why?" Yu Yan whine and her pink lips formed a cute pout.
Evangeline couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at her best friend who looked exactly like an abandoned puppy whose owner refused to take him in.
"What? What are you laughing at? Huh." Yu Yan angrily pouted.
"Nothing, it just.." Evangeline shook her head and didn't complete her sentence.
"Just what?" Yu Yan is angry but she still curiously asks.
" It's just, you look like a puppy." Evangeline couldn't help but laugh as she looked at her best friend.
"You, How dare you compare me to a puppy?" Yu Yan angrily puffed her cheeks and pointed her finger at Evangeline's nose.
Evangeline just shrugs in front of Yu Yan's accusation.
Yu Yan gets more angry as she sees her shrugs and fights back. "You! if I am the puppy, then you are a fox!"
"Me? A Fox?" Evangeline asks as she pointed her finger at her nose. Her expression says. 'From which angle, do you think I am a fox, look at me, I am an innocent fairy.'
"Hah, an innocent fairy." Yu Yan scoffs sarcastically. If she is innocent then the whole world is bad. She knows how innocent she is yet she still dares to say she is innocent.
"Okay, Okay, I am sorry." Evangeline sincerely says. Her best friend is the only one who understands her the most and knows everything about her. Not even her parents know anything about her that much.
"Hump, I accept your lousy apology but next time don't you dare, got it." Yu Yan threaten Evangeline cutely.
"Yes, my cute little rabbit." Evangeline squishes her best friend puffed cheeks which are smooth and tender.
"That's more like it." Yu Yan arrogantly slapped Eva's hand away and looked smugly at her.
Evangeline can only smile helplessly at her little best friend.
After Yu Yan finished eating, they went to "Westfeild Starford City mall.
They bought various branded clothes and collections.
When they were done with their shopping it was already night time, so they went to "Las Iguanas" a famous restaurant known for Latin American dishes.
They already reserved the table for them near the window, so they directly sat down on their respective seats.
They ordered Brazilian Beach Cheese, Nachos and 2 Raspberry Martini.
They chatted while eating dinner while the soothing melody was playing in the background. It was pretty peaceful. Like a friendly date.
After finishing their dinner. They went to their respective home.
At Arision Mansion.
The atmosphere was pretty depressing.
Evangeline walked in and noticed the changes in the atmosphere and frowned.
What happened?
She saw her mother sitting in the living room with a pretty solemn expression. Even her father, who she had not seen from the morning was there. Her father was a cheerful person. He never gets depressed over anything then why his face like this? Like, he had eaten some dog shit.
She sat on the couch next to her brother who was in a trance and observed every one's face, before she asked. "What happened?"
As soon as they heard Evangeline's gentle voice, they immediately broke out from their trance. Like they have been trapped in some magical spell, waiting for the Evangeline to undone the spell.
They looked surprised. When did Evangeline arrive? How come they didn't notice it?
Evangeline noticed their reaction and spoke gently. " You guys were in a daze that's why, you guys didn't notice my presence."
They all sighed in relief. Thankfully they have not exposed themselves in front of Evangeline or the things will end pretty bad.
"So.. What's going on?" Evangeline looked straight into her dad's eyes.
"N-Nothing, Eva." Ruoxi answered nervously instead of her dad.
"So.. now you guys are planning to hide things from me?" Evangeline eyed her mom suspiciously.
She knew something was wrong. Do they think she is a 3 year old child who doesn't understand anything and easily coaxes her. For fuck sakes, she's not a child anymore!
Evangeline looked at her father, waiting for her father to speak up and answer her questions. She doesn't like to keep being in the dark.
Evangeline's father, Chris Arison. He is originally from china. His real name is Ling Yan but when he was 10 years old, he moved to London with his mom and dad. After that, he changed his name to Chris. Then he started his own business at the age of 23, which is going pretty successful right now. Then he met Evangeline's mother Ruoxi who used to be his secretary before and they fell in love with her and got married and had Evangeline. After a few years, they had Aiden. Now here they are a family of 4.
Chris couldn't endure his daughter's intense stare and finally spoke. "Your engagement has been Finalized."
Boom!
Evangeline froze. She is dumbstruck.
What did she just hear? Her dad said her engagement has been finalized! It's a pretty good joke.
"Nice joke, dad." At the thought of her dad joking with her, Evangeline finally feels relieved.
"I am not joking, Eva." Chris firmly said to his beloved daughter.
Evangeline was flabbergasted. She didn't know what to say or how to react. It was just like, someone had told her, she has a step-sister.
Chris didn't wait for Eva's answer, as he began to speak again. "Your engagement has already been fixed since you were 1 year old. I fixed it with my best friend's son who is same age as you right now."
Evangeline almost burst out. "But why?"
"Because I owed him my life, dear." Chris sighed.
"huh, how did you owned him your life, dad?" Evangeline confusedly asked.
"Let me say." Ruoxi gently patted Chris shoulders. Gently assuring him.
"During your 1st birthday, your dad went out to deal with some business matters with his best friend but some body plotted to kill him. The murder failed the brake of your dad's car! Your dad would have died back then if it weren't for his best friend to arrive on time with a new car beside him and tell him to jump off the car. It was a life-death situation. So on that day, in the hospital to repay his good will, your dad made a promise of your engagement to him."
Ruoxi shredded some tears as she thought about the past. It was pretty tragic that day.
Evangeline and Aiden were also moved to tears, when they thought their dad would have almost died back then.
Evangeline wiped the tears and said firmly. "I will engage with him, dad. I believe in your decision."
Chris was shocked by his daughter's statement thus, he quickly held his precious daughter's hand before he gently squeezed them. "Sweetie, if you don't want to do it, then don't worry daddy will cancel it for you."
"No, I will do it." Evangeline shook her head and her dark emerald eyes showed determination. She will not back down, no matter what. She will pay the good will of that man by engaging with his son.
"Are you sure, honey?" Ruoxi didn't want to force her daughter but it was a promise. Arison family knew about keeping their promises so she didn't want to break it.
"Yes, mom." Evangeline nodded.
"Are you really sure, sister?" Aiden didn't say anything in the beginning but he couldn't keep quiet, once he thought of his sister engaging someone.
"Yes, Aiden." Evangeline nodded firmly.
"Okay, then I will fix it." Chris lovingly looked at his understanding daughter.
"Hmm, then I will be going to my room."
"Okay, go." Chris said.
Evangeline left.
After Evangeline left, the family broke out in laughter!
"Hahah, I couldn't believe you dad. How can you act so well in front of sis! I almost thought what you said was real." Aiden looked at his dad in disbelief.
"Hahha, you brat, do you think your dad is just a business man. I used to act before." Chris smugly looked at his dumb son.
"No way!" Aiden gasp.
"Mom, is dad saying the truth?" Aiden couldn't help but ask his mom for confirmation.
"Yes, whatever your dad said is true." Ruoxi smile.
"No way. How can dad act? I mean look at him, he looks so old." Aiden disapproving looked at his dad.
Chris smacked his son. "You brat, back then I used to be more handsome and hotter than you. And you dare to say that."
"Ouch! Dad!" Aiden exclamied in pain.
"Hump, that's what you get." Chris snorted.
Ruoxi only helplessly smiled at the father-son duo.
"But.. What if sis got to know, that we planned all this?" Aiden asked quietly.
"Then I guess, you're gonna get a beating from her." Chris shrugged.
"Why only me? you both were in the planned too!" Aiden questioned his dad and mom.
"I am her mom, she can't hit me." Ruoxi nonchalantly replied.
"Me too, I am her dad, she can't hit me either." Chris joined in.
"She can't hit me too, because I am her brother." Aiden gritted his teeth angrily while looking at his shameless parents.
"Ofcourse, she can hit you, because you are her little brother." Ruoxi winked at Aiden teasingly.
Aiden was speechless in front of his shameless parents. He had no way to rebuke their shameless reasoning.
Aiden sighs helplessly.
Why are his parents so abnormal? Why are they not normal like other parents.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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