Anna and Jonathan: The Arranged Marriage

　　ANNA'S POV

　　"Mom, Dad I am home!" I announced as I took the stairs two at a time. In no time, I arrived at the top of the stairs leading to my parent's room.

　　"Mom Dad!" I called out again feeling so excited to be meeting my parents after almost six months.

　　There was so much excitement in me that I didn't bother to wait for a response from them, I just dashed into their bedroom. There was no one in the room and I was momentarily confused for a moment.

　　The driver had told me my parents were at home and I had seen their vehicles when I drove in, so where could they be? Heck, I was too anxious to see them.

　　I was still wondering about their whereabouts when I heard voices downstairs. I abandoned my suitcase and took the stairs, two at a time until I arrived at the bottom, only to see my parents walking out of their study with the Clarksons. The Clarksons have been my parent's old-time friends. I didn't have time to greet the Clarksons as my mother quickly jumped on me in excitement.

　　"Anna!" She squealed as she squeezed me in a warm embrace.

　　"I have missed you so much, Mom," I said, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.

　　It's being what? Six months? I hadn't had a physical meeting with my parents in six months and I was so excited to be around them. I snuggled closer to my mother's body when I felt my father's hand wrap around me and my mother. This was the family I was running back home to.

　　We were in this position for a while until a cough from Mr. Clarkson brought us back to reality.

　　"Welcome home Anna. We are so pleased to meet you. Well, my wife and I would have loved to stay and talk, but we have to get going." He said.

　　I nodded happily. Finally, I and my parents were going to spend some time alone.

　　As soon as Mr and Mrs Clarkson were out of the door, I jumped on my mother's body again and yelled.

　　"I am so glad to be home!"

　　"We are more than happy to have you back." My mother replied with tears in her eyes and I knew that apart from missing me, this woman loved me a lot.

　　Remind me not to ever leave them for so long again.

　　After having dinner, we sat in the sitting room and shared stories.

　　"So tell us, darling, how was school, especially the last few months?" Mother asked.

　　"It was okay. It was so tiring, but whenever I remembered that it was the last months I was meant to spend there, I no longer felt so mad. I gave my best to make sure that I passed my finals in flying colors and here I am, finally back home and basking in the love of my parents." I replied with a cheeky smile.

　　"Well, I am more than happy that you came out with great results in school. Thank you for not going the cliche way that every billionaire's daughter is a spoilt brat." My father praised, raising his glass to me.

　　I threw my head back in laughter while still accepting what he had said. He was right. I had gone to school and had done my best. Hell, despite the fact my parents weren't as rich as Elon Musk, I was born into fucking rich home and I had every intention to give my education the best. I had to. I wasn't doing it for them but for myself. If there was one thing I hoped to achieve with my life, it was to make a name for myself without the input of my parents.

　　"So, tell me, any wonderful man we should be expecting?" My mother asked with a glint in her eyes.

　　"Mom!" I complained as I rolled my eyes at her.

　　Being in school, I had experienced a level of respite from my mom and her matchmaking tactics.

　　"Don't mom me. It's every mother's pride to see her daughter married and happy."

　　"But I am only twenty-two. I still have a lot of time ahead of me. You don't have to worry too much."

　　"Okay fine. I am no longer worried. But tell me, at least there is a man right? You once spoke to me about some tall handsome dude." My mother asked all curious.

　　My happy demeanor suddenly turned sour and I kept mute, staring a the bright bulb at the top of the ceiling.

　　"Come on baby, talk to me." My mother's voice was laden with emotions.

　　"We broke up." I breathed out recounting how I had caught Jeff sleeping with one of my friends in college and trying to gaslight me by making it my fault.

　　"Oh, I am so sorry baby." My mom said.

　　"Do you need me to get the idiot dealt with?" My father asked fuming.

　　"No, you don't. I am over it now." I said and forced myself to brighten up.

　　"Are you sure? You know we want the best for you baby." My mother said rather too sweetly.

　　I smiled at her and placed a kiss on her cheeks. "Don't worry Mom and Dad. I am okay. Heartbreaks are nothing."

　　My parents shared troubled glances between themselves and at this point, I wasn't ready for their talks, so I quickly excused myself.

　　"Goodnight mom and dad. I am so tired I need to rest." I lied and quickly ran up the stairs to my bedroom to avoid them from probing too much into my life.

　　I kissed them both goodnight and climbed the stairs, grateful to escape before the questions got sharper.

　　In my room, I sank onto the bed, replaying the day. College was behind me now — no more late nights, no more Jeff, just the wide, uncertain shape of whatever came next. I was almost asleep when I heard it: my father's voice, low and clipped, drifting up through the floor vent from the study below.

　　"...if the Clarksons pull their offer, we lose everything, and you know it."

　　I froze, straining to hear my mother's reply, but her voice was too soft to catch. My stomach tightened.

　　Whatever that conversation with the Clarksons had really been about, it wasn't just old friends catching up.

　　I lay in the dark for a long time before sleep finally took me, the uneasy feeling refusing to fully let go.