Chapter 397 How Could You Bear It?
By the time Ava returned home, the clock was already striking half-past one in the afternoon. She had made a promise to William to inform him of her safe arrival, but the thought of conversation left her weary. Opting for a less demanding route, she sent him a text message.
Ava: [William, I'm home now, no need to worry.]
His response was quick and simple.
William: [Alright, as long as you're home.]
Ava sank into the comfort of her sofa, her mind shifting gears to the task of searching for rental properties in Brookvale Heights, her chosen city of refuge. She had only two days left before her departure.
Tonight, she was to accompany her mother-in-law to meet Alexander, and tomorrow would be dedicated to her grandmother. As she sat there, she silently mapped out her future plans. She would buy a heap of books to occupy her time during her pregnancy, and once her child was born, she would prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam.
Despite the bitter taste of her recent divorce, Ava found a silver lining. She was, after all, financially secure. She held shares in SK and had a substantial amount of money tucked away in her bank account.
Ava was a frugal woman, never one to squander resources or indulge in luxury goods. She often found herself wondering how many lifetimes it would take to spend all her accumulated wealth.
Her phone was a treasure trove of information, but her attention was solely focused on the rental listings. After a while, she had narrowed down a few promising options. Just as she was about to make an inquiry call, her phone rang.
Answering the call, she greeted, "Hello, William."
"Ava, I'm downstairs at your place. Can I come up?" William's voice echoed through the phone.
"You're downstairs?" Ava rushed to the window, drawing back the curtains and peering out. Sure enough, there was a car parked not far away, and William was waving at her from the driver's seat. "William, why did you come?"
"You mentioned wanting to discuss my father's matter in person, so I'm here. Don't worry, I won't take up much of your time. I'll leave in ten minutes. Can I come up?"
Since William was already there, Ava couldn't very well turn him away, and she did have time to spare. "Sure, come up. I'll open the door for you."
It wasn't long before William was standing in Ava's living room, a weary and worried expression etched on his face. His first words were, "Are you really okay after meeting my father today?"
Ava sighed, turning around to face him. "Look, I'm perfectly fine, not a scratch. Do you want to count if I've lost any hair?" Her light-hearted joke seemed to put William at ease.
"That's good. You said you had something to tell me after the meeting. What is it?"
"Your father said you're getting married. Is it true?"
William was taken aback. "I'm getting married? He told you?"
Ava nodded. "He told me this afternoon. Don't you know about it?"
William shook his head, a look of confusion spreading across his face.
"I had no idea. No one told me."
Ava sighed, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Your father didn't bother to inform you. He made the decision on his own."
William's brow furrowed in confusion. "Did he tell you who I'm supposed to marry?" he asked.
Ava nodded, her expression solemn. "He mentioned it's the daughter of one of his friends. Regardless of who you marry, it's definitely a business alliance."
A bitter laugh escaped William's lips, the sound echoing in the silence. "I knew this day would come." He retreated a few steps, sinking into a chair as a wave of powerlessness washed over him.
Ava studied him, her gaze filled with concern. "Did your father ever mention this to you before?" she asked.
William sighed, his shoulders slumping. "When I was ten, my father told me that as the eldest son, everything I do represents the Bennett family. I can't act as I please. My life, my thoughts, my attire, all must reflect seriousness and order. That includes my future marriage. If I bring shame to the Bennett family, I stand to lose everything."
Ava found it hard to fathom the pressure William had endured throughout his life. Such a good person, forced to suffer so much. How could parents inflict such pain on their own child? Yet, ironically, they didn't perceive it as harm; they believed it was for his own good.
Was family honor really that significant? It all seemed so hollow. Shouldn't a child's happiness be the most important thing to a parent?
Alexander had grown up devoid of parental love, while William was manipulated by his father, who used his so-called love to control his actions. These parents had experienced childhood themselves, so why had they forgotten the desires of their own youth?
"William, are you really going to comply with your father's arrangement?" Ava's voice was filled with deep concern.
"I don't know," William replied, his gaze lifting to meet hers. "Ava, why did my father tell you about this?"
Ava explained, "He initially thought we were romantically involved. When I clarified that we weren't, he asked me to persuade you to get married."
A helpless smile tugged at the corners of William's mouth, but he remained silent. He had no words left. After a moment, he rose from his chair. "Ava, I'll leave now. I don't want to disturb you any further." He turned to depart, his demeanor heavy with dejection.
"William," Ava reached out, her hand gently gripping his arm. "Don't lose heart. Tell your father that you have a girl you like. Today, he told me that if we were in a romantic relationship, he wouldn't interfere with us being together."
William froze, his eyes wide with shock. "What did you say?" he stammered. "Did he really say that?"
Ava nodded, her expression sincere. "Yes, it seems that because you don't have a girlfriend, he took it upon himself to find one for you. If you make an effort and find someone you like, maybe you won't need a business marriage."
William fell silent, his mind churning with thoughts. After a moment, he said, "I will think about it carefully. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Don't argue with your father for now. I'm afraid it might backfire," Ava advised.
William nodded. "Okay."
