Silvia walked into the Manah Estate with her mother. It was her first time going to see the potential husband they told her so much about
"Be good if you want him to marry you." Her mother warned "Don't go crying about how you're not ready yet, and most importantly don't bring up any stupid talk about the fashion industry"
Silvia was quiet, she didn't like the intimidation but it's not like she had a choice
"Yes mother" she quietly said as they reached a door with luxurious designs and knocked on it. A maid answered it and she gave them a nervous look
"Good afternoon, Mrs Manah has been expecting you" she said then led them in. They went straight to the living room and sat quietly and Silvia could see her mom examining the entire place ....
"Isn't this interior lovely?" She whispered shouted "if you marry into this home, I'll never have to worry about you again"
Suddenly she jolted up and adjusted herself properly when an old lady came in.
She looked like she was in her late 70's and she had a walking stick with her and a maid beside her
"Mrs Ganamd" she greeted, then sat down on a couch opposite them.
"Good after Mrs Manah" her mom greeted, then she shot Silvia a bad look. Silvia wasn't sure how she was supposed to greet the lady or if she was meant to
Especially since she didn't even want to be in that house in the first place
"Good afternoon ...." She forced
Mrs Manah gave a small smile which was obviously fake.
"Anyways I think you know why you're here"
"Yes ... Ma'am " Silvia's mom said nervously
"My grandson Presol would be back from work soon, then he and the girl could finally meet"
"The girl?"
Silvia was directly in front of her and all she could be addressed as was "The girl"
"Pardon, my name is Silvia-"
"I do not care" the old lady said harshly, then looked up at the maid. Immediately she left and almost immediately returned with a hot cup of tea "You would be wedding into my family. It is only appropriate that I address you however I wish"
Silvia felt upset and gave her mother a little look, hoping she would stand up for her
"Sarah!!!! Didn't you train the girl well?" The lady looked a bit irritated "How dare she talk back at adults?"
"I'm sorry ma'am " Silvia's mom said. Silvia couldn't believe it.
Her mom just apologized to someone she expected her to fight.
This was the lady who she might have to see for the rest of her life ....
"Ever since her father died, she's been a little mental. It's been disturbing her for weeks, and the poor girl wasn't sure how to take the news of getting married so soon-"
What??
Did her mother just blame this on her dead father?
"Why? Is the girl not taking the news well?"
"Oh she is" Sarah lied with a big, fat smile "infact she is far too excited to be getting married, especially into a prestigious family of yours. She just cannot wait, her heart has been trembling with anticipation since the last week that we told her about it"
The lady didn't look pleased " I wish I could say likewise. If it weren't for my foolish son in the United States recently, I would have been able to get a potential bride for my Presol himself. But my idiot of a child went around forging deals" she gave Silvia a bad look "and now I'm forced to deal with this and it especially lacks manners"
"IT?????"
This was clearly going too far
"I-"
"Oh trust me, I promise it is not a decision you will regret" her mom was pleading "Silvia here is smart and hardworking. And she is extremely healthy for producing babies too. Very soon there will be tests checked for both her and the handsome Presol soon"
"Tch!" Miss Manah still wasn't pleased "You think if it was about bearing babies, I would be having this problem?" Then she glared at Silvia
"Did you undergo any plastic surgery?"
"No" she replied
"Then why is your face like that?" She complained. Even Silvia's mom looked confused
"Like what ma'am -"
"Why does your daughter have such an attractive face?. Does she want to encourage adultery in her husband's house?"
"No she-"
The lady looked very angry and disgusted "If this isn't enough problem, she lacks manners. You better pray other aspects are able to make up for it. Even if my son was the one to intitate the deal, I still have every right to nullify it"
Sarah's face went white. This was the only hope of wedding Silvia into a rich home easily "Please don't " she immediately went on her knees "I beg you"
"I thought her beautiful face would be a bonus for us, but turns out it's just a problem. The foolish girl ..." Her mother was thinking "I told her not to cause any trouble while we were here"
"Stand up" Mrs Manah said in a controlling tone. Immediately Sarah stood up.
Silvia immediately felt ashamed and embarrassed. She wished that wasn't happening to her at the moment.
"How educated is she?"
"Silvia only completed her second year in Junior high school. Then dropped out immediately after to help out at my grocery store"
Silvia eyes widened out of shock!
Why did her mother lie like that?
Especially in front of the supposed soon to be grandmother-in-law
Silvia completed her Secondary School education and went to study a degree in Arts. She graduated with First class and a MA after studying her Masters for Master of Arts. And she was accepted as an intern at a fashion company and was on her way to becoming a full time employee
"Perfect" Mrs Manah said
Silvia's ears rang. Before the words could even come out of her mouth, her brain already processed it.
Her mother was only interesting in selling her off to the family and she didn't care about what lengths she had to go to to do that
"We cannot have a very educated girl under our roof. It would be disgusting watching her be on the same level as our Presol or even, God forbid, get better" then she took a sip of her tea
"I could assure you, that can and will never be possible" her mom nervously laughed.
"Does she have any former aquintances with any man?"
"Certainly not. That would be the utmost disgrace" Her mother replied.
Silvia had not really had any exes. But there was a boy who always came around for her during her university years and promised to marry her
But one day, she never saw the boy again.
"With a face like that? The woman looked doubtful
"Don't be deceived, it's just a pretty face that's all"
"A face like that is a curse" the woman said with clear envy "I spit on it"
Silvia wasn't even sure why she was taking this anymore.
She had nowhere to go. Her parents never let her have any investments of her own and her mother made her believe this was something that would work out for their own good.
But it's way worse than she could imagine. Because this was like selling an item and pricing the quality.
"Is there anything exceptional about the girl besides her ability to produce babies?"
"She's very good with cooking and she's a very good cleaner. She would be the perfect housewife "
"Even if she wasn't, we would groom her" then she gave Sarah a very intimidating look " I said, EXCEPTIONAL"
....
After discussing for almost an hour, Mrs Manah ordered to serve them food and commanded that they eat at the dining table.
Silvia still wasn't sure why her mother was licking their shoes.
They weren't rich, yes. But they had enough to get through till Silvia got her job.
Her father owned a small business and her mom owned a small grocery store. And one day, her dad and Presol's dad made a deal asking for Silvia's dad's effort and Presol's dad's investments, in exchange for their children.
Silvia's dad went through this thinking he was giving his daughter a better life
And her mother wanted to go through this to make things easier for herself.
Because they were rich
Even if they were extremely uncomfortable, especially after her father's death, she would still choose that life a hundred times than marry into this.
Silvia fumbled with the utensils a little. She wasn't used to eating bread with a fork. She would prefer to use her hands
Like most normal people
And who even ate Bread for Lunch?
"And what do you think you're doing?" Mrs Manah asked her, eyeing her gestures
"Forgive me" she said to avoid an argument "I'm not quite skilled with using the fork with a bread"
*Expected " Mrs Manah said disapprovingly. Then gestured at a maid, who then went over to Silvia and diced up the bread for her
*Thank you" She said as the maid looked at her in horror
"THANK YOU?????" Mrs Manah literally shouted. Her face boiled with extreme anger. "You foolish girl, why would you thank the servants and maids who have way low class than you???. You imbecile!!!!!! You will definitely disgrace our family"
She then got up really angry
"I have had enough of you-"
"Ma'am please -"
"SILENCE!!!" She fumed at Silvia "GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE THIS INSTANT. YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF BEING A BRIDE OF OUR FAMILY"
Suddenly someone walked into the living room
"Nana" A deep male voice called out "I'm home"
And finally, Silvia had seen the potential husband she had heard so much about