Ugly Duckling

“Did you just call me ugly duckling?” I asked him carefully. This was more of curiosity than anger.

“Yeah, I did,” he replied. “You were exhibiting your teeth in front of the window while you tried to see who was inside. You should have known that this car has a tinted window. Who were you trying to deceive? Yourself, I guess!”

I looked at him irritably. I took a deep breath and faced him once more.

“Your parents wanted me to bring you…” I replied calmly.

“Then you must be Helen!” he exclaimed. “I have been wanting to see the girl whom my parents wanted me to marry. You must be so happy, right? It would be nice for you not to make children look like you. Your house looks like a piece of old property. Marrying into our family would be your honor. You guys are just too lucky.”

I sighed. I was trying to be nice here, but this guy was acting too difficult. I had little patience, and he probably didn’t know that. I tried one more time.

“Please step out of the car and let me lead the way…” I told him slowly.

“Call me young master!” he exclaimed with a smile on his face. I was tired of playing games with him.

“And why should I do that?!” I shouted at him. I expected that this would make him shocked, but his facial expression didn’t change one bit. It was like he had been expecting this all his life.

“Because you are a lowlife, darling…” he replied. I hated insults masked with sweet words. I clenched my fists.

“And what are you? A highlife, huh?” I asked him carefully. I was trying to keep my anger inside.

“That’s not even funny…” he told me with a smile on his face. “I will step out, okay? Open the door for me and call me young master. My driver should have been the one doing this, but he went out to smoke. I permitted him, so don’t blame him too much.”

“Then you can die there!” I shouted at him angrily. “Stay there, you self-glorified crab! You can eat your pride and drink your foolishness. I will leave!”

“You cheeky girl!” he shouted as I left. I thought he was just bluffing, but he chased me. I was just seeing his height. He was nothing like me. He was heavily built as well. I ran all the way inside the sitting room. I was breathing heavily.

I could see everyone’s shocked faces. He also arrived after me, breathing heavily as well.

“Both of you have just met each other, but you are already running after each other. It’s a very good sign, isn’t it, Richard?” Margaret turned to her husband with a smile on her face.

“Both of us ran after each other the day we met too!” Richard replied as he kissed Margaret.

Can they just stop their silly lovey-dovey?

--------------

“I won’t do that, uncle!” I exclaimed. This was after all the visitors had left. I told Tom my true intent.

“You will, Helen…” Tom replied.

“No, uncle!” I shouted back at him. “I am in a serious relationship, and you know it already. Smith came two months ago, and you even approved of him.”

“He brought me six bottles of my favorite wine!” Tom shouted. “I am talking about your so-called boyfriend. I liked him immediately because of his respectfulness and the fact that he had some cool cash. Those wines he brought over were worth a huge amount of money.”

“You love money and Smith has it. What else do you want? Why on earth do I have to marry Ethan? It makes no sense!” I shouted angrily. If it was up to me, I would be destroying things in the house like I had seen young mistresses in movies do.

“Money is one thing, but influence and names are another…” Tom replied coolly. “I represent the Collins’ family. I have no child nor wife.”

“But you have mistresses all over the United States!” I shouted back at him.

“How dare you!” he exclaimed and slapped my face. I held it in since it was not my first time going through this. I was angry, and I decided to go all out.

“But I am really right! I know you have a lot of mistresses! You are just a miser who is afraid that if you marry a wife, she will steal your money or cause you to spend more. When your bones are weak, and you can’t work, you will live your life alone…” I told him boldly. Tom was breathing heavily.

“I don’t care what you say or what you know!” he shouted at me angrily. “You will break up with Smith and not to worry, I will give him a call. Meet up with him and wrap it up. If you don’t want it that way, I can do it another way. I still know that Smith has a grandmother.”

“Uncle Tom!” I shouted at him in despair mixed with anger.

“Oh yeah!” he exclaimed. “It’s nice that you know I am still your uncle. Break up with Smith, or you’ll end up endangering his life. You should know I have always been ruthless, huh?”

I slumped.

I was sitting down on the cold ground with this realization dawning on me. Oh, what a life!

------------

“We met in this amusement park, didn’t we?” I asked Smith carefully. For the first time, we weren’t holding hands.

“We did…” Smith replied. “I heard… your dad told me about it.”

“My uncle… that bad person can’t be my father,” I replied with tears flowing down my cheek.

“It’ll be fine!” Smith held my hand now. “I have always loved you and I know it’s been the same for you. Just remember me, that’s all I ask.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.

--------------

I was heartbroken, but it was time to move on. I had to do it for Smith. He had to see me happy for him to meet a better person as well. If not for the sudden appearance of Ethan, this might never have happened.

I would never forgive him.

Never.

“Get dressed, girl!” I could hear Tom shouting from the door. “Ethan’s parents called. They won’t both of you to go on a date and know each other better. Is that not wonderful?”