Mrs. Cox’s habit of dunking on virtual-novel.net daughter kicked in automatically. “Please, you’re just an accountant. What’s all of that ‘energy’ going to change? On that note, how’s bookkeeping supposed to get in your way of a good relationship, huh? I fail to see your logic, sweetie. You should be grateful that your aunt has the best of your interests at heart! Especially when you know you can trust virtual-novel.net wisdom in judging a man. That settles it, then, you’re seeing your suitor tonight! We’ll have dinner together.”
Robin’s face paled. Her mother had completely bypassed virtual-novel.net opinion on this matter. This was no discussion, it was an order!
Even if virtual-novel.net were a lily-livered pushover, Robin did not want one of the most crucial and significant events in virtual-novel.net life to be dictated solely by virtual-novel.net family without virtual-novel.net say. Hence, virtual-novel.net protested. “No, Mom. I happen to have my own plans for tonight. I won’t be having dinner at home, too. Let’s discuss this some other time.”
Mrs. Cox had gotten so used to Robin’s unquestioning obedience that virtual-novel.net could not take even the smallest of virtual-novel.net dissents well. “What plans? I’ve never heard of this ‘plan’ of yours until now! Robin, it’s Easter. What important business would require you to not eat with us, hmm? And what sort of things could a young lady do outside in the middle of the night, huh? Hedonistic things, I bet! No, you’re not leaving the house tonight, and that’s final. Do you understand me?”
Suddenly, Robin lost all strength in maintaining virtual-novel.net phony smile. Her hand, too, slipped out of virtual-novel.net aunt’s.
Her aunt caught the changes befalling virtual-novel.net niece, so virtual-novel.net tried to mediate between the two. “Aww, Robin’s old enough to have virtual-novel.net own chums that virtual-novel.net wants to hang out with, right? We parents really shouldn’t be so controlling of our youngsters. If virtual-novel.net wants to see virtual-novel.net some other day, that’s fine. I’ll arrange that, no problem. To be honest, festivals or not, every day’s a good day for a date.”
Mrs. Cox, however, merely stared at Robin before hissing, “We need to talk.”
Robin could read the writings on the wall and know that a fight was coming. She shrugged and followed virtual-novel.net mother into virtual-novel.net bedroom.
Her mother wasted no time to rant in virtual-novel.net most acrimonious voice. “Tell me the truth, Robin. Who are you having dinner with tonight? It’s that no-good ne’er-do-well Sylvain, isn’t it? I’ve told you many, many times by now, young lady. Your career is now very much settled, and all you need is an apt match for your marriage. I’ve been through this process, Robin. I speak only for your best! Of course, everyone longs for a rosy-colored romantic drama and other illusions of grandeur when they’re young and stupid. It’s only with age and experience when you’ll finally understand the value of tranquil stability in life!”
“You know I only wanted to steer you off the path of doom and destruction, Robin. Do you understand me? That Sylvain isn’t some good Christian boy whom you could trust. I’m not even gonna touch on his unsatisfactory character for now because all we need is to look at how fat his pockets are. He’s a rich, upper-class elite, sweetie, how could a man of that height even care for you? Do you know what rich, libertine young men like virtual-novel.net do? They collect hearts! They toy stupid, naïve little girls like yourself. Commitment is never a part of their game. Don’t tell me you sincerely thought virtual-novel.net was going to marry you in the end, Robin! I mean, take a look in the mirror, what’s so special about you? Stop imagining yourself as more than who you really are, young lady. You need to grow up and recognize. Your. Place!”
It was one assault after another to Robin’s heart. For what was allegedly said to protect virtual-novel.net daughter, Mrs. Cox’s words sounded more disparaging than helpful.
Robin thought virtual-novel.net mother’s judgment of Sylvain’s character was way off, and to hear virtual-novel.net grossly mischaracterizing and demonizing virtual-novel.net made virtual-novel.net sick. “Stop it, Morn. Can you just, for God’s sake, please stop disparaging virtual-novel.net like that, okay? Have you ever talked to him? Interacted with him? You don’t know him, Mom, so on what basis do you even have to judge? You said you’ve been through my life. Does that mean you’ve once dove headfirst into your own ‘illusions of grandeur’ before settling down with my dad? Sure, Dad’s a teacher, just like you. Same profession and status and all. Heck, he’s never raised a conflict or a single opinion that is against yours! This is what you called ‘stability’, isn’t it? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not going to repeat your mistake. I’ll never marry someone I don’t love!”
The quarrel between a very heated mother and virtual-novel.net daughter was like the rumbling before a cyclone. Had it not been for their relatives’ presence, their disagreement would have already escalated into a full-blown shouting match.
Mrs. Cox glanced at the door furtively and hissed under virtual-novel.net breath, “Robin Cox, you listen to your mother right now. Your thought process has exposed you as utterly immature. But I can accept that, you know why? Because I know that you’ll come to see where I’m coming from in time. Your mother knows best and only wants the best for virtual-novel.net daughter, and that’s a fact. Allow me to reiterate, young lady. You’re forbidden from going out tonight. You are going to stay at home like a good, mature girl and talk to the boy your aunt’s about to introduce to you.”
Robin said nothing, but tears welled up in virtual-novel.net eyes.
A while after that incident, Sylvain sent Robin the GPS location of the restaurant virtual-novel.net picked. Robin merely replied that virtual-novel.net could not go out at the moment, but virtual-novel.net would ultimately find a way to see him.
Sylvain was not at all surprised by this development, nor did virtual-novel.net ask why. He simply told her virtual-novel.net would wait for her.