novelraw Chapter 286 - 287: Being Overbearing Right After The Engagement
Chapter 286 - 287: Being Overbearing Right After The Engagement
Chapter 286: Chapter 287: Being Overbearing Right After The Engagement
Sienna Johnson’s words completely extinguished the anger in Adrian Desmond’s heart.
Finally, her unforgiving mouth had said something pleasing.
"Sienna Johnson, have you gone crazy over men?" Pauline Briggs angrily blurted out without thinking.
Adrian scowled at Pauline Briggs. Considering she was the biological mother of the woman he loved, he ultimately held back.
Adrian looked deeply at the enchanting Sienna. After a while, he spoke decisively, "Sienna Johnson, if your family doesn’t want to marry you off to me, then let’s save the ceremony. We’ll live together instead. After all, I’m here, so start packing. You’ll move in with me today."
"Sienna Johnson, how dare you!" Pauline Briggs was being unreasonable, and Adrian, rather than reasoning with her, acted like a complete rogue, disregarding all convention.
Sienna replied, "Adrian, don’t forget, you’re marrying into the family, so if anyone’s moving, it’s you."
"Fine, I’ll pack my things when I get back. Tonight, I’ll move to your place!"
Seeing the two of them in perfect accord, Pauline Briggs knew that no matter how much of a scene she made, she couldn’t change their minds.
"Sienna, if you’re determined to marry Adrian, I can’t stop you." Pauline changed her hard stance. "But winning a Johnson daughter is no easy feat, Adrian. If you want to marry our Sienna, you’ll have to show absolute sincerity."
Paige Desmond smiled brightly. "Of course, of course. Madam Johnson, feel free to state your conditions. As long as we’re capable, we’ll do everything in our power to meet them."
Pauline began, "My condition is this: if Sienna ever wants to divorce Adrian, Adrian must agree unconditionally!"
Adrian and Sienna both looked at Pauline Briggs in confusion, not understanding why she would make such a demand. Pauline looked at her stubborn daughter and explained,
"You’re my daughter; I know your temperament. Sienna, one day, you will regret this. The only thing I, as your mother, can do for you is give you a chance to act on that regret!"
After saying her piece, Pauline left the table without bothering with formalities.
"Sienna and I will never divorce!" Adrian declared with utmost firmness to Pauline’s retreating back.
***
Despite the numerous obstacles, under Adrian’s steadfast and firm stance, substantial progress was made.
The engagement ceremony was set for the eighth day of the next month, an auspicious day suitable for all occasions.
By the river, a man and a woman faced each other, standing by the water as it sparkled under the moonlight.
"Your mom is really difficult to deal with."
Sienna laughed. "You’ve only dealt with Madam Johnson a few times and you’re already fed up? She’s not easy to handle. Once she becomes your mother-in-law, she’ll likely cause you no end of trouble. Are you still sure you want to marry me, knowing you’ll have a mother-in-law like her?"
"After we’re married, can we not live with your mom?" Adrian asked, already feeling a headache. She was someone he couldn’t hit or scold.
"We will! I plan on moving back."
"Why?"
"My grandmother isn’t well, and Sabrina Johnson won’t be coming to the Johnson family home anymore. I originally moved out to avoid Sabrina. Since she won’t be around, why shouldn’t I move back?" Staying out like this isn’t a sustainable solution, anyway.
"Are you that afraid of Sabrina Johnson?" Adrian asked.
"It’s not fear. It’s disgust!"
Adrian’s gaze again fell on the diamond necklace around her neck. His dark eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam in them. "That diamond necklace around your neck is a real eyesore."
"Oh?" She glanced down at the diamond necklace. "I don’t usually wear it. But since your Princess Consort sister was visiting today, I took it out to make a bit of a showing. I couldn’t look too shabby, after all."
He snatched the diamond necklace from her neck.
"Ouch!"
Adrian was yanking the necklace from her neck. "What are you doing?" Sienna exclaimed, rubbing her throat. Seeing the necklace now in his hand, she cried, "Give it back!"
Adrian, tall and long-limbed, simply held a hand against her forehead, keeping her at bay. Sienna, feeling like she had "short arms," flailed comically as she tried to snatch it, but she couldn’t reach the diamond necklace in his grasp.
"Sienna Johnson, I don’t care which pretty boy you loved before. Now that you’re married to me, you’re my woman! If you even think about cheating on me, making me a cuckold, I absolutely will not spare you!"
"Give it back to me!"
With a flick of his long arm, Adrian sent the priceless diamond necklace flying. It soared far and high before plunging into the deep moat.
Sienna heard a PLOP! She saw water splash, and with a final gleam, the diamond necklace vanished into the river.
"Adrian!" she yelled at him.
"I know that ’pretty boy’ gave it to you. You’re keeping this thing and thinking about him. Do you think I’m dead or something?"
"Bastard!" she seethed, and started towards the river.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Adrian demanded.
"Of course, I’m going to look for my necklace!"
"You are not!" Adrian commanded domineeringly.
"Who are you to stop me?" Sienna kicked him.
"You’re my wife now, so I have every right to control you!"
Fire practically shot from Sienna’s eyes as she ground her teeth. "Bastard, give me back my necklace!"
She kicked and pummeled Adrian. While such an attack was child’s play to him, the fact that this woman was making such a fuss over some ’pretty boy’s’ necklace infuriated him to no end.
He scooped Sienna up by the waist. "Sienna Johnson, you behave yourself. If you don’t, I’ll throw you into the river to feed the fish."
"Adrian, you bastard!"
Somehow, whenever she faced Adrian, Sienna would unconsciously reveal her vulnerability. She started to cry wretchedly, tears blurring her vision. Her reddened eyes, like those of a weak, pitiful little rabbit, made Adrian’s heart soften.
"Isn’t it just a necklace? I’ll buy you a new one."
"I don’t want yours! I want the one I just had!"
"No way!"
"Put me down!"
Adrian sneered, "Put you down? So you can jump into the river and fish out that necklace?"
"Adrian, if you keep acting like this, we’ll call off our engagement immediately!" Sienna threatened.
"I’ll repeat to you what I told your mother today! You and I will be together forever. You can only be my woman! If you’re going to marry anyone, it can only be me!"
Adrian carried Sienna towards a dense grove in the park. It was late, and the park was deserted, especially in this secluded spot they had headed for. He pinned her against a sturdy tree and kissed her.
Sienna, her mind still on the lost necklace, had no interest in his advances. She tried to dodge, but he gripped her head, kissing her so intensely that the root of her tongue ached.