Meanwhile, Thea finally returned to her hotel room after spending a whole day with her parents.
“Mom, this is the hotel Kenneth arranged for you. He said that you two could stay as long as you like, and he wants you to be comfortable,” she said with a smile.
Her father, Harry Jarman, let out a huff. “There is no meaning in such superficial efforts. He didn't even turn up when we said we would buy him a meal.”
“He's busy, Dad,” Thea tried to intercede.
“Is he so busy that he can't even find time to have a meal?” Harry gazed at his daughter with disappointment. “What on earth is going on between you and Kenneth? How much has your relationship progressed?”
After hearing his question, Thea lowered her head and fell silent.
“Well, would you look at that? You always clam up when I ask this. What exactly is
Kenneth thinking? Is he planning to give you a proper title?” Harry was so furious that he started yelling.
Thea's mother, Caroline, immediately approached him. “All right, that's enough. Aren't you tired? Hurry and go take a shower. Stop worrying about our daughter's relationship.”
“What? What could you do about it?”
“Fine, fine. I'll stop talking.” Harry did not dare to go against Caroline. He shot a final glance at Thea before heading to the bathroom.
Caroline gazed at Thea and sighed. “It's okay. Your father just wants the best for you.
“I know that, Mom...” Thea replied dejectedly.
Just then, Caroline pulled her onto the couch. “Just like your father, I would like to ask you the same question as well. What is going on between you and Kenneth?”
“Mom—” “You're not getting out of this. You must tell me the truth,” Caroline cut her off and said.
After thinking for a moment, Thea opened her mouth. “We... We haven't broached the subject yet.”
“You haven't talked about it yet?”
“I don't know how to start, but I think he understands.”
“Understand? What does he understand?
I'm telling you, Thea, even if he really does understand, he will continue to play dumb if you don't bring it up. Are you going to keep mum and let him waste the best years of your youth?”
“I don’t know how to go about saying it... What should I do, Mom?” Thea asked. She had wanted so much to talk to Kenneth about it. However, she was afraid that even their friendship would be ruined if she chose to do that.
Caroline thought for a moment. “Ask him out tomorrow. I'll talk to him and see what he's planning to do!”
“Mom, that's... No, that's not appropriate. There is nothing going on between us, yet you're going to ask him that. What if he's not interested in me?”
“That would be great! I can take you overseas with me. You won't have to stay by his side and waste your time.”
“No, Mom. I like him, and I want to be with him. I don't want to leave him,” Thea said firmly as she gazed at Caroline. She knew that her behavior was rather wretched, but she just wanted to stay by Kenneth's side.
Caroline felt her heart break as she looked at the way Thea was behaving. Thea was the precious daughter she had doted on for many years, after all. She contemplated briefly before opening her mouth. “Did you ever think about what you will do if he doesn't like you?”
Thea lowered her gaze. “I still don't want to leave him...”
“Thea!” “Mom, I know I shouldn't be doing this, but it's true. I've never felt so strongly about someone before. I'm willing to do anything and sacrifice everything for him. As long as he can be with me, there's nothing I won't do...”
Caroline looked at her and let out a helpless sigh. “Thea, you're only going to suffer like this.”
“I'm not afraid of suffering. I'm just afraid that I won't be able to see him in the future,” Thea replied sadly.
Caroline thought about it for a moment. “If that's the case, I will help you think of a way.
Thea's eyes lit up when she heard her words. “Are you serious, Mom? You have an idea?”
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