My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)
Chapter 1820

Sure enough, cooking personally for us was just an excuse to leave more time for Santiago and me to be alone with each other.

After standing there for a moment, Valerie finally caught sight of me. "Why did you come in? I can keep an eye on things here. How can we leave our guest alone outside?" she fretted.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and stared at her with a sigh. Then, I instructed the servants beside me, "Turn off the gas and leave for a bit. I have something to discuss with the madam." "Understood," they replied.

I still had some status in this family. As soon as those words left my mouth, several maids stopped what they were doing and left, without forgetting to close the glass door for us.

Once they left, only Valerie and I were in the kitchen.

"Why did you bring Santiago here?" I confronted her directly.

"What are you talking about?" Valerie said as she sauntered up to me with a straight face. She leaned against the cabinet next to me and continued with a grin, "The Jenkins family and the Moore family are old friends. Santiago came to see your father. What made you think that we brought him over..."

"Really? Then, why didn't you tell me in advance that we were having a guest over?" I sneered.

"He called me when he got off the plane. It was a coincidence," she blurted.

She still quibbled about it.

I added, "Good, I don't know him anyway. Even if I'm not around, it shouldn't affect the three of you from reminiscing over your old friendships. Anne and I will leave now."

I hated making arrangements on my own, and I didn't like to beat around the bush with my own family.

The family needed to survive, and the property had to be inherited, so an arranged marriage was the easiest way to ensure that. I understood that, but it didn't mean that I would support it or that I would be willing to become their bridge.

When I turned around, Valerie tugged at my arm anxiously and protested, "Arianna, what are you doing? The guest is right outside, and if you leave with Anne now, he'll think that the Moore family doesn't welcome him. How are we supposed to interact with his family in the future?"

With a disgruntled face, I had no intention of compromising at all.

Upon seeing that I was leaving, Valerie let out a long sigh. She had no choice but to tell the truth, "Alright, I admit that your father and I had specially arranged dinner today for you. We're doing this for your own good. Now, the topic of Hendrix and Serene has spread far and wide out there. You have to find a way out for yourself. Santiago may be a little older than Hendrix, but he's filial and thoughtful. Although he's focused solely on his family, his career has flourished. This may have delayed his own love life, but he's a really outstanding marriage partner. You..."

She nagged, but I wasn't listening. The one thing I heard, however, was that I had three children, and that Santiago had never maintained a relationship with women.

I was angry and annoyed, so I complained indifferently, "Do you guys think that it's normal for someone at such an old age to remain unmarried?"

"What nonsense are you speaking of? We would never put you into a situation that would harm you. We've investigated Santiago's personal background, and he's in good health. Taking care of you and your children won't be a problem!" Valerie spouted.

I was really tired of her saying that she was doing this for my sake, and so I didn't give her a chance to finish. "The assets from the Reid and Moore family are enough for me and my children to live a peaceful life. Are you really doing this for our own good, or do you want to use this as a reason to find a cheap son-in-law to expand yours and Pedro's businesses?" I pressed.

Reality was often ugly, but in the end, this was what I lived in and I had to face it head on.

Valerie didn't expect me to be so agitated. She was stunned for a moment and couldn't say anything in the end.

With a disappointed smile, I turned around and waved my hand while declaring, "If you still insist on using me for your business, then I'll cut ties with you."

After that, I pushed the glass door open and strode out. I ignored Santiago, who was in the living room, trudged upstairs to get Anne, and left the place without even looking back.