Chapter 457 Wedding Gift
The car actually belonged to Josephine. Jared did not buy a car as there were plenty to borrow from between the garages of Josephine and Tommy. As a result, Jared always had an arsenal of vehicles at his disposal.
Ingrid nodded impatiently. “There was also talk that you came with a very pretty girl. Is she your girlfriend?”
Jared nodded with a helpless smile. The gossip of village women travels faster than scandals on the Internet!
“Where is she?” Ingrid demanded as she dragged him indoors. “Bring me to her!”
Upon pushing open the front door, they found Hannah and Josephine on the other end ready to receive them.
“Aunt Hannah!” Ingrid called cheerily.
“You’re about to get married in a couple of days, Ingrid. Why are you still out and about?”
“It’s too crowded and noisy at home! I had to come out for a breather.”
Ingrid’s gaze fell onto Josephine, who was standing beside Hannah. “You must be Jared’s girlfriend,” she gasped. “Oh, my. You’re so pretty!”
Despite blushing deeply, Josephine’s heart swelled with warmth at the sincere compliment.
“My name’s Josephine, nice to meet you.” She extended her hand to the younger woman.
“Ingrid.” She offered hers as she took Josephine’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Josephine!”
“Step out of the sun, you kids. Take this conversation indoors,” Hannah said as she stepped through the door. “I’m going over to Ingrid’s.”
The group marched back into the house as Ingrid stared at Josephine with such intent that it made the latter feel uncomfortable.
“Why are you staring at her like that for, Ingrid?” Jared asked, nonplussed.
“Josephine is dressed in luxury brands from head to toe,” Ingrid whispered admiringly. “Those are Cartier earrings! Do you know how expensive they are?”
Turning to the subject of her scrutiny, she asked, “What does your family do, Josephine?”
Josephine was impressed by Ingrid’s sharp observation skills.
“Oh, we just run a small business,” she responded modestly before taking off her earrings. “We didn’t get to bring you a wedding gift, Ingrid. I would like you to have these earrings if you like them!”
Ingrid staggered backward in horror. “I can’t accept them, Josephine,” she cried, waving her hands frantically. “They’re too expensive!”
“Not at all,” said Josephine earnestly. “Think of it as a gift from us!” As she spoke, she forced Ingrid around to put the earrings on for her. “They look so pretty on you! Imagine how they’ll complement your wedding dress.”
At the mention of her wedding, the joy in Ingrid’s face seemed to fade a little as if something weighed heavily on her.
“You’re only nineteen, Ingrid,” Jared added, failing to notice the change in her expression. “Why are you in a rush to get married instead of completing your education first? It’ll be increasingly difficult to establish yourself in the modern society without a university education.”
Jared had struck a chord. In an instant, tears welled up in Ingrid’s eyes as she began to weep.
He gaped in horror, not expecting a passing remark to make her cry.
Josephine hastened to comfort the girl. “Jared didn’t mean it, Ingrid. Ignore him.”
Ingrid’s sobs intensified at that. She threw herself onto Josephine’s shoulder and howled.
Eventually, her sobs subsided before she drew a great shuddering breath to calm herself. “I know Jared didn’t mean it, Josephine,” she said with a sniffle. “I don’t actually want to get married. I do want to go to university, but I… I can’t get out of this!”
Ingrid’s wide and fearful eyes reminded Jared forcefully of the days when they were children. It made his heart twinged with guilt to see her as helpless as she was.
The couple exchanged startled glances. How are there still forced marriages in the world?
“What is going on, Ingrid?” Jared asked with a frown.
