The Gift

I knew that this wedding was unavoidable. However, if Carroll facilitated it, I would be unhappy. I stood rooted there, so Rose came over and asked, "Madam, aren't you hungry?" "Starved!" I rubbed my empty belly. After one glance at the exquisite wedding dress, I said, "Breakfast comes first." I was like a pig on the chopping board. If the butcher intended to kill me at noon, I wouldn't see the sun tomorrow. I would like to eat my fill no matter what would happen next. I sat at the dining table with my head down. The smartphone in my hand couldn't cheer me up. My imagination about my wedding with a paper doll ran wild. Would Old Madame Brown tie me up, lock me in the coffin, and bury me alive after the wedding? I had seen this plot on TV. Rose brought me a bowl of seafood porridge. After she put down the bowl, I grabbed her arm and asked, "Rose, will many people attend the wedding tonight?" "Yes, quite a lot. It is said that Old Madame Brown has invited several hundred people over." I lost my appetite. With so many people around, Carroll couldn't make a farce like last time if Old Madame Brown wanted to bury me alive. Moreover, it was he who prepared the wedding dress for me. I couldn't hold back my tears at the thought that I would die young. "Where is Mr. Carroll? Is he in the secret room? "No. I need a good chat with Mr. Carroll. Can't I die after my 20th birthday?" Rose looked at me in shock. "There are many people here today, so Mr. Carroll has left." "So, I will be buried alive for sure!" I cried heartbrokenly. I hadn't seen the world yet. I didn't want to die yet. I just applied for an account and hadn't played with my iPad yet. I didn't want to die. Mr. Carroll bought me so many beautiful dresses. I didn't want to die yet. I had 30 thousand dollars. I... Rose burst into laughter. She took out a tissue and wiped my tears. "Madam, what are you talking about? Why will you be buried alive?" "Isn't that what Mr. Carroll wants? Look, he prepared the wedding dress for me." I tried my best to lower my voice and pointed in the direction of the hall. Many strangers were working in the hall. There were balloons and colored lamps. "The dress came from Old Madame Brown. Besides, many people are here tonight, so it will be difficult for her to do something bad. "Jason said Old Madame Brown tried to embarrass you because you had humiliated her twice. "It is known to all that this is an old practice of marriage, and you married into the Brown family for the sake of the old friendship. If something bad happens to you, the reputation of Old Madame Brown will be ruined. "Therefore, don't worry. Be cooperative. Your life won't be so difficult if Old Madame Brown cools down after this wedding." Hearing Rose, I stopped crying. "Did Jason say that?" "Yes." Rose handed me a carved spoon and said, "Don't worry." I heaved a sigh of relief. Then, I had a good appetite. What Jason said came from Carroll. I believed in Carroll. Well, the seafood porridge tasted so good. Something came to me, so I put down the spoon. "The wedding dress isn't the gift from Mr. Carroll, so what is it?" "Mr. Carroll said that I could tell you after you had breakfast." Rose pulled a long face to imitate Carroll. Her expression was like that of Carroll, but Rose didn't have that oppressive vibe. Therefore, Rose looked funny. I ate fast. After a while, my stomach was full. Rose cleaned up the table. Then, she took out an iPad and placed it in my hand. I flipped through the pictures on my iPad. Those pictures were about the shopping malls similar to the one I had been last night. Ding. Carroll: "Choose one." I: "About what?" Carroll: "Only a gift can cheer up the sad child. This is my gift for you." I shifted my gaze between the message and the pictures on my iPad. With wide-open eyes, I asked, "Does Mr. Carroll want to gift me to a shopping mall?" "Well, to be exact, it is an amusement park." Rose wasn't so surprised as I was. She moved closer to me and elaborated on the pros and cons of every shopping mall. My mind went blank for this generosity from Carroll. I sent a message to Carroll. "Mr. Carroll, you're so rich." Ten minutes had passed, but I didn't get a response from Carroll. I put my phone away and looked up at the antique crystal chandelier above my head. Oh, what a lovely life the rich led! Carroll gifted me a shopping mall casually. No wonder female celebrities longed to marry the rich. "Madam, have you made your choice?" Rose, who diligently did the introduction, asked, "Which one do you prefer?" I smiled awkwardly. "May I confess that I didn't hear you?" One in astonishment could hear or see nothing sometimes. Rose pouted and said through her gritted teeth, "Of course." "Why don't we forget the gift for a while? Can't I make the decision after the wedding?" I moved my chair, so I could see what happened in the hall. People bustled in the hall, and there was some decoration on that black coffin. There were colorful balloons and flowers on the wall, doors, and windows. How humorous the sharp contrast between the blissful decoration and the black coffin in the middle was! I watched the scene with interest, but Rose seemed a bit melancholy. Each farce from Old Madame Brown would double the workload for the servants in Bamboo Pavilion. I thought the servants would have to stay up late tonight since so many people attended the wedding. I looked at Rose with sympathy and tried to comfort her. "I'll help you do the cleaning. I'm good at it." Scared, Rose took a few steps back. "No, Madam. It is tiring. If you work, I'm afraid we'll get fired." "Come on! I just want to help." "Miss Odette is so kind!" I had heard this voice a few times and was familiar with it. However, I hated this voice from the bottom of my heart. With a sneer, Nathan came over. He pulled out a chair next to me and sat down. After that slap, I dreaded Nathan. By instinct, I moved away. "Hey, I forgot one thing! You aren't Miss Odette family, but a bumpkin." Nathan took a grape from the table, threw it in the air, and then caught it with his mouth. Nathan shared a lot of similarities in appearance with Carroll, but why was he so annoying?