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Annalise continued to look at him carefully, a calculating look in her eyes. After a moment, she nodded slowly, a wry smile making its way to her lips. “Good. Then that’s all I have to say, for now.”
Pretending Hearts (O/O CLOSED)
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“Perfect,” Arvil responded with a dry smile, silently daring the older woman to make another assumption. He wasn’t hesitant in being forward and bold. “But for someone who seems so protective of her daughter, you were rather excited in marrying her off to a man who only thinks of her as a breeding animal. I’m not sure how to wrap that information around my head.”
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Annalise narrowed her eyes for barely a moment before raising her eyebrows. "A breeding animal? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. I would never marry my daughter off to someone like that. Her father and I did suggest that she marry someone, though. Not someone who would treat her as such, thkugh."
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"Did you know your daughter and I met the man you selected for her?" Arvil continued, tilting his head to the side, the smile never dying from his features. "That man looked at my woman like she was a prize–a possession just for the sake of showing off and possibly warming his bed. I'm afraid I don't like people looking at my fiancee like that. I'm also afraid I don't like people pushing her into something she does not want, regardless of who they are. I apologize if I'm being a bit too rude, but I don't take kindly to my future wife being ridiculed, though she can very well take care of herself."
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Even Daisy raised her eyebrows at this. Where has that come from? The man barely knew her, and yet he was defending her? Granted, they were supposed to be in love, but still. You'd think he would just do the bare minimum to get by. That's what Daisy was doing, anyway.
After a moment of stunned silence, Thomas chuckled and gave the other man a wide smile. "Very good answer. Thank you for that. As for forcing her into a marriage with him, I would not have allowed it. But you'll have to excuse my wife. She doesn't always know what's best."
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Arvil could clearly see that even without Thomas bringing it up. Maybe it was because of his upbringing. His parents had married for love. They expected the same out of him, so he had no desires of doing that any time soon.
"I'm merely saying what any man would," Arvil responded smoothly, returning the older man's smile. "Daisy's happiness matters most to me. I'm hers until she no longer needs me. Though I do hope there's never a time she wouldn't need me."
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Thomas nodded, pleased. This was the kind of man he wanted his daughter to marry. Someone who loves her and cherished her. Someone who wasn't afraid to stand up for her.
"Well, you certainly have my blessing—" Annalise huffed, and her husband took her hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. "—I look forward to attending your wedding."
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(Stock up for her? xD)
Arvil offered Daisy a look, the cold expression from his eyes melting away as a warmer look took over. It was a bit difficult maintaining the act when the word 'marriage' was spoken, but it wasn't anything Arvil couldn't handle.
"I'm glad you think so," he responded politely. "Although Daisy and I have decided to wait a little while before marrying due to certain… issues, I do hope our wedding goes smoothly."
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Daisy let a smile take over her lips, again playing the hopelessly-in-love fiancée. "It will be worth it, though. Just to marry—" she had to pause before saying that word so she could speak it without choking. "—the man I love."
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Arvil let out a laugh, chuckling before looking at her father.
"Maybe we should eat together more often," he said in a teasing way. "Daisy hardly acts like that around me. She certainly proves it in other ways, but I much prefer her telling me she loves me."
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Daisy frowned, half-playfully and half-annoyed. "I am like this all the time, thanks. How have you not noticed?"
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"Lies," Arvil snorted. "You spend most of your time trying to rile me up."
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"Oh? How so?" Daisy questioned, raising her eyebrows curiously.
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Arvil looked at her and merely winked, mischief dancing in his eyes. He turned his attention away from her back to her parents.
“You know, I’ve never heard of her childhood stories,” he crinkled his eyes in amusement. “I’m really curious.”
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Thomas grinned, earning a glare that said, Don't you dare, from his daughter. He ignored her and began to speak, anyway. And speak he did. Her parents told story after story, until they had finished eating and moved into the living room.
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Arvil had a blast. Hearing Daisy’s embarrassing childhood stories really lit up his evening.
He leaned back against the couch, one leg thrown over the other, his arm over the back of the couch around Daisy. He leaned against her like a lover would, enjoying the way she tensed against him.
“I’m thankful for you inviting me,” Arvil spoke to her parents. “I enjoyed the day.”
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Daisy snorted quietly. Of course he had. He’d gotten to hear embarrassing stories about her as a child.
“Well, thank you for joining us, Arvil. It was wonderful getting to know the man marrying my daughter,” Thomas said, standing to shake the younger man’s hand again.
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Arvil shook his hand again.
"I'd love to stay, but I can't leave my company unchecked for long," he said, smiling. "I'm pretty sure I have a lot of files ready to be looked over."
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“Well, come again any time. It was a pleasure meeting you,” Thomas said with a grin as he let go of Arvil’s hand.
Annalise hummed, nodding. “Yes, it certainly was…”
“I should probably head out, too,” Daisy mused, standing as well. “Essays don’t write themselves.”
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"Did you drive?" Arvil questioned Daisy, tilting his head as he walked over to her. "Here, I mean. On your car."
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Daisy nodded and said a quick goodbye to her parents before following Arvil out. “I did, yes. Why do you ask?”
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“I figured I’d be a nice fiancé and drive you home,” Arvil shrugged as he walked towards his car, feeling eyes on their backs as they walked. He stopped and turned towards Daisy, stepping closer to her, foreheads nearly touching. To others, it would have been an intimate action. For Arvil, it was a way he could communicate with her without raising suspicions of their lie. “So, did I do a good job today?”
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Daisy blinked up at him, surprised at the sudden move. She could feel the eyes of her parents on them, so she forced a smile onto her face.
“Yes, you did,” she murmured back, making it seem like they were just having an intimate conversation. “And I’m sorry about my mother. She’s very suspicious, as you saw.”
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Arvil smirked, reaching out to gently caress her cheek.
“I can tell,” he murmured. “Is she going to remain suspicious for a while longer?”
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Daisy crinkled her nose at the action, trying to keep up the act. It was hard, though, when he kept doing this to her. Why was he such a good actor?
“Probably a bit longer. I’m not sure how much longer,” she said quietly.
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“All right, I’ll take my leave then,” Arvil said, looking down at her mischievously. “Aren’t you going to give me a kiss, too, for my good work?”
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Daisy narrowed her eyes at him, shaking her head. “You wish, Arvil,” she muttered, taking a step back. “I’ll see you later.”
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“Come visit me sometimes,” he purred. “I get bored and lonely at the work.”
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Daisy rolled her eyes, making sure her parents couldn't see. "Maybe when we're married," she joked bitterly, knowing how that would never happen. Not if she had anything to say about it.
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Arvil pouted, though he knew too well that it would be a terrible idea for her to come to his company. He shrugged.
“Oh, well,” he patted her on the head, “I’ll see you later, then.”