"So, are you telling me that you love Marianne?" Alexander inquired. Ace took a moment to reflect before responding, "Yes, father, I do love her." He continued, "But if she doesn't share the same feelings, then there is no reason for us to be together." Ace acknowledged the importance of mutual love and understanding in a relationship, recognizing that it would not be meaningful or fulfilling if it was one-sided, Alexander smirked, "Interesting".
The following morning, the Everhart and Hawthorne families convened to discuss the impending marriage. Marianne, taken aback by the news, couldn't contain her surprise and exclaimed, "Marriage?!!!" Alexander, wearing a smirk on his face, confirmed the information, saying, "Yes, you heard it correctly." His smirk hinted at a sense of satisfaction or amusement. "No, I refuse to go through with this marriage!" Marianne shouted, her voice filled with determination. Alexander, curious about her reasoning, asked, "And why is that?" Marianne's frustration spilled out as she exclaimed, "Because Ace doesn't love me! It's clear as day! He has shown no interest in me whatsoever!" As Marianne passionately expressed her reasons, Ace remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. Alexander, taken aback by Marianne's outburst, fell into silence, contemplating the validity of her claims.
Alexander's smirk persisted as he posed the question, "So, you love my son?". Marianne, caught off guard, found herself unable to provide a clear answer. She whispered, "I don't know." Vale, recognizing the emotional toll the situation was taking on Marianne, intervened and urged them to stop. Overwhelmed with emotions, Marianne ran away, tears streaming down her face. The scene portrayed the inner turmoil and confusion Marianne was experiencing in regards to her feelings for Ace. As Ace watched Marianne run away, he couldn't help but feel hurt by her actions and the way she was behaving. Overwhelmed by his emotions, he stood up and walked away, seeking solace and time to process his own feelings. Meanwhile, as the two young teenagers went their separate ways, Alexander let out a gentle laugh, perhaps reflecting on the complexities and dramas of youth.
"Shall we continue?" Alexander proposed, signaling the need to proceed with their discussion. Vale, Elena, and Alexander resumed their conversation, focusing on devising a plan to help the two young lovers, Ace and Marianne, recognize and acknowledge their mutual feelings for each other. They recognized the importance of facilitating a realization between the two and were determined to bring them closer together. In the backyard, Marianne called out to her father, Asherton, tears streaming down her face. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sobbed, "Father, I was about to get married." Concerned, Asherton inquired, "What's wrong, Marianne?" In between sobs, Marianne managed to express her distress, "But, Father, I don't love the person I was supposed to marry." Asherton, understanding the significance of love in a relationship, reassured her, saying, "Then what's wrong? As long as that person loves you, right?" His words conveyed his belief that love should be the foundation of any marriage, offering Marianne a glimmer of hope and understanding.
"Father, I'm not sure if he loves me. He's cold, distant, and mysterious, and I struggle to understand him," Marianne cried, pouring out her concerns. Asherton listened attentively and then responded, "Oh, I see." He gently patted Marianne on the head, offering comfort, and asked, "Has that person ever smiled at you?" Asherton's question aimed to gauge if there had been any moments of warmth or affection between Marianne and the person in question. "What?" Marianne asked, puzzled by her father's question. Asherton clarified, "You mentioned that he is cold and distant, right? Well, people who are less expressive in showing affection may not smile as often. So, I want to ask, has this man ever smiled at you and looked at you with warmth in his eyes?" Asherton sought to understand if there had been moments of genuine warmth and affection from the person Marianne was referring to.
Marianne took a moment to reflect before responding, "Yes, he does smile at me." Asherton's smile grew wider as he asked another question, "Does he show this warmth to other people as well?" Marianne shook her head and replied, "No, everyone dislikes him because he is cold and distant." Her answer highlighted the contrast between the way he treated her and his demeanor towards others, further emphasizing the uniqueness of their connection. "See? It's obvious, but you've been unable to see it," Asherton remarked. Confused, Marianne asked for clarification, saying, "What do you mean? I don't understand." Asherton replied with a thoughtful expression, "Love is blind, they say." Asherton, wanting Marianne to come to her own realization, chose not to directly answer her question. Instead, he left Marianne alone to contemplate the situation and its implications. Despite spending a significant amount of time pondering, Marianne still couldn't grasp the meaning behind her father's words. The answer remained elusive, leaving her in a state of confusion and uncertainty.
After a while of deep thought, Ace broke the silence with a simple greeting, saying, "Hey." Marianne turned her gaze towards him, and in that moment, everything became clear to her. She finally realized the truth that had eluded her before. With a whisper, she uttered his name, "Ace." The realization of their connection and the depth of their feelings washed over her, bringing a sense of clarity and understanding. Marianne, filled with newfound courage, stood up and directly confronted Ace, mustering the strength to ask him the question that had been weighing on her heart. "Ace, do you love me?" she inquired, her voice filled with anticipation. Ace blinked twice, his cheeks turning a shade of red, and responded with a hint of playfulness, "Isn't it obvious?" Marianne was taken aback by his response, her own cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and delight. "W-What?" she stammered, unable to fully comprehend the depth of his feelings for her.
Ace's gentle laughter filled the air as he playfully questioned Marianne, "Why? Don't tell me you feel the same?" Marianne, lost in her thoughts, contemplated her response. However, before she could answer, their conversation was interrupted by Vale, who called out to them. The sudden interruption left Marianne with unfinished words, her response hanging in the air as they turned their attention to Vale's call.