Almond listened quietly as Jayden finished speaking. He remained silent for a moment before releasing a slow breath.
"So you truly want nothing to do with this marriage," he said calmly.
Jayden didn't reply.
Almond rested back slightly against his seat, his expression unreadable.
"I don't think you fully understand how serious our families already are about this," he continued. "As we're sitting here right now, your parents are most likely with my grandfather discussing wedding preparations."
Jayden's brows furrowed slightly.
He noticed.
"Your parents already told my grandfather you wouldn't agree easily," Almond added honestly. "According to them, even if they gave you years to prepare, you would still avoid the topic."
His voice remained calm, but there was no mockery in it.
"They're worried about you, Jayden."
The use of her name made her fingers tighten unconsciously around her phone.
"They believe you've isolated yourself too much," Almond continued. "You're successful, intelligent, beautiful, and capable, yet you've completely shut yourself away from relationships." His grey eyes settled steadily on her. "Naturally, they're beginning to wonder why."
Jayden lowered her gaze briefly.
Her phone screen lit up with a reply from Hayden.
And the moment she read the message
Something inside her snapped.
Dad and Mom are with Grandpa Jones right now.
They've been talking wedding plans since afternoon.
Her heartbeat turned uneven.
So Almond wasn't bluffing.
They were truly discussing her future without even waiting for her answer.
Jayden felt anger rise sharply in her chest, hot and suffocating.
Beside her, Almond noticed the sudden change immediately.
Her silence no longer felt controlled.
It felt dangerous.
"Is something wrong?" he asked carefully. "Did I say something offensive?"
Jayden didn't answer immediately.
She slowly placed her phone on the table before lifting her head to meet his gaze.
The calmness in Almond's eyes irritated her even more.
How was he still this composed?
Did none of this bother him?
Did he truly think marriage was something people simply accepted because their families wished for it?
For a brief second, all the words she had prepared earlier disappeared from her mind completely.
Then she inhaled slowly and adjusted herself in her seat, forcing out a smile that carried more provocation than warmth.
"Mr. Almond Jones," she began smoothly, "you seem strangely invested in marrying someone you barely know."
Almond remained silent.
Jayden tilted her head slightly.
"Don't tell me you've suddenly fallen for my beauty and can't bear to let me go."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I know I'm attractive, but surely a man like you has seen countless beautiful women before now."
Still, Almond said nothing.
That somehow irritated her further.
"You're a successful CEO," she continued. "Rich, influential, experienced. I'm sure you could have any woman you wanted locally or internationally." Her voice sharpened slightly afterward. "So why insist on this?"
Her eyes locked directly onto his.
"Because marrying me certainly isn't a profitable decision."
For the first time that evening, her composure cracked openly.
"I'm not ready to become someone's wife," she admitted bluntly. "I'm not interested in being tied down by marriage or trapped inside expectations I never asked for."
The frustration in her voice deepened with every word.
"And honestly? At this point, I'm beginning to suspect our parents exchanged more than just greetings behind our backs."
Almond's brows finally drew together slightly.
Jayden laughed bitterly.
"Because what loving parents rush into wedding discussions before their daughter even agrees to the marriage?"
The question lingered heavily between them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jayden abruptly grabbed her handbag and rose to her feet.
Her movements were elegant
But angry.
Very angry.
"I think this meeting is over."
And without waiting for Almond to stop her, Jayden turned and walked out of the private room with her head held high, leaving behind the soft candlelight, untouched dessert…
And one very intrigued Almond Jones.