Bumpkin's Rich Handsome Husband

After a long while, he finally came to terms with Veronica’s identity. When he chose to be with her, he

had already made up his mind to protect her for the rest of her life.

Presently, he and Veronica made their way back to Twilight Condominium.

They went into their apartment and Veronica immediately plopped down on the couch. She sighed

wearily as she said, “My parents were totally fine with our plans to marry until Master Crayson decided

to butt in and dissuade them. That old geezer’s ruining things for me.” She reached out to grab a throw

pillow and lay down flat on it in frustration. “I just don’t understand why he doesn’t like you. You’re the

ideal husband material if you ask me!”

She did not think it was easy for her to finally meet someone she would like to spend the rest of her life

with; the only reason why she wanted to secretly marry him was because of his status. She did not

want to be in the center of public attention, and announcing their marriage to the rest of the world would

mean sacrificing what little modicum of privacy they had.

She did not think that in successfully evading the public’s white-hot microscope, she would have to put

up with Master Crayson’s unreasonable protest against her marriage to Matthew. Now, the old man

was on his way to Bloomstead.

Matthew’s heart went out to her and he poured her a glass of warm water. Handing it to her, he said,

“Drink.”

She did as she was told and he gently pulled her into his arms while his hand cupped the back of her

neck tenderly. “Your master has watched you grow up and you’re just like a daughter to him. It’s only

natural that he wants to have a say in who you get to marry. He’s concerned for your happiness like a

father should be.”

After drinking the water, Veronica set the glass down on the coffee table. More accurately, she

slammed it down on the coffee table, just hard enough to show how exasperated and belligerent she

was. “I know that, but it doesn’t mean he gets to stop me from living my life the way I want to. Don’t I

get a say in my own happiness, too? How can you expect me to just be cool about this?”

“Okay, you’re getting worked up,” Matthew said as he caressed her hair soothingly. Then, he

murmured, “Good things come to those who wait.”

At once, Veronica fell silent. She thought about how Matthew had been a great help around the house

during New Year’s previously. He had respected her family and did all the dishes, as well as went out in

the snow just to chop up firewood for the stove. Maybe Master Crayson and my parents will change

their minds about Matthew after they’ve come over and talked to him, she thought. Maybe good things

really do come to those who wait.

Hence, she waited alongside Matthew for a few grueling hours. At long last, Master Crayson and

Veronica’s parents arrived at the Bloomstead train station.

She and Matthew drove to pick them up after which they headed toward One Piece Restaurant so they

could have dinner in the private dining room.

The only time the stifling silence between the five of them was broken was when Matthew ordered the

food, but as soon as the waiter left, Veronica went back to sulking as she sat next to him.

“Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Master Crayson, I—”

Matthew was trying to alleviate the tension in the room by making small talk, but he broke off when he

saw Master Crayson raise his hand to stop him mid-sentence. He obediently kept quiet out of respect

for the old man.

“Young Master Matthew, I’d like to speak with my daughter… in private, that is. Could you…” Daniella

began, eyeing Matthew meaningfully as if hoping he would catch on to what she was asking of him.

“Very well,” he replied agreeably. “I was just about to go out for a smoke anyway.”

He rose to leave, but Veronica’s hand darted out to grab his arm. She turned and said with implication,

“Sit down. Whatever she has to say to me, she can say it in front of you.”

Matthew was admittedly shocked to see how protective she was of him. His heart warmed, but when

he caught the looks on Daniella, Tony and Master Crayson’s faces, he decided that it was better for him

to give them some space. As such, he thought of an excuse that not even Veronica could counter and

said, sounding forced, “I need to use the restroom. My stomach’s feeling a little… funny.”

“Your—oh, whatever, go ahead,” Veronica said, sighing in exasperation as she let go of his arm. She

watched as he walked out of the private room. When the door closed behind him, the room fell into a

deafening silence once more.

Unhappily, Veronica turned to look at the three figures seated across from her and demanded, “What is

it about my plans to marry Matthew that makes it so objectionable to the three of you? Do you guys not

like him or something?”

“Well…” Daniella sighed. “It’s not so much about how we don’t like him as it is about how we think he’s

too good for you.” She clenched and unclenched her fingers, then put her hands out like she was trying

to present her reasons.

“We’re basically bumpkins to big-city folks like him, so how are we ever going to match up to his

family’s standards? Roni, you don’t know what these blue bloods can be like and I don’t want to see

you get hurt just because of your humble background.”

Tony, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke up. “I second your mother’s reason, Roni. I don’t

understand how you could possibly think you’d outdo the other more accomplished young ladies of

high society who circle around Matthew all the time. He’s rich and capable, but what are you bringing to

the table other than that pretty face of yours?

Your mom and I want you to be happy, but marriage isn’t play-pretend, it’s about how two families

become one and ours is sorely lacking in wealth and status compared to his. Who’s to say you won’t be

treated like a scullery maid if you marry into his family?”

Master Crayson merely sat and sipped his tea wordlessly. It was only when he sensed Veronica’s

burning gaze on him that he set his cup down and cleared his throat, then said, “There is no future for

the both of you.” He sounded solemn, his words leaving no room for negotiation.

Veronica looked at him for a long moment. She could not help feeling that there was more to what he

said than on the surface. She might be able to let his words slide if he had simply said he did not like

Matthew or if he thought Matthew was unreliable and the like. However, she found herself relating his

words to his recent odd behavior and she became somewhat unsettled.

“I’m the one who gets to have a say in whether we have a future or not,” she bit out while looking

steely. “He’s the man I love and I’ll marry him no matter what. I just don’t want to publicize the whole

thing and get our paperwork sorted in private. Also, I know you all think I’m making the wrong choice

here, but…”

She paused and squared her shoulders as she met their eyes, then continued, “But probability-wise,

the good outcome is on equal standing with the bad outcome. If there’s a fifty-fifty chance that I might

end up happily married, why do you choose to believe otherwise?”

“Why must you be so stubborn?” Tony took a gulp of his warm water and breathed in, then exhaled in

frustration.

“Mom, Dad, I’ve never gone against your will before, not even as a child. I’ve never made you worry

about me or done anything that suggests I cannot take care of myself. I’ve put a lot of thought into this

before deciding to settle down with Matthew.

I’ll admit; there were moments when I nearly gave up because I believed we would never work out; but

you don’t know how much I have been through and every single time I was in danger, Matthew would

risk everything, even his own life, just to save me,” Veronica said frankly, hoping that she would be able

to convince them by telling them just how much she and Matthew meant to each other.