34. A Little Conflict

"What did you say just now?" Hugo immediately answered in a panic as well as a huff. Arleena just looked at Hugo casually as if she didn't feel guilty at all. Just like Hugo a few moments ago, during dinner with her family, Arleena folded her hands while putting on an innocent face. Really pretending not to know where she went wrong. "What did I say wrong? I'm just asking and clarifying your words," Arleena replied with an innocent face that was annoying to Hugo. Hugo let out a long sigh as he lowered both shoulders limply. His eyes looked at Arleena in disbelief. "But that doesn't mean we have to make babies now!" said Hugo exasperatedly. His voice was almost a whisper and full of emphasis. "I mean, if papa keeps bringing up babies, we have to figure out how to explain that marriage-" "Are you crazy?!" Asleena immediately cut Hugo off. Instantly, the look on her face that had been holding back amused laughter became one of panic. "If we tell Bernard that our marriage is fake, he'll be furious." Actually, Hugo already knew about it before Asleena told him. But unfortunately there was nothing else in Hugo's brain other than that. Because it was impossible for them to let the secret of the fake marriage remain hidden. "Then how? What method are you going to use?" asked Hugo, looking at Arleena as if she was urging him. Arleena held her hair and rubbed it lightly as she felt besieged by bad possibilities. For her, telling Bernard that their marriage was a sham would only end badly. On the other hand, Arleena also confirmed Bernard's words. They can't avoid it if Bernard brings up the subject of children again. "I won't tell him about our fake marriage," Arleena replied. "Hey, your father is very happy with our marriage. Look at this fancy apartment he gave us..." Arleena's gaze wandered around the room. Considering how enthusiastic Bernard was about their marriage, Bernard would have been disappointed if he knew about the fake wedding. Arleena felt very guilty about that. "... it hurts me a lot if your father feels disappointed. You've disappointed him too much, Hugo," Arleena continued after she finished looking around. Instantly Hugo recalled the memory of all this time. Indeed, Hugo had disappointed Bernard many times. And who knows how angry Bernard would be after finding out that the two of them had just had a fake wedding. "Tell you what... we refused first on the grounds that we wanted to enjoy the early days of marriage," said Arleena who tried to explain slowly. Hugo was silent as he listened. Arleena then continued, "Then, if it gets too long and too urgent, we will have to adopt a child." "Adopt a child?" asked Hugo in surprise. His eyes bulged. "Woah, Arleena. I don't know how you think, but adopting a child won't be that easy." "Of course, I know," Arleena replied. A glimpse of concern crossed her face. "But we can't give you any more excuses." Then, the atmosphere between the two of them became silent. Arleena and Hugo were instantly silent as too many things were spinning in their brains right now. When Arleena decided to have a fake marriage with Hugo, she did not imagine that she would face a request like this. Arleena had almost forgotten that the family's wish when their children got married was to have new offspring. Meanwhile, Arleena was only thinking about how to get away from Justin. When it came down to it, Arleena couldn't easily escape. Sooner or later, even with a prepared answer, Arleena wouldn't be able to resist the urge any longer. "The point is, I won't do anything with you," Hugo said suddenly, breaking the silence. Arleena turned abruptly to Hugo, her forehead scrunching up in offense. "What do you mean, do something like what?" Hugo seemed hesitant to tell Arleena. As a result, his gestures only looked awkward and rubbed his neck repeatedly. "Ah, you mean, have intercourse?" guessed Arleena who blurted out without filtering her words. Hugo was again surprised by Arleena's words that were too to the point. Suddenly, Hugo glared sharply at Arleena. "Hey, can you filter your words?" protested Hugo. Arleena just shrugged her shoulders very casually. "Gosh... you're the most to the point woman I know," Hugo said again while shaking his head. "Ah, I don't know. I don't care what you say. What matters is..." Arleena silenced herself for a moment. "We should go to bed now. I'm so tired, really!" The look on Hugo's face, which had been seriously waiting for Arleena's sentence to pause, immediately turned into annoyance. He fully looked at Arleena who stretched her right and left muscles. "Please go to your bed now, I will not respond to any conversation," Arleena said again. This time Arleena stood up from the sofa while holding her right neck muscle. Her movements were very sluggish as she stepped away from the sofa, as well as Hugo. From the sofa, Hugo just watched Arleena while shaking his head. Hugo let out a short sigh, feeling that Arleena was already too uncooperative. Was Arleena that tired? "Go to bed, aren't you tired?" cheered Arleena, who had already arrived at the door. "Yeah, I'll go to my room later!" Hugo replied a little shouted. *** The sound of gurgling water greeted Arleena's sense of hearing. Just coming out of the room, her pair of eyes were already greeted by the sight of Hugo watering the plants on the terrace of the small back garden area. Arleena and Hugo's luxury apartment was so big that there was a small artificial garden. I don't know how the walls were so sturdy, but Arleena had guessed that Bernard had deliberately bought an apartment with a small artificial garden for Hugo to use. Now it was true. Hugo was watering the plants quietly without being disturbed by anything. "Hugo, I saw you cooking yesterday, and now you're watering the plants. Do you still have a gardening hobby?" Arleena's voice distracted Hugo's gaze. At that moment, Hugo still held the water hose and watered the plants peacefully. "If you want to learn anything from me, I'm already an expert in many things," Hugo replied with a proud smile. From behind, Arleena immediately snorted. But her steps did not stop approaching Hugo's whereabouts. "How about learning about my future?" "Your future is with me," Hugo replied. Arleena was wide-eyed and spontaneously tapped Hugo on the right shoulder from behind. Quite hard. "Jeez, why are you giving me that sickening line?" Arleena grumbled. Hugo chuckled. "But, Arleena, if I were to ask you seriously, if we hadn't known each other since childhood, would you want your future with me?" "No, of course. I have enough reasons to refuse you," Arleena replied quickly. Hugo immediately turned his head with an unexpected expression. "Ah, never mind, I'm going to the supermarket. Today is finally a day off work!" When Arleena had already walked away from Hugo's presence, Hugo immediately exclaimed, "Hey, Arleena! We haven't even finished talking yet!" "I don't want to talk to you!"