Chapter 854: Chapter 854

That boulevard was the prettiest sightseeing spot in Riverton. It ended right at Marcus Hartley’s mansion.

Cornelia wasn’t feeling up for anything remotely related to Marcus right now. “Forget it, let’s just cruise around.”

Zack drove Cornelia around the city aimlessly. She barely said a word during the whole hour. Finally, Zack couldn’t help but ask, “Cornelia, what’s going on between you and

Marcus?”

“It’s nothing serious, just a minor disagreement between a couple. A little quarrel and fussing are quite common,” Cornelia regretted letting Zack pick her up today. After all, airing their dirty laundry wasn’t exactly ideal.

Zack commented, “Marriage sounds like such a has s l e!”

Cornelia asked, “What are you on about?”

Zack replied, “I’m just saying, marriage seems like a drag. Being single is much more chill.”

Cornelia asked, “So, you’ve given up on the idea of getting married?”

Zack replied, “I don’t see it happening any time soon. I’ve always thought it’s something you can’t force. Let it be.”

Cornelia commented, “Your folks are definitely going to set you up with someone when you go home for Christmas.”

Zack agreed, “No doubt about that. You know how many blind dates I’ve been to in a single day when I’m back home?”

Cornelia guessed, “Three?”

Zack corrected, “Six! I barely finish one when they’re rushing me to the next. I met six girls in a span of one day. I couldn’t remember a single face when I got home.”

Cornelia commented, “Six is a bit much.”

Zack replied, “Sometimes I think, maybe your way isn’t so bad. Met the right person on the first blind date, and got married. No more blind dates. No more nagging from parents.”

Cornelia commented, “Getting married doesn’t mean the nagging stops, like when your parents start pushing you to have kids.”

Zack added, “Yeah, just yesterday my mom was telling me on the phone that even if I don’t get married, I should at least have a child.”

Cornelia asked, “Who are you supposed to have a child with if you’re not married?”

Zack replied, “I honestly don’t know. I think my mom’s gone a bit bonkers wanting me to tie the knot. I reminded her that I’m still young, only 25. She countered that when my dad was this age, I was almost two. She even calculated that if I got married now, it would take almost a year for my wife to get pregnant and give birth. I’d be 26 by then.”

Cornelia said, “Parents are often like that, always pushing us to get married and have kids, as if it’s the only way to have a complete life.”

Zack agreed, “Yeah, who said we have to get married and have kids? Some people want to, and that’s cool. But if some people don’t want to, that’s cool too. Isn’t life about doing what makes us happy?”

Cornelia asked, “Do you remember our high school classmate Patty?”

Zack replied, “Of course, what about her?”

Cornelia said, “She and her twin brother both got accepted into universities. Her school was actually better. But their parents believed that girls would eventually get married, so further education was pointless. They only funded her brother’s college education.”

Zack added, “I remember that. Our teachers even raised funds hoping she could continue her studies. But her parents firmly disagreed. Even after the money was raised, she never went to college.”

Cornelia continued, “She was married off before she was even of age. Luckily, her husband was decent enough and respected her wishes to wait before having children. But after a year, when there were no signs of pregnancy, his family started badmouthing her. His parents even tried to force him to divorce her and return their wedding gifts

“With no other choice, she had a child. Unfortunately, it was a girl and her in-laws were obsessed with having a boy. They forced her to have another child, demanding it be a boy. I remember she already had three kids when we were still in college. I don’t know how she’s doing now.”