Hazel was reluctant to follow behind Ronald. He had made all of Hazel's favorite foods, but she still would not smile.
"Not tasty?" he asked.
"It's delicious, but I have things to worry about, and I can't eat." Hazel sighed.
Ronald slightly frowned, and he put down his fork. "Hazel, let's talk."
Hazel sighed again, thinking what will happen will happen.
"Hazel, why do you think Joshua likes you?" he asked.
"Would you like me to ask him?" Hazel blinked. She took out her phone, and she was ready to call Joshua.
Ronald was speechless, Hazel simply would not cooperate.
"Okay," he said helplessly. "You will continue to lie to yourself. Even though you have nothing, he still likes you so much."
"Why do you say this stuff?" Hazel looked at him with disappointment. "Ronald, do you feel in your heart that I am that bad?"
"You are the best sister in the world," Ronald was stunned, and he shook his head. "But Hazel, compared to Joshua, you are really nothing. Don't you wonder why though, if there are so many more suitable girls he chose you?"
Hazel couldn't help but frown, her heart felt troubled. Joshua knew who she was from the beginning, so he always spoiled and protected her.
She never thought about it, did Joshua really like her for her or just because of her identity and that he wanted to pay back his adopted parents by taking care of her?
After all, he is an earnest and caring person. Sometimes, he can even distress himself over love. No, she couldn't doubt Joshua.
Taking a deep breath, Hazel said honestly, "Ronald, I know that you are all worried that Joshua will get tired of me and abandon me. Don't worry. He is serious about our relationship. As long as I am willing, we could get married now."
Ronald's eyes lit up. He thought for a while and suddenly said, "Okay, I believe in you. Hazel, are you still planning to continue your postgraduate study?"
"Of course!"
"What about after graduate study?"
"I want to travel and look at the local customs in each place I visit and eat all kinds of food..." Hazel said happily, she never really thought about her future.
Ronald listened quietly and didn't interrupt her, he knew Hazel's heart was free.
Hazel's mouth went dry, she stopped to take a drink of water, Ronald took the opportunity to ask, "If our parents agree, when are you going to marry Joshua?"
"Ah? Why are you suddenly asking this?" Hazel couldn't help but blush. She did not know how to react.
"You are saying that you are serious, have you not thought about this?" he asked.
"Oh... wait after graduation." Hazel thought for a moment.
"When do you plan to have a child?"
Hazel was puzzled. "Why are you suddenly asking all these questions?"
"Hazel, this is what you should be considering," Ronald said calmly.
"Joshua is the president of Denmark Group. With his identity and status, would people expect him to have children? When you are married, you are not planning to have a child?"
Hazel was hesitant. She never thought about these things, so she and Joshua had not discussed them.
However, she is the only daughter of the Denmark family, and for their bloodline to continue, Joshua would probably hope that she would have a baby as soon as possible.
Ronald noticed that she did not answer, and he didn't care. He didn't need to know her answer.
"Actually, I suggest that you should be pregnant earlier," Ronald said.
"A marriage certificate is not a guarantee. Joshua is a person who loves his reputation very much. If you have children, then your status will be completely stable. So, you must have a good relationship with your child. Even if Joshua betrayed you, as long as you have that relationship with your child, he would help you, and you will have a supporter."
Hazel felt Ronald's words were really harsh, and she frowned.
"Hazel, I know that you think that these words are hurtful, but if you want to marry into a rich family, you must adapt to the rules of it."
Ronald continued. "In addition to children, I also recommend that you should hold a place in the company. You can learn more about the company's affairs, not only can you help Joshua, but also help yourself. The deeper the foundation you have in the Denmark family, the better."
Ronald sighed, and he said regretfully, "You will have to manage the company and take care of the children. I am afraid once that happens, if you want to go out to travel, there will not be much free time."
Hazel was stunned.
Some of Ronald's speculations were absurd, but there were two things he said that were right. After she married Joshua, he would likely want her to be pregnant as soon as possible, and he would let her manage the company affairs.
She finally understood why Joshua would bring her to important meetings. It was to train her in advance and let her learn everything she could about Denmark Group.
As Ronald said, when the company and the children become the focus of her life, her dreams may only be dreams.
"Hazel, marriage, and love are not the same," Ronald said sincerely. "Love is love as long as two people are happy, but marriage is a responsibility. Are you prepared to abandon your dreams for Joshua?"
"I..." Hazel was undecided. She was only twenty years old, that would be the best time to see the world, there were so many things that she hadn't tried. Is she ready to embark on another path of life that she did not plan?
"And," Ronald said, "If you married him, you must be prepared to face a lot of attacks. In the past, you encountered something that you were framed for. It will likely happen again in the future. Sorry, Hazel, your family is not strong enough to give you the most secure protection."
Hazel's face was inexplicably pale.
"You need to think about it carefully." Ronald stood up.
After picking at her food, Hazel returned to her room. She tossed and turned on her bed. She picked up the phone and put it down a few times, she wanted to call Joshua but didn't dare.
Ronald's words really made her panic. She was afraid that Joshua would force her to have children, and she was worried that Joshua would put too much on her shoulders.
She was even more afraid that he didn't like her at all. It was just because she was the lost child of the Denmark family, so he felt responsible for spoiling and take care of her.
What made her most uneasy was what Ronald said last. She will never forget when the knife flew straight at her. She was terrified. What if one day someone goes after her relatives instead of her? What would she do?