Chapter 52 - James Staking His Claim...

After James left to study at Royal Academy, Ashton had a long conversation with his parents about James and Ava. He informed his parents that he met Ava during the concert and was curious about her. Tanaga liked what he heard but didn't show it to his wife and son.

Ashton vaguely remembered the incident many years ago. However, the only thing he could remember was when their father scolded James for what he had said to Ava that made the poor girl cry her heart out. It was the day after they came back from the Philippines to visit the Go family.

Since that day, it had become a taboo topic inside their household. They never mentioned the betrothal ever again.

===

"Jeff and I have decided to let fate decide if our family will be one. So we decided to put aside the betrothal until Ava finishes her college education, whenever that may be. However, that's not saying that we will not get involved if she decides to marry someone else." Tanaga said seriously.

However, he didn't bother to mention that he and James agreed that Ashton would be the one to marry Ava instead when the time came to announce the betrothal.

Ashton felt a little hope inside of him after hearing what his father said, that the betrothal wasn't entirely set in stone, but he tried his best not to show it to his parents. Unknown to him that Tanaga was watching his reaction the whole time. Ashley saw it as well, but she didn't say anything since what she knew was that it was still James and not Ashton that was betrothed to Ava. She felt terrible for Ashton, but there's nothing she could do about the agreement between the fathers.

"Ashton, what do you think of Pearl Grant? Is she cute? I'm sure she will grow up to be a beautiful lady." Ashley said sweetly, trying to coax her son to pay his attention to someone else.

Ashton only smiled back to his parents before excusing himself to call James in the Kingdom of Stonasia.

===

"James, what do you think of Ava now? You've met her, right?" He asked nonchalantly, not wanting to give away his growing feelings towards his potential future sister-in-law.

"She's alright, I guess! She's still too young, barely a teenager. Ask me again four years from now. Then maybe I could answer you honestly. How about you? What do you think of her?" Both brothers were fishing, trying to find out what each other thought of Ava.

Ashton had to think carefully about how to answer. James might find out how he really felt about her if he said that she was cute and would someday be a beautiful young woman. Therefore, he could only answer him politically.

"Hmmm, I think my sister-in-law is cute and very interesting. She was always smiling and very friendly when I met her. I like her." Ashton said, which is the truth but not as a sister-in-law, instead of as someone he wanted to be his girlfriend someday when she was old enough.

When James heard Ashton call Ava sister-in-law, he didn't correct him. Instead, he just shrugged it off, "That's good to know. I don't want my twin brother to dislike my future wife." He said with a straight face while very proud that Ashton still believed that Ava was betrothed to him.

After that conversation with James, Ashton did his best not to get in touch with Ava.

However, it wasn't that easy to forget about his first crush. So whenever he wanted to find out what was going on with her, he would contact Pearl and chat with her instead.

He didn't bother Akira either, knowing that the two were best friends and that she might tattle on him to Ava.

===

A week before the Crown Prince of Stonasia's coming-of-age gala, all the students went home except for the three girls and Jeffrey. Instead, all of them were informed that G.M. Arman Gusman from the Royal Resorts was coming to pick them all up.

The three bodyguards briskly helped the girls pack their belongings well for a week's stay at the resort. Jeffrey's bodyguard also helped him pack so he could be ready in time.

Soon, Arman arrived with a bus big enough to accommodate everyone. They bid Ms. Williams and Ms. Shannon goodbye with the promise to be good.

"Don't forget to make yourselves look presentable on the night of the party!" Shouted Ms. Shannon to the girls as they boarded the bus.

"Yes, ma'am!" Shouted back the trio while waving their hands goodbye to the older ladies.

===

"We just have one more stop, then we will be on the way to the resort, alright?" Arman informed the children who were busy with whatever they were doing. No one was paying attention to him. So he just ordered the bus driver to get going.

Twenty minutes later, they stopped at a condominium building. In front, standing already waiting for them were James and his bodyguard. They saw the bus stop and stood to watch if anyone would come out.

Soon they saw Arman coming out of the bus; James and the bodyguards walked forward to meet him halfway.

"Uncle Arman!" James greeted him with a big smile showing two indented dimples.

Ava was sitting by the window, with the curtain drawn with a bit of opening; she saw his big smile and two heavily indented dimples, "Gosh, he's so gorgeous when he smiles," she whispered to herself, not wanting the others to hear.

Arman was the first one to come in, then James followed by his bodyguards. Arman asked him to sit with the other children while the bodyguards sat at the front with the rest of the bodyguards.

Everyone who at first was busy chatting with each other saw James and greeted him politely. However, he only nodded and didn't utter a word to greet them back. He then looked around for a moment before he proceeded to sit right next to Ava...

TBC