MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Hazel jumped out of Joshua's arms and walked toward the door.

"You must not make a sound." She whispered, "Remember to lock the door. No matter who knocks on the door, don't open it. I have the key."

"I know," Joshua said faintly.

Hazel slowly opened the bedroom door, confirmed no one in the hallway, and snuck out.

To her surprise, the living room was crowded with people. The visitors were her uncle and his family from a distant city. The entire family was there, Matt and Emma Crowe, her aunt, uncle, children, Fanny, and Scott.

A few years ago, her uncle had borrowed money from her parents, and at that time, he complained that they could only lend him a small amount. His entire family begged and pleaded with Harry to give him more, Harry was left with no choice but to give them more than half of his savings to reconcile the situation.

Hazel was very unimpressed, considering that her uncle never got in touch with them. He did not return any of the money, but today they actually came to visit. She was a little surprised, but she was positive that this family was not here to return the money.

When Matt and Emma saw Hazel coming out of her room, they looked at her as if they were looking to purchase some merchandise. Their look made her feel uncomfortable, but Hazel greets her uncle and the rest of his family before sitting down on the couch.

"Hazel, you are graduating soon?" Emma asked. Hazel nodded in response.         

"Do you have a boyfriend?" she asked. Hazel could not help but frown.

"Hazel has no boyfriend yet. She is busy preparing for postgraduate study." Rachel chimed in as if to take the pressure off Hazel.

"What is the use for a girl reading so many books? Marrying a good guy is the most important thing." Matt said.

Hazel and her parents just looked at each other in amazement.

"Just like our Fanny," Emma said in a particularly proud tone, "She is only one year older than Hazel, but when she graduated last year, she listened to us and got married. She had a child within the year, and now she is having her second."

Hazel's lips were slightly twitching. She had heard Rachel before that Fanny was married, but her husband was not only an alcoholic but also a gambler with violent tendencies. He often beat Fanny, and even on Christmas vacation, Fanny returned to her family alone carrying the second baby in her belly, but her husband was not with her.

Hazel really couldn't understand why Emma was proud of this. Did Emma believe Fanny was better off married to a scum than being alone? Hazel glanced at Fanny with sympathy. She knew that her cousin was weak and that her uncle's family favored their son more. Fanny's marriage was no more than a business deal to her parents.

Fanny looked like in her 30s at twenty-two years old, pale and tired. "After giving birth to the first child, she should have had a rest for at least for one year before having a second child," Harry said, displeased. "Fanny looks exhausted, and her body has not yet recovered..."

"Why are there so many reasons?" Matt interrupted Harry without hesitation, "She is a woman. Giving birth to children is what a woman does. Or else what's her meaning in life?"

The atmosphere in the living room was getting more awkward. Hazel had to withhold the urge to kick her uncle's family out of her house.

Matt and Emma seemed to be completely unaware of the situation.

"Big brother, Hazel is not so young, she is twenty-one this year. You should consider finding her someone for her marriage now!" Emma said with a smile, "Exactly, I know a very good young man who is a real gentleman. He is handsome and tall..."

Hazel's body was shivering. She finally understood her uncle's family showed up out of the blue. They were here on a matchmaker mission and probably looking for commission upon success.

Hazel was furious, they could've brought that up some other time, but Joshua was still hiding in her room. This embarrassing aunt's voice was loud, what if Joshua heard it and rushed out?

Hazel had been nervous enough, and now Matt and Emma came to create more trouble.

"I want to do a postgraduate degree, and I have no intention of going on a blind date," Hazel said coldly.

"You child, have you become hindered by reading too many textbooks?" Matt said, dissatisfied, "Brother, don't you care?"

"We respect Hazel's decision. She is an adult and has the right to decide her future." Harry said faintly.

Fanny looked at Hazel enviously, but Hazel had some thoughts on her mind.

"She is spoiled by you." Emma said, "Parents should guide their children on such an important thing. You let her choose, and it's like letting her jump into the fire pit. I think you two should make a wise choice and get Hazel to marry a nice guy. Harry and Rachel, I only speak for you because we are relatives. And that's why we want to introduce Hazel to a good match..." 

"Since that person is so good, you could simply let Fanny divorce and marry that guy. Isn't it perfect?" Hazel said angrily, as she really couldn't stand it anymore, "Why should parents decide everything for their children? We are in the 21st century now!"

"You child, what did you just say?" Emma said with shame.

"Right, we only want what is good for you. What did we say that sounds like we are forcing a marriage?" Matt echoed, "We are only proposing that you two meet each other. After you meet and determine how you feel, you wait two months for marriage, by doing that, your parents will be able to enjoy the company of their grandchild this year. Your parents have been raising you for so many years. Shouldn't you repay them?"

Hazel was stunned. She thought that her uncle and aunt were only going to play the role of matchmaker, but they had even arranged an entire life for her. After the blind date with the guy, should they settle down and then get married? And then she should give birth to a child this year?

That was enough, and since this family was so shameless, Hazel had to fight back. "Then I am fortunate that you are not my parents!" Hazel sneered, "And, when are you going to pay back the money you borrowed from our family?"

Matt and Emma's faces grew red with embarrassment, they looked as if they had been stripped naked.

"We are all family members. Why talk about the money when we should really enjoy a family reunion on Christmas?" Matt said.