It was dark when we reached the house. I held Charlotte’s arm, leading her to the house. As we stepped inside, Charlotte looked eagerly for her grandfather, but he was nowhere to be seen, to her great disappointment.
“He never goes out,” she said irritably “he’s like a damn recluse and now when we want to talk to him, he’s bloody gone” she cursed.
Her mother was out at a charity event of some kind, so Charlotte couldn’t even ask her where her grandfather might have got to.
“We can just wait until tomorrow,” I said calmly as Charlotte gave a frustrated yell “It’s not as though that ring is going to get up and walk its way out of the house, is it?” I joked.
“Ha ha,” she said sarcastically, stomping up the stairs “Very funny Johnathon. Hilarious” she quipped “I’m going to bed. Hurry up if you’re coming” she snapped “I need my beauty sleep.”
It was going to be a long night. But the next day, things only got much, much worse.
Grayson POV
I stared at the flickering flames, my jaw clenched, my expression hard as he stood behind me. It wasn’t often that I prevailed upon this old man’s presence but this was a necessity, in an attempt to keep him informed of the current events, so that he would not be shocked or feel like he was being deliberately kept out of the loop. I suppose I should be honored that he had graciously deigned to visit me, instead of the other way around, but I did not want Charlotte overhearing my plans and this man was not the type to let slip what I was planning, even if it was a complete surprise to him.
“What exactly do you know about this woman Grayson?” his voice was low and even.
I turned my head slightly. “I know enough. I know that she’s kind and loving. She has an honest job. She’s spent the last three years trying to please a man who cheated on her. She is gracious and compassionate.”
“So this is not merely a ruse to get back at her ex-husband?” his voice was shrewd.
“It’s one of the reasons for it. I suggested it” I told him honestly.
“Hmmm,” his voice was a matter of fact, with no hint of admonishment or rebuke.
“Revenge is hardly a good way to start a marriage,” he said quietly “although considering the circumstances, I can hardly blame her for wanting it. Or for you” he added, rubbing his chin.
“I dislike Johnathon and that’s no secret,” I said, pinning my gaze on my grandfather who remained standing in the shadows “he’s always been an arrogant condescending son of a bitch and a pathetic lawyer. He might have built up a reputable law firm, but only through the help of a foreign investor who invested a lot of money into it, otherwise it would still be a small brick building, instead of the huge one it is today that brings in a lot of clients and money.”
“Whereas you have worked hard to build your own law firm up, without the help of your family name, or connections,” my grandfather said calmly.
“I never wanted the advantage of my family name. I have always wanted to make my own way in this world. Can you blame me for that Grandfather?” I asked and my grandfather shook his head, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“No, but what you’re proposing to do, the woman you are proposing to marry, is going to tear the very fabric of this family apart. Are you prepared for the consequences of that?”
I gave a bitter laugh. “We have never been a proper family. You know as well as I do, that Karen despises me and that Charlotte has always had her eyes on the money. I’ve always been the bastard, that nobody wanted, the one whose mother was just a whore. As far as I’m concerned there is nothing to tear apart” I told my grandfather, whose eyes saddened for a moment.
“Son, one thing I want you to learn,” my grandfather said quietly “is that blood doesn’t always make a family. I want you to consider that. A marriage is something to be treasured and valued. It’s to bring two people together in harmony and form a family. It’s not a tool to use as revenge, but if that’s what you choose it to be, I won’t stand in your way, god knows enough people have done that to you already” he sighed “I just want you to be happy.”
I turned and regarded him silently, this man who had treated me with nothing but kindness even in the face of my father’s callousness.
“I don’t intend to let my family’s company fall into Charlotte’s greedy manipulative hands Grandfather” I finally said, not acknowledging his words.
My grandfather sighed. “Your sister feels the same way about you” he pointed out evenly “Are you aware of the stipulations? The conditions in which you have to fulfill in order to get the company?” he was pushing, a sly grin on his face.
I eyed him suspiciously “I have, even the ones you have changed you sly bastard” I murmured.
“Then perhaps this marriage thing should be reconsidered?” he asked accusingly.
I shook my head “No. I’m determined to marry Miss Flair. If I wait, she’ll slip through my fingers. Besides, I have already asked her and she’s said yes. To back out now, would only be the actions of a coward.”
I was no coward. Not like my father. I would honor my word.
“You’re determined then,” my grandfather said nonchalantly “I must say I’m not surprised. You were always the more stubborn out of you and Charlotte. She thinks she has you beat, won’t she be surprised to discover that you’ve beaten her to the post.”
I glowered at him “You won’t speak a word of this to her” I demanded.
He gave a shrill laugh “I wouldn’t dream of it. The drama that’s sure to ensue from your announcement shall be amusement enough for me.”
I frowned at him. “Why then, were you so insistent on seeing me?” I asked him slowly “I could have merely told you the news over the phone. There was no need for you to personally come here for it.”
Heaven knows the old man disliked leaving his mansion if he could avoid it, even if he did despise Karen and Charlotte. My grandfather gave a small laugh and then walked over to me, seating himself on the opposite armchair and looking at me carefully.
“Perhaps there was a reason for coming,” he said slowly, digging into his coat pocket and slowly withdrawing a small ring box, which he placed in front of me as I stared at it “I can only think that you haven’t had a chance to buy a ring yet” he added with a wry smile.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.