Chapter 3

MICHAEL'S POV

I spread my legs under the long oak dining table and readjusted myself on my seat to feel more comfortable.

I wasn't the only one who had stopped eating.

As a matter of fact, everyone at the table had stopped eating the moment Grandfather cleared his throat twice, dropped his cutlery, and rubbed his hands together.

It was a common habit of his to always do that whenever he had something very important to say, particularly at such a gathering.

After Grandfather cleared his throat, everyone looked towards the central dividing point of the table where he was sitting.

And when I say everyone, I mean from my father and mother to my doting grandmother, Lady Anne, then finally to Gregory, my cousin, and his mother, Aunt Elsa.

Her husband, my father's elder brother, was late. He had died in a plane crash about 8 years ago.

"It is of no doubt that life has indeed been kind to us in this family." Grandfather finally began with his speech.

"Aside from the unfortunate loss of our beloved Freddie, God bless his soul. I would not say we have been unlucky ever since then.

I look at you all now, staring back at me in good health. That is the benefit of these meetings: to celebrate as one, to reflect as one.”

He gestured meekly, with a small smile on his face.

"Things have worked out quite well," Grandmother whispered next to him, which made him nod vigorously.

"Oh yes, oh yes indeed."

He rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat once more, allowing a pause before his gaze finally settled on me.

"And now, yet again, we are about to experience another piece of good fortune."

His eyes were still on me.

I lifted my head to meet his unchanging gaze. For some reason, my heart started to pound gradually. “Where was this heading to?” I thought.

"You all know my very close friend, Henry—the same Henry Macmillan of MCM Corporation?"

"Your university friend?" Grandmother asked.

"Oh yes indeed, you got it, Anne. We reconnected," Grandpa affirmed and let out a short happy laugh.

"My God, that's like the third richest family in this city." Aunt Elsa chirped in.

"Exactly!" Grandfather affirmed again in the same high spirits, turning to face me once more in a way that now worried me. I was literally the only one at the table who wasn't smiling, My parents and even Gregory were all smiling.

"Why does he keep looking at me? And what is the essence of the mini biography." I was in a struggle to know, or should I say, I was afraid to know, because deep down that suspicion had always been there, and now that it was getting unveiled before me, I could not help but feel the anxious need to become defensive.

"So Henry's first granddaughter just returned from London, where she bagged an MBA in finance. She is in line now to take over MCM from her father, but that isn't the main catch."

He paused, jamming his fingers and lowering his gaze to me for the eleventh time.

"So my friend Macmillan has agreed that this beautiful, high-value woman he has for a granddaughter would be joined to this family through marriage to my amiable grandson here, Michael. Making our bond and friendship with them even stronger.”

Everyone at the table had begun to applaud the news, but it had not persisted for long. Because of the loud shout of "What!?" From my seat, they immediately swallowed up their clapping.

"Hunh? What is it?" Grandfather leaned back to ask, holding out his hands, looking surprised.

"That's not going to be possible, Grandpa. I don't even know this person. And to be honest, I have already found who I love, and that's who I am going to marry." I declared.

"What are you saying, son?" My mother echoed in a hushed tone while my father shook his head pitifully from beside her.

Grandfather let out a dry mocking laughter, glancing at Grandma first and then at my parents before he turned to me.

"Love? What is love? Do you think our family marries for love? We don't do that here. You can ask your parents." He swung his head dramatically at my dad and mom.

And when I sharply switched my face to them for confirmation, I found them really nodding uniformly in a way that said, "He is telling the truth."

“Absurd,” I whispered, not believing my eyes.

“Don't say that,” Grandmother whispered back. I guess she must have been married by arrangement as well.

"So." Grandpa continued.

"You don't have a choice here. It has always been like this. You will marry the girl I have chosen, and that is final."

I blew hot air from my mouth, bowed my head, and held on firmly to the table with both palms. I had never openly defied my parents before, let alone my grandpa. But if being an obedient child meant throwing away my right to love and being loved back, just to please them, on the altar of mere interfamily connection, then I would be no part of that.

I rose to my feet slowly, raising my head to face Grandpa once again.

"I can't go into a loveless marriage, grandfather. And I will not allow myself to be forced into marriage with someone I barely know."

"Michael!" My father called aloud, but grandfather hushed him down with a raised finger.

He then shrugged and said,

"Well, if you can't marry her, then be ready to lose your position as executive manager of our company."

"What?" I exclaimed suddenly, now looking puzzled.

"And give it to who? Greg? Have you forgotten how he handled the last one?" Father asked, glancing at Greg, whose expression switched to the sly one next to his mother.

Grandfather shrugged again. "Well, I don't care. If your son isn't going to listen to me,.

I will do whatever I want. I own the company. I suffered for it; it is my blood and sweat, so I can give it to whoever is ready to do my will.”

"Let me come in here though, about that last one, I was only duped; nothing else, come on."

Gregory quickly pointed it out, spreading out his hands.

His mother, Elsa, nodded in quick concurrence.

"My son is not a dummy, please." She added, waving quickly.

"Well, as for me." I continued, still standing.

"Executive manager or no, I will not and will never marry for...”

"Michael!" It was my mother's turn to shout me down this time.

I remained standing, scanning through all their faces. My grandfather's stare at me was one of muted bitterness, my parents, including grandmother herself, all looked pained.

Gregory appeared like he was on the verge of bursting into laughter, while Aunt Elsa's expression was unreadable.

I grinded my teeth and muttered.

"I'm out of here."

Then I turned around to march out of the dining room. Seeing how enraged I was, none of them bothered to call me back.

About thirty minutes after I left the family house, I was inside one of the company's Sienas, racing across the freeway, leading to McCombs Bridge Avenue. And I was driving at a speed of approximately 113 km/h.

I was not heading anywhere exactly. My mind was restless, and I needed a random drive around town to clear my head.

I couldn't shake off the dread creeping up my spine. Marrying for love was a foreign concept in our family, but the thought of losing Isabella was unbearable.

Minutes ago, I had sounded so sure, but inwardly, I was confused. I was very scared because I was clueless about where I stood with Isabella at this point.

“She barely even knew me. Was I ready to make that leap in the dark? Was I ready to sacrifice my hard-earned position because of someone who was already married to another? Owen once mentioned something about a two-year benchmark. It was slightly passed already, and she was still not back. Could it be that the guy passed the test and her family has blessed her marriage? Could it be…?”

My thoughts were instantly interrupted by the sudden honking sound of an oncoming vehicle. I swerved dangerously to the left to avoid a collision, but after that, when I slammed on the brakes to reduce the speed, it failed.

“Gosh!!” I screamed in urgent fright and slammed the pads even more anxiously, but it was too late; my life was already flashing before my eyes.

The car barreled ahead with me inside, watching helplessly as my car crashed into a tall iron pole, letting out a loud, deafening sound with an impact that instantly covered my face with darkness.