14

Kalus brought Lydia into his office under everyone's eyes.

The moment the door closed, Lydia started crying and hugged Kalus's waist tightly.

"Kalus, I'm so glad you came to fetch me. I was so frightened just now…"

Kalus's eyes became dark. He raised his hands and placed them on Lydia's shoulders, gradually pushing her away.

"Kalus…" Lydia appeared puzzled.

Why did you do that?" Kalus's voice was cold, his eyes intimidating.

"Do what?"

"Why did you go to Savrow Daily to announce our wedding news?"

Lydia breathed a silent sigh of relief and hugged him again. "Because I cannot wait to marry you. Do you not want to marry me?

I want to, but making the news public like this is not fair." Kalus's expression was firm. He was no longer as gentle-tongued as he used to be.

"Why isn't it fair? You and Amara are already divorced!"

"We're not yet through with the divorce, and we promised that we wouldn't finish it until Grandpa's 80th birthday.".

Kalus instinctively pulled back from Lydia. "Previous to this, she is still my wife. Now that you have put out our news of marriage, three sides will all suffer harm. Grandpa will be even more against you now."

Kalus was an uncomplicated man who always balanced the pros and cons of everything. He treated Lydia only softly, but what he said just now was rather not nice to her.

It was because he felt that his childhood sweetheart would come for him. Thus, Lydia could not grasp the point. Her eyes became red with rage. "Three parties will get hurt? Kalus, did you feel awkward when you listened to people criticising Amara as the third party? Do you pity her?!

"I don't. But Amara is not the third party. The thing wasn't supposed to end like that." Kalus pinched the middle of his eyebrows, enduring a throbbing headache.

"Why not? She clearly moved between us!"

Lydia stomped her feet in anger. Her voice was grating and sour, cutting through Kalus's eardrums and aggravating his headache. "If not for her, I would have been with you! She is the one to blame! She took my place for three entire years!"

"Amara was my wife in name only for three years. It was for Grandpa to give in. You and I would never be together if she had not disappeared."

After Kalus' statement, his heart constricted.

Right. If Amara had remained with him until the lapse of their three-year contract marriage, his granddad would never accept his being together with Lydia.

She was always the first one to smile and welcome him back home. She helped him undress, prepared his bathwater, and secretly took care of everything so that he would never have to think about anything.

There was no quarreling, weeping, or chaos. Even when she signed the divorce papers and left Tideview Manor, she did not complain at all.

While Amara chose to end up with Frank, she had fulfilled her role as a wife for the past three years. Kalus had only used her since the beginning. He woke up every morning looking forward to the knowledge that he could wait another day for the termination of his three-year marriage agreement to spend it with another woman.

Kalus understood that he had far greater things to be thankful to Amara for than she was for him.

"Kalus, are you with that woman now?" Lydia did not know what to say. It appeared she could no longer comprehend what Kalus is thinking.

"No, I'm merely stating facts."

The phone just rang at this time. Kalus stretched out to get it. He raged as he noticed that the caller was his granddad.

"Ian, get additional bodyguards to take Ms. Osita home."

"Yes, Mr. Mike." Ian made a motion for Lydia to step forward.

"Kalus! I don't wish to go back… I am afraid!" Lydia had tears in her eyes and held his hand firmly.

"Don't be afraid. Just don't say a word about anything the reporters tell you. I'll handle the rest."

Kalus waved her away with his scowl on his face, closed the door, and answered his grandfather's call, enduring the pounding of his headache.

"Hi, Grandpa."

"Kalus! What's wrong with you for not keeping your promise to me? Do you want to marry so badly that whore?"

Joseph was enraged and yelled over the phone. "If you marry that Lydia girl, I will never accept you as my grandson!"

"Grandpa, today's news is nothing to do with me."

"I think that Lydia girl let it out! She could not wait any longer because you have not proposed to her yet, so she wanted to force your hand in marriage!"

"Lydia did not. Do not blame her."

Kalus felt that his headache was getting worse. He tugged at his Windsor knot tie and slowly returned to the sofa, leaning on the wall for support.

He deceived the grandfather he loved most and felt his throat tighten with guilt. Nevertheless, he had no other choice.

"I won't let you marry Lydia! I insist you get back with Amara!" Joseph did not care what Kalus would say but simply wanted his grandson to return with his beloved Amara Kol.

"Grandpa, you promised me before that you would let me make my own choice after three years."

Cold sweat was on his brow, and he was panting. "I have no hope with Amara. Lydia is the only fitting one for me."

"Good! You blind son of a bitch! I will see to it that I survive so that I may witness the day when you wish that you hadn't lost Amara!"

Saying this, Joseph hung up the phone.

Kalus slowly breathed out and covered his forehead with his hand. He walked over to the desk and rapidly drew out an analgesic.

Ian had just finished sending Lydia down to the lobby and caught a glimpse of Kalus struggling. He hastened to his aid.

"Mr. Mike, what's the matter? Do you have another headache?"

"I'm fine." Kalus slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and rubbed his puffy temples.

You should not continue taking painkillers. I remember the young madam would massage and give you acupuncture for the past three years, which would alleviate your headaches. Why did it worsen?"

Ian sighed with worry. "It would be great if the young madam were here. You always slept well after her acupuncture treatment."

"Stop mentioning her name." Kalus took a deep breath and was annoyed.

"By the way, I've sent someone to know what you asked." Ian's eyes glinted, and he was reluctant to talk.

"Continue."

"The person behind the two accounts who discovered the young madam was Ms. Osita."

Kalus gazed up in horror. His heart clenched. "Are you certain? How is that even possible?!"

"I've checked three times."

Ian whispered, "Otherwise, how could everything have been such a coincidence? Just as soon as your wedding news was announced, someone exposed the young madam. It is clearly a planned move."

Kalus remained still for a moment and then leaned forward helplessly.

"Why would you do this, Lydia?

He was aware that Lydia loved and cared for him. He also knew Lydia didn't like Amara, but Lydia shouldn't have expressed her anger in this manner.

"Go and sort it out, no matter the expense. I don't want any of that bad news before sundown!"

Lydia returned home, and her parents and her brother, Zeke, welcomed her back with open arms.

Oh, Lydia! Your trick is excellent!"

Zeke was so happy that he grinned from ear to ear. "As soon as you announced your wedding to Mr. Mike, our company's problem was resolved at once! Now, many hotels and guesthouses are willing to order from us. We'll be stinking rich now!"

Her father also praised her. "You bring honor to our family!

Earlier, Zz Group hotels recalled all of Alia Furniture's bedding accessories and terminated the contract permanently, and this made other industry players question Gold Corporation's quality. The majority of hotels who had already placed orders with them cancelled their orders as well. In this manner, Gold Corporation suffered considerable losses. Zeke and his dad were anxious as well.

Therefore, Lydia chose to announce her marriage news publicly so as to salvage her family business.

Sure enough, the result was miraculous. Being connected to Mike Corporation saved their skins.

Lydia did not like it, though. She looked sulky. "Do you have any idea how much I paid to save our family business? Kalus fought with me today, and that old man will probably hate me even more!"

"Do you have something to fear? How much longer can that old man who's going to die still remain here? Don't worry, he won't last long!"

Zeke laughed wickedly. "After the old man dies, Aunt Zera will control Gregory Mike, and you will control Kalus. Then, the entire Mike Corporation will be ours!"

"That's right!"

Lydia's mother sat down next to her and touched Lydia's hair. Her eyes shone greedily as she exclaimed, "So long as Kalus likes you, his grandfather won't be able to stop you from marrying into their family. Your Aunt Zera is the best evidence."

Lydia felt relieved upon hearing this and nodded decisively.

This time, she was going to marry Kalus regardless and be the CEO's wife that everyone was jealous of!