Chapter 1

“Dev…Devlin, I don't have much time left. Plea… please pro- pro- mise me that yo.. you are going to do my wish.” Came the faint, faltering voice of Devlin’s grandmother, Olivia. She looks very pale and her eyes are starting to close. She has been having difficulty breathing but she insisted on talking to Devlin alone in her hospital room. Even in her dying moments, she still thinks of her beloved grandson. She wants to make sure that he is going to be well taken care of by a great woman… not just those usual women he keeps dating.

Devlin has a grimmed expression on his face. He has been hearing these past few months from his grandmother about someone whom she thought would be a fit wife for him. He has never met the woman. Besides, marriage is far from his mind right now. He still has a lot of personal issues to resolve on his own and a thriving company to manage. He can't just afford to add another problem. 

However, he cannot refuse his grandmother as well, especially that she has been very sick for years. Lately, she has been repeatedly asking him to marry the granddaughter of her friend. He did not even have the time to think about anything else except his grandmother.

He shook his head lightly. He took his grandmother’s fragile hands, comforting her in her last moments. If there is anything he could do for her right now is to help her ease the pain she is feeling.

“Pro– promise me, son.” Again, the weak voice of his grandma took over his head. He only smiled at her lovingly, holding tightly her hand.

“I.. I  need to hear you.” She almost whispered. Devlin took a deep sigh. His grandmother has always been a stubborn woman even in her last moments. 

“Yes, grandma, I promise. Please don’t worry about that.” Answered Devlin seriously. He loves his grandmother so much. He was closer to her than to his parents and only brother.

“Than- thank you, son.” She tried to smile at him. Devlin also smiled back at her. Peace and calmness suddenly overtook her exhausted appearance just a few moments ago. 

After a long while, his grandma took her last breath. She looks peaceful just like she’s sleeping. Tears escaped from Devlin’s eyes. His shoulders were shaking. His grandmother just succumbed to her long battle from cancer.

Devlin is now driving back to his penthouse. He is quietly contemplating what happened today. 

His grandmother just passed away. Despite his sorrow, he could not understand why his grandmother would insist for him to marry someone he never met at all. Then, he remembered what happened six months ago. He was visiting his grandmother when the topic came up. 

 “Devlin, I wanted to visit a very good old friend. It has been decades since I last saw her.” She said with unexpected excitement. It has been a while since he saw his grandmother this happy and excited. So, he engaged her into talking some more. 

“Who are you going to visit, grandma? You have not traveled for a couple of years now.” He said with curiosity.

“I finally found her! She is in California right now with her beautiful granddaughter!” She exclaimed enthusiastically. Then, it dawned on him that she was talking about that childhood friend of hers she used to tell him since he was a kid.

“I thought you lost track of her. How did you know she is in California?” He wondered how his grandmother found out about her. She never told him anything.

“Oh, I am sorry I forgot to tell you. I accidentally met her granddaughter at the hospital during my annual check-up last year.” Devlin remembered that year. That was the time she found out first that her cancer came back. She was only with her personal nurse at that time.

“While waiting for my doctor, I was seated next to this beautiful lady. She smiled at me first and I smiled back at her. We started talking. She was waiting for her friend to get checked by the doctor. We kept talking until I found out that she is the granddaughter of my friend, Amelia. Isn’t it amazing?” His grandmother kept talking about Amelia’s granddaughter incessantly for about half an hour. She could not stop praising the woman.

“You should meet her. She is very nice and friendly.” His grandmother excitedly said. Devlin only smiled at his grandmother who suddenly appeared energetic. 

“But grandma, that will be a long trip for you especially with your condi…” His grandma cut him off. She had that determined look on her face.

“When are you going to get ready? I can ask Tanya here to prepare everything. I will be ready tomorrow.” Tanya is her nurse who stayed with her since she got sick from cancer before. Olivia gave her grandson her sweetest smile. Devlin just rolled his eyes at her. She knows very well that he can’t say no to her.

“Grandma, I have a suggestion. Why don’t we ask your friend to come here instead? I can use my private plane to take her?” He said, hoping he could convince her to change her mind.

“Do you think I did not think of that? I want to go see her place. I was able to contact her immediately right after I got her number from her granddaughter. We have been talking over the phone.” She said with a big smile. Devlin just learned that information now.

“Did you purposely forget to tell me that piece of information?” He asked his grandma casually. 

“How can I tell you? You got busy with your business. I tried telling you but you were too busy to pay attention to what I was saying that day.” His grandma said with a disappointed voice.

“If I didn't get sick again, you would not come visit me regularly. Life is too short, Devlin. I know you have been doing great in your company but don’t forget to take time off for yourself and your loved ones” Olivia further said with a sad voice. Devlin could not look at his grandma. He is guilty.

It was his fault. The last four years were very busy for him. He just graduated and started working but resigned from the company after six months. He decided to invest in the construction business. From there, he was able to build a successful construction company. Just two years later, he was already reaping the result of his hardwork and dedication. He regretted that he had to sacrifice his time for his grandma.

“I am very sorry, grandma. I should not have left you by yourself. I felt so terrible.” He said with great remorse. He sat down on the chair next to where his grandmother is sitting.

“Grandma, I will cancel all my appointments tomorrow. I will come with you to California.” He immediately said out of the blue. His grandmother’s reaction was priceless. He would never forget that day. She was crying and at the same time smiling. She could not even say anything.

“Thank you, my son. You just don’t know how much you made me so happy today.” She said still crying. Devlin tapped her back gently to comfort her.

“Grandma, you deserve more than that. I am grateful for everything that you did for me. I am extremely sorry for neglecting you. I barely even come here to check on you these past few years.” He said regretfully but his grandma silenced him.

“You don’t have to say anything. I know that you are a great grandson.” Devlin hugged his grandmother to show his appreciation of her.

The next day, his grandmother woke up so early for their flight. Devlin arranged for his private jet for their trip. He already called his secretary right after he made the decision to accompany his grandmother to California.

“I can’t wait to see my friend again. Our friendship goes a long way. I owe my life to her. For sure, she will be happy. She lives with her granddaughter and a few workers in their farm.” His grandma had a distant look, lost in her thoughts. 

Devlin knows their story very well since he heard it all his life. His grandmother would never stop talking about her past in the orphanage. She always ends up teary-eyed just like right now.

“If it were not for  Amelia, I would not be here right now.” She ended her story. Devlin looked at his grandma who was slowly closing her eyes. After a minute, she went to sleep. He covered her with a warm blanket. Her nurse, Tanya, was sitting on the other side listening to some music from her phone.

They arrived before lunch at a remote area. Amelia’s place is a neat, modest house surrounded with blooming flowers of different varieties in front. The back of the house is where the fruit orchard of the family is located. Devlin noticed that there were some men busy doing something at the back of the house.

They had to ring the bell a few times before someone came to them. They introduced themselves to the middle-aged woman whose name is Mrs. Lina Mills. She recognized her grandmother and immediately let them in. Before they could even get inside the house, an older woman came beaming at them.

“Olivia?! It is really you. This is such a big surprise.” She said cheerfully. She hugged her grandma tightly who was in her wheelchair. They were crying for a few minutes before they let go of each other.

“Please, come inside. I am sorry I looked messy. We are busy harvesting some fruits from the back. Why didn't you tell me you are coming today?” She continued talking then suddenly gasped loudly.

“Please forgive my manners.” She directed her attention towards Devlin and and his grandmother’s personal nurse. 

“I am Amelia Adams, your grandma’s childhood friend.” She shook hands with them. Devlin and Tanya introduced themselves.

“It is great to finally meet you, ma’am. I have heard so much about you.” Devlin said politely. Amelia only smiled widely at him.

“Olivia, you should have waited for me to come to your place. I told you I am planning to visit you as soon as we finish all the work here.” She said with a worried look on her face.

“That is what my grandson said but I really want to go somewhere. I want to get out of the house. I felt like I was a prisoner.” Then, she laughed. Devlin was looking at his grandma incredulously. So, that is what she has been feeling for the past years. He felt more guilty. 

“Amelia, I am so happy to be here, to finally see you again after several years. Where is your beautiful granddaughter? I can’t wait to see her again. She was the reason why we were able to reconnect” Grandma Olivia said with great happiness.

“Oh you just missed her. She just left like fifteen minutes ago before you arrived here. She had to be in the city to do some errands for me. She won’t be back until two days later.  She would have been so happy to see you again.” Amelia said with a disappointed look. Even Olivia was disappointed.

After a few minutes, the housemaid came to inform them that lunch is ready. They feasted over different fresh vegetable salads, pumpkin soup, and grilled meat with mashed potatoes. For dessert, Amelia made a freshly baked apple pie. 

“This is the best meal we could serve straight from our farm. I hope you like it.”  Amelia said with pride. Everyone was grateful for the delicious meal.

“This is really delicious. Thank you so much for lunch. And I can’t thank you enough for the times you spent with my grandmother. She never stops talking about you.” Devlin said sincerely to Amelia. He wants to take that chance to express his gratitude towards the woman whom his grandma loves so dearly.

“Don’t mention it. Your grandma is like a sister to me.” Amelia was teary-eyed while looking at his grandma who is now in the backyard. Everyone went back to work after lunch was served.

They stayed for the night. It was Amelia who insisted for them to stay the night. Devlin refused at first since he already booked  a place at a nearby inn.

“Please, stay for the night. I have extra rooms for you. I just want to spend a longer time with Olivia.” Colton looked at his grandma’s happy face. She has not looked any happier than now. He relented to Amelia’s request. Looking at his grandma, it was a wise decision to stay for the night.