Before Tomorrow

"Yes, I do," Gwen said firmly. Dominic was stunned for a few seconds; he didn't expect his employee to respond so quickly. Nevertheless, he continued with his plan, embracing Gwen tightly.

"I don't know what you're planning, but I hope you won't hurt my grandpa," he whispered before releasing the embrace. Gwen only responded with a smile that was difficult for Dominic to interpret.

"I didn't expect everything to happen so quickly. There's nothing to worry about now; you'll get married the day after tomorrow. Just accept it, and let me handle everything," he said, a broad smile on his face.

After Mr. Charles left, Dominic detained Gwen in his office. "If I don't come out now, the gossip will spread, and more rumors will emerge," she said.

"If you're bothered, just leave the company," Dominic replied.

"I can't, Sir. I need this job for my family. So, let me go to work."

"You don't need to work anymore because soon you'll be part of the Cartwright family," he ordered. "Finish your work, don't forget to make a resignation letter. I'll take care of the rest."

"Okay, Sir. Excuse me then."

Gwen walked toward the door, quickly opening it. She smiled at Tsuri and some other colleagues who were eavesdropping on their conversation. "Why did it take you so long to come out?" Tsuri asked.

"Earlier, the Big Boss came. What were you talking about?" another colleague added.

"Are you crying? Are they mocking you?" another one continued.

"Calm down, friends, nothing happened inside. We had a good conversation," Gwen reassured her colleagues, reluctantly lying. "Now it's time to work, scatter... scatter..."

All her friends followed her words, going to their respective workstations. She, too, sat in her office, 'dropping' her head on the desk. She was puzzled by what had happened to her today; everything had happened so quickly.

When she woke up this morning, she was still single, and now she was officially engaged to Dominic Cartwright. "How do I tell my parents about this?" she mumbled. Gwen remembered Dominic's instructions to finish her work before resigning.

She quickly turned on her computer, diligently completing all her tasks. Gwen tried to focus because, indeed, this was her last day at work. She even declined invitations for lunch from her friends and chose to write a resignation letter and hand it over to Dominic.

Nothing had changed; she went home without being picked up by her prospective husband but used public transportation. When she arrived home, she did nothing because all the wedding preparations were taken care of by Mr. Charles. Gwen acted as if nothing had happened.

Only the next day did she receive calls from her friends and her boss about her resignation. Gwen responded casually, without a single word about her impending marriage. She was too afraid they wouldn't believe her story.

Towards noon, a car suddenly stopped in front of her rented house. Dominic came to meet her and invited her to pick up her parents at the station.

"How could I contact them without my knowledge?" Gwen wondered.

"It doesn't matter how I did it. Now pack your things because, for the time being, you'll stay in a hotel with your parents until the wedding party," Dominic instructed.

Gwen followed her future spouse's command, quickly packing her belongings into a suitcase. After that, they went to the city's station to pick up her parents. When they arrived, it turned out Gwen's parents were already waiting at the station's exit.

They immediately embraced, releasing the longing they had kept hidden for so long. Initially, they disagreed with Gwen getting married at a young age, but after learning about Dominic's family background, they changed their minds and allowed their only daughter to marry the handsome man.

Their temporary residence was no ordinary place; Dominic chose a luxurious and complete five-star hotel for Gwen and her family.

"We will have dinner with my grandfather. You want to meet him, right?"

"Of course, we need to get to know your family," replied Gwen's father.

Dominic tried to blend in with Gwen's parents, who seemed very accepting of their prospective son-in-law. Even though it was clear they were still confused about all of this. Gwen's mother even quietly interrogated her daughter.

"You're not pregnant already, are you, dear?"

"No, Mom, I take care of my body," she said with a radiant smile.

The evening arrived quickly, and Dominic closed off the entire restaurant area at the hotel so that the two families could talk comfortably. As it turned out, Mr. Charles was very sociable, as he was already very familiar with Gwen's father.

The dinner went smoothly and felt very familial. Mr. Charles explained the schedule for the next day, and Gwen frowned when she learned that there would be no celebration after the wedding ceremony.

Dominic noticed Gwen's change of expression, approached her, and said, "A simple or extravagant wedding party?"

"Whatever you prefer, Dad," she replied briefly, but a subtle smile appeared on Gwen's beautiful face.

The dinner was over, and they all prepared to return to their respective rooms. Tonight, Dominic and his grandfather also stayed at the hotel because the wedding venue was not far away.

"Both of you, come to my room. There's something I want to discuss with you," the grandfather said to the soon-to-be-married couple. Dominic and Gwen nodded, indicating their agreement to go to the middle-aged man's room.

"What's the matter with Grandpa inviting us here?" Dominic asked.

"I want to talk seriously with you, especially with Gwen," the man said. "The purpose of marriage is to have descendants. I want Dominic to marry soon to have a Cartwright family heir. So, I hope after marriage, you must get pregnant soon."

"Pregnant?" Dominic and Gwen said simultaneously.

"Why are you surprised?" the confused grandfather asked.

"We agreed to postpone having children because Gwen is still young, and I'm busy with office matters," Dominic explained, searching for the right reasons to reject his grandfather's request.

"I don't think young age affects pregnancy, and you can reduce your office workload," the grandfather replied. "So, I ask that you must have offspring. Prove to everyone that you can have children."

Dominic shook his head, still refusing his grandfather's request. "But not now; we are not ready to have children."

"Why are you the only one refusing, Dom? Since earlier, Gwen has been silent."

Dominic immediately looked at the woman beside him. Gwen remained silent, contemplating many things at the moment.

"I assume you agree, Gwen. I want great-grandchildren, soon!"