Chapter 4- Getting Married

[Olivia]

As I stood at the mechanic garage my heart raced with anticipation.

“I didn't know you were coming," I said softly “I tested you because I didn't quite get the location well,” I turned to address Lucas who just stepped out of his SUV, I wonder why someone who is as rich as him, looked so simple and drives normal cars unlike other rich people. It's been a week since the accident and I had just come to pick up my car.

Lucas ignored my attempt to play it cool and fixed me with a concerned gaze. “How are you now? Any more pain?” He asked, his voice low and gentle.

I smiled weakly, feeling a flutter in my chest. “I'm better now the pains are all gone, just a slight headache sometimes at night.”

“Thank you,” I extended my hands to get my car key from the mechanic.

“Did you get my message last night, I asked him.” My voice trembled like a leaf. My dad had invited us for dinner for the weekend, and I was just expecting him to refuse, but my eyes widened in shock when he responded.

“Test me the time and location, I'll be there,” he responded and then turned to leave.

“I'll do just that, thank you” I responded. My eyes sparkled like diamonds. I saw as his smile stretched out a bit from ear to ear but he was already heading back to his car, so I couldn't picture it much.

*******

It was Friday evening, I had just finished work and tested Lucas. I thought it would be better for us to show up together, my family can become suspicious if they happen to notice that something was off.

Lucas picked me up and in about thirty minutes we were already settled in my family's sitting room. My Dad hasn't spared Lucas for a second since we stepped into this house.

“So you're the Harrisons,” my father asked him, his face glowing with happiness.

“Yes I am,” Lucas responded, stretching his hand to pat his already-styled hair by the side.

“I never knew late Judge Harrison had another son, your Father was one of my investors some time ago.” My father beamed with happiness as they discussed business and family ties.

I stared at Lucas and the smile that was plastered on his face as he was discussing with my Dad disappeared immediately after my dad mentioned that he never knew his father had another son. A sudden sadness crossed his eyes, it was so fast that I couldn't read the meaning of it.

As we sat down at the dining table to eat, my grandma and my Dad were seated opposite us and Lucas sat beside me. The chef dished out our meal, the room fell silent for a moment. I was relieved that my dad wasn't asking any more questions, but my grandmother's clearing throat cut through the silence.

“So when are you two planning to start up the wedding preparation?” she asked, her eyes scanning from Lucas to me

I choked from the water that was trying to pass through my throat, my eyes widened in shock, and my legs trembled like jelly about to collapse.

“Grandma!!!” I called out to her, raising my brows in frustration, "Could you just let us eat in peace, before coming up with your questions.”

“Liv, I wasn't referring to you, keep your mouth shut and let me speak with my grandson-in-law,” she snapped

Lucas's eyes landed on me, and a look of discomfort crossed his face.

The way he looked at me with discomfort made my heart heavy with remorse, suffocating under the pressure of my lies, and how uncomfortable I was making him, I knew it was time to put an end to all this.

“Grandma…the truth is that ...we…,” I cleared my throat, It felt like I had a whole lump in my throat that refused to go down. “The truth is that….we…,”

Lucas chimed in, cutting me off. “We're planning on having our wedding soon.” his voice smooth and confident

My eyes widened in shock, my heart racing with disbelief, I stared at him with questions written all over my face, I tapped his leg with mine under the table, and he turned towards me, raised his brow and a sly charming smile spread across his face.

“Oh wow, that's amazing, finally!!! My dad and grandma said in unison, their eyes filled with contentment.

I was taken aback by Lucas's response, my mind racing with questions, why did he agree to the marriage all of a sudden? I tried to read his expression but his eyes were fixed on my grandmother, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes plastered on his face.

My grandmother's eyes sparkled with excitement, she turned towards me. “Liv, your cousins are coming back this weekend so it is going to be perfect that they will be present and we can all have dinner together before your wedding.”

Not like I care, I know she's talking about Mia and Usher, we've never been close like family's, so whether they were present or not, it's none of my business as always. Mia has hated me for as long as I can remember, Usher is not much of a talking type, he's just a guy who minds his business and often hangs out with his guys, the other of my cousins are married and with their families.

My dad nodded, his face beaming with happiness. “I can't believe my little pumpkin will be leaving me soon.” He spoke in a gentle voice.

“Dad don't even try to pretend like you've not been wanting to push me into marriage all this while.” I rolled my eyes at him.

I felt like I was in a dream, my family's excitement and anticipation and the sudden agreement of Lucas to marry me were suffocating me. I tried to speak up to tell them the whole truth, but my voice was stuck in my throat.

As we stepped out of my family's house, heading to the garage where Lucas's car was parked, Lucas's words echoed in my mind. “We're planning on having our wedding soon.”

What did he mean by that? Was he serious about marrying me?

I turned to him as we walked to the car. my heart pounding In my chest. “Lucas, what did you mean by what you said back there?”

“What did I say miss Olivia,” he asked, raising his brow like a confused child.

“Getting Married?” I went ahead to remind him.

“Isn't that what you wanted?” Lucas asked as he gazed at me. “If I recall vividly, you had just asked me to marry you and have been disturbing my phone with texts throughout the week. Or should I go back there and tell them we were trying to fake a marriage until the company is officially signed in your name?”

I felt my face heat up as I stammered, “N-no, that's not…what…I… mean…”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Get the contract ready,” he said in his firm voice. “And let your family know I don't want a big wedding, I don't want my face all over the news that I'm getting married to you… I'm just going to do it for my reasons.”

I felt bad because of his words. What does he mean by getting married to me? I found myself throwing a question at him.

“Because of your girlfriend?” I asked I've always wanted to ask him this question, since that day

“What girlfriend,” he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Baby? You answered her call in my presence, or have you forgotten.”

He twisted his face, his gaze fixed on me before his eyes brightened up in a smile.

“I don't have a girlfriend, but the marriage will just be between us till you get whatever you want to get then we call it off.” He thundered.

I wanted a contract marriage but why did I just feel so relieved that he wasn't in a relationship?

“I'll do just that, I don't want a big wedding either, since it's more like a joke,” The words tumbled out of my mouth.

“He turned his face towards me and chuckled, “Sure it is,” he was holding the passenger's seat, inviting me with his hands to step inside the car.

I settled in the car stretching my hands immediately to pull the seat belt, I was trying to avoid him coming any closer to me, and just as I assumed he was trying to drag it to help me buckle it. He smiled and gently closed the door while he made his way to the driver's seat.

This was something I wanted. I begged him for it, I pleaded for him to act for a while. I even asked if he would marry me, I don't understand how I was feeling this way when he agreed, wasn't that what I wanted?

A chill ran down my spine, my skin crawling with goosebumps. We had talked about how the wedding will happen in a week's time back in the house and he agreed without hesitation, why was I feeling like I was getting myself into a big problem?

I shifted my gaze from the window to him, his eyes were fixed on the road, his left hand on the steering wheel while his right hand rested on his lap. He noticed my stares and turned towards me, I shifted my eyes immediately and fixed them back to the road.

I heard as he chuckled, I looked at him with my side eye and saw him shaking his head as he silently laughed.

I stared at him again and I could see a devilish smirk on his lips, he winked at me and landed his eyes back on the road as he drove.

Why do I feel There was more to this sudden agreement, or does he have any other motive?