CHAPTER 10: Protect me from what?

CHAPTER 10

“Auntie!” I gasped, stopping in my tracks as I stepped into Grandma’s hospital room. My heart thumped hard against my chest. I hadn’t expected to see my late father’s sister here—she rarely visited.

She turned, offering me a small, strained smile. “Yes, dear. I was going to call you,” she said, opening her arms. “Come here.”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping into her embrace. Her familiar scent—something like lavender and old books—wrapped around me, but there was a stiffness in her hold that didn’t go unnoticed.

Pulling away, I turned to Grandma, whose wrinkled yet warm face softened when she saw me. “Grandma,” I breathed, bending to hug her frail frame. Her hands trembled slightly as she patted my back.

“You two were talking before I came in,” I said, straightening up. My eyes flicked between them, catching the unspoken exchange between them. “What was it about?”

“It was nothing,” Auntie said quickly, but the way she averted her gaze told me otherwise.

I folded my arms. “Really? Because I swear I heard something about helping me with Grandma’s hospital bills and surgery.” My voice came out sharper than intended.

Auntie’s face paled. She glanced at Grandma, who remained silent, her lips pressing into a firm line.

“Tell me,” I demanded, my pulse quickening. “What are you two hiding?”

Auntie inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening around the hem of her blouse. “Nelly, it’s... it’s complicated,” she finally said.

A sharp pang of anxiety shot through me. “Complicated how?”

“Look, it happened long ago, alright?” she murmured.

“And it should stay forgotten,” Grandma cut in, her voice laced with finality. She reached for my hand, her aged fingers warm but frail. “We want to protect you, my dear.”

My throat tightened. Protect me from what? From whom?

I turned to Auntie. “Is that true?”

A hesitant nod. “When the time is right, you will know.”

Frustration simmered in my chest, but I swallowed it down. Grandma rarely spoke with such seriousness unless she meant it. And if there was one thing I knew about her, it was that she never budged when she made up her mind.

“Fine,” I muttered, though the unease lingered. I didn’t believe for a second that whatever they were hiding wasn’t serious.

Sensing the shift in mood, Grandma patted the space beside her. “Now, come, come! Tell me, Nelly, why are you all dressed up? What’s the occasion?”

Her excitement was contagious, and despite the lingering questions in my mind, I grinned. “Grandma, guess what?” I wiggled my fingers in front of her, showing off the ring Jason had given me.

Her eyes widened. “Nelly!” She grabbed my hand, inspecting the ring. “When did this happen? Who is he?”

I giggled, momentarily forgetting the tension from before. “Slow down, Grandma. Let me tell you everything.”

And even though it wasn’t real, I sold the story like it was.

---

Later that evening…

My phone buzzed.

Jason: Be ready. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.

My stomach twisted. I was meeting his parents today. The thought alone made my palms sweat.

Emily had already left for her shift, so I was left alone with my nerves.

Taking a deep breath, I stood in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back—curves hugged by a fitted dress, my skin glowing under the soft bedroom light.

I didn’t need much to look beautiful. My natural caramel-toned skin carried a sun-kissed glow, warm and smooth. My lips, slightly fuller, looked even better with just a dab of gloss. A light touch of highlighter kissed my cheekbones, accentuating their sharpness. My dark curls cascaded past my shoulders, effortlessly framing my face.

I ran my fingers down my dress. The fabric hugged my waist, emphasizing the soft curves of my hips. It wasn’t too tight, just the right fit to make me feel confident yet comfortable.

A part of me wondered if Jason would notice.

A buzz from my phone snapped me out of my thoughts.

Jason: I’m outside.

My nerves doubled.

Grabbing my purse, I inhaled sharply before stepping out.

---

The Ride to His Parents' House

The car ride was quiet.

Jason’s cologne—a mix of cedarwood and something subtly sweet—filled the car, adding to the tension. He was a man of few words, but I could feel his eyes flicking toward me every now and then.

I kept my gaze on the passing city lights, the streets alive with distant chatter and honking cars.

“So…” he finally spoke, clearing his throat.

I turned slightly, meeting his eyes. “So?”

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “We have to be convincing tonight. My parents aren’t the easiest people to fool.”

I arched my brow. “Lovey-dovey convincing?”

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips. “Something like that.”

A lump formed in my throat. Acting affectionate with Jason wasn’t necessarily the hard part. The problem was how real it might start to feel.

Minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a massive estate. The place screamed wealth—tall iron gates, perfectly trimmed hedges, and a driveway that seemed to stretch for miles.

Jason killed the engine.

“This is it,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

I tightened my grip on my purse. “Yeah.”

He turned to me, eyes scanning my face as if searching for something. “Are you ready?”

I let out a slow breath. “No.”

He chuckled—a low, deep sound. “Too late.”

Before I could say anything else, he stepped out of the car and walked around to my side. When he opened the door, I hesitated.

“Come on, Nelly,” he said, offering his hand.

I placed mine in his, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.

For a second, neither of us moved.

His eyes darkened slightly, lips parting as if he wanted to say something.

Then, as if remembering why we were here, he gave my hand a squeeze and pulled me out of the car.

The second my heels clicked against the pavement, I knew there was no turning back.

Tonight, I had to play the role of Jason’s devoted wife-to-be.

And judging by the way his fingers tightened around mine as we approached the front door, I wasn’t the only one feeling the weight of it.