CHAPTER 8: NO CHOICE

Winter’s POV

“What?! Your grandfather is asking you to marry a stranger?!”

“And he is not just a stranger, he is a penniless man! Why would I even marry a man who wouldn’t be able to provide me the things that I want?!”

Haley nodded her head. “You are right. That man might be planning something, and that is why he wants to marry you. Perhaps he even knows you are a popular superstar.”

“Exactly. And who wouldn’t even know me? There are so many people nowadays who do that kind of scheme. They’ll ask you to marry them, then once he finally gets all of your money, he will leave you crying and hide forever.” Olivia added. 

“There is no way I’m going to marry that man!”

“But what if your grandpa insists you do so?”

I shook my head. “No way! Even if he tells me he’ll disown me as his granddaughter!”

***

“You’re going to marry Matthew, or I will disown you as my granddaughter?” 

My eyes immediately widened when grandpa told me that. He really visited me at my house just to ask me about the marriage shit once again. 

“Grandpa, why are you doing this to me? Is that how much you want me to marry that poor man?!”

“As what I keep on telling you, he is a good man. Just give him a chance and you will surely like him, too.”

“If you want me to give him a chance, then why do I even have to marry him?!”

“Because we need him too, Winter. We need someone like him who can run our company. I have told you about that already, right?”

I heaved a deep sigh. “Grandpa, I don’t need a man right now. I don’t want to be in any relationship with anyone and, most of all, I don’t want to get married to anyone.”

“I know how much you’ve suffered just by being a part of our family, Winter. I know how much you do your very best just to prove yourself to your parents. I know how much you want your parents to notice the hard works that you did. That is why I want you to find a man who will help you, a man that will surely take care of you no matter what happens.”

“And you think that beggar could take care of me?”

Grandpa nodded his head with a smile on his face. “Yes.”

“Grandpa---

“You don’t have to force yourself to love him immediately, Winter. You need to, of course, know him first. If a year passes and you still don’t want him to be your husband, then you can divorce him. I just want you to try him.”

I looked at grandpa with furrowed brows. “Grandpa, marrying isn’t a trial and error.”

“I know that, honey. I am now old enough to know about the secrets that our world hides. And trust me, once you learn how to take risks, that’s when you’ll be able to unfold what’s beneath the surface.”

“Grandpa---

“I’m going to die soon, Winter. And I want to see you with someone I know I can trust. Just do this favor for me, please?”

Themis’ POV

If his granddaughter doesn’t agree about marrying me, then I’ll have to think of another way again. It would be hard for me to find criminals if I don’t get help from a person who’s powerful enough to help me penetrate the business world. Because influence and wealth pushed those criminals to kill our family. 

“Matthew, I have good news for you.”

“What is it?” I said as I sipped some of my coffee.

I rented a place where I could stay for a while. It was a cheap apartment near Mr. Wesley’s mansion. He was also the one who asked me to live near their house.

“Winter already agreed.”

“W-What?”

“Winter already agreed about marrying you.”

I blinked a few times before realizing what he just said. “Are you sure about that, Mr. Wesley? How did you do that?”

“Can you visit me here in my office? I will tell you the details and let’s discuss your marriage.”

I stood up and wore my coat as I stepped out of my house, going to Mr. Wesley’s mansion. 

“How did you do that? I mean, how did you convince her to marry me?” I asked as soon as I saw Mr. Wesley.

“Well, I just acted out a bit and I told her we need someone who can run the company responsibly.”

“Thank you so much for what you did, Mr. Wesley.”

“You are more than welcome, Matthew. This is just nothing compared to how much I owe your family.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I will do what I can do for your company as long as I’m married to your granddaughter.”

“Thank you so much. By the way, can I have another favor from you?”

“Sure, what is it?”

Mr. Wesley looked straight into my eyes as he spoke. “Please, take care of Winter. I know, taking care of her isn’t your responsibility and I don’t have the right to ask you this, but Winter has been living quite a lonely life. I just want to make sure she’s always safe. She is a sweet child, and a loving daughter to her parents.”

“I understand you, Mr. Wesley. I will take care of your granddaughter no matter what happens.”

"Thank you."

I know it would be so much hassle to marry that woman based on how I met her, but no matter how hard it would be, I will do anything just to find the people who killed my family.