chapter 4

Chapter 4

In the car, the atmosphere was strange as no one spoke.

Ella was sitting at the far end of the car. Her body was almost squashed by the car body, but she did not care. Remembering how the man was going to get rid of her after tonight, her heart squeezed painfully that it was getting hard to breathe.

While Daniel was busy working on his laptop, the woman’s unique scent was all over the car and he found himself distracted. He could not help but look at her. When he saw that she was sitting at the far end of the car, he frowned.

They were a distance from each other, so why was he being distracted by her presence? He has never been affected to that extent by anyone before, not even Kate had such an impact on him.

It was as if she was sitting on his lap and breathing her hot air on his skin. He frustratedly loosened his tie and shut down the laptop.

“I hope you know what you are supposed to do when we reach the old mansion?”

“What?” The absent-minded Ella looked at Daniel with a blank expression. She had not heard what the man said because her mind was all over the place, thinking about how her life would be turning into hell soon.

“Act like a loving wife you are. If anyone notices something amiss about our relationship, don’t dream about seeing the sunrise tomorrow.”

Ella looked the man in the eyes. It was as if she was trying to imprint the man’s features in her mind. She looked at him inch by inch, causing Daniel to furrow his eyebrows in annoyance.

‘What was she looking at? Did he have something on his face?’ he wondered as the woman stared at him with her heated gaze.

Looking at his face turning cold and darker, Ella had the urge to ask something she has never asked before. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Why do you hate me so much?”

When he heard her question, Daniel was stunned, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.

Yes, why did he hate her so much? Ever since his grandfather brought her home, and claimed that she was the granddaughter of his comrade, who had died tragically, he had felt sorry for her.

She liked to hide under the table and she was very timid that, the only person she could talk to was him and his grandfather. Maybe he felt like he was a babysitter that was why he got annoyed whenever he saw her.

His grandfather had also announced that he would marry no one but her thus, elevating his dislike towards her. He did not like the fact that he had to marry someone he did not have feelings for. He had watched her grow up so, he did not have those special feelings towards her.

But he would never admit that he hates her. He was just annoyed that his grandfather would not hand over the inheritance unless he married her.

“Who told you that I hate you?” Daniel asked in return.

“Then why are you treating me like I mean nothing to you? Why did you marry me if you knew that you would get rid of me?”

“I married you just so that grandfather can hand everything to me. I have no time to hate someone as annoying as you. The only person who thinks that you are beautiful and intelligent is your grandfather. Don’t think too much, because me hating you would be such an honor, and it will make you feel special.” Daniel said.

He did not hide the disdain he felt towards her and his eyes flashed with cold light.

“So, I should feel honored that Master Edmond does not like me?” Ella questioned. She felt stupid the moment she asked that question, and now she could not help but feel her eyes tear up.

Her heart was feeling as if it was being forcefully hollowed out of her chest, and the pain was never-ending.

But even so, she still braced herself and said whatever she wanted to say.

“You know how I have been feeling about you all these years. I thought that I will be the happiest woman in this world, but as it turns out, it was just my wishful thinking. I love you Daniel and I don’t know if I will be able to love another as much as I love you.”

“I just hope that you will be happy with your new family, and there will not be a day that you will ever regret your decision.”

“What are you talking about?”

“For the past two months, I have told myself over and over again that there is nothing for me in this world anymore. That I should let you be happy with the love of your life. But every time I think about it, I always feel my world fall apart.”

“Daniel, I love you and hate you at the same time. I just feel so stupid that I wasted the better half of my life being smitten by you.”

…

At the Edmond family mansion…

All the company directors, investors, and department heads were present by the time Ella and Daniel arrived. It seemed that they were the ones everyone was waiting for before the ceremony began.

“Child, come to grandpa,” Old Master Edmond said as he called Ella the moment, he saw her. His face broke into a huge smile and you could tell that he was in a good mood.

“Grandpa!” Ella sweetly called out like a well-behaved granddaughter. Her smile was enchanting and everyone in the room was attracted by her beauty.

“I haven’t seen you since the wedding and I missed you so much. Every time I called this punk to bring you home, he would say that you guys were so busy, so I had no choice but to wait.”

“Look at how beautiful you have become. You have even become a little chubby. Are you...?” Old Master Edmond raised his eyebrows as he looked at Ella.

The startled Ella did not know what the old man was insinuating. “Grandpa, what are you talking about?”

A female director looked at her cute expression and laughed out loud, “Your grandfather is asking if he is going to see his great-grandchild soon.”

“Great grandchild?” Ella was even more confused.

“He is asking if you are already pregnant. It has been two months since you were married so, he was hoping that he could get some good news soon.”

Realization dawned on Ella and her face flushed. Why would her grandfather think like that? Although they had been married for two months, they had only slept together once, and ever since, the man has never come home.

She felt like that night was more of a one-night stand although she had done it with her ‘husband.’

“Aww, our missus is blushing so, it must be true right? Are you really pregnant?”

“I…”

“What is going on here?” Daniel, who had been held back by a few people that wanted to talk to him, finally walked over to where his grandfather was.

His ears jerked when he heard the word pregnant and his heart skipped a beat.

When Old Master Edmond saw his grandson walk over, he looked at him coldly and asked in a displeased tone, “How could you not tell me that Ella is pregnant?”

“What?” Daniel was shocked by the sudden news. Ella was pregnant? But how?

Could… could it be that it was from the day of their wedding night? But they had only done it that day. How could she have fallen pregnant?

If she was pregnant at such a time, wouldn’t that mean all his plans would go down the drain?

Ella did not have to turn around to tell how Daniel’s expression at the moment was.

“Grandpa, what are you talking about? I am not pregnant. I have just gained a little weight because I have been eating a lot of nutrition supplements lately. I would really wish to give a you cute great-grandchild, but I have to prepare first.” Ella quickly explained when she realized that the misunderstanding might land her in deep trouble.

“Really?”

“Of course, Grandpa. You know how much I love you so, how could I hide something as important as that from you?”

“Okay. I will accompany you to a check-up soon.”

“Okay, Grandpa.” Ella nodded obediently.

She sighed in relief after the danger was eliminated. But after thinking that she will never make her grandfather’s wish come true, her face fell.

The ceremony began soon after, and since Daniel was the only grandson and the future heir of Edmond’s family fortune, there were not a lot of things to be done.

After receiving everything from his grandfather and after verifying and confirming that everything was real, Daniel finally revealed a genuine smile.

He was already handsome when he was wearing that cold expression on his face and when he smiled, everyone’s heart skipped a beat, especially Ella, who had been looking at him the whole time.

She hated her heart for being weak and wanted nothing but to remove it from her chest.

On the way back, Daniel kept on looking at the documents over and over again. He could not believe that he was finally the owner of everything in the Edmond family.

He felt so happy that he immediately took out his phone and called Kate, without caring that Ella was still in the car.

“Baby, I did it. It is finally official.”

“Aaaah, really baby?”

“Yes,”

“Oh my God, I can’t wait for you to marry me. Baby, why don’t you come and pick me up?. I want to spend this night with you and celebrate with you.”

“Sure, I will be right there.”