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The Acceptance

Penulis: Ebony Pete
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-11-12 15:05:43

There was a brief silence after Tony’s response to the question of his wife’s death. It made the atmosphere in the living room a bit gloomy.

“We also know that you have children,” said Laura, steering the conversation away from its depressing detour.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Tony said without missing a beat. “I have a daughter, who is around Kate’s age, and a son who is two years younger.”

“Do you still want to marry my daughter?” John asked him point blank.

“If you would let me, yes,” Tony responded without hesitation.

“Why would you want to marry a girl who is the same age as your daughter?” John inquired almost angrily.

“First of all, Mr Harrison, your daughter is not a girl,” Tony began in a level tone. “Your daughter is a young woman who has found herself in a sticky situation which has indirectly affected you and your wife. I grew up in a small town too, so I understand how little things can get blown out of proportion until life becomes unbearable for everyone involved.

“I am aware that your position at the church might be jeopardized if your daughter’s situation is publicized. I also understand that once that happens, it would be impossible for any of you to live a normal life here afterward.”

“Are you saying that you only want to marry Kate just to save us?” Laura asked dubiously.

“To be honest, I wasn’t thinking when I offered to marry her,” Tony confessed. “It just seemed like the best solution at that moment.”

“And it isn’t anymore?” Laura asked cautiously.

Tony looked at Kate and said, “I could give her some money to go somewhere else to start a new life there and have her baby in peace. But a solution that indirectly makes her an outcast from her community and family, isn’t a real solution, is it?”

Kate returned Tony’s gaze unblinkingly. She knew that he was giving her a second option because he knew that the idea of marrying him didn’t sit well with her.

Still, Kate couldn’t deny that Tony had made a valid point. If he gave her money to get out here and start her life elsewhere, she couldn’t show her face in Sommerville with a baby bump without raising the same questions that she and her family didn’t want to answer. That would defeat the whole purpose of leaving in the first place.

Most importantly, Kate didn’t want to live in hiding like a fugitive.

“What’s in it for you?” Kate asked Tony boldly. “You can’t simply just want to marry me to save me. What do you want in return?”

“The chance to have a real family again,” Tony answered frankly.

“What do you mean?” Kate asked him.

“I wasn’t the best husband or father in my younger years,” Tony confessed. “I was too busy building my empire and expanding my wealth until I was sure that I had more than enough. But when I reached that point, my children had grown and I had missed out on those formative years of their lives. When I was finally ready to be an attentive husband to my wife, she died.”

“Oh, boy,” John muttered and Laura sighed sympathetically.

As for Kate, she didn’t know how to react. It seemed as if Tony’s motive for wanting to marry her was genuine and not predatory or entirely selfish.

Tony continued to address Kate, “If by your parents’ approval, you agree to marry me, I promise to be a good husband to you and a loving father to the baby. I know this might sound ridiculous, but I feel this is God’s way of giving me a second chance to correct the mistakes I made in the past.”

The last part of Tony’s speech caught John’s attention. As a man of faith, he liked how Tony inferred that the present situation might have a divine undertone to it.

“Well, Mr DaCosta. I must say that I find your honesty quite refreshing,” said John. “But I cannot hide my reservations concerning the age difference between you two. It’s a bit unsettling for me.”

Tony nodded his head slowly and said, “I understand what you mean, Mr Harrison. I would probably feel the same way if the roles were reversed.”

“So, what now?” Laura asked hopefully with her eyes on Tony.

Tony looked at John, waiting for his response. John looked at Kate, waiting for her to say something. She didn’t.

John slowly rose to his feet, pulling Laura up with him, and he said, “We are going to excuse the both of you now so that you can talk and arrive at a decision. Kate, sweetheart. I want you to know that I'll support you no matter what you decide."

"Thanks, Daddy," Kate said softly, feeling comforted by her father’s reassurance.

Laura didn’t say anything but Kate could see the silent plea in her mother’s eyes as she followed her husband out of the living room.

When they were finally alone, Tony looked at Kate and smiled warmly at her.

“It would be nice for me to live the rest of my life with you beside me,” Tony said tenderly. “But it would be nicer if you’re truly happy, even if that happiness means you refuse to marry me.”

“You don’t even know me. What does it matter to you if I’m happy or not?” Kate asked him in annoyance.

“Because something as precious as growing a life inside of you shouldn’t be a source of misery,” Tony explained softly. “This should be a season of joy for you and your entire family, but instead, we are here trying to do some damage control because of a townful of ignorant people.”

Kate chuckled before she could stop herself. Tony was right. The vast majority of Sommerville’s population was downright ignorant.

There was nothing left to say. Kate’s mind was made up. She sat up straighter in her chair and adjusted her shapeless dress around her knees.

“I believe you have a question to ask me,” she said with a straight face.

Tony looked relieved. He got up from his seat and approached Kate. When he got in front of her, he lowered himself to one knee and extended his right hand to her, as if he was making a request.

“Will you marry me, Kate Harrison?” He asked with a hopeful smile on his face.

Kate placed her left hand in Tony’s extended hand and said, “Yes, Anthony DaCosta. I will

marry you.”

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    “You’re getting married?” Chris asked incredulously on the phone.“Yes, that’s what I said,” Kate answered blandly.“Wow… I didn’t know you were into him that much,” Chris said with disappointment. “I mean I know you guys have been together for like a year now, but I never thought you’d actually marry him.”“What are you talking about?” Kate asked him.“I’m talking about Kevin,” Chris explained. “Come on, Kate. I’m trying to rain on his parade, but of all the these you could have chosen to spend the rest of your life with, you chose him?”“Well, news flash, big brother. I’m not marrying Kevin,” Kate announced.“You’re not? So who are you marrying?” Chris asked in confusion.“Tony DaCosta. He’s a friend of the family,” Kate said vaguely.“I don&

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Wedding

    The wedding day finally came and the ceremony was to begin at 6 p.m. Wendy showed up as soon as she closed from work. She was dressed in a beige silk dress similar to Kate’s.As Kate expected, her mother complained about her choice of wedding dress, even though it had a high neck and stopped at her ankles. Kate’s belly hadn’t started bulging yet, but her bosom had doubled in size. She was grateful for the increase because she was naturally deficient in that area.While Wendy was putting the finishing touches to Kate’s makeup, someone knocked on her bedroom door.“May I come in?” Chris asked from outside.“Oh, god,” Kate groaned. She’d been dreading this confrontation for days.“Do you want me to send him away?” Wendy asked her.“No, let him in,” said Kate wearily. “Let’s get this over and done with.”“Look, don’t let your brothe

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Farewell

    After dinner, Chris and John helped Kate carry her bags into Tony’s rental Chevy truck. They’d already taken photos together with Laura’s mobile phone, thanks to Wendy the unofficial photographer.When it was time to head to the airport, Kate joined Tony in the back seat of the truck while Charles sat on the passenger side beside the driver. Her parents and Wendy followed them in their car, while Chris and his family returned to their home in Prime Valley.“This feels surreal, doesn’t it?” Tony said conversationally.“It does,” Kate agreed. She felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension about this next phase of her wild adventure.“I know this might sound a bit strange, but I admire your bravery,” said Tony.Kate chuckled softly and said, “I’m not sure bravery is the right word to describe what I’ve just done. I don’t quite have a word for it yet, but it surely i

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  • The Billionaire I Married   Chicago

    To Kate’s surprise, instead of heading to the check-in counter, she found herself following the men through another exit toward the hangar.“Where are we going?” She asked Tony suspiciously.“To the hangar to board the jet,” Tony answered casually.“The jet? What jet?” Kate asked in confusion.“My jet,” Tony answered calmly.Kate was stunned. They reached the hangar and behold, a white Cessna Citation M2 jet with ‘DaCosta’ written on it was right there, waiting for them. The porter loaded their bags in the jet and left.A pretty blond lady who was the air hostess was waiting at the foot of the steps to welcome them. Charles went ahead of Tony and Kate.“Shall we?” Tony asked Kate softly.She simply nodded and let Tony escort her into the aircraft.“Good evening, Mr DaCosta. Welcome on board,” the air hostess greeted him with a wide

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Confrontation

    Kate couldn’t be bothered to admire the opulent mansion as Tony led her upstairs to his quarter. Her mind was troubled by the disturbing scene that had just played out downstairs.Tony led her into a huge suite that was furnished like a Renaissance palace with gold-framed furniture, large oil paintings on the walls, and green plants in big flower pots around the room. There was also an ornate fireplace which gave the room a true vintage vibe.An arched entryway led to the bedroom where a king-sized bed stood. There was a dressing table on one side of the bedroom and a walk-in closet on the other.“This is my suite,” Tony informed Kate calmly. “But it will be your bedroom from now on. I’ll ask a maid or two to clear out my things from here and move them to Agne’s room over there.”He pointed at a door beside the fireplace. Kate had thought that the door led to the bathroom.“Who is Agnes?” She as

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Resistance

    Kate wasted no time in unzipping one of her bags and bringing out her most comfy pajama set and her toothbrush. She went into the bathroom and found herself in the most luxurious bathroom she’d ever seen.Everything here was done in white and gold. The shower stall with its marble tiles, was big enough to fit four people comfortably. The boat-shaped bathtub looked like a mini swimming pool.“I could live in here,” Kate laughed to herself.After a deliciously relaxing hot shower and brushing her teeth, Kate got dressed and returned to the bedroom. She was so exhausted that as soon as she got on the extremely comfortable bed, she fell asleep.She was woken by the sound of her phone ringing. It was morning already and she couldn’t figure out where her blasted phone was ringing from.Kate dragged herself out of bed and traced the shrill sound to her purse which she’d carelessly tossed on the ottoman at the foot of the bed

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  • The Billionaire I Married   Family Meeting

    As soon as Kate got to her assigned suite, she heard a knock from Agnes’ bedroom door. She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound, but then she remembered that Tony had spent the night there.“Come in,” she said, hearing Tony unlock the door.When he showed up, he was wearing a black silk dressing robe over pastel-colored pajamas and soft slippers similar to the one Kate was wearing. He noticed her distress immediately and hurried towards her.“What is it, Kate? Are you alright? Did something happen? Is the baby fine?” Tony asked almost breathlessly.“Everything is not fine,” Kate confessed on the verge of tears. “And the baby is the reason why I’m in this situation, so I don’t care if it’s fine or not!”“Please, don’t say that,” Tony told her tenderly. “What happened.”“I woke up very hungry, so I decided to go downstairs and grab

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Showdown

    While Tony showered in the bathroom, Kate continued eating and wondered why Tony wasn’t willing to tell her more about Agnes. Maybe he hadn’t gotten over her death as he claimed in Sommerville.After finishing her sandwich, Kate drank the orange juice that came with the meal in three gulps. She felt full and didn’t think she needed to participate in the family breakfast meeting.Maybe she should tell Tony that she didn’t feel so good so that he’d let her stay up here while he dined with his kids.“You’re not a coward,” Kate whispered to herself. She couldn’t hide in here forever.Tony emerged from the bedroom dressed in a mint sweatshirt and joggers combination with a pair of white sneakers. This casual outfit made him look young and attractive, and Kate was surprised that she actually found him appealing.“How do I look?” Tony asked her playfully.“Youthful,” Kate said immediately and bit her lip in regret. She hoped Tony didn’t feel insult

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  • The Billionaire I Married   The Thanksgiving

    That dinner marked a significant turning point in their relationship as a family. They had breakfast and dinner together as often as possible and spent quality time with each other whenever they could.Athena spoiled Nathan with all kinds of posh toys, while Adonis coached the baby on how to take his first steps at the age of ten months.When the Thanksgiving season rolled in, they packed up and traveled to Brazil to spend it with the family matriarch.Adele DaCosta was beyond surprised when she saw them when they arrived in the plush DaCosta residence in Cidade-ilha. She was especially shocked to see how friendly Athena and Adonis were with Kate, because she’d been told about how much they despised her not too long ago.“How did you make this happen?” Adele asked Tony discreetly in Portuguese as they made their way into the family home.“I didn’t do anything, she did,” Tony responded with a knowing smile. &ldquo

  • The Billionaire I Married   The Miracle

    The result of Tony’s brain mapping test came in the following week as scheduled. He was so afraid to open the envelope, so he went to meet Kate in the game room where she and Nanny Ella were playing with Nathan.As soon as Nathan saw Tony, he crawled on his hand and knees toward his father, giggling happily.Tony scooped up the baby and blew raspberries on his neck. Nathan laughed excitedly, flailing his arms and legs as he did.“My little pumpkin,” Tony gushed and kissed Nathan. “What have you been up to, my boy?”Nathan responded in baby talk, displaying one tiny white tooth in his lower gum. He tried to grab at the envelope in Tony’s hand but Tony wouldn’t let him.“What’s that?” Kate asked Tony.“It’s the test result,” he answered.Kate’s eyes widened. “What does it say?” She asked.“I don’t know. I haven’t look

  • The Billionaire I Married   Healing

    Kate spent the night beside Tony in the hospital, while Charles, Adonis, and Athena returned to the DaCosta mansion. They explained the evening’s incident as a robbery attempt gone wrong.The police grilled the caterers and the rest of the vendors contracted for the party to find out how Marshall managed to get himself employed for the gig. They denied ever meeting Marshall or employing him for the job.Investigations later revealed that he’d found out about the party from Penelope whom he’d reached out to shortly after Agne’s remembrance. He’d told her that he’d been out of the country for years but was back now, and would love to see Agne’s grave and pay his last respects.Penelope, a hopeless romantic, decided to help Marshall find closure by telling him to show up to the DaCosta residence as a waiter. He’d somehow managed to slip in with the caterers and even worked the party, while bidding his time to strike.

  • The Billionaire I Married   Closure

    As Tony had predicted, his injury wasn’t very serious. He was wheeled into surgery to have the bullet removed before getting transferred to a private ward to recover.When Kate and the others piled into his room to see him, he was very coherent and in high spirits.“Any news on that lunatic that tried to kill me?” He asked Charles.“The police have him cuffed to his bed,” Charles responded. “Once he’s discharged, he’ll be hauled off to jail where he belongs. Kidnap, attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm would keep him there for a long time.”“Is anyone finally going to tell me who that man is?” Athena asked.Tony exchanged a worried glance with Charles before looking at Adonis who looked dazed. Kate was sitting beside Tony on his bed with his fingers intertwined with hers.“Well?” Athena demanded.Tony sighed wearily and said, “I wo

  • The Billionaire I Married   Day of Reckoning

    Coming out of the woods was like stepping into another dimension. Kate’s family and the rest of the party guests were milling around behind a police barricade.When they saw two gurneys being carried to the waiting ambulances with Tony on one of them, everyone went into a frenzy. Athena broke through the barricade and ran towards her father.“Daddy, are you OK?” She screamed frantically. “What happened? You’re bleeding. We heard gunshots. Who is that man?”“It’s alright, darling. I’m fine,” Tony assured her but his voice came out slurred.“But what happened? What were you all doing in the woods?” Athena demanded.“Give him a break, Athena. I’ll explain everything to you later,” Adonis said sharply.She glared at him and asked, “What the hell happened?”While that exchange was going on, Kate was getting hugged by her family who wanted

  • The Billionaire I Married   Pandemonium

    As Marshall continued his walk toward the chapel door, Kate crept out of her hiding place while still crouching. He heard her coming and fired in her direction.The bullet whizzed past Kate and shattered the middle of the wooded pillar that had been her hideout only seconds ago. The next thing she heard was a grunt as Tony launched himself at Marshall and they both landed on the floor.A fierce wrestling match ensued in the dark. Marshall fired his pistol again and the bullet punctured a hole in the chapel roof. In the tussle, Tony somehow managed to knock the gun out of his opponent’s hand.“You came back for a rematch, didn’t you?” Tony asked and planted his fist in Marshall’s cheek.“You bastard!” Marshall growled and kneed Tony’s belly, knocking the wind out of him.“Dad!” Adonis yelled from outside.“Hit the lights,” Tony yelled back. Adonis stepped into the chapel and switched on the lights.The chapel was immediately flooded wi

  • The Billionaire I Married   The Kidnap

    With shivering limbs, Kate walked toward the woods ahead of her captor. They could hear the distant sound of the stringed quartet playing in the sunroom.Kate wondered how long it would take for Tony and the others to notice her prolonged absence. She hoped it would be soon, before this crazy man killed her for a crime she didn’t commit.“Walk faster,” he snarled at her from behind.“Where exactly are we going?” Kate asked him without looking back.“To Agnes’ gravesite,” Marshall responded. “I learned that it is located behind the small chapel that her hypocrite of a husband built in her honor. What a stupid clown he is.”“How did you know about the chapel?” Kate wondered.Marshall snickered. “I know a lot of things about the DaCostas. I’ve had over two decades to keep tabs on them.”Kate didn’t know if this conversation would be useful eve

  • The Billionaire I Married   The After Party

    As a treat to their special guests, Kate and Tony organized a more intimate party in the sunroom. It was cleverly lit with accent lights that looked like big fireflies.The Huckleys, the Wilcoxes, Kate’s family, Adonis and Athena along with their plus ones, and few of Tony’s close friends made the cut. Penelope and her clique of friends had since left with the rest of the other guests.“Thank you all for agreeing to spend this evening with me and my lovely wife,” Tony addressed everyone. “We have our guest house prepped and ready for anyone who choses to sleep over. I promise, you’ll find your suites very comfortable and refreshing.”“I can attest to that,” said Kate’s dad and everyone laughed.The party kicked off with exotic finger foods, cocktails and champagne, while a string quartet played some soulful music for some of the guests to waltz to.Kate and Tony joined in the waltz too. Ou

  • The Billionaire I Married   The Love Triangle

    The party was already in full swing when the Kate returned. Once Tony spotted her, he hurried to her side with a questioning look in his eyes.“Who was it?” He asked her.“Kevin,” Kate responded shortly. “He tried to blackmail me and wring some money out of me.”Tony became instantly furious. “How dare he come here? What on earth gave him the courage to come to our home?”Kate put a hand on Tony’s arm to calm him. “It’s alright, my love. He’s gone. I warned him not to do anything stupid or else I would have him arrested and charged accordingly.”Tony wasn’t satisfied with that response. “How did he know to show up today? Do you think it was a coincidence that he just happened to show up here tonight?”“Maybe not,” Kate responded speculatively. Her eyes were already scanning the crowd to find the likely culprit who might be responsible

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