CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Damn! This old man is at it again," Morris muttered under his breath, the veins on his forehead bulging as his face flushed red with anger. He immediately stood up, but Amaya grabbed his hand tightly.

"Calm down," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "People are watching."

Meanwhile, Jeffery kept his composure, masking his shock behind a calm, unreadable face. Inside, though, he was boiling, a lot was going through his mind

Grandpa Lu continued, "We will communicate the wedding details to you soon." he flashed a quick smile.

Anita looked as if she'd just been crowned queen. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her smile stretched so wide it almost hurt. This announcement had taken her by surprise, but it was the surprise she had always dreamed of.

Guests started congratulating Jeffery and Anita. Jeffery kept his cool, offering polite smiles but deep down, he wanted to leave the party already.

"Now, let the birthday celebrations begin! Eat and be merry!" Grandpa Lu declared, dropping the mic as he joined the merry.

Morris squeezed Amaya’s hand. "My emotions are under control, trust me," he said before stalking towards his father, who was busy greeting guests.

"Can I have a word with you? Privately," Morris said.

"Why now, son? I have to entertain my guests. Can't you read the room?" Grandpa Lu replied.

Morris insisted, this time adding a pleading "please."

Reluctantly, Grandpa Lu followed him a few steps away from the main gathering.

"Now you have my attention. What is it?"

"Father, you know how Jeff would react to this. Why can't you let him make his own decisions? Must you always play puppet master with our lives?" Morris ranted.

Grandpa Lu gave him a long, assessing look before turning his gaze forward.

"I didn't build the Lu Empire by making decisions based on emotions. Marriage is a strategic alliance, the best kind of tidings."

Morris exhaled sharply, barely believing he was hearing this again.

"Please, Father, let Jeffery make his own choice. He's an adult for crying out loud!" His voice unintentionally rose.

Grandpa Lu shot him a stern look.

"Please," Morris said again, this time more like a desperate plea.

"This is not your decision to make, son. You took your mother's weak heart. I won't allow you to infect my grandson with the same disease. A true Lu doesn't stick to emotions," he said coldly, tapping Morris lightly on the shoulder before turning back.

Just as Grandpa Lu was about to melt back into the crowd, Morris's voice stopped him cold.

"You won't win this time. That's a promise."

Grandpa Lu smirked over his shoulder. "I'd love to see you try, son."

With that, he returned to the party.

*****************************

Later that night, the Lu estate fell into uneasy silence. Grandpa Lu, as always, slept with the lights on, an old habit he developed from childhood.

Jeffery sat stiffly on a couch in Grandpa Lu’s room, his eyes sharp and bright in the half-light, revealing he hadn't slept a wink.

When Grandpa Lu woke up in the morning  and saw a shadowy figure sitting silently, he yelped.

"Goodness! Do you want to give your old man a panic attack?!"

"Good morning, Grandpa. I needed to be the first person you see this morning. Keeps your mind sharper," Jeffery said, handing him a cup of coffee.

Grandpa Lu sniffed it suspiciously before sipping. "No sugar, less milk. Just how I like it."

He narrowed his eyes at Jeffery. "Why are you up so early? Did you even sleep? And why are you still in your suit?"

"Forget my appearance, Grandpa. It's temporary," Jeffery said. "I needed you to be sober. You had too much to drink last night."

Grandpa Lu huffed. "You brat! I had only one glass of champagne."

"You were drunk," Jeffery said without mincing wordst. "That's the only logical explanation for the announcement you made."

Grandpa Lu grumbled, opening the windows to let in the fresh morning sunlight.

"It's a good day," he muttered while sipping his coffee.

"You still make the best coffee, son. Anita is lucky to have you as her husband."

The word "husband" made Jeffery’s fist clench involuntarily.

He stood up abruptly. "Grandfather, I'm not joking. Fix your mess."

“You won’t make such an important decision for me

Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the room.

***************

On the staircase, Morris intercepted him.

"Son, can I talk to you for a few minutes? Please," he said, following him to his room.

"I know we haven't had the best relationship over the years," Morris began, voice shaky, "but I still love you, son. Always have."

"Isn't it too early for this?" Jeffery asked coldly.

"Listen to me. You don't have to go through with this marriage if you don't want to. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did."

Jeffery’s eyes narrowed. "By mistakes, you mean Mom?"

Morris hesitated, guilt flashing across his features.

Jeffery smiled bitterly. "Don't worry. I won’t make the same mistakes. I’ll never have two families, hurting one over another."

With that, he walked out, leaving Morris standing there, drowning in regret.

*********************

Jeffery drove like a man possessed toward his penthouse. As soon as he arrived, he threw his bag across the room.

"That old man is getting on my last nerve!"

Fred, who had been waiting for him, stood up. "The news isn’t widespread yet. We still have time to clear up the mess."

Jeffery went straight to the bar, pouring himself a glass of whiskey and downing it in one gulp.

"Easy, you’ll burn your throat," Fred warned.

"I've been burning for years," Jeffery muttered. "Maybe it's time to quench the fire."

Fred sighed heavily. "Your family saved me when I had nothing. When my mom left my dad and my dad became useless, they took me in. They made me the man I am today."

Jeffery’s silence was deafening.

"We can still sort this out."

Jeffery glanced at him. "Fred, get the jet ready. I’m flying to New York in a few hours."

Fred nodded. "If it’ll make you feel better, I'll arrange everything."

************************

Meanwhile, in New York, Angelie sat outside, watching the birds fly happily above the sky, like their owned it. The world around her felt so peaceful. If only her heart matched.

It had been a month since she arrived, and so far, the experience had been healing. Learning new cuisines, laughing with Flora, it all gave her small pockets of happiness.

She was lost in thought when Sonia and her group approached.

"Look who we have here, sitting all alone," Sonia sneered.

Angelie rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood.

"What do you want?"

"She's asking what I want, like she can offer me anything," Sonia cackled.

"Has anyone told you how ugly you are?" Sonia spat.

Angelie smiled sweetly. "Ugly enough to make you feel insecure, apparently. If I were pretty, you'd probably kill yourself."

The girls gasped. Sonia, in a fit of rage, grabbed Angelie’s hair.

"Let go, you bitch!" Angelie hissed.

"Or what?"

"Or the birds will feast on your bones, and your funeral won’t even be delayed a day more," A voice said from behind