005: A Marriage for Two (II)

A marriage for business?

The words revolved around her mind, the voice of the old man echoing in her ears. 

Her father married her mother just so he could save his company? The more she thought about it, the more difficult it was starting for her to wrap her head around it. 

"Dad?" A small whisper left her lips, her eyes trailing across the table to meet his own. "You married Mom for the same reason grandfather wants me to marry someone." She managed to force the words out, but it wasn't a question. To say that she was shook down right to her core wouldn't be an understatement. 

Based on what she knew, or what she saw during her childhood, her parents clearly married for love. Now that it was revealed to her that it wasn't the case, she didn't know what to make out of her memories. 

"That's not it." 

Ayla saw him shaking his head before he continued.  

"She was someone who belonged to one of the four big families of the city. There's no denying of it, but I didn't marry your mother based on how much benefit it was going to bring me or the company. I loved her. I truly loved her, Ayla. And, she loved me too." His voice sounded distant. 

Ayla could feel the longing in his voice. It wasn't hard for her to tell that he was missing her mother. She reached out to grab his hands which were resting on the table, wanting to make him feel better. She wanted to console him, but lacked words.

"He's telling you the truth." Her grandfather spoke up. "They did love each other, but that's beside the point. What I am trying to make him understand is that their love eventually became deeper when they had you. That's what a marriage does. It will do the same for you, Ayla." He took a small pause, his weary eyes jumping from his son to his granddaughter as he waited for either of them to say anything. 

"I have said it before, and I am saying this again. Ayla is not going through any of this." Mathew shook his head, putting his foot down. "More so, you are saying it as if the Atkinsons are going to be completely fine with this. Do you even know who you are talking about?" He frowned. 

The smallest thought of entertaining the old man's idea was enough to irk him. Mathew looked up to meet his eyes and continued.

"If Lawrences are amongst the four big families of Los Angeles, they are without a doubt at the top. Why would they even want their young master to marry into a family whose business is at the brink of collapsing?" 

Mathew was expecting his father to take a step back after he had laid down some facts before him. But the old man was too stubborn to let things be and leave without having the final say in the matter. 

"You think I haven't thought of it all before coming here?" He rolled his back at his own son. "I would never let Ayla go through the humiliation of rejection, son. I may not have been the greatest grandfather one could ask for, but I am not that despicable either." He scoffed.

"What are you trying to say here?" His words left Mathew a little at loss. 

"The old man of the family wants to see his grandson getting married before his time comes. There's no way he would settle for anyone less than the four founding families. That leaves like only two possible candidates: Ayla and Nova Hildegard. From what I managed to gather, he's not a fan of the latter because she is known to be involved in a couple of scandals. Also, there's no way he'll let a model become the Young Mistress of the household." He brought himself to a small pause and drew in a sharp breath. 

"There's one more thing. I know the grumpy old man from college. He's a man of culture and knows how to keep up to his words. He won't say no to me." There were small flickers of proudness in his tone. He sounded sure of his words. 

"Grandpa?" Ayla, who has been quiet all this time, spoke up after listening to everything from the sidelines. "If I say yes to his arrangement, do you promise me that nothing bad is going to happen to Dad's company?" Her words quivered through her trembling lips. 

"Ayla, don't you dare!" A warning left her father's lips that seemed to have no effect on her. 

"Dad, please. Let me at least talk." She pleaded to him through her eyes. It wasn't easy for her to come to a decision. Neither was it easy for her to bring herself to even think about it. But, she knew better. She knew that she had to make a choice; a choice which was going to affect her father in one way or another. 

"I give you my word, my child." The old man gave her a small nod in response. "But don't think even for a minute that I am forcing you here. I only want what's best for the two of you." He smiled at her. 

"The family's a little uptight, but they are good people. Claude has never been known to get into anything from what I know. He's a good guy." He added in a low tone. The traces of authority were long gone from his voice. 

"You can continue with your studies even after your marriage if that's what you want to. Or, start a family of your own with him. It will be your choice. If time is what you want to think over it, then take it. I'll give you a day. Just let me know about your final decision before the clock strikes midnight tomorrow." He reached out to pat the top of her head before getting up on his feet. 

Ayla watched him leave the dining hall while her thoughts went awry.