Chapter 7

I couldn’t help but do some research about the woman who had proposed marriage to me herself. 

I’ve never seen any woman as confident as she was. Every woman I’ve ever come across was either after my money or my looks. 

This was one of the reasons I never showed up for most of the blind dates my grandmother had set me up with. But when my grandmother heard of Sophia Lancaster, she became obsessed with her.

“You need to marry her.” 

“What if she isn’t who you think she is?” I’ve always asked her. “What if this Sophia doesn’t like me?” 

“Give her a chance?” My grandmother will always say.

“We don’t even know what she looks like,” I had always replied. 

This was the truth because Sophia Lancaster had never shown herself to the public. I’ve only seen her father at private events, but not his daughter.

She doesn’t even have a picture on the internet, except when she was a little girl. That’s all the internet has of her.

“Marcus, have you gotten anything about her yet?” I asked while I got prepared for the Lancaster event. Her father had invited me for the occasion. 

Not because of anything, but he seems to want to introduce me to his daughter. 

“Yes,” Marcus bowed.

“She’s the Lancaster heir,” Marcus answered, giving me a picture of her.

“I knew something was really fascinating about her,” I said, staring at her pictures. 

“Marcus, cancel all the events we are having for today. I want to go and see my wife,” I smiled, and dashed out of the office.

“Where to?” Marcus smiled.

“Take me to Tom Ford,” I ordered the driver, signaling Marcus to get into the car.

“I can’t believe I gave her an invitation for this event,” I whispered as I bit my lower lip.

Marcus and I had been together for a year, and I know what he is capable of doing. I knew he was definitely going to find out who she was.

I never knew I would fall in love with her this much–and right now, I cannot wait to meet her tonight, when she will finally be revealing her identity to the world. 

“I’ve never seen you this happy about a woman. Ain’t you scared of her?” Marcus broke the silence.

“Why should I be?” I replied.

Marcus cleared his throat before saying, “She didn’t reveal her identity on time. Don’t you think she’s dangerous?”

“I’m sure she has her reasons. She looks like a very smart woman.”

“Remember that she just broke up with your employee. Do you think she can match with someone of your status?”

“C’mon, Marcus. The Lancaster is known to be trustworthy over the years. And they’ve never duped anyone. I don’t think she is someone—by the way. I want you to sack that idiot—Ethan,”

“Okay, boss,”

“And one last thing, make sure you keep your eyes on him,” I ordered.

“What about Elizabeth?” Marcus asked.

“We are here, sir,” the driver interrupted our conversation, before pulling over.

I heaved a sigh. Elizabeth is not someone I would like to meet again. But right now, I don’t even want to talk about her.

“Can we just go, Marcus?”

“Sorry, boss. I’ll get the door,” 

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

At last, evening has arrived, and I'm all set for the occasion.

“You look good,” Marcus complimented.

“Thanks,” I answered with a broad grin. 

Just as I was about to step out of the luxurious store, I suddenly remembered the ring Sophia had given to me the other time.

It’s nice, but I had promised to return it to her. Over the years, a man has been the one proposing to a lady, and not the other way round. 

“I should get a ring,” I thought out loud.

“What do you think, Marcus?”

“You want to propose to her again?” Marcus asked, surprised.

“Shouldn’t you give it much time? I mean–it’s just a fake marriage,” Marcus replied.

As much as I’m the CEO of Reid’s company. What many never knew was that I’m just an acting CEO on behalf of my grandmother.

She has refused to hand over everything to me. And also made me know that if I do not provide a great-grandchild for her through Sophia Lancaster, then she might as well hand over all she has to the orphanage home.

“And that’s why I must make it real. She’s my grandmother’s wish and happiness–”

“What about your happiness?”

I bit my lower lip before placing my hand on Marcus’s shoulders. “Listen, young man. That’s why I gave her an ultimatum of a year. If it doesn’t work, we can both go our separate ways. All I need from her is a child,” 

“Oh, great.” Marcus nodded.

“Shall we?” I stretched my hand forward, paid for the ring I would use to propose to Sophia, and left the store.

I already know what was going to happen at the Lancaster grand party today, but Sophia might think I was naive about it.

Just after she was called to the podium, I had carefully approached, but she had run off upon laying her eyes on me. 

I don’t know why she did that, but when she came back on stage and I was about to propose to her again, she went unconscious.

“Call 911!” I yelled at the security and quickly took her in my arms. 

“Sophia!” her father called after her as he took over the party. “I’ll take care of her. I promise,”

“Marcus, get the car,” I ordered. 

Thank the heavens there was a hospital nearby known for its professionalism. We quickly maneuvered our way in, and the nurse took over from there.

Sophia was burning up before we got there, as I watched the nurse take her off with the stretcher.

“Doc, is she going to be fine?”

“We’ll try our best,” was the only thing the doctor could say.

This whole thing is already getting out

of hand, making me have a second thought about this whole marriage thing.

Could Sophia be battling a terminal illness?