Meeting with the Buckmans

Skylar

“I'm sorry Mrs. McLair, you can't see Mr. Buckman without an appointment,” the butler announced when we got to the Buckman Mansion.

After saying this, he was going to close the door. Today, we finally came to visit the Buckman mansion and my mom had told me to make sure I was on my best behavior, but we were turned away and didn't even get to meet Mr. Buckman.

But in the next second, the butler's movement stopped at the sight of the envelope my mother suddenly took out.

I had no idea what was in that envelope, and I couldn't even see what was so special about it, except for some special patterns and lacquer stamps with special totems. But I remembered that Mum had told me that with this envelope, I would definitely be able to marry into the Buckman family.

Seeing the butler's expression grow progressively more solemn since he received the envelope from my mother, I guessed she was right.

She was always right…so I guess she was right to let me marry a stranger.

Before long, I found myself seated in the opulent living room with my mother, my eyes drifting over the elaborate decorations and lavish furnishings that adorned the space. Every detail screamed wealth and power, and in that moment, I knew we had made it.

But before I could relax, my breath caught when I saw him. Descending the grand staircase was the once powerful Mr. Buckman, the legendary head of the Buckman family in the business world. Despite his age, he still carried himself with an undeniable strength and authority, his presence commanding the room.

I clenched my hands tightly in my lap, knowing this was the man I needed to win over. If he could support me, my life would be so much better, and most importantly, my father would be safe once I married into their family.

“Mr. Buckman, it's been so many years," my mother said with a respectful bow.

"Margaret,” he called out. “How have you been?" His voice was warm, but his gaze seemed to weigh everything around him.

"I've been well, sir. This is my daughter, Skylar. Skylar, this is Mr. Buckman," Mother introduced me gently.

I felt my nerves tightening in my chest, but I forced a smile. “Good day, Mr. Buckman."

I looked at him closely, feeling both drawn and unsure. His face was kind, surprisingly youthful for his age, with a gentle smile that somehow made me feel welcome. I smiled back, feeling a slight relief as he responded to the greeting and led us in.

After getting settled, Mother cleared her throat and, with a hesitant glance at me, then turned to Mr. Buckman.

“Mr. Buckman, my husband has been in the hospital for some time now. He was seriously injured in a car accident and is currently in a coma. His condition is critical, and he's been in the ICU, unable to respond. Without proper care, we fear he might not survive much longer."

"We've... we've tried everything else," my mother continued, her voice soft and hesitant. "And I know it's not easy to ask this, but we came here today to see if you still remembered the promise you made years ago.”

Mr. Buckman nodded. “Of course I do, Margaret. And I'm really sorry about your husband's condition.”

Mother nodded, then paused, her gaze flickering toward me with a mixture of reluctance and concern, as if this was the hardest thing she'd ever had to bring up.

"We... We only want what's best for our family. But with her father’s condition growing worse, we don’t know how much longer we have."

She hesitated again, struggling to find the right words. "If it’s possible, we’d be deeply grateful if you could help us..."

My eyes flickered to my mother, and I saw the worry in her expression. For a moment, Mr. Buckman didn’t say anything, his face unreadable as he processed her words.

Minutes passed, though they felt like hours. The silence seemed to stretch, and I held my breath, waiting for him to respond. My nerves felt unbearable as the room grew quiet. Just when I thought I might speak, he suddenly stood up.

“Skylar, the butler will show you around,” Mr. Buckman said, his voice calm but firm. “I need to have a word with your mother first.”

I nodded, unsure of what else to do, and followed the butler out of the room. As I walked through the grand halls, I couldn't help but think about my mother.

What could Mr. Buckman possibly want to say to her in private? Was it about me, about my father?

When I finally returned to the parlor where the butler had ushered me to, I found my mother sitting stiffly, her face composed but her eyes red, as though she’d been crying. Alarmed, I rushed to her side, lowering my voice.

“Mum, what happened? What did he say?”

She simply took my hand, squeezing it tightly as she shook her head, refusing to answer.

Just as I was about to press further, Mr. Buckman spoke. “Skylar, come with me to the study; I'll also like to speak with you alone.”

I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. Before following Mr. Buckman, I glanced at my mother one last time. She offered me a sad but reassuring smile, silently urging me forward.

Once inside the study, the atmosphere shifted. Mr Buckman’s sharp, commanding demeanor softened slightly as he gestured for me to sit across from him.

“Skylar,” he began. “I have gotten a general idea of you from your mother, and I must commend that your parents have raised you well. I couldn't be more welcome to have an excellent child like you as my granddaughter-in-law.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, “But tell me, aren’t you curious as to why your mother insisted on you marrying into our family when it’s clear we could cover your father’s medical expenses directly without the need for such an arrangement?”

Skylar stared at Mr. Buckman, her mind racing. She couldn’t understand how he had so easily seen through her. The Buckman family was wealthy, after all—surely they could help her family financially without requiring the marriage contract.

Mr. Buckman must have noticed the surprise on my face, as he smiled gently.

"Skylar, don't doubt your mother's love for you," he said, his voice calm. "There’s something unusual about your father's accident, though we haven’t figured it all out yet. Your mother is doing all this to protect you."

Before I could respond, he continued. "Our family is prepared to honor the promise and accept you as part of our family, to offer you the protection you need. However, I want to hear your thoughts on this. If you’re unwilling, we can think of another way."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "I’m not here to force anyone into marriage. A forced union rarely ends well. So, I ask you—do you agree to this arrangement?"

As I thought about everything that had happened in the past days—my father’s condition, my mother's struggles, the sacrifices they had made—I realized I had to do this, for their sake.

With a deep breath, I nodded, my voice steady as I said, "I’m willing.”

He nodded and offered me a kind smile before we continued our conversation, and I began to relax a bit. Just then, the butler came in and announced to Mr. Buckman.

“Sir, young Master Cole has arrived and he's downstairs.”

“Oh, that's good,” Mr. Buckman said, delighted as he turned to me. “Let me use this opportunity to introduce you to him.”

As we headed downstairs to see Cole Buckman, Mr. Buckman reassured me.

“Although my grandson looks very serious and cold, he is actually a very kind person,” Mr. Buckman said with a playful wink at me, then added, "And, I must say, he's very handsome too.”

I knew Mr. Buckman was teasing me on purpose, likely trying to ease my nerves. But as I thought about meeting my future husband, I couldn’t help but feel excited. I smiled softly, allowing myself to relax just a little.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw him.

Cole Buckman.

He was sitting in the living room, his cold eyes focused on the newspaper in his hands. His posture was relaxed, but there was no mistaking the icy aura surrounding him. He looked up, his gaze meeting mine.

“Ha! Skylar, meet my wonderful grandson, Cole. Cole, this is Skylar,” Mr. Buckman introduced proudly.

For a moment, everything went silent, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. He looked quite familiar….wait a minute! He was the one! The same man from that night!

I stood frozen, unsure of how to react. Was this the affinity and friendliness that Grandfather talked about?!”