Chapter 4

Kaylie was nervous. A part of her mind warned her, telling her she had made a wrong decision that would lead to her destruction, and another part that didn’t think twice before signing the agreement kept pushing her. However, it was too late to have a second thought- she was already in a car sent by the Garcia to pick her up.

She was on her way to a blind date with an heir of a conglomerate family who had once been the talk of the city, every lady Mr. Perfect, but suddenly vanished for years with no explanation for the public. And now, she was on her way to meet a stranger who, whether or not she wanted to change her mind, would become her husband in less than a week.

Knowing they were getting closer to the venue at the roll of the tyre, Kaylie’s heart started pounding. She was fidgeting because the timid part of her mind seemed to have taken over.

She held the left part of her chest and half-closed her eyes as she discharged a short, yet deep, breath. “Stay calm, Kaylie,” she told herself in a whisper. “You got to save Jaxon. You can’t go back. Grandpa is the only person you have. Okay?”

As the car turned into a grand entrance, Kaylie’s anxiety spiked. The driveway was lined with tall trees and immaculately manicured hedges, leading up to a stunning mansion that seemed to shimmer in the fading light.

The car stopped before the entrance, and a liveried chauffeur opened Kaylie’s door. “Welcome, Miss Kaylie,” he said, offering his hand to assist her out of the car.

Kaylie’s eyes widened as she stepped out onto the driveway. A red carpet stretched out before her, leading to the entrance of the mansion. Two smartly dressed staff members stood at attention, flanking the doorway.

“Good evening, Miss Kaylie,” one of them said, bowing slightly. “We’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”

Kaylie’s nerves dissipated as she was ushered into the mansion. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and lavish furnishings.

She was led to a beautifully appointed lounge, where a champagne flute and a delicate canape awaited her. Kaylie's eyes scanned the room, taking in the elegant décor and the stunning view of the gardens beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Have your seat, ma.” The waitress said. She drew the chair backward a little and Kaylie sat.

“Thanks.” Kaylie uttered. Her head slightly bent a little.

The waitress pointed to the table. “A water, champagne, and appetizer,” she mentioned, pointing to them one after the other. “What would you like to eat so I can order it?”

“According to the chairlady, serve her whatever she wants and make sure she’s comfortable.” She relayed Sadie, the chairwoman of the Garcia family, message.

Kaylie wore a smile. “I’m fine. If I need anything, I’ll let you know. I’m fine for now.”

The maid brightened her smile. “Okay, ma,” she agreed. “But please, ma, the chairwoman said you mustn’t leave without eating, or all of us on duty would be punished.”

Kaylie said and joggled her head.

“Let me serve you water for refreshment, then.” The maid offered and since Kaylie said nothing, she took that as a go-ahead, so she stepped forward and filled a cup with water.

“Thanks,” Kaylie said, smiling, and the maid curtsied her head before turning around to walk away, but Kaylie’s question stopped her.

“Where is he? Gage?” Kaylie asked and before the maid could give a response, she added, “why isn’t he here yet?”

The maid shook her head. “I’m not sure why he isn’t here yet, but he will be here soon.” She answered in simplicity.

Kaylie nodded. She had another question in her mind but didn’t know if the maid would want to give a response, so she kept it to herself and watched her walk away.

A few moments later.

*

“What’s taking him so long?” Kaylie thought to herself. It’s getting close to an hour since she had been sitting, waiting for Gage to arrive.

She checked the time every second, switching between using her phone and her wristwatch and then looking at the entrance the next second, but there was still nothing.

“Did he hate me already? Would he even come? Is he against this marriage?”

She blew a heavy air through her mouth. She needed to calm herself. After all, she couldn’t stand and leave- she had to wait until he arrived. She picked up the water, and with the cup touching her mouth, she heard the entrance door open.

Her eyes widened and for a second, her hand froze. She swallowed the water in her mouth, and with the cup still on her lips, she slowly turned her neck, and immediately as her gaze landed on the figure, who was sitting in a wheelchair with a guy pushing him towards her direction, the water splashed from her mouth.

“What?!” She couldn’t help but raise her voice and she kept staring with enlarged eyes and her mouth widely kept ajar until the guy moved closer.

They pushed the guy to the other side of the table, and the guard bowed his head before he walked away.

Kaylie still couldn’t close her eyes and mouth, yet she couldn’t say a word, but there were a lot of questions running through her mind. At first, she doubted it wasn’t the same Gage who was entering, but she figured out it was him immediately as they got closer.

His face didn’t change. He was as stunning as he used to be. But his feet. What happened to them? Why was he sitting in a wheelchair? What happened to him?

There were a lot of questions in her mind, but she didn’t want to say them out.

After watching Kaylie for a minute, expecting her to say her mouth, but she didn’t, Gage cleared his throat and broke the silence. “Will you keep staring and say nothing?”

“Hun!” Kaylie’s eyebrows raised a little and his question instantly got her out of her thoughts. She took her eyes off him and stared downward.

“Why are you staring at me in that manner? Have you never seen someone in a wheelchair before? Why are you shocked? Isn’t this what you expected? Don’t you have anything to say? Will you keep staring?” Gage threw some questions he already had in mind, hoping it would keep Kaylie dumbfounded.

Kaylie’s eyes slammed shut, surprised, and she stared at him in the eyes, but couldn’t give a response.

“Why? Can’t you say anything?” He questioned and without giving her a space to speak, he added, “You received what you didn’t expect, right?”

“What… what do you mean?” Kaylie’s voice stammered. She understood what he was saying, but how could she say it out?

Gage scoffed. “What am I talking about?” He asked and chuckled. His voice was low, yet harsh, showing disinterest in Kaylie already. “You’re asking what I mean as if you don’t understand,”

He raised his eyebrows, saying, “don’t play smart or act ignorant. Both are annoying to me. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

Kaylie stared downward. She had figured out Gage didn’t seem to want the marriage. And probably was there because he had no option so he wanted to cause trouble and put the blame on her, but she wouldn’t give him that chance. She was there for a purpose. She was there to avoid a problem and wouldn’t fall into another one.

She raised her gaze and exhaled softly to calm herself so she could speak with a cool voice. “Good day, Gage,” she greeted and wore a smile, introducing, “I’m Kaylie.”

Gage blew a heavy air through his mouth and joggled his head. Kaylie wasn’t giving the energy he expected, and it pissed him off. “Spare me the introduction. If I wanted to know your name, I would ask,”

He paused and sighed before raising his brows and looked into her eyes, throwing a question. “Why are you so desperate?”

Kaylie furrowed her face. “Me? Desperate?” She repeated in a questioning manner. That statement made her mind boil with anger, but she could still control it. She grinned lightly and responded calmly. “I am not desperate.”

“Then what are you doing?” He asked, his voice getting high after every second. He expected Kaylie would stand up and raise her voice at him, but she didn’t, so he added, “if you aren’t desperate, then what’s this call?”

Kaylie breathed out and tinted her lips with a smile. She didn’t bother to give a quick response and calmed herself until a proper one arrived in her mind. “Is desperation your definition of following the proper procedures?”

“We’re here for a date. What should come first is a greeting and maybe an apology for your lateness; if it’s not too much for you to say. And even if you don’t wish to, you can start with an introduction. But you skipped all that?” She taunted.

Gage joggled his head. “Yes. I did, and shouldn’t you figure out I don’t want to be here? I was rude yet, you turned a blind eye? Shouldn’t you stand up and leave already if you aren’t desperate?” He poured out.

“It’s my eyes, not yours, so I can turn it in any direction I want,” she savaged. She picked up the drink and sipped it. “if you don’t want to be here, you shouldn’t have come. But since you are, act properly. If you don’t want to take your responsibility, I’ll add it to mine. Just stop being an ingrate.”

Gage ground his teeth. “I hate your gut.” He splats out.

Kaylie placed the water on the table and scoffed. She boldly raised her gaze and looked him in the eyes. “I never said I like yours either.” She uttered, setting a trap for him with her words until he would get angry and walk out.

She paused for a second and exhaled softly. “Gage, why don’t you stay calm? Stop stressing yourself and act with your cool face?” She proposed. “Act like a responsible guy you should be. Being rude to me won’t solve the problem, finding a solution is the way. I guess.”

Gage sighed and licked his lips to calm himself. “What are you talking about?” He questioned, and with a raised voice, he added, “don’t trick me into believing you’re cool. You want to convince me to take you, don’t you?”

“Garcia family is wealthy and when the offer to marry their heir came, you saw it as a breakthrough and grabbed it…” he accused. “Your frog wants to sit on a rock without knowing its temperature. Do you think it’s that easy? Hun?”

Kaylie withered her face, confused. “What are you talking about?” She asked.

Gage banged his fist on the table. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about!” He yelled.

He licked the left side of his lower lips and smiled discreetly before speaking with a lowered voice. “The guy that entered wasn’t the type you were expecting? How can I be in a wheelchair? Wasn’t that the first thing that popped into your mind?”

Kaylie nodded. She saw no reason to keep it to herself anymore, so she admitted it. “Yes. It was.”

Gage gritted his teeth. “I. Hate. Your. Gut.” He let out, pausing after every word.

Kaylie shrugged. “You said it earlier, and it’s fine with me. It’s normal you hate my gut. I don’t like yours either. So that’s even.” She talked back at him.

Gage balled his hands into a fist. “Don't you get it? I don't want to be here.”

She lengthened her hands beside her, her shoulder elevated to the level of her neck. “Me neither.”

“Then are you here?” He asked.

“Because I've got no other option,” she answered in simplicity, adding, “it's my only chance to save my most precious human.”

“Lady, tell me what you want. I'll do anything to escape this marriage. I don't want it.” He expressed. 

“Then why are you here?” She asked.

He raised his brows. “Just like you, I've got no other options,” he informed. “But for me, it's not my only chance to survive. I've no one to save but myself.”

“Why don't you want the marriage?” Kaylie interrogated.

His eyes reddened, and he slammed the table. “Because the person who proposed it wants to use it against me. It's the only weapon she could use against me!” He voiced out.

“Decline the marriage. Just decline it and we'll be done here. Tell them you've no interest. That you don't want me. I'm too toxic for you.” He suggested.

Kaylie shook her head. “No.” She opposed it.

“Why?” He queried. His eyes widened in a questioning manner. “Why don't you want to decline? Is money your problem or what? What exactly do you want?”

“Declining the marriage isn't the problem, but I can't or I'll regret it. I've to endure even if you're truly toxic to me.” Kaylie poured out.

Gage stared downward and banged his fist on the thighs. “I hate this. I hate this!” 

“Same here! Same!” She said, mimicking his tone.

She stood on her feet and crossed her hands over her chest, slowly taking her step, walking to his side. “Gage, I don't know what you've been through or are currently going through, but there's one word for it. Pain,” she said in a cool, appeasing voice so he would calm and listen to her.

“I also have my pains and even if we don't have other things in common, that alone has its outcome already. With the way you talk, I guess revenge is what you want.”

His last line made him raise his head, and he looked at her face. “Hun!” He exclaimed. “How… how did you know that?!”

“Because it's the same thing I've longed for as well…” she said.

As she arrived at his front, she loosened her hands from her chest. “Gage, isn't the perfect moment to get your revenge on what you're waiting for?”

He looked at her face again, shocked, but he couldn't say anything.

She bent before him and placed her hands on his thighs. “Why can't the moment be now? Hun?” She asked a question. “Gage, is joining hands to make this marriage the perfect instrument for our revenge a sin?”

She held his hands and locked eyes with him. “Let's make a deal.” She proposed.

He furrowed his face. “What deal?”