Chapter 3: Do you have a boyfriend? Let's give it a trial

Cecy took short steps trying to buy as much time as possible but despite that, she finally reached him. Her heart was filled with fear and panic.

"Why...why are you here? How did you know that I would be here?" She asked nervously. That's it her cover had been blown. It was a silly question as Zacky would find out anything that he wanted to but she still asked it.

"Don't worry about it, I'm only here to pick up don't worry," Zacky said with a smile.

"Ooh, I'll go get my bag," she said heaving a sigh of relief. As long as he was not here to kill her or revenge for lying to him she was okay with everything.

She picked up her bag and then walked toward him.

Zacky led her to his car and this time, he was the one driving. She walked around intending to take the back seat but he was fast enough.

"This is where you should be seating," he opened the passenger seat.

"It's not appropriate, I'm fine here," Cecy said softly. But Zacky didn't look like he was going to bulge anytime soon. She had no choice but to take the seat next to him.

"Why are you so scared of me? The other time in the club you were so bold that you..."

"I'm not scared of you," she replied quickly before he could finish his sentence. Zacky couldn't help but release a slight smirk.

"Ooh really?" He teased her.

"Where are we going to?" She asked seeing him take a different route.

"To see my grandmother, she wanted to meet you,"

Cecy could feel her palms and feet sweat. She wasn't ready for it no, she wasn't ready for anything. There was a long awkward silence but only she knew how chaotic her mind was.

"Should we pass by the house first? I'm not decent enough, is it okay if we visit her empty-handed?" She had never seen her grandparents so she didn't know how to act. But what she knew was that she was a good talker, especially with the elderly.

"It's okay, my grandmother won't mind," Zacky said softly. Cecy immediately felt envious. How could Barbara  leave such a nice man? She sneaked a glance at him and felt that Barbara  had made the wrong decision.

After an hour, Zacky drove into a large mansion. Four times larger than his current house. Cecy was once again amazed. Its structure was old but very exquisite.

"It's been here for many generations," Zacky said seeing her curiously look around. There was a beautiful garden beside the main house which was well taken care of.

"Let's go, everyone is waiting," he alighted from the car.

"Everyone? Who else is here?" She asked nervously.

Cecy alighted from the car and then followed Zacky taking light steps as she uttered a prayer. She wasn't religious but that was all she could do for now.

Cecy felt a lump in her throat as she approached her grandmother-in-law.

"Grandmother, I heard that you refused to eat again? Why are you throwing tantrums," Cecy stared at Zacky kneeling beside her grandmother.

"Hmmph, unfilial grandchild," her grandmother said ignoring her grandson.

"Look who I brought grandma," her grandmother's eyes lit up and then stared in the direction where Zacky was staring at.

"Come here, why are you standing so far away, move aside Zacky," she said smiling brightly. Cecy heaved a sigh of relief and all her worry immediately disappeared. She walked toward her and then kneeled down beside her.

"Grandma, my name is Barbara ," she said softly.

"What a beautiful child,"

"Grandma, you are pretty too, grandma you haven't eaten since morning right?"

"Yes, but how could you tell?"

"Ooh, don't worry I'm a student doctor I'm currently in my first year doing my Ph.D. but I'm quite experienced,"

"How old are you my dear?"

"I'll be turning twenty-three this year,"

Zacky's grandmother couldn't help but smile brightly. Zacky felt slightly relieved he had never seen her grandmother smile so brightly before.

"What a good child," she touched Cecy's cheeks lightly.

"Grandma, you must be hungry why don't I cook for you?"

"Can you cook?" Her eyes lit up.

"Yeah, I've been practicing but I rarely cook at home would you like to taste my food, Grandma?"

"Yes, Yes," she instantly agreed. Zacky stood aside watching Cecy warm up to her grandmother and instantly felt out of place.

"Are you sure?" Zacky asked.

Zacky leaned on the door casually watching Cecy move around swiftly. She had sent away all maids leaving her alone in the kitchen.

He turned to see her grandmother already on the dining table waiting patiently.

After a while, Zacky walked toward her.

"No, it's okay," she replied stirring the soup.

"Anything grandma is allergic to?" She asked after a while.

"You can stop pretending," Zacky cleared his throat and then said.

"What? Pretending? What are you talking about?" She asked feeling a bit shocked by it. Her heartbeat was extremely fast that Zacky could hear.

"You can lie but your heart says it all, I know you are not Barbara  I will forgive you if you can cure my grandmother. I will let bygones be bygones but so you know your sister is not an exception. She made a fool out of me,"

Cecy stopped what she was doing and then stared at Zacky.

"Thank you, I promise," she replied.

"What about grandmother? I already told her my name is Barbara  what should we do?"

"I'll take care of that don't worry,"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked after a while. Cecy froze in place wondering why he had asked that.

"Ooh, don't take it the wrong way," he tried explaining himself," I mean we can give this marriage a trial if you are okay with that,"

"What I mean is that I want to court you, we rushed our marriage and I know we don't love each other yet but I hope that we could try and give each other a try,"

"I thought you loved Barbara , my sister?"

"No, I wanted to fulfill my grandma's wish and I didn't know who to tell but I'm glad it was you instead,"

Cecy couldn't help but smile. She never expected that this would be the outcome of her being a substitute.

After a while, she set the table and they each took their seats.

"Aunt Lin join us," she said. Aunt Lin was her grandmother's caregiver she was of mixed race.

"It's not appropriate Young Miss,"

"What do you mean? Join us Barbara  wants you to join us," Zacky's grandmother said. Cecy and Zacky stared at each other but did not utter a word.

After taking a seat, Cecy began serving them food.

"Grandma, I made this for you it's very nutritious try it,"

It was one of the most heartwarming meals they had ever had. Zacky's grandma ate to her hearts filled.

"Barbara , your cooking is really good why don't you cook for me every day,"

"If that's what grandma wants I can't say no to it,"

"Lin prepare a room for my grandson and my granddaughter-in-law,"

"Grandma, no need we are leaving, I have to go to work tomorrow and Barbara  has to go to school,"

"Fine," she replied sadly.

"Don't worry, we will visit you tomorrow, I'll bring Barbara  also," hearing that, her eyes lit up immediately.

"Bye grandma be good," Cecy said.

The next morning, as promised Zacky personally drove Cecy to school. After their heart-to-heart talk Cecy decided to give him a chance.

She was in a really good mood and she ended up attending all her classes.

"Cecy, you seem happy today," one of her classmate complimented her.

"I'm okay," she replied nonchalantly.

"By the way, someone is looking for you." She didn't bother asking who as she definitely knew it was Zacky probably picking her up but this time she was wrong.

"Cecy, long time no see, I'm back."