Contract Go Wrong: The CEO’s Tempting Bride

“But grandpa…” said one of her cousins.

“All… of… you, ” the old man repeated, and everyone gave her venomous looks before walking out of the room.  

Gina sighed and loosened her grip on the old man. She stood up and was about to leave too.

“Not you… Regina,” He stopped her, his eyes were now closed again.

Gina sat back down and inched in closer. She held his hand again then said, “Grandpa, I’m so sorry… I didn’t know that you were sick… my phone was__”

“It’s alright.” He sighed, and after some seconds, continued, “where did you go”

Gina’s eyes widened slightly and she lowered her head. Knowing that the old man had not believed whatever excuse her father had made for her.

Withdrawing her hands which had started trembling, she quickly cooked up a lie. “Grandpa…, I was actually with a friend… she got sick and has no one to care for her, so…” she trailed off, not able to continue. It was her first time lying to her grandfather and her heart was filled with guilt.

The old man opened his eyes and gave her a look and Gina shifted under his gaze, her heart had started thumping.

Gina knew that she was a terrible liar especially under the intense gaze of her grandfather. But she couldn’t risk telling him that she had sold her life to the devil.

“So Grandpa.” she quickly changed the topic. “You don’t need to worry anymore, besides, father managed to save the business,” she said with a smile.

The old man chuckled. “I’m a coward, right?” he gave her a playful grin.

Gina shook her head rapidly and held his hand again. “How can you say that Grandpa… you were just worried and couldn’t control that… Dad shouldn’t have informed you until the matter was resolved,” she muttered gloomily.

“It was not your father that told me,” the old man murmured and Gina could see his expression turning dark.

“Oh.” She nodded in realization and clamped her mouth shut.

It must be one of her uncles who would jump at any opportunity to shatter her father’s image and wipe him out from the old man’s good books.

“Regina…” her grandfather called out. “look at me,” he commanded softly and Gina met his tender gaze.

“You should go back to school… even though I don’t like that boy, I respect your decision… But don’t continue living like this, go out there and make a name for yourself… you never knew what the future holds,” he advised.

Among his family, she was the only one that hasn’t seized any career. The old man was afraid, seeing the family’s business like this, the worst thing might happen in the future. And what if no one could save it then.

He doesn’t want any of his lineage to suffer from need if that happens.  

Gina broke into tears and pressed her lips together. If only she had listened to him earlier. She had thought that the old man was overthinking when he had told her outright that he doesn’t like Greg.

She had defended the jerk and had even dropped out of the school because of his fake promises.  

But it was too late, even if she wanted to, it’s almost close to impossible.

“Promise me you’ll go back to school, okay?” The old man coaxed. “It was a miracle that the family business was saved this time, but no one knows what would happen in the future.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Gina smiled sadly and nodded. “Okay… Grandpa,” she answered softly.

“Good…” the old man muttered, then loosened his grip on her hands and closed his eyes.

Gina saw that as a sign to leave and she kissed his cheeks. “Good night… Grandpa,” she sniffed, then stood up and walked out of the room.

When she closed the door behind her, Gina shut her eyes tightly and heaved a deep breath.

Her grandfather was right. She has to continue pursuing her career. But how?. Would the devil ever allow that?

She chuckled sadly and shoved the thoughts aside.

A sound made her open her eyes and a maid was standing before her.

The middle-aged maid was holding a tea tray in her hands and a smile creased her face. “Young Miss, you’re here?”

Gina smiled back with a nod. “Yeah, Aunt Ella… please stop calling me that, you can call me by my name you know” she pouted and the maid chuckled. 

“Alright Gina, I’ll take note of that… maybe it has something to do with my age… you’re becoming more beautiful by each day, I could barely recognize you,” The maid replied and sighed. “You’re becoming more like your mother.”

Gina’s throat contracted with emotions and she nodded. “Thanks, Aunt Ella.” Those are the only words she could utter.

Even her father had once told her that her looks were becoming more like her mother’s. Although all those memories she had of her mother were vague, she could feel that her mother was prettier, even from her photos.

“I miss her too.” The maid patted her shoulder and sadly muttered, I’ll never have a better friend.”

Gina nodded in agreement. She had also felt the connection between best friends and knew that the feeling of losing one would be very overwhelming.

“I’ll take this to your grandfather before it turns cool… please come back soon, okay?” said the maid, before hurrying inside the room.

Gina let her gaze wander on the door and she let out a sad chuckle before turning for the stairs.

After getting down the stairs, her eyes landed on the huge couches in the large living room.

Each of her uncles with their wives and children was occupying each couch. And her father was sitting separately on a farther couch with his head down.

Even Kate had returned and was sitting beside her mother, who was her second uncle’s wife.

Except for her father, every one of them was glaring at her with expressions that could make a person tremble in fear.