Chapter 4 Marry My Heir

• Before I married Hayden, I lived with my grandmother.
• My parents passed away unexpectedly in a car accident, and it was out of mere luck that I wasn’t in the car with them that morning. After that my life changed drastically. Right after my parents’ funeral, I found out that their so-called business partners had taken over our family business. Basically, I was somehow scammed out of my stake in my parent’s business, and after paying their debt, I lost everything that we had including our house.
• That was how I ended up living with my grandmother in the countryside. We were poor and life was tough but the love and care that I received from her definitely made up for it. However, that simple and peaceful life of mine was suddenly flipped upside down when I returned to find our place ransacked and under attack.
• “Grandma!” I cried out loudly as I ran into the sweet shop.
• A group of men dressed in black were inside, but my eyes immediately focused on my grandmother who was kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face.
• “What happened here? Grandma…” I asked as my voice shook.
• “Do you know Simon and Marianne Maxford?” one of the men dressed in black asked sternly.
• “Yes…they were my parents…” I replied softly.
• What do these men have to do with my parents? It’s been around six years since they’ve passed away…
• “We’ve finally found you,” the man continued in a leveled voice.
• “What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
• “Take a look at this,” the man said as he held out a few sheets of paper towards me.
• Hesitantly, I took the papers from him while noticing that my hands were shaking badly.
• “This is a loan contract that your parents made with our boss when they took out a five-hundred-million-dollar loan,” the man stated factually.
• “…What?!” I exclaimed in shock.
• Five hundred million dollars?!
• “We have to take you to meet our boss,” the man said coldly.
• I felt the world spinning fast around me when one of the men pressed a cloth over my nose and mouth and then everything went pitch black.
• …
• “Why…am I here?” I asked in confusion when I regained consciousness.
• “Before I answer that question. Tell me, do you happen to know a man called Jack Witman?” the man who I had figured must be the mafia boss asked.
• “No. I have never heard of that name…” I replied honestly.
• “I see. Five hundred million dollars…” The boss said while rubbing his chin.
• “If it’s the money. I don’t have it right now, but I swear, I’ll work or do whatever it takes to pay you back,” I cut in desperately.
• “Oh…you’d do anything, huh? Don’t worry, I don’t want the money back,” the boss said bluntly as he waved his hand dismissively.
• “Really?!” I asked in surprise, but I could feel relief flooding through my body.
• “Of course. Instead, I want you to marry my son,” the boss stated, his tone suddenly very serious.
• “WHAT?!” I exclaimed in shock.
• “You heard me. I want you to marry my son,” the boss repeated before smiling with satisfaction.
• “Is this some sort of bad joke?!” I exclaimed in shock.
• “You did just say that you would do anything,” the boss reminded me with a grin.
• “But I…I’m very sorry but I can’t imagine marrying someone I don’t even know…I don’t even love…” I began explaining the best that I could. Not to mention, above all else, I could never marry a mafia.
• “I totally understand. That won’t be a problem at all. You’ll definitely fall in love with my son,” the boss said with confidence.
• “Please let me go home. I have a very old grandmother…” I pleaded with him.
• “If you marry into this family, you will have it all. Power, wealth, fame and whatever it is that you need,” the boss said passionately.
• Marry his son?! That is crazy. I have only thought of marriage once before but…I guess, things just didn’t work out…
• “What happens…if I refuse?” I asked in a small hesitant voice.
• “Seriously, honey dear, what makes you think that you can refuse? Only the mafia top members know where this place is, I can’t let you leave now that you’ve been here, you know…” the boss said as he continued to smile.
• However, his actions couldn’t be more of a stark contrast to his words when he slowly placed a black object onto the coffee table. I realized to my utter shock that it was a gun.
• “You’re going to marry my son just as the contract says,” the old man said firmly.
• “The contract?” I asked in confusion.
• “Exactly,” the boss said as he gestured towards the contract.
• “What the…” I muttered to myself as my eyes scanned the terms.
• On the very last page, the term states that ‘in the event that the debt cannot be repaid, debtors agree to let their daughter, Miss Malissa Maxford, marry a member of the lender’s family based on the lender’s choice without exception.’
• “So, you see, that family member that I have chosen is my son. Trust me, it’s much better than marrying me, is it not?” the boss said, laughing at his own sick joke.
• Before I could say anything, the boss’s mobile phone started to ring loudly, disturbing the tense atmosphere in the room.
• “I see. We’ll cover it…give her the best treatment,” the boss spoke through the phone.
• The conversation came to an end and the boss looked at me with a solemn face that made me wonder what the call was about.
• “The man that took your grandmother to the hospital just called,” the boss said before pausing.
• “How is she?” I asked with worry.
• “I think she already knew this but…I guess she never told you. Your grandmother has stage four lung cancer…” the boss replied.
• “What…?” I whispered so softly as my shock took over.
• “The doctors are not sure how much longer she has left…” the boss continued.
• “That can’t be…” I mumbled under my breath.
• “I’ve told the hospital to give her the best treatment, and of course, I’m willing to shoulder the expenses…” the boss suggested with a smile.
• “If only…I would marry your son?” I quickly completed his thought for him in anger.
• “You’re smart. I could force you with the debt contract alone, but I’ll throw in a bonus and take care of your dear grandmother for you as well. I mean, there’s no way you can afford her medical bills right now, right?” the old man said knowingly.
• The other thing that had been bugging me since the very beginning was…
• “Why me? I’m sure there are plenty of other women for you to choose from…” I asked.
• “It has to be you,” the boss replied without hesitation.
• “Why?” I asked.
• “Because I’m sure that my son can fall in love…if it’s with you…” the boss replied with certainty.
• “What if…your son doesn’t want me as his wife? What will you do? Will you…put an end to all this?” I asked, daring to hope just a little.
• “Then, how about a trade?” the old man suggested with a grin.
• “A trade?” I asked, curiously.
• “I’ll forfeit your debt. I’ll pay for all your grandmother’s hospital bills and I’ll set you free. In exchange, all I want is for you to get my son to agree to take over as my heir. Do we have a deal?” the boss said.
• That didn’t sound too difficult for me, and it was at least better than being married to his son all my life.
• “Fine…” I said in a whisper.
• That's why I married Hayden. I haven't met him and I don't think he will fall in love with me at first sight or anything. I just hope we can live in peace and not disturb each other.
• So now, after changing out of the glamorous wedding dress, I rode in a black limousine as it followed the ambulance that had my grandmother inside to the hospital where she was receiving treatment. As promised, the boss had placed my grandmother in the best medical facility. However, now that the wedding ended in a disaster, I wasn’t sure what would happen.
• It was clear that Hayden, just like me, was in love with someone else. However, I bet his love has a happy ending, unlike mine. I took out a heart-shaped locket necklace and slowly opened it. Inside the locket was a photograph of my boyfriend and me…well, ex-boyfriend now.
• I really miss you, Ethan...
• --To be continued…