Davina’s POV
My phone wouldn’t shut up. Text. Call. Call. Text.
I watched the screen flash in my hand.
‘Daxon. Again!
Funny how quiet he got when Cleo inserted herself in our life. Now, with things slipping through his fingers, he’s suddenly Mr. Desperate.
Too late.
I powered my phone off and quietly looked at the thick clouds beside me.
I didn’t know why the Ashbournes were so obsessed with having me in their family.
They say the man in charge is a ticking bomb dressed in cashmere–one minute charming, next minute cold enough to kill. A few actresses who played too close? Gone. Poof.
I closed my eyes and let the wind thread through my ribs. ‘Whatever comes–comes. I’ll stand.”
“My Lady. This way please. Lord Gilbert and Young Master Humphrey are expecting you.”
A white–haired British butler in a suit opened the grand gate of the estate for me.
Sure, I’d heard the Ashbournes practically owned the country, but seeing a royal estate composed of three castles still left me breathless.
“Davina! You’re here, finally–come in, come in!”
That old familiar face. That concern in his voice. It cracked something wide open in me.
“Grandpa…”
I nearly threw myself out of the wheelchair. My legs screamed. I didn’t care.
I had spent a long part of my childhood growing up in an orphanage. Back then, I was a thin, tiny girl who got bullied by everyone. He was the one who looked after me, who saved dinner for me when the others took seconds, who cleaned my cuts with shaky hands and told the boys to leave me the hell alone.
Then one day he left, and my parents showed,
with new money and took me “home.”
I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. Compared to my parents, he felt more like my only real family.
“Davina, when you called, I knew something was wrong. This place will always be your home. That’s why I brought up the engagement again. I’m glad your parents agreed.” “You remember?” He smiled. “I once told you–I’d marry you off to my grandson.”
My cheeks burned. God. He once showed me a photo of a very handsome little boy, and I pointed at the photo saying I wanted to marry him when I grew up.
Grandpa had smiled and said, “Okay, when our Davina grows up, I’ll have Humphrey marry you.”
212 22.7
11:09 Tue, 20 May G
I didn’t expect Grandpa to still remember that.
密99%量
“Grandpa, I-” I opened my mouth to confess. To lay it all bare. The past. The shame. The
man who ruined me.
But he held up a hand. “I know everything. I know your past, darling. I’m so sorry. I’m glad you were willing to tell me–you’re a good child. But Humphrey’s situation… It’s very complicated.”
He sighed. “He was attacked. Who the hell knows. He’s unconscious. Has been for
weeks.”
“Some of the extended family have been eyeing his seat for a long time. Now they’re saying that if he doesn’t leave behind an heir, they’ll take his place. I’m getting old–there’s a lot I can’t handle anymore. So… I can only ask you to endure some hardship.”
I was stunned by Grandpa’s words. ‘Is he implying that I should give birth to a child for his grandson?‘
“Davina, if you’re not willing,” he added softly, “I won’t force you. It isn’t fair.”
Looking at this man’s familiar face, I gave a faint smile.
“I’ll marry Humphrey,” I said. “It’s just that… I might not be able to get pregnant The doctors say I need a month to recover
taway.
He laughed, full and loud. “That’s great news! Then tomorrow, the world will know you’re his bride!”
As soon as I got back to my room and turned on my phone, the screen exploded with notifications.
[99+ Unread Messages]
Daxon’s name was stamped across every one.
He’d filled an entire room with 99,999 roses. He sent me the West Empress wedding dress I’d once said was “so pretty I could die.” There was a box of a ten–carat diamond ring and a
note.
[Babe, please come back. I’ll make you the most beautiful bride in the world.]
