Grandma’s expression changed instantly. Gone was the earlier attempt at peace.
She raised her cane and started swinging it at them. “Get out! All of you–shameless, heartless people! You want my granddaughter to raise your child? Be some man’s second choice? Over my dead body!”
“So what if you saved my daughter once? That doesn’t give you the right to ruin her child’s life. Get out of this house–and don’t ever come
back!”
I told Jaxon what had happened. He showed up not long after, sharply dressed, more formal than usual. He even brought all the paperwork we’d need to apply for the marriage license.
I blinked, confused.N
He handed me a beautifully wrapped gift box, his ears a little pink. “I had this dress custom–made for you. Put it on. Let’s go get our marriage certificate.“N
I stood there, a little stunned.
Jaxon took my hand, his tone playful but serious underneath. “Lucia, didn’t Steven say you’d never stop loving him? Let’s prove him wrong. Let’s make this official–right now. That way, I can stay with you, protect you. No more hiding.”
It sounded sweet. It made sense. But something about it felt… Strange.N
Still, Jaxon wasn’t wrong. We were already planning to get married. Doing it now wasn’t unreasonable.}]
I turned to find Grandma and ask for my documents needed for the marriage certificate registration.M
I didn’t expect her to still be worked up about earlier.
As soon as I brought it up, she raised her cane again and tried to hit me.N
“You still want to marry that man after everything he’s done to you?” she shouted. “Are you even my granddaughter anymore? He’s walked all over you–humiliated you!”
I ducked away, trying to explain between swings.
“No, no! Not him! I’m not marrying Steven–I’m marrying Jaxon!“N
“Jaxon?” she repeated, stopping mid–swing. Her hand fell, lowering the cane.
She looked up at me slowly, like something had just come back to her. Then sighed.§
“That boy from the Browns..” she murmured.§
Then suddenly, she smiled. “If it’s him… good. If it’s him, then I’m happy.“}]
She paused, as if remembering something only she understood. “I guess he finally got what he wanted, huh?”
She opened the drawer, pulled out the family documents and handed them to me. “Go. Make it official. And be good to him.”
Just like that, Jaxon and I got our marriage certificate.
At the City Hall, he held our two freshly stamped certificates like they were trophies, grinning from ear to ear.
Before I could even say anything, Jaxon pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of the certificates. He posted it straight to his Instagram story, captioned: “Wife for life.”
I could feel how happy he was–genuinely happy–and for a moment, I forgot everything else.
For the first time, it felt like this wasn’t just a strategic marriage. He really did love me.
On the way home, I glanced at him and asked, “How do you even know my grandmother?”
He smiled, still holding my hand gently. “After you went overseas, I started checking in on her now and then. We got close.“}]
Something in his tone was casual–but my gut told me there was more to it than that.
Before I could ask further, my phone started ringing.
It was an unfamiliar number. I picked up–and Steven’s voice came through.
“Lucia, you seriously married someone else behind my back?”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You slept with another woman and had a baby. And I’m the one crossing the line for getting married?“} He was clearly rattled. His voice rose.}
“Don’t forget–most of Brown Enterprises’s major contracts are tied to the Grant Enterprises. Without me, you’re nothing. You’d better start prepping for bankruptcy.“}
Then he hung up with a sharp click.
I stared at the screen for a beat and gave a soft snort. Thanks for the reminder, Steven.
Maybe it was time for the Brown Enterprises to cut ties with the Grants. Because if they didn’t… Well, Jaxon wasn’t exactly known for mercy in the business world.”
He wasn’t just a young CEO. In the Capital, Jaxon was a legend–the country’s very own Wolf of Wall Street. He’d once taken down three companies in a single night. Ruthless, brilliant and surgical in the way he operated.
