4- His father

"Wear this," Grey mentioned and showed the golden-carat ring that has a very shining diamond in the middle of it.

But she just glanced at the ring and did not obey him because she is still mad at him for threatening her.

Grey's eyebrows collided in the middle seeing her reaction and because of that, he pulled her left hand and forcefully put the ring on her finger while she is trying to remove his hand on her wrist. "Stay still," he growled and glared at her which makes the car enveloped with tension.

But still, she did not speak and countered him as well with her dagger look, not losing with him in a glaring contest.

"Take off this ring and I am telling you...you wouldn't like me when I am totally pissed off you. You wanna piece of me?" he threatened her again, without backing out and dared her.

In response, she just rolled her eyes and stop pulling her hand to let him put the ring in peace. And by that, he put her hand down and put on a gold ring as well that symbolizes their engagement and agreement.

Eventually, they arrived at his father's enormous house and because they need to convince him, he opened and assisted her in go out of the car like a true gentleman. He stood tall in front of her to give her a look like he is telling her to behave just like he said a while ago at her.

But Katlyn just rolled her eyes because she already know what will she do and their setup. "Let's get this over with once and for all so, we can go home and I can rest," she murmured and just get along with him.

So, they walked inside and his father welcomed them both with a stick since he is getting older.

"Good afternoon, Dad. Dad, I would like you to meet my Fiancé, Katlyn. Katlyn, this is my Dad, Raymond. Do you still remember her, Dad? She's—" Grey introduced the two to each other but then, he was cut off by his sentence when his father talk.

"Ah, yes. She was the smartest kid when you were in middle school, Katlyn Carlson. It was nice meeting you again, young lady," Raymond mentioned and he took her right hand and kissed it gentlemanly.

Grey clenched his jaw when his father announced the difference between him and Katlyn that he hates hearing.

"Likewise, Sir. You don't look bad yourself, Sir," Katlyn shyly replied and chuckle a little.

"Oh, please, just call me Dad. We're becoming family after all," Raymond corrected her by swaying his right hand over his face to remove the formal calling between them.

"Okay, uh...Dad," she comfortably said and grinned at him for being welcoming.

"Let's have a seat now and I am starving. We came from a long flight so, shall we?" Grey cut them off and insisted to eat already even though he is not hungry at all.

"We shall," Raymond answered and they proceeds to the dining table where he sits in the middle.

Grey anyways opened the chair to the left side of his father for Katlyn, and then he goes in front of her, to the opposite side. Katlyn glared at him because of his attitude but when she turned her head to Raymond, her face lightened up and just smile at him beautifully.

"Please, enjoy. I prepared that food for both of you because I know you two will come. Katlyn, please, help yourself. You know what, I am quite surprised that you two end up together because as far as I can remember, you two were always arguing back then," Raymond recalled and laughed at that past.

"And until now, Si— I mean, Dad," she answered in a jokingly sound, but with a meaning.

"Really? Oh, arguing is normal for couples. Just do not hurt each other physically," Raymond told and he chewed a portion of food in his mouth.

"Yeah, but cheating is allowed," Grey murmured but enough for them to hear while he is eating.

Katlyn was not happy with what Grey said so, she kicked his shin which surprised him and their eyes meet. They are like talking with the use of their fuming eyes.

Raymond noticed the two so, he just watched them, and seeing them arguing in front of him makes him smile because that's what a couple is all about. A never-ending discussion.

"Why did you kick me? No one kicks me," Grey mentioned in a menacing tone, throwing her a stern look.

"Well, I just did. Do you know what respect is? Or, you don't know that word?" she arched an eyebrow at him, provoking him to teach him some lesson.

Because of her attitude toward Grey, Raymond was amused by her and how she stood up against him without fright which no one has ever done before.

"Are you serious? R—" Grey annoyingly said and about to growl at her when his phone rang which stops him from talking and answer it instead.

Seeing the caller's name 'Mr. Green' makes Grey attentive so, he stood and excused himself at the dining table without telling them who is calling. And because of that, Raymond and Katlyn remained at the table.

"I thought he was going to kick me too. Thank you, Lord," she whispered inside her head and heaved a deep sigh for she is still alive.

"So, Ms. Carlson, can you tell me how did you two end up together? If you allow me to know a little bit of your love story because I know my son, he has no interest in marriage. Yes, he makes out a lot with different women but he never takes them to me as he never gets in any serious relationship. But you, you're here. I am surprised because you know how to handle my son really well that I, myself couldn't even do that," he interrogated and at the same time, complimented her for standing beside his son even with his(Grey) unbearable attitude.

She chuckles at his compliments. "To be honest, Dad...—should I tell him about his son blackmailing me that's why I was forced to come with him here?" she managed to speak but then, she stopped and think for a moment. She looked at Grey first who is talking over the phone far from them and then deliberate inside of her brain. "No, I don't wanna get married to that monster. I would rather die than be with him for five months. I wouldn't last for even a day with him! Maybe his father could help me. Maybe he could get me out of this forced marriage. Well, I gotta try. If they fight because of me, then so be it. At least, I get to escape from him," she had decided.

"Katlyn, are you okay?" Raymond wondered.

She looked at him again when she came back from her thoughts. "Oh, sorry, Dad, I was zoning out. But, yes, I am okay," she answered politely. "Oh, screw it," she whispered to herself again and moved her seat towards him for she is ready to tell him the truth. "To be honest, Dad, I have something to tell you. It's about your son, Grey. I-uh...I don't know how to say this but...I was just forced to come here. W-We are not really engaged. We-uh—He threatened me to come with him today, to do this. My—uh...my father actually owed him money and for the payment, he asked me to marry him. He asked for a contract marriage, Sir. He threatened my family, Sir. I couldn't say no because if I do, he will do something to my family. Please, Sir, help me. I don't want to marry him," she pleaded while glancing at Grey to see if he doesn't hear her but still, he is on the phone which give her relief.

"Are you serious?" he asked for verification because he couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes, Sir. Please, help me. I don't like to get married to him. Please, Sir. I can be your maid here just to pay my debt to him," she begged more.

Raymond did not respond for a moment and analyze his situation while his son is still talking on the phone.

"Please, Sir, have mercy. I don't want to be with him," she told like crying.

"I can't believe he is doing this just to please me since I hurried him to get married. He even dragged you into this mess. But why you? I mean, no offense, Ms. Carlson, I adored you, really, and I don't have a problem with you because honestly, I like you more than my own son when you were in middle school. I actually always praised you in front of him, compared you to him—" he mentioned when he stopped because he just realized something. "Now, I know why. He envies you that is why he brought you here instead of any other woman, and because he knows that I like you. Maybe he thought that if he brings you here, I wouldn't suspect your relationship with each other," he chuckles at that thought because his own son tricked him.

"I—uh...I don't understand, Sir," she crumbled her face just listening to him as she doesn't have any idea what he was saying.

"Listen, Ms. Carlson, I understand your situation and I know that you hate him because he's a bully. Everyone knows that he's a bully. However, Ms. Carlson, I'm gonna need you. How about I offered you a deal? You continue your sham wedding for at least six months, teach him a lesson and after that, I will triple the amount that your father owed to him. I will be the one to pay your debt, and the rest of the money is yours. What do you say?" he spoke, offering her another deal.

"What? B-But, Sir," she stuttered as she is having a dilemma just listening to his offer.

"Think about it, Ms. Carlson, I will triple the money that your father owed to him. All I wanted to happen now is you teach him a good lesson since you are the only one who can fight him. I saw how you treated him, Ms. Carlson, and I was amused because no one has ever treated him like that. You are the only one who I saw that can stand him. I can clearly see that you're a fighter and a wise woman, Ms. Carlson, and that's what I like about you. You are the perfect lecturer for him," he elaborated his plan more.

"I...um—" she mumbled but then, held her tongue because she couldn't decide well.

"Please, Ms. Carlson, accept my offer. Just for your information, Ms. Carlson, I am dying. Okay? I have prostate cancer. I found out that I have an illness three months ago, and that's the reason why I told my son to get married as soon as possible before I give him all of my inheritance. Because he will only receive them once he got married and last for at least 6 months of their marriage, or until I die. So, will you help me? I still believe, Ms. Carlson, that my son can change. He's a good son but not until, his mother died and I know that's my fault, that's why we are not on good terms right now. So, Ms. Carlson, please, help me, that is my only dying wish," he sadly mentioned to convince her more.

"Oh, my God," she mumbled and her heart becomes soft for the reason that she pitied him.

"Please, Ms. Carlson," he begged, again.

She then looked at Grey's back and turned to his father with hesitation. "Okay, Sir. I will help you out but just to be clear, I will help you not because I need that money, but because I am about to become a registered nurse and I know how hard it is to have terminal cancer," she told nicely.

"Thank you, Ms. Carlson. I owe you," he smiled triumphantly.

To be continued...