Grandfather’s Test

The old man’s eyes were sharp, nothing like the rest of his frail body.

“Sit,” he said, pointing a shaking finger at the chair across from him. “Let me look at the woman who caught my grandson’s heart.”

Jessica sat down slowly, smoothing the dress Lira had picked out for her. Simple, elegant, expensive. Nothing like anything she owned before last night.

Christian sat beside her, his hand finding hers on the table. His grip was firm, warm, a silent warning. Play the part.

“Grandfather, this is Jessica,” Christian said. “Jessica, this is Arnold Ford.”

“So formal,” the old man said, waving a hand. “Call me Arnold, dear. Or Grandpa, if you’d like. Since you’ll be family soon.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jessica said, forcing a smile. “It’s good to meet you.”

Arnold studied her for a long moment. His eyes moved from her face to her hands, then to the way she sat, then back to her face again. Jessica felt like she was being read like a book.

“You look nervous,” he said finally.

“Meeting the family for the first time is always nerve wracking,” Jessica said carefully.

“Is that all it is?” Arnold leaned forward. “Or is it something else? My grandson has never brought a woman home before. Not once. Not in thirty years.”

Jessica’s heart skipped. She glanced at Christian, unsure what to say.

“She’s different, Grandfather,” Christian said smoothly, squeezing her hand. “I knew the moment I saw her.”

“Is that so.” Arnold’s gaze didn’t leave Jessica’s face. “Tell me, dear. How did you two meet?”

The question hung in the air like a trap. Jessica’s mind raced. They hadn’t planned this part. They hadn’t planned anything, really. She had signed a contract twelve hours ago and now she was supposed to lie to a dying man’s face.

“He fired my ex-fiance,” Jessica said before she could stop herself.

Silence fell over the table.

Christian’s hand tightened around hers, hard enough to hurt. But it was too late to take it back now.

Arnold blinked, then let out a laugh that shook his whole body. “He fired your ex? In front of you?”

“In front of three hundred people,” Jessica said, deciding honesty might work better than a lie she couldn’t remember later. “My fiance dumped me at a gala to marry someone richer. Christian stepped in and destroyed his career on the spot.”

Arnold’s laughter faded into a smile, but his eyes stayed sharp, studying her like he was trying to see through her skin.

“And that’s when you fell for him? Because he ruined a man’s life?”

“No,” Jessica said. “That’s when I realized he doesn’t let people walk over the ones he cares about. That’s rare.”

She felt Christian’s grip loosen slightly. She had no idea if she was helping or making things worse, but the words had come out true, somehow. Maybe not about love. But about something.

Arnold leaned back in his chair, studying them both now. “Christian. Show me the ring.”

Christian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Inside sat a ring Jessica had never seen before, a deep blue stone surrounded by tiny diamonds.

“This was your grandmother’s,” Arnold said quietly, his voice suddenly soft. “I gave it to her the day I asked her to marry me. I told Christian to give it to whoever he chose to spend his life with. Not before.”

Jessica’s chest tightened. This wasn’t just a prop. This meant something to this family, something real, and she was about to wear it under false pretenses.

“Grandfather, I—” Christian started.

“Put it on her,” Arnold said. “Now. I want to see it.”

Christian’s hands were steady as he slid the ring onto Jessica’s finger. It fit perfectly, like it had been made for her. His eyes met hers for a second, and something passed between them that felt too real for a fake marriage.

“Beautiful,” Arnold whispered. He reached across the table and took Jessica’s hand in both of his, his skin thin and cool. “Take care of him. He acts cold because he’s scared of losing people. His mother left when he was young. His father worked him half to death before he died. I am all he has left, and soon I won’t be here either.”

Jessica’s throat tightened. This wasn’t part of the plan. She wasn’t supposed to feel sorry for either of them.

“I’ll take care of him,” she said, and hated how much she meant it.

Arnold smiled, satisfied, and let go of her hand. “Good. Now, tell me about the wedding. I want it soon. Before—” He stopped, waving a hand like the rest of the sentence didn’t need saying.

“Two weeks,” Christian said quickly. “We’ll have it in two weeks.”

“Wonderful.” Arnold clapped his hands together, suddenly looking years younger. “I’ll call the family. Everyone will want to come.”

“Everyone?” Jessica asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

“My other grandchildren, of course,” Arnold said. “Christian’s cousin, Matt, especially. He’ll be thrilled to finally meet the woman who tamed his rival.”

Christian’s whole body went rigid beside her.

“Matt is coming?” he said, his voice suddenly flat and cold.

“Of course,” Arnold said, not noticing the change in his grandson’s tone. “He’s family.”

Jessica looked between the two men, sensing a storm she didn’t understand yet.

“Who is Matt?” she whispered to Christian once Arnold turned to call for tea.

Christian’s jaw was tight, his eyes darker than she had seen them yet.

“My cousin,” he said quietly. “And the man who is trying to steal my company out from under me.”

Jessica’s stomach dropped. “And he’s coming to our wedding?”

“Yes,” Christian said, his voice low and dangerous. “And when he sees that ring on your finger, everything is going to get much more complicated.”