CHAPTER 18

“Oh, I see now."

Grant suddenly understood. He took off his jacket, removed his sunglasses, and then adjusted his freshly washed short hair using the car's rear-view mirror, making his appearance look more ordinary.

He raised an eyebrow and looked at Fiona, "How about now?"

"Not bad."

"Alright, let's go," he said as he opened the car door and grabbed four nutritional supplements from inside.

“Why are you bringing stuff?”

Fiona was planning to take him to the supermarket to buy a fruit basket, but it seemed he was already prepared.

"A boyfriend meeting his future mother-in-law without bringing anything? What does that look like?" he raised an eyebrow at her and smiled.

"Fine. I'll transfer the money to you later."

“No big deal." They walked into Saint Virtue Hospital together. On the way, Grant asked about her parents and took the opportunity to inquire about her birth date. He claimed it was to avoid making any mistakes in front of her mom, but in reality, he just wanted to know more about her.

Even though everyone thought Fiona was somewhat unattractive, he found her to be genuine, straightforward, and not the least bit fawning towards him. She was, indeed, a unique presence.

When they reached the 21st floor of the inpatient department, she led him into the hospital room. "Mom, I've brought you some food."

Grant followed her into the room. Upon seeing Margaret, he immediately shed his usual playful demeanor and offered a polite smile. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Grant Hamilton, Fiona's boyfriend. I just got back from a business trip and came to see you. Please don't be upset that it took me so long."

Margaret looked at him, noting his white shirt, suit pants, short black hair, and handsome, clean-cut features. He seemed like a very neat and capable young man.

"Oh, you didn't have to bring anything. Just come in and sit down," she said, pointing to the sofa and inviting him to sit down. She then sat next to him. "Your name is Grant Hamilton, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.

Normally, he had a carefree and rebellious air about him, often lounging on sofas with his legs crossed and arms draped over the backrest, exuding an air of nonchalance. But in front of Margaret, he sat upright, his usual roguish expression replaced with one of respect and seriousness.

"You’re quite a handsome young man with a good demeanor. How did you end up with my daughter? Are you sure you're not just a hired boyfriend she brought home?" Margaret asked, her motherly instincts immediately sensing something was off.

Fiona's heart skipped a beat, and she began to worry that Grant might mess up their facade.

"Ma'am, I don't appreciate that implication. I, Grant Hamilton, have never judged anyone by their looks. Fiona may not be a beauty queen, but she has a kind heart, and I truly like her," he said earnestly.

"Really?" Margaret asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course," he affirmed.

"Then have you two thought about when you'll get married?" Her question came out of nowhere, leaving Fiona unsure if her mother was genuinely worried about her getting married or if she was trying to catch Grant off guard to test his sincerity.

"Oh, Mom, how could you ask him such a question the first time you meet him?" Fiona was at a loss for words.

"Shut up, I'm talking to him not you," Margaret snapped.

Grant glanced at Fiona, his hands unconsciously rubbing together, feeling a slight twinge of nervousness. It had been years since he felt this way. He offered a polite smile. "Auntie, marriage is something that Fiona and I need to discuss. It's not something to rush."

"Alright, cut the act," Margaret said, patting Grant on the shoulder. "I can tell my daughter isn't a match for you with her plain looks."

The young man in front of her was strikingly handsome. Though dressed simply, he exuded an aura that suggested he was anything but ordinary.

"Mom..." Fiona was on the verge of tears, shocked that her mother had seen through the facade so quickly.

"Fine," Grant shrugged helplessly and sighed. "Since Auntie has figured it out, I won't pretend anymore." He stood up and walked towards Fiona. Just as Fiona was about to scold him, he suddenly stopped in front of her and spoke, "Since Auntie is here today, I might as well confess again. Fiona, I've liked you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend? I may not seem reliable, but I'll prove with my actions that I'm someone you can depend on."

Fiona's eyes widened in shock, completely stunned by the sudden turn of events. What on earth is he up to? Just as she stood there dumbfounded, he gave her a wink, signaling her with his eyes.

It dawned on her—this guy was putting on a show!

"Uh? I... I..." She quickly caught on and played along, "I just asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, Grant. Don't do this. We're really not a good match."

"Whether we're a good match or not, we can only know after spending time together. I'm not someone who judges by appearances, Fiona. In front of your mom today, I hope you'll give me a chance."

"Forget it, we can only be friends. I'm not good enough for you."

Grant suddenly grabbed her hand, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a small square box from his suit pocket. "Beautiful faces are a dime a dozen; I've seen enough of them. But you're different. You may not be the prettiest, but you're kind-hearted, hardworking, and ambitious. Fiona, will you be my girlfriend?"

His sudden gesture, paired with the box containing a delicate necklace with a four-leaf clover pendant, was stunning. Every word he spoke seemed heartfelt, and his eyes were so sincere.

If it weren't for the wink he gave her earlier, she might have believed he was genuinely confessing his love. His acting skills were on par with those of popular stars.

"Wow, a handsome guy is confessing his love!"

"He's so good-looking, and he likes such an ordinary girl. It must be true love."

"I'm so jealous! I want a boyfriend like that too."

Because the hospital room door was left open, a few nurses who had just finished their meal happened to witness the scene. They stopped in their tracks, even pulling out their phones to record the video.

These nurses were quite familiar with Fiona, as they saw her every day.

"Say yes!"

“He's so good to you, just say yes already."

"Exactly, you don't want to miss this chance."

The nurses, who had stopped to watch, were jumping up and down with excitement, looking even more thrilled than Fiona herself.

Margaret, who was sitting on the sofa, watched the scene unfold with a knowing smile. "Fiona, darling, I can see that Grant is truly sincere about you. Maybe you should give him a chance?"

Despite Grant’s willingness to overlook her ugly appearance, Margaret thought he seemed like a decent guy. Maybe they should give it a try.

When the time is right, and it's time to meet the parents, both she and her husband would likely be out of the hospital. By then, Fiona wouldn't have to pretend to be ugly in front of the Darwin Family anymore. She could meet Grant's parents with her true face, and a marriage could be arranged.

"Mom, I...” Fiona finally understood. Her mother was truly worried that she would never find a boyfriend with her plain looks and was eager to push her out into the dating world. She sighed and glanced helplessly at Grant. "How about... we just give it a try?"