Chapter 3. I Will Married Her

THEO'S POV. 

SLAP! 

"What were you thinking? You broke up with Jessy?" 

My cheeks heated up. A slap from Dad had just landed there. I just arrived at Dad's mansion after he called me a few minutes ago. 

On the other side, not far from Dad, Jessy was standing with her sad-regretful look on her face. I grinned slightly because I didn't expect her to come to Dad's presence so soon. 

"Oh, she came earlier than me," I said sarcastically. "Are you telling me as an asshole breaking up an engaged relationship, Jessy?" 

"Hey, Theo, why do you broke up with Jessy? You are the only heir, and all the investors need mature-married CEO!" Dad's voice sharply cornered me. 

I knew Dad would be against my decision after finding out I broke up with Jessy. He was on Jessy's side, and had been since the beginning of our relationship. 

"Do you know something fatal that Jessy did?" I spoke again, my voice no less sharp. "She cheated on me behind my back, with Kale. Do you know who Kale is, Dad?" 

"Theo, you're supposed to believe me, why are you accusing me of that?" Jessy playing the role of hurt—as she always did. 

I let out a long breath and stuffed my hands into my pants pockets. I stared at Jessy in disgust, watch the tears fell on her face. 

Four years into our relationship. I'd never really loved her, so Jessy's infidelity wasn't a big deal to me. But it was still a betrayal. 

"Jessy already told me that all the photos are fake," Dad replied, sounding very confident. 

I laughed sarcastically. "You believe her? She's nothing more than a woman who will give her body to another man."

"THEO!" Dad snapped at me. 

I didn't care what my Dad said. My business with Jessy should be over. Why was Jessy fighting for our relationship so much? 

"I have proof of Jessy's affair other than with Kale," I insisted. "But I won't show it because Jessy would be embarrassed."

As I said my last sentence, I grinned slyly at Jessy. Her face went deathly pale, I could tell she was trying to act normal. Although she was actually nervous. 

"I didn't commit any treason!" Jessy argued loudly. She looked at Dad awkwardly. "Mr. Hans, I'd nothing wrong, Theo—"

"Stop your fake tears, Jessy. It's sickening," I retorted, shutting Jessy up. 

"Theo, all the investors are already pressuring you as the main heir to get married! If you broke up with Jessica, who will you marry?" Dad's yelling echoed. 

In the end he won't listen to me. 

He would only think about the fate of the company. 

I wondered if I wasn't born the heir apparent. It felt sickening if I had to maintain my reputation or comply with the demands of the investors. 

"So I have to marry the woman who betrayed me? I have to put my feelings aside for the investors?" 

The atmosphere of tension between us grew stronger. I could tell Dad was frustrated as he wiped his hair roughly. 

"So answer my question, who will you marry, Theo?" asked Dad. 

Before I could answer, my cell phone rang. There was an incoming phone call. 

I saw Yvonne's name on my phone screen, and I deliberately turned on the loud speaker.

"Theo, my mom ... my mom died."

***

"We found a toxic liquid in Mrs. Lauren's bloodstream. It is a type of poison that can be injected with drugs." 

I saw Yvonne's face turn pale after hearing the autopsy doctor's explanation. Then I turned my gaze to the body of Mrs. Lauren, Yvonne's mother, who was lying stiff. 

An hour had passed, but Mrs. Lauren's face was already almost blue. My heart was beating so fast that it felt like my chest was bursting. It felt so strange to see this. 

All this time, I knew Mrs. Lauren was the Mr. Richard's mistress. Yet, all I knew that she's not become a bad woman. She didn't commit any crimes at all.

I can hardly believe it. Why would someone do this to her? 

Who secretly injected poison into Madame Lauren's medicine? 

"No way..." Yvonne's voice was soft, barely audible. Her body slackened, and I quickly caught her. "My mom... what happened to her?" 

I tightened my hands on Yvonne's shoulders, restraining her dazed body.

"Yvonne, calm yourself, don't lose control," I said trying to encourage her. 

Yvonne's hands trembled as they reached out to touch Mrs. Lauren's face. I tried to keep her balanced. 

"I'm sorry I left you to go home," Yvonne said, hugging Mrs. Lauren's body. "Why do you have to face this? You must be in so much pain..."

As Yvonne buried her head in the arms that held Mrs. Lauren, her shoulders sobbed.

"Yvonne, it's not your fault, you tried to save her," I said soothingly. 

"It's my fault. I'm sorry, I didn't take care of you," Yvonne sobbed.

Yvonne wasn't listening to me. I felt my heart being stabbed by small thorns. There was regret in my chest at the thought of letting her live in the midst of so much pain. 

If I hadn't let her marry Kale and live with his family, would any of this have happened?

If I had let her stay with me a long time ago, she wouldn't have lived such a hellish life. 

"Yvonne, let's go out. We have to take care of the funeral."

One day after Mrs. Lauren's funeral, I brought Yvonne to my mansion. After all the bad things that happened to her, there was no one to keep her company but me. 

When I arrived with Yvonne, Dad and Grandpa were already waiting for me. The only thing my father gave me was not a warm welcome, but a contemptuous look at Yvonne. 

"Hey, why are you with Theo?!" Dad asked Yvonne curtly. 

Yvonne looked at me with an uneasy twinkle in her eye. There was still the sadness of her mother's death in her eyes-and now her eyes implied fear. Her hand grip was getting stronger. 

I knew that Yvonne didn't have the strength to answer anything. 

"Don't speak harshly to Yvonne," I reprimanded Dad. "I have something to tell you." 

Father furrowed his brow. He didn't answer but his expression seemed to be waiting for what I was going to say. 

Meanwhile, I took out the folder of documents that Mr. Hans-Mr. Watson's personal lawyer-had given me at the funeral. I handed the document folder to Father. 

"Mr. Hans came to Yvonne's mother's funeral," I explained the confusion on Father's face. 

As Dad opened the folder of documents, I continued, "Mr. Walter's personal attorney said there was another agreement between him and Grandpa that I should marry Yvonne." 

I saw Dad's movements stop. His sharp eyes shifted to me. 

"What do you mean?" he asked, then turned to Grandpa. "Dad, are you setting Theo up with Yvonne?"

Grandpa looks serene on the sofa. A small, warm smile curves his face as if he doesn't dispute what I'm saying. 

"I knew Jessy's affair would happen. That's why I made a backup plan to set them up," Grandpa said. 

Dad's face hardened, he walked over to me quickly without letting go of his sharp gaze. After arriving in front of me, Dad suddenly gripped my collar tightly. 

The atmosphere of tension made me choke. But I didn't put up a fight, just faced Father who gave me his hateful gaze. 

"You... you can't marry an illegitimate child like Yvonne," Father said firmly. 

I gritted my teeth. "I told you, don't insult Yvonne. All these years I've been holding back my feelings, I would have married her anyway."

"THEO!" Dad's voice was loud. 

Then, I heard Grandpa reply to me, "You should take care of the company in California, Theo. I'm ordering you to move there."