Chapter 1: Grandma's Invitation

Lucas was already having second thoughts as he drove through the gate to his grandmother's villa, he was about to make a turn and drive out when his thoughts drifted to what had happened earlier in his office.

He was in his office waiting for his assistant Jacob to come in with the status of their proposal to a client when he suddenly rushed in.

"Sir an invitation came for you," Jacob said suddenly trying to catch his breath.

Lucas already knew it was his grandma who sent the invitation, he had been expecting one, and it always came at this time of the year. But this year was no different, he wasn't going anywhere.

"Toss it in the trash," Lucas said to Jacob not even sparing the invitation a glance. 

"Sir, please take a look at it. It's different," Jacob responded, fear evident on his face.

Jacob knew how much his boss hated it when he was told what to do, he would have gone ahead and tossed it in the trash if not for the call he had received that told him to make sure that Lucas read the invitation if he wanted to keep his job. 

Lucas raised an eyebrow at Jacob's response, and he knew that something was up.

Jacob was about to hand him the invitation when Lucas thought to ask.

"Did my grandma call you?" Lucas asked Jacob who froze on the spot at the question.

"Yes sir," Jacob said, sighing as he placed the invitation in Lucas's hands.

"That's strike two," Lucas replied calmly.

Jacob felt all emotions drain from his face when Lucas replied. He didn't understand what he had done, all he did was obey his boss's grandma.

"I own this company and not my grandma, I am your boss, you need to get your priorities straight if you want to work with me. One more strike and you're fired," Lucas said, with no expression on his face.

"Clear my schedule for the day," Lucas said to his assistant Jacob who was leaving his office with slumped shoulders.

Lucas stared at the invitation for thirty minutes straight trying to figure out what could be so special that his grandmother decided to call his assistant because he had ignored all other invitations and she had never called before.

He gave up and was about to toss it into the trash when the seal broke and something dropped from it onto his desk. Lucas immediately recognized the rings. It was his parents' ring and attached to it, was a note from his grandma telling him to come home.

If there was one thing Lucas knew about his grandma, it was that she always got what she wanted. She knew that an ordinary invitation would not make him come back so she had put his parent's rings to make him come home.

Lucas saw his past flash through his eyes as he stepped into the villa. The last time he was here was five years ago, two years after Mia disappeared. 

He was about to go up the stairs when the butler, William appeared out of nowhere.

"Welcome home Master Anderson, Madam is waiting at the other side of the villa," William said, stretching out his hands to collect his coat.

Lucas handed William his coat and continued up the stairs. When he reached the top of the stairs, he saw a portrait of his family, they were all smiling, his grandparents with his parents. His grandpa died before he was born and his parents died when he was seven.

Lucas couldn't remember the last time he saw his grandma smile like that, sometimes he felt she blamed him for their deaths.

He was still gazing at the portrait when he heard his grandmother's voice "I see you got my letter." 

Lucas turned to the source of the voice and saw his grandma walking steadily towards him. 

"Good times there," Lucas's grandma, Darcy said, gesturing to the painting.

"Happy Birthday Grandma," Lucas said when she was near him.

"Thank you, son," she replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, we've all been waiting for you," Darcy said to Lucas, guiding him to the other side of the villa.

Lucas wanted to ask what she meant by we but he followed her nonetheless. It wasn't long enough before he knew what she meant. She had invited everyone that he was close to. They were all sitting around a large table that looked like a conference table. It was as if they were here for a meeting and not a birthday dinner.

He looked at his grandma for an explanation but she was already sitting and she gestured for him to come sit. Lucas walked over to his seat wondering what his grandmother had planned.

Almost immediately his grandmother, Darcy clinked her glass of wine.

"Everyone, I have an important announcement to make," Darcy said.

"My grandson, Lucas, will be getting married to Carla Giovanni in the next six months," she said, looking over at Lucas with a smile.

Lucas felt his world stop, there was no way his grandma would do that to him, she knew how much he hated Carla for causing Mia's disappearance. She knew how miserable he was, there was no way she had arranged a marriage between him and Carla.

"No, I would never do that," Lucas said to his grandma as he looked over at Carla who had a frown etched on her face because of his reply.

"Mia is long dead, why can't you marry me?" Carla said, pouting.

"It's simple, I can never love you" Lucas declared causing Carla to bawl

"You either marry Carla or I will withdraw the rights given to you to run the company…or I might as well sell it," Darcy said

Lucas noticed how Carla's bawling stopped immediately after his grandmother said that. He shaked his head wondering just how much she had manipulated his grandmother to do her bidding. He had to think of a way to get himself out of this mess so he said the next thing that came to his mind.

"I am already married. Please stop trying to match me and Carla, I love my wife." Lucas said, causing everyone, including his grandma to gasp. That would keep them off his case for a while.

"Also you can't keep threatening me with the company, you are just the founder, the company is mine," Lucas responded as he stood up.

"Happy Birthday Grandma," Lucas said, kissing her cheek. "Thank you for the rings, they would fit my wife and me perfectly," Lucas whispered loud enough for Carla to hear.

Lucas stood tall, his shoulders hunched with a stoic expression on his face, concealing the emotions within him. He was puzzled, even a little child could see through his lie because he had not even been in a proper relationship since Mia left.

He took one last look at his grandma who was still in wonder from what he said. He glanced at Carla expecting the same kind of reaction but she had a smirk on her face with a sly glint in her eye.

Lucas knew immediately that she had seen through his lie. "I will bring her over for dinner on Sunday, so till then," Lucas said calmly as he stared down at Carla to deter any plans she had in her mind.

Carla's face had fear written over it. She knew Lucas was lying but she did not expect him to bring her over for dinner. Lucas knew he had to do something fast. It was only a matter of time before she found evidence. She was a Giovanni after all.

As he left the room, Lucas couldn't help but think that he had walked into a trap, he didn't want to marry Carla so he lied about being married but he didn't have a wife heck he didn't even have a girlfriend.

How was he going to find a wife? Lucas thought hard as he drove out of the villa.