Chapter 5 Flash marriage

Gabriel

It's been a month since I started my business along with my trusted friends. We started a small company for research and development where AI can be used in the medical field, especially by pharmaceutical companies.

We used all our savings. My grandma and I invested at least seven million dollars, and my four friends invested two million each. As of this moment, I was in charge of finding investors to fund us.

Starting this business was a big risk, but I know that we will make it through. Later in the afternoon, the five of us were leaving the commercial building where we rent a small office when luxurious cars parked in front of us.

There are men that come out and surround us. "What the hell is happening here?" Gio mutters.

An old man approaches me. "Gabriel Evans, you need to come with us. If you're worried about your safety, you can bring your friends with you," he says.

We all look at each other. "Did we have a choice...?" Shawn halts. Their expression was enough to answer his query.

"Then, we should go in peace," Wilson stated. "For what reason?" I calmly ask. Patrick covers my lips.

"We will go. Stop talking, or we'll all die!" he whispered in my ears.

We get inside the car, and the five of us have no idea where we're heading. One thing is for sure, the cars that they're using are worth millions. After an hour, the car enters a luxurious villa in an outskirt area of the city. They didn't blindfold us, which means we're not being kidnapped.

We are being escorted, and in their living room, I was stunned when I saw my grandmother. "Grandma! What is this?!" I ask the old man who seems to be the leader of those bodyguards.

"Just wait here. I'll inform my bosses that everyone has arrived," he says.

We take our seats and stare at the guards that are standing behind us. After a few minutes, I heard the sound of heels walking down the stairs. I raised my head, and my eyes dilated when I saw a familiar face.

She's the woman that I slept with two months ago! The owner of that jade hairpin! When I asked an appraiser, he told me that the jade hairpin was worth millions! We stood up.

"No need. You may all take your seats. Butler Bai, bring us some snacks to eat," she says.

I think she is Sabrina's grandmother. "May I ask what my grandson did to offend you, madam?" Grandma asks.

She looks at Sabrina and smiles. "From now on, the two of you will live with us. The building where your business is, it's already bought by the Paige family, that will be one of your dowries," she says. She looks at me meaningfully. My friends gasp.

"Da-dowry?" Shawn mumbled. I look at Sabrina. She stood up and sat next to me. She handed me a folder.

I opened it, and my eyes dilated. "As you can see, the date of conceiving the twins is..."

She paused. I gulp. September 15-18... We had a one-night stand on the 17th, which was two months ago! I still remember how she groaned in pain. I never thought she was a virgin! I'm her first! The date will never lie!

"I never had any-" I grab her shoulder.

"Forgive me, but I can't even give you any dowry! I just started a business with my best friends, and I don't have anything from me. I..."

I didn't continue and started to get frustrated. "We can sell our house and use the money as your dowry, grandson. We can't let your children be born illegitimately," Grandma says. I look at her.

"I know, Grandma. I don't have any plans to abandon them either. But that house..." I whispered.

Sabrina's grandma coughs. "I made a background check about you, young lad. My granddaughter already knew about it. The two of you will discuss that privately."

She looks at her granddaughter. "Paige family didn't mind the status of whoever its descendants marry. Our rules are simple. Marry a kind, family-oriented, good provider, honest, trustworthy, and virtuous man or woman."

I look at Sabrina. She smiled. "We both know that you passed all those qualifications. All you need to do is to marry me, and let's build a family together," she says. "YES! I mean, he is definitely going to say YES!" Patrick stated.

She laughs because of how my friends stare at me. They're trying to convince me to say yes! "The office will close in an hour. Go and register. We will have a feast for dinner tonight. Troy, be with them and make sure they won't create any trouble," her grandma says.

My grandma gives me our household register. Sabrina grabs my hand. "Let's go. Defying my grandma will only bring trouble for us. You don't want me to get stressed for nothing, right?" she says. She placed my hand on her tummy. What kind of plot twist is this?

'I vowed to myself that I'll never get married again. That marriage is a scam, but...?! Why did fate joke on me?!'

We arrived at the office, and we were the last ones who took our license. She was staring at the certificates and looked at me. "I'm keeping them both. This time, I won't fail this marriage," she confessed.

I frowned and stopped walking. "Wait, are you a divorcee like me?" I inquired.

She simply nods. "We will discuss that after we go back in the villa. I'm sure my grandmother is waiting for us. Let's go... honey?" She offers her hand. Her smile was so warm and bright, like sunshine. At the same time...

'Honey? Leah had never called me that way...'

I held her hand as we headed to the parking lot. On the road, I keep on staring at her. "What's wrong?" she asks, turns her head, and meets my eyes.

"Why would you bother to find me when your background can suppress rumors even if you bring the twins on your own?" I ask.

She looks at me and laughs. "That was true. But their dad was a good man. They need him. Unless you..." she halts.