Chapter 2 Newlyweds

Thanks to Lainey's urging, Katherine and Esteban ended up getting their marriage certificate in half an hour later.

"Satisfied?" Esteban asked Lainey gloomily. Obviously, he was unhappy with this forced marriage.

Lainey glared at her grandson indignantly and said, "You're lucky you married such a wonderful girl!"

Only then did reality start to sink in on Katherine. She raised her head and try to get a closer look at her new husband.

The man in front of her was wearing a black suit, looking smart and professional. He had an angular face and fine facial features, and he was about six feet and three inches tall. All in all, he gave off an aloof, oppressive aura.

Perhaps it was because Katherine kept staring at him that Esteban suddenly turned around and locked eyes with her.

The second his gaze met hers, Katherine looked away in a panic, feeling like a child that was caught in the act.

Witnessing this small interaction, Lainey felt even more satisfied with this marriage.

Just as she was about to properly introduce the two to each other, Katherine's phone rang.

Katherine glanced at the caller ID, and when she saw that it was her grandmother calling, her face fell. She didn't even take a moment to excuse herself and hurried off to answer the phone.

"Where on earth have you been? You think you're so high and mighty now, do you? How dare you stay out all night? Come home right this instant!"

The second the call connected, Myla Morgan kept cursing her from the other end of the line. Then, without even giving Katherine a chance to get a word in edgewise, she hung up the phone.

Katherine couldn't help but sigh when the beeping tone rang in her ear. Putting her phone away, she trotted back towards Lainey with an apologetic look, saying, "Mrs. James, something urgent came up with my family, so I have to go back first."

"Okay, you go ahead. Let Esteban know if you need any help."

Lainey didn't make things difficult for her, only asking the two to exchange phone numbers before parting ways.

After apologizing repeatedly, Katherine hailed a taxi and left.

Esteban sneered in disdain as soon as the taxi pulled away.

"You're so reckless, Grandma. How could you just force me to marry some random woman? Aren't you worried she'll get us into trouble?"

Lainey clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "She isn't just some random woman; she used to live in the orphanage where I worked as a volunteer. She was always sensible and obedient, and I just know that she hasn't changed. I also know that she'll make a great wife, and you'll definitely fall in love with her sooner or later."

"No way," Esteban scoffed. "I'm giving this marriage a year. If we have no feelings for each other by then, I'll divorce her."

Lainey rolled her eyes. She didn't take his words seriously and was confident that she had made the right call. "Fine, but you'll need to live with her this year."

Esteban's expression darkened, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a thought suddenly occurred to Lainey. She rubbed the spot between her brows and said with regret, "I'm so old that I completely forgot to ask you to take Katherine home. She looked pretty shaken when she answered that phone call just now. You'd better follow her home in case she needs help."

It was the last thing Esteban wanted, but Lainey was a persistent old woman. He had no choice but to obey, gleaning Katherine's home address from the marriage application forms they just filled out.

--

As soon as Katherine stepped foot inside the living room, a cup was thrown at her.

She was startled but managed to duck her head in time to dodge it.

"Kneel down, you ungrateful child!"

Sitting in the center of the sofa in the living room, Myla glared at Katherine with hostility.

Next to her sat a tall, thin man with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He was none other than Darrell, Katherine's ex-boyfriend whom she had caught having an affair with her cousin just the day before.

Seeing him here, Katherine immediately understood why Myla was so angry.

"I did nothing wrong. Why am I the one who's being punished?" She strode into the living room and surveyed them calmly.

"Just look at Katherine! She was out all night, and she reeks of alcohol. She must've fooled around with another man. Now, she won't even listen to you!" Darrell opened his mouth and threw Katherine under the bus, pretending to be aggrieved.

Myla was already annoyed by Katherine's so-called insolence, and since Darrell was adding fuel to the flames, she was now infuriated.

"Did they not teach you any morals at that damned orphanage? You're unruly, just like your father. I'm ashamed to call you my granddaughter!"