Chapter 4 Grandma's plan

Xavier pulled up right in front of the grand entrance of their new home and gazed at Nadira with her suitcase beside her.

"Why?" Nadira asked, confused by her husband's intense stare. Xavier didn't reply; he simply walked closer and took the suitcase from Nadira's hands, leaving her even more puzzled.

"I can't let a woman carry such a heavy burden. What would Grandma say if she saw me letting you do that?" Xavier said, making Nadira grumble.

"You're such a hypocrite," Nadira muttered, and Xavier immediately turned to her.

"What did you say?" Xavier asked, trying to confirm what he had just heard. Nadira responded innocently.

"What? I didn't say anything," Nadira replied, making Xavier snort. Afterward, he opened the door to the house.

The house felt chilly, unlike the warmth of the home he shared with Anita. Even though they didn't have children yet, Xavier always missed the warmth of that home. Xavier and Nadira entered and saw Grandma already seated in her wheelchair with her faithful secretary by her side.

"Where were you two?" Grandma asked, making Xavier glance at Nadira briefly.

"We got lost on the way," Xavier replied, coming up with a quick excuse. Grandma only looked at Nadira with a flat expression.

"That's why I've been telling you to visit this house at least once. This is what happens when you don't know the way back to your own home," Grandma commented, a statement that Xavier chose to let slide without responding.

Xavier then handed the suitcase he brought to one of the servants who approached. Xavier and Nadira followed Grandma into the family room, where tea and snacks were already prepared.

"It seems like I'm the host here," Grandma said, slightly irritated that she had to prepare everything. Grandma had come to the house she gave to her grandchildren with the hope of receiving a warm welcome from the newlyweds. However, the situation had turned around. Grandma then looked back and forth between Xavier and Nadira in silence, making Xavier prepare himself for whatever she was about to say.

"This," Grandma said, pointing to a brown envelope that had just been placed on the table in front of them.

"What is it?" Xavier asked.

"Open it; it's one of the gifts I've prepared for you both," Grandma said, making Nadira immediately look at Grandma with her warm smile.

"Although Grandma didn't need to prepare any more gifts. This house alone is more than enough, even too grand to be called a wedding gift," Nadira said, making Xavier look at her with slight confusion. Nadira's personality seemed to change when she was in front of her Grandma. She became gentle and warm, very different from her usual self. Her way of speaking was more polite, and Xavier could only grumble inwardly.

"This is what you should have. That's why I arranged your wedding as best as I could, to give you everything I have. Especially if you truly give me what I desire," Grandma said, making Xavier and Nadira look at each other. They knew what their Grandma meant.

Xavier opened the brown envelope and widened his eyes when he saw the honeymoon tickets inside.

"What's this?" Xavier asked, double-checking as he looked at Grandma, who was enjoying her tea elegantly.

"Are you blind? Can't you read that those are honeymoon tickets that you'll enjoy for the next week?" Grandma said, making Nadira slightly shocked and shift in her seat to see her ticket. Xavier looked at Nadira with a cynical expression.

"I'd like to see my gift too," Nadira whispered, asking Xavier to show her ticket.

"New Zealand. I've always wanted to go there. My friends who've been there said it's incredibly beautiful," Nadira said enthusiastically. Grandma laughed upon hearing her.

"That's great if you like it," Grandma said, then turned to Xavier, who was still looking at the ticket with a puzzled expression.

"What about you? Aren't you happy to receive this ticket? Haven't you been complaining that I always give you too much work at the office, leaving you with no time for a proper vacation?" Grandma asked, recalling Xavier's complaints. Xavier agreed, but the issue wasn't that. Xavier wanted his vacation time to be with Anita, not for a honeymoon with Nadira.

"I'm not unhappy, it's just that the timing isn't right. There's still a lot of office work I need to handle," Xavier replied, making Grandma slightly irritated.

"I've arranged everything. Your work will be handled by your secretary and your father. So, focus on your honeymoon with Nadira," Grandma said, then raised her hand to end the conversation.

"I'm tired of arguing after attending your wedding reception. I didn't even get a chance to rest before coming here. Am I too kind compared to your indifferent parents?" Grandma said, leaving Xavier silent. He knew Grandma could always get what she wanted.

"So, I don't want to hear any help from you," Grandma added, then looked at her secretary who was always by her side.

"It seems I need to rest soon. Let's go home now," Grandma said, making Nadira and Xavier stand up. However, before the secretary could push Grandma's wheelchair further, Xavier stopped him.

"Well, what about Anita? I can't leave her alone," Xavier said, causing Grandma to order them to stop. The secretary turned Grandma's wheelchair so that she could look at Xavier.

"Is your first wife like a five-year-old child? Can't she take care of herself for a week or what? Don't tell me you intend to take both of your wives on this honeymoon?" Grandma asked, making Xavier rub his face in frustration.

"Aren't they both my wives? So, it's like skipping from one island to another," Xavier replied, causing Grandma to snort in annoyance.

"Stop your foolish idea. You're really out of line. Anita will come with me to Japan. She'll take care of me for the next week, and you can focus on Nadira," Grandma said, making Xavier widen his eyes.

"Do you want Anita to go with you?" Xavier asked, surprised by Grandma's decision.

"Yes. Aren't you worried about your wife if she goes alone? It's better for her to take care of me and join our business trip to Japan. She won't be lonely and will have a pleasant free time," Grandma replied, making Xavier even more flustered with this situation. He shouldn't argue, and he should let Anita make her own decision. Xavier knew well how chilly the relationship between Anita and Grandma was.

"No more objections. Okay, let me go and rest. And one more thing, don't try to deceive me so you can go back to your home. I've already told your cousin to accompany Anita at home. So, you'll stay overnight at your new house with Nadira until you leave for your honeymoon tomorrow. I've instructed your assistant to retrieve your belongings from your home and deliver them," Grandma said, leaving Xavier speechless without a word to say. All these plans were meticulously laid out, even bringing all their honeymoon essentials to their new home, and Xavier was sure Anita would be furious with him.

"Why is Grandma going to such lengths for this? I can prepare for my departure myself. Grandma doesn't need to instruct Juna, which will surprise Anita because I left without her knowing," Xavier said, trying to express his disagreement with Grandma.

"Grandma has placed you as the head of this family here. So, whatever you do, Anita must comply with you. Don't make me argue with you again," Grandma said before looking at the watch on her wrist.

"Besides, I think Selly has already arrived at your home with your personal assistant to retrieve all your belongings. So, you just rest here, and tomorrow morning, you can leave," Grandma added before leaving, leaving Xavier and Nadira in silence. Nadira didn't even know that Grandma, who always treated Xavier kindly, had this cruel side, especially toward her own grandson.

Nadira tried to go and see their new house, but Xavier suddenly grabbed her arm firmly, making her wince.

"This is our first day of marriage, don't tell me you're resorting to domestic violence already. I could report you to the police," Nadira quickly said, trying to confront Xavier with determination.

However, Xavier still looked at her with a sharp gaze and interrupted, "Ever since you entered my life, everything has gone awry. I don't know what they gave you to make you agree to marry me."

Nadira pushed away Xavier's hand gripping her shoulder and replied, "You want to know what they gave me? Freedom. They gave me the freedom to live as I please. That's enough for me. So, stick with me and follow your family's wishes if you don't want your marriage to your first wife to go to waste."

Xavier grew angrier and squeezed Nadira's shoulder tightly, making her wince. Conflict in their marriage seemed to be heating up on just the first day.

"Freedom? You think after ruining my life, you'll live freely as you please? Don't count on it. I won't even give you an ounce of freedom," Xavier said firmly, leaving Nadira silent in the living room.

Xavier then headed to the master bedroom, leaving Nadira to explore their new home. On the other side, Xavier angrily slammed his suitcase and felt frustrated just thinking about his current situation. He lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the room that would be part of his life from now on. Xavier tried to call Anita several times, but there was no answer.

Finally, Xavier decided to call their home phone, and one of the servants answered the call.

"Hello," Xavier answered while speaking to a servant at his home, trying to find out what was happening.

The servant informed Xavier that the situation at home was not good. Selly, his cousin, had come and caused a commotion, waking Anita up. Xavier grew even more worried upon hearing this.

"Tell me what happened," Xavier asked with tension.

The servant explained that Selly had come with Xavier's assistant, and it had all taken Anita by surprise. Xavier's heart raced faster as he heard this. He immediately asked the servant to put Anita on the phone.

Xavier spoke with Anita, trying to explain the situation. Anita sounded weak on the other end, and Xavier felt guilty for this unexpected turn of events.

"Darling, I'm sorry. This is really beyond my control. You know, this is all Grandma's plan," Xavier said with a tone of regret.

Selly could also be heard talking in the background, trying to explain that she was kindly accompanying her sister-in-law tonight. Xavier felt increasingly confused about how to handle this situation.

Xavier tried to explain his situation to Anita, apologizing. He told Anita that Grandma had ordered him to go with Nadira for a week, even though he felt guilty for leaving in what should have been their honeymoon moment together.

Anita, sounding shocked and disappointed, finally confirmed that Xavier would be going on a honeymoon with Nadira. Xavier explained that it wasn't a honeymoon, but he was just accompanying an enthusiastic Nadira to New Zealand, feeling dragged into it.

Then, Anita informed Xavier that Grandma had also ordered her to go with her to Japan for the next week. They both agreed not to disturb each other during this period.

Xavier felt frustrated and threw his phone in annoyance. He felt that everything was becoming increasingly complicated, and nothing was going according to plan.

Xavier felt extremely tired and frustrated with everything that had happened on the first day of his marriage. He felt like nothing was going according to plan, and the situation was getting more complicated with Grandma's orders. Xavier lay down with mixed thoughts.

However, suddenly, a loud shout from Nadira outside made Xavier immediately spring to his feet. He knew he couldn't ignore this situation. Quickly, Xavier rushed outside to see what was happening with his second wife.