Chapter 3 Getting Married

Right after Lainey's declaration, Katherine and Esteban were both shocked.

"Grandma!"

Before Esteban could voice any objections to his grandmother's request, she stopped him.

"Don't bother with excuses. It's your duty as a man to accept the consequences. If Katherine agrees to marry you, head straight to the Civil Hall and get your marriage certificate."

Lainey's commanding presence left Esteban with no room to argue. Since he couldn't clear up the misunderstanding, he turned to Katherine with a look that carried the weight of the situation.

Feeling the intensity of his stare, Katherine felt the pressure mounting.

It dawned on her that the unfamiliar man was Lainey's grandson. What a coincidence!

Recalling her family's wishes for her to marry and settle down, Katherine considered the man before her. He was Lainey's grandson, likely a better choice than someone chosen randomly.

With resolve, she declared, "I'll follow your lead, Mrs. James."

-

Thirty minutes on, with Lainey at their side, Katherine and Esteban came out from the Civil Hall with their marriage certificate.

"Are you happy now?" Esteban wore a displeased expression on his face, clearly unhappy with the idea of the arranged marriage.

Lainey fixed a stern look on her grandson, retorting, "You should count yourself fortunate to be married to Katherine!"

That was when Katherine took the opportunity to observe her husband.

The man standing before her donned a sleek black suit, and his striking features appeared as though they had been meticulously sculpted by God. With a towering height of around 1.9 meters, he exuded an aura of dominance.

Maybe it was her intense scrutiny that caught his attention, for Esteban lifted his gaze to meet hers.

When their eyes locked, Katherine felt like a little girl caught in a misdeed, and she quickly averted her gaze in a whirl of embarrassment.

As Lainey observed the subtle interactions between the two, her approval of the marriage grew.

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

It was her grandmother calling. Her expression changed slightly, and without a chance to say anything else, she rushed to the side to answer the call.

"Where on earth have you been? You're independent now, aren't you? You vanished for the entire night without returning home. Hurry back!"

The moment the call connected, Katherine's grandmother spewed a barrage of harsh words from the other end and then abruptly hung up, giving Katherine no opportunity to explain herself.

As the phone line went silent, Katherine couldn't hide her sigh of disappointment. She approached Lainey with a remorseful expression and said, "There's a family emergency, and I need to return home."

"Alright. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask Esteban."

Lainey showed understanding and suggested they exchange numbers.

After offering numerous apologies, Katherine hailed a taxi and departed.

Esteban openly conveyed his sarcasm and disdain towards Katherine.

"You're quite open-minded, allowing me to marry a random woman. You might end up in a sticky situation."

Lainey didn't take his words too seriously. "Back when she was just a little girl in the orphanage, she was exceptionally well-behaved and gentle. I'm confident I've made the right choice. You'll surely fall in love with her."

"That will never happen. I'll never grow to like her." Esteban's expression grew serious as he spoke with determination. "I've agreed to this marriage for your sake. If we haven't developed feelings for each other in one year, we should go our separate ways. Then, you won't meddle in my relationships anymore."

Lainey had faith in her ability to assess the situation. She didn't think Katherine and Esteban would divorce, so she readily agreed. "That's fine, but you must spend this year together and nurture your relationship. If I discover you're living separately, I won't let you off the hook. Also, be kind to her and offer your support when needed."

Esteban stayed quiet, his eyes reflecting his discontent.

Lainey brushed aside his discontent and turned her attention to something more pressing. She urged him, "I'm getting forgetful in my old age. I almost forgot to ask you to drive her back. I noticed she didn't seem well when she answered the phone earlier. It's best if you accompany her and check on her. Make sure nothing untoward happens."

Reluctantly bound by his grandmother's wishes, Esteban took down the address Katherine had left during their certificate registration and set off after her.