Chapter 3 Sammy wants a grandchild

Chapter 3: Sammy Wants a Grandchild

Xyla woke up from her sleep, blinking a few times. She glanced at the empty spot next to her bed.

She had overslept again. Even though she'd been married to Damian for almost a year now, that bad habit of hers was just too hard to change. Plus, Damian had been working late a lot these days.

She rushed to wash her face, then ran down the stairs of the new house she now shared with her husband and mother-in-law.

"Come on, Xyla, let's have breakfast!" Rose, her mother-in-law, called when she saw her standing at the kitchen door.

Damian turned too, "Hey, I made you some sandwiches," he said.

Xyla walked in with her head down, "Sorry, Mom... I overslept again," she said guiltily.

"It's okay, sweetheart. You're tired from work, I understand," Damian tried to comfort her.

"I don't mind cooking for you two either. I mean, I've got nothing else to do in this house," Rose added.

"Just staying with you guys already makes me happy."

Xyla quickly cut in, "Don't say that, Mom. You're supposed to live with us. Damian's mom is my mom too."

"Thank you, dear," Rose smiled faintly.

Xyla smiled back a little.

The three of them had breakfast in silence. Until Xyla suddenly spoke up, "Why don't we just hire a maid, Mom?"

Rose and Damian both turned to her.

"No need, babe. Mom and I can handle the housework. Hiring one is just a waste of money," Damian said.

"Y-yeah, Xyla. Besides, I need something to do. If I don't, my body gets stiff," Rose added, sounding a little nervous.

"But Mom-"

Damian quickly cut her off, "Forget it, babe. Just focus on running Dad's company."

"Fine," Xyla answered shortly.

It was always like this. Every time she suggested hiring a maid, Damian and Rose would shoot it down with the same excuses. It made her feel uneasy.

Damian tucked a strand of Xyla's hair behind her ear, a romantic gesture that made her blush since Rose was right there.

After breakfast, Xyla changed into her work clothes and headed to the office. Damian had left earlier since the company and the factory were in different directions.

Before leaving, Xyla's eyes caught the big cabinet where she stored her expensive antique collection-small vases, cups, bowls, and more.

"Wait a sec..." she froze.

"Why's that vase missing? Wasn't it still there yesterday?" she muttered, frowning.

She checked the cabinet again, clearly upset. Those antiques weren't cheap-each worth tens of millions at the least.

But not wanting to be late, she hurried out. "Ugh, I'll deal with the vase later," she thought.

•••

"Good afternoon, Ma'am. Here's today's report, and there's another meeting later," said Louis, her secretary and cousin.

"Again?!" Xyla sighed. She'd been stuck in meetings nonstop for a whole week.

"Yep. The company's booming, so lots of investors wanna join in," Louis explained.

Xyla rubbed her temples, "Can't you replace me?"

"Ha! You're crazy. I'm just a secretary. No way I wanna be CEO. What a headache. Just like you!" Louis teased, dropping a folder on her desk.

Knock... knock...

The sound made Xyla lift her head lazily. "Who the hell now? Can't I just have one peaceful workday?!" she grumbled.

A middle-aged man rolled in with his automatic wheelchair.

"Daddy!" Xyla exclaimed, surprised but happy. It had been a while since she last saw Sammy.

She ran over and hugged him.

"What's this, Xyla? I could hear your complaining all the way from outside," Sammy said.

"Hehe... it's nothing, Dad," Xyla denied.

"That's a lie, Uncle. She's whining about meetings again," Louis snitched, grinning.

"You little brat!" Xyla pouted.

"I came here to talk to you seriously," Sammy said firmly.

"What is it, Dad?" Xyla asked, curious.

Louis was about to excuse himself, but Sammy stopped him. "You too, Louis. I need you to help explain this to her."

Louis froze. It was rare for his uncle to be this serious.

•••

The three of them had lunch at a café far from the office. Sammy used to come here with his late wife, sometimes bringing little Xyla along.

Xyla wondered why her dad chose this place. Usually, if he did, it meant something important was on his mind.

"What do you want to talk about, Dad?" she asked. It had been thirty minutes since they finished eating, but Sammy still hadn't said a word about it.

Louis just sat quietly, watching them.

"Sweetheart, don't you ever think about having kids?" Sammy suddenly asked.

Xyla froze.

"Of course, Dad. I wanna have kids... someday," she answered.

"Someday? Daddy wants them now. Don't you think about your husband? Damian must want kids too, right?" Sammy pressed.

Xyla lowered her gaze.

"Me and Damian have been trying, Dad. But maybe God hasn't blessed us yet," she said softly.

"Trying isn't enough. You've got money, use it to see a doctor. And honestly, I think you should quit the company."

"What?!" Xyla couldn't believe it.

Louis was shocked too. Who'd run the company then?

"What did I do wrong, Dad?" she asked quietly.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You're just too busy with work, forgetting to give Daddy a grandchild. You've been married almost a year. What will people say?" Sammy said sternly.

"... And you forgot to take care of your husband too, didn't you?" he added.

Xyla fell silent. His words stung because they were true. She'd been so focused on work that she neglected Damian-sometimes not even coming home.

"So if I quit, who'll take my place, Dad?" she asked.

Sammy looked at Louis, who was busy playing with his straw. Both Sammy and Xyla stared at him together.

"Why are you two looking at me like that?" Louis asked, confused.

Xyla giggled, "I agree, Dad. My little bro here is handsome, smart, and rich enough to be CEO!" She pinched Louis's cheek.

"Ouch, stop it!" Louis yelped.

"Louis, you'll replace Xyla as CEO," Sammy said firmly.

"W-what?! Me?!" Louis's eyes widened.

"Yeah. You're gonna run the company," Sammy repeated.

"I'm not ready, Uncle. No way. I'm just a secretary!"

"There's no one else. You have to. I believe in you," Sammy insisted.

"Daddy's right. I believe in you too," Xyla added, ignoring his excuses.

"B-but..."

"You don't want me to have kids, huh?" Xyla pouted, pretending to sulk.

Louis panicked.

"Come on, son. Help me carry on the company your mom and I built," Sammy pleaded.

Louis sighed deeply. "Alright, Uncle. I'll try."

Sammy and Xyla were instantly overjoyed.

"Thanks, my handsome brother..." Xyla teased, pinching his cheek again.

"Yakhhh!" Louis glared at her, annoyed.

Sammy just smiled, watching the two of them act silly-just like when they were kids.

•••

That day, Xyla came home earlier than usual. Starting tomorrow, she'd finally have more time for her little family.

She came carrying a big plastic bag of pizza-Damian and Rose's favorite.

She put it on the dining table.

"Alright, I'll change first. Maybe Mom's in her room," Xyla muttered, heading upstairs.

As she passed Rose's room, she noticed the door slightly open. Inside, she saw a bunch of shopping bags piled on the bed.

"Did Mom go shopping a lot?" Xyla thought.

But she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she walked to her own room to change out of her work clothes.

To be continued...