Hailey entered the foyer of Grandma Mary's grand mansion, feeling a sense of awe wash over her as she looked around at the luxurious surroundings. It was hard to believe that just a few months ago, she had been homeless and living on the streets.
"Hailey, dear! You're back!" Grandma Mary exclaimed, making her way down the sweeping staircase to greet Hailey. "How was your day?"
Hailey smiled at her beloved friend. "It was tiring, but I managed to finish all my cleaning jobs."
"I'm so proud of you, my dear," Grandma Mary said, placing a gentle hand on Hailey's arm. "Come, let's go to the sitting room and you can tell me all about it."
As they made their way to the sitting room, Hailey felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She had a big announcement to make to Grandma Mary, and she wasn't sure how she would react.
"Grandma Mary," she began, taking a deep breath. "I have some news."
"Oh?" Grandma Mary raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"I'm getting married," Hailey said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Grandma Mary's eyes widened in surprise. "My dear, that's wonderful news! Who's the lucky man?"
Hailey hesitated for a moment before continuing. "His name is Leonardo King. He's the CEO of the company I work for."
Grandma Mary's expression turned thoughtful. "I see. And do you love him, my dear?"
Hailey looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I...well, no. But he's promised to help me get back my inheritance."
Grandma Mary's eyes narrowed in concern. "Hailey, you can't marry someone just for money. It's not right."
"I know, Grandma Mary," Hailey said, tears forming in her eyes. "But I don't have a choice. My inheritance is the only way I can afford to live without struggling every day. I don't want to go back to being homeless."
Grandma Mary's expression softened, and she reached out to take Hailey's hand. "My dear, I have something to tell you", Grandma Mary said. " What is it Grandma? ", Hailey asked curiously. " You remember I told you that my eldest grandson is the CEO of one big company", Grandma Mary said. " Yes, I remember and your other grandson is schooling", Hailey replied. " Leonardo is My eldest grandson, he is the CEO of the company you work for", Grandma Mary revealed.
Hailey's eyes widened in shock as Grandma Mary's words registered in her mind. "Leonardo is your grandson?" she exclaimed, disbelief evident in her voice.
"Yes, my dear," Grandma Mary replied, a soft smile on her face. "I know this might come as a surprise to you, but I've been keeping it a secret for a while."
Hailey was still processing the information when Grandma Mary continued. "And I persuaded him to marry you because I know he will take care of you and treat you well. He might seem distant at first, but he has a good heart."
Hailey's mind was in a state of turmoil. On the one hand, she was relieved that she would not have to marry someone she did not love, but on the other, the fact that Leonardo was Grandma Mary's grandson made her nervous.
"I don't know what to say, Grandma Mary," Hailey said, her voice shaking slightly.
"I understand, my dear," Grandma Mary said, taking Hailey's hand in hers. "This is a lot to take in. But I promise you, Leonardo will take good care of you. And I'll be here for you every step of the way."
Hailey nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. She felt a mix of emotions - relief, confusion, and a small spark of hope that maybe things would work out for her after all.
"Thank you, Grandma Mary," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, my dear," Grandma Mary replied, patting Hailey's hand gently. "Now, let's go have some tea and talk more about this. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."
As they made their way to the dining room, Hailey's mind was buzzing with thoughts and emotions. She wasn't sure what the future held for her, but she knew one thing for certain - she was grateful to have Grandma Mary by her side.