Alex never liked dealing directly with his grandpa due to how forceful the old man could be, but this was the reason he agreed to marry Joanna.
"Are we the only ones?" He asked. Ike was about to answer when he asked again, "And when does he want to meet us?"
It was bound to happen, but he never thought the old man would request it so soon. His grandfather, Aristotle, was very unpredictable, so he needed every detail, especially when Joanna was caring for her sick mother.
"He said over the weekend, and boss, it's to smoothen things between your wife and arranged bride."
Alex was visibly upset, and it was sensed in the temperature of the car, making Ike afraid of speaking another word. This was the best form to have his boss, but even during times like this, he could be perilous.
Picking up his phone, Alex dialed his grandfather's number and was met with the old man's lambasting words.
"You stupid grandson. Your younger brother is much better than you. How dare you get married without my consent when you have a betrothed bride?"
Alex did not care for his grandfather's choice of words. All that mattered was for him to protect Joanna.
Alex got most of his traits from his grandfather, and that was one of the reasons why the two never saw eye to eye and hardly agreed on anything.
"That was arranged. I also told you that I already had a woman."
"You are mad," the old man snarled over the phone, and Alex's expression hardened. He did not plan to respond, but the next moment, the old man groaned.
"Ah, my heart." Alex panicked this time, thinking it was one of those heart attacks, but the old man suddenly resumed lambasting him once more.
"You will kill me, you silly boy. Do you know the reason for this arrangement? How can you be so stubborn and selfish?"
The old man was shedding tears and screaming over the phone, Alex felt helpless.
"Grandpa, please relax. I'm not a boy anymore, and you seem to forget that. I can't marry a woman you choose for me. You don't even know my taste."
That was a fact. No one knew his taste because Alex did not even have a taste. There was just one woman printed on his mind without an image.
That was the only woman he vowed to marry for real as soon as he meets her. The rest, including Joanna, were all merely for selfish gain.
"I'm your grandfather. I know what's best for you. Your father disobeyed me and chose your mother. See what happened after? Where is your father now?"
Alex's teeth were grinding together at the mention of his father. His gray eyes took a darker shade, his voice turning cold. "I am not my father."
"But you are his son, and that makes you my grandson. I know what's best for you. You know nothing about women. They are not like the companies you run. Bring that woman here, and I will take care of everything."
Aristotle's voice was commanding, exactly what Alex loathed about the old man. He felt he could control everyone but not Alex.
"Grandpa, if you don't tell me the details of whatever you want to take care of, then I won't bring her."
His voice was stern but not enough to threaten the old man with loads of experience dealing with even the deadliest of men.
"I can still find her, and you know what will happen. You know who I am, Alex, don't dare me."
Alex's gaze darkened even more, but he knew better than allowing his anger to take control of him, forcing himself to speak softly.
"Grandpa, supposing I agree to bring her, who and who are we going to meet there?"
"Your brother is coming with his fiancée too, and same as the Bakers. I have to correct every wrong. The woman I chose for you is of good character and very beautiful. Her mother is who your father should have married."
Alex laughed mockingly. He didn't get to see Mia's mother, but from the character displayed by the father and daughter, that woman could only be as them or even worse.
"Grandpa, I must say that you have a bad taste in women."
"How dare you talk to me like that?" The old man was furious. "Have you gone crazy? Or have you forgotten who I am?"
Alex hadn't forgotten how ruthless his grandfather was, but his only reason for taking the hardest blow was Joanna.
He got her into his complicated family and business life and had to protect her until the six months were over. "So when and where is the venue for this meeting?"
"At the family house this weekend. You better send me the details of that wife of yours," the old man demanded, but as for that, Alex could not allow it.
"I won't. You already threatened her life, so you won't know anything about her until I bring her."
"Ah, Alex, you have ruined everything. Even when the news sufficed that you were paralyzed, the Bakers did not pull out of the agreement when no woman was ready to settle with you. At least you got better, and you are paying them with the back of your hand?"
Alex laughed. Only he knew the details of that accident and the reason the media got a hang of the news, but it was not exactly what the old man thought it was.
However, this was not the time to go into the details of that matter.
"Grandpa, you know nothing about my accident, but that woman you call my bride would never be it. Better not get my wife upset, or you'll never see me again."
"Ah,"
Cough, cough.
It seemed to Alex that something was happening to the old man for him to suddenly cough so huskily. "Grandpa, are you alright?"
Someone answered the phone, but it was not Aristotle. "Alexander, you know about your grandfather's condition, so why make him upset?" He heard the voice of his grandfather's nurse.
"How is he?" Alex asked in a calm tone. No matter what happens between them, his grandfather was still the greatest protector and peacemaker of the family.
"Unconscious. I'm getting him to the hospital now," the nurse replied. Alex closed his eyes and sighed.
"I'll meet you there." He ended the call before saying to Ike, "Ike, change of plans. Let's go to the family hospital."
As soon as they arrived at the underground car park of the hospital, Alex stepped out of the car, waiting for Ike to get his wheelchair when his phone beeped. It was a text message from Edmund.
'Sir, are you sure she's a good woman? This is something the detective I set on her found just a few minutes ago.'
The image was blurry, so Alex clicked it to have a clear view, and something dimmed in his eyes.
His hand holding the phone shook a little, but then, he felt something cold behind his head before a familiar voice spoke.
"If you move, I will blow your fucken brains off."