Bella's eyes narrowed slightly as she listened to Ethan's fabricated story about how they met. She couldn't believe how effortlessly he spun the tale, making it sound so and serendipitous.
She raised an eyebrow, her gaze locked on Ethan's trying to convey her amusement and skepticism. Ethan sensing her gaze turned to her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
He gave her a subtle wink, and Bella's lips twitched, suppressing a smile. She couldn't help but be impressed by his skillful deception.
Henry, oblivious to the exchange nodded enthusiastically, his face aglow with delight. "Ah, how wonderful! You two were meant to be. I can see that now."
Bella's smile grew and she leaned into Ethan playing along with the charade. "Yes Grandfather, it was love at first sight," she said her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ethan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled his hand finding hers giving it a gentle squeeze. The two of them continued to spin their web of lies, enjoying the game of deception and the warmth of Henry's approval.
As the afternoon wore on, Henry's affection for Bella only grew stronger, unaware of the true nature of their relationship. Ethan and Bella exchanged subtle glances, careful not to reveal the truth about their contract marriage.
Henry, still under the impression that their marriage was a genuine one, continued to lavish praise on Bella, much to Ethan's amusement.
"You two are meant to be," Henry said, beaming with joy. "I can see the love radiating between you. When are you planning to start a family?"
Bella's eyes widened, and she shot Ethan a panicked glance. They hadn't discussed this aspect of their arrangement, and she wasn't sure how to respond.
Ethan quickly intervened, trying to deflect the question. "Grandfather, we're taking things slow. We want to enjoy each other's company before making any big decisions."
Henry nodded understandingly, but Bella could sense a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Of course, of course. I just want to see you two happy."
As the visit drew to a close Ethan and Bella breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that their secret remained safe. They stood up to say their goodbyes to Henry. Despite the initial shock and skepticism, Henry's expression had softened, and he seemed to be genuinely warming up to Bella.
"Thank you for coming Bella," Henry said, his voice gruff but kind. "I'm glad to see Ethan has found someone who cares for him. Take care of him dear."
Bella smiled, her eyes still a little red from earlier. "I will grandpa. Thank you for welcoming me into your family."
Henry nodded, his eyes twinkling. "We're family now."
Ethan smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Maybe this was going to work out after all.
As they left Henry's mansion, Ethan turned to Bella and whispered, "Well, that was a success. Grandfather is completely smitten with you."
Bella rolled her eyes smiling wryly. "Thanks to your flawless acting skills."
Ethan chuckled. "Hey, someone's got to keep up the charade. Remember, we're in this together."
Bella nodded, her expression turning serious. "I know. But how much longer do we have to keep this up? I'm not sure how much more of this pretending I can handle. Your grandpa seems like a nice person so why can't you just marry someone you really love and introduce her to him"
Ethan's expression stiffened his eyes locked on hers. "I know it's not easy, but we need to keep up the act for a little while longer. Grandfather's health is fragile, and I don't want to risk upsetting him." He answered avoiding Bella's statement.
Bella nodded, understanding. "Okay, I get it. But what about when he asked about children? We can't keep dodging that question forever."
Ethan's face went blank, and for a moment, Bella wondered if she'd overstepped. But then, he smiled wryly. "Leave that to me. I'll handle it."
Bella raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan to handle it?"
Ethan's smile grew, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Let's just say I have a plan. Trust me, Bella. I've got this."
Bella nodded and the drive back home became silent, with Bella lost in thought. Ethan glanced over at her occasionally, noticing the faraway look in her eyes. He wondered what she was thinking about, but didn't push her to talk.
As they drove, Bella's mind wandered back to her brother Ken, lying in the hospital bed, fighting for his life against leukemia. She felt a pang of guilt for not being able to visit him. She thought about how much she missed him, she thought to visit him or ask Ethan for his phone to call him since she gave hers to ken.
Ethan's voice broke the silence, "Hey, you okay? You've been quiet for a while now."
Bella startled, realizing she had been lost in thought. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about some stuff."
Ethan nodded, not pushing her to talk. "We're almost home. Do you want to go out for dinner, or eat in?"
Bella shrugged, still distracted. "Whatever you want, Ethan."
The silence returned, with only the sound of the engine breaking the stillness. Ethan wondered what was going on in Bella's mind, but knew better than to push her. For now, he just drove, lost in his own thoughts.