The Royal Contract

Then, he just learned that Ethan also had a heart attack just a few hours ago. David said that he could handle the situation while he was gone, but he was still concerned about the repercussion if Ethan turned for the worse.

“Just call me if you need me to return soon.” He told David on the line, knowing that they had to help Alex with the company. Usually, when the founder of a company dies, many vultures would circle, wanting a piece of what was left. Many would take advantage of the vulnerability of the company.

Although Alex was now the CEO, Ethan still held the majority share. It would not be a problem if Ethan left everything to Dani. But he recently learned that one of their partners turned out to be a Hamilton, too. So, that would complicate the situation.

“You take care of your grandmother and enjoy your vacation. Alex and I can handle this for now.” David ordered him as he hung up the call.

Well.

He guessed he better check on Lance while he was here. He had been close to him since they were almost the same age. Although they never agreed in terms of girls. Lance was a one-woman man while he was still unable to commit to anyone.

.....

Why should he settle for one woman? He was still young. But the image of a particular woman nagged at his mind. But he shook his head, not wanting to think about her.

“Would you stop moving around? You are again making me dizzy.” His grandmother complained as her eyes followed his movement with curiosity.

He did not notice that she was awake. The last time he checked on her, she was fast asleep. Well, she must have woken up from his noise.

“I am sorry, Grandmama. I thought you were asleep.” He walked towards her and kissed her on the forehead.

To top it all off, he had to worry about his grandmother. But it had nothing to do with her physical health condition. She seemed to enjoy her stay at the hospital too much.

He was starting to suspect that she was faking her sickness, noticing a few inconsistencies in her symptoms. She seemed to be ok, despite just having a mild heart attack.

He was a lawyer. He could spot these things easily. Now, he could see that her grandmother probably planted her friend, playing matchmaker on his behalf, so that she could force him to return home and stay for good.

It had always been what his grandmother always wanted for him. But it was not what he wanted. He was happy where he was, but he wished that his grandmother would go with him.

“I am awake now,” Angela answered him with a no-nonsense smile. “Who just called?” She finally asked when he stayed silent as he stood beside her, holding her hand.

Finally, he slumped his body on the nearby chair and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he would rather be back in his office than deal with his grandmother, who had her eyes focused on his face.

How could he have fallen into this trap? He knew he could not lie to her. She always knew when he was not telling the truth. But he could not keep tolerating her wish for him to find a girl and settle down.

“It is not important.” He answered her, changing his frown into a smile as he looked at her. He did not want her to suspect anything. Besides, he had been on the phone almost every minute since the last hour, so it was unlikely his grandmother would think he talked to her friend.

“You know that I raise you, right?” Angela looked him deeply in the eye, sitting comfortably on her bed.

She was supposed to be discharged from the hospital today, but suddenly she came up with an excruciating pain coming from her side. So, the doctors had to hold the discharge papers and had her for another set of tests and observations.

But the way she was acting now. She seemed to have forgotten all about the pain, but still, he could not call her on her lie. He had to pretend that she was sick.

He also did not have the heart to break his grandmother’s heart by telling her that he saw through her facade. He still wanted her to believe that she was a good actress. It was the least he could do for all her sacrifices for him.

“Of course, Grandmama. Do you need anything?” Evan sweetly asked, knowing that when she started with that question. He had to prepare for what was next.

“I did not raise you to lie or be rude, not even on the phone.” She voiced her concern, using that tone that could melt anyone’s heart.

He remembered confessing his sins when he was young to her after she caught him doing something she did not like. He would not go into details, but as a result, he had never lied since then.

So, no matter what he did, bad or good, he would tell her. Because lying to her was not an option. Now, he wondered what he should say to her. It would appear she had heard something earlier.

“Ok. Amelia called, but...” He was about to make some excuse, but he lost the chance when her eyes narrowed at him. He knew that look, and he better shut his mouth since, in her eyes, he had made a grave mistake.

“I don’t know what you have against that beautiful, kind-hearted woman. You could not even be polite to her on the phone. Did she do something so terrible for you to act that way?” Angela asked him, disappointment displayed magnificently in her eyes.

If other people could see this interaction, many would side with her. She was giving a spectacular show for his benefit. But just like she said, she raised him. He knew most of her tricks.

“Ok, fine. I will call Amelia and apologize.” He knew it was the only answer that his grandmother would accept.

With that, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and called. But he pretended to be busy dialing, but he could see in his peripheral vision that his grandmother was sporting a satisfied smile.

But he noticed that she had been waiting for her to visit the whole day despite Amelia informing her that she would not be able to come. He would bet that something was going on with his grandmother.

He knew it. He was right about all of this. He believed this was just an elaborate matchmaking scheme that her grandmother planned. But he would show her that her plans would not work. Not on him anyway.

But he wondered if Amelia was innocent about this and just another victim like him, or was she on it with his grandmother.

He would find out eventually.

He could sniff a setup from a mile away. And this was stinking like a fish.