Chapter 0043
KIAN’S POV
Grandfather makes himself comfortable on one of the sofas that adorn my office, sipping on the cup of chamomile tea that Peter prepared for him before leaving me to deal with the problem at hand. A huge
one.
My grandfather has always been spontaneous, with a child–like and carefree attitude that makes one wonder how he ran this company for thirty years. So, his sudden appearance shouldn’t surprise me. However, I can’t help it.
Nothing prepared me for his return since he isn’t supposed to be anywhere near here until the following year but there he is, sipping quietly and smiling to himself, clearly happy to be back home while I am going crazy thinking about what to tell him first- the fact that I am expecting a child from another woman who isn’t Leslie or the fact that we divorced.
The migraine from earlier this morning returns with full force as it slams into my head at the thought of how revealing both things would go. None of the scenarios I come up with in my mind are good.
Grandfather trusts me so much and I fear the disappointment I would see in his eyes when he learns of the baby. But the thing is, more than that old man trusts me, he adores Leslie. So much that I got so sick of the affection towards her. The same affection that made him rope us into a loveless marriage.
I’ve seen that man refuse to eat anything unless it was made by Leslie. Seen him refuse to be cared for by anyone other than Leslie when his heart disease first began. Heck, that man made my wife sit by him late into the night to watch cartoons while their giddy laughters kept me up in my own room.
So, telling him we divorced is just as bad as telling him I cheated on her. I am going insane behind my desk while also keeping the pretense of rounding up work before I can attend to him.
Unable to remain seated anymore, I excuse myself, telling him I need to make an important call outside the office to which he just waved me off
Outside the office, I make an international call. The doctor picks at the first ring
“Mr Winston! It is an honor to see your name flash on my screen aga-”
“What the fuck is my grandfather doing here?” I ask in a low yet aggressive voice.
The doctor seems taken aback but manages to get himself back together, clearing his throat as he
speaks.
“I am sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Mr Winston. Your grandfather’s health results surprised us over the course of the week after we sent our last email. He was strong enough to leave the hospital for a few days and I couldn’t stop him when he said he wanted to go home to you.”
I run my hands through my hair, releasing a silent curse under my breath that the doctor must have caught on to
1 don’t understand this reaction, sir. I thought you would be happy to know that he is doing well.” The doctor says but I ignore his words to ask a question plaguing my mind instead.
“When you said in that email that he shouldn’t be stressed, what kind of stress did you mean?”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0043
“Well, basically anything that can make his health go bad again.”
I suck in a breath before I ask again, “Does telling him about my divorce count?”
“If he’s emotionally connected to it, then yes.”
My grip on the phone tightens. I end the call before the doctor can finish his next statement that’s along the lines of the days my grandfather has to stay here before returning.
I
I return to the office, my steps slow and lacking confidence.
“Was that Leslie?” He asked, “I came all the way here instead of going home first just so I could see her and it’s strange she isn’t here. That girl has never missed a day at work.” He smiles wide, his eyes shining. Oh, grandfather is more than just connected to this. Heck, he is the root of the connection. 1
I swallow hard and think of the best way to go about this. For one, I’m grateful he didn’t go straight home. The shock could have done something terrible to him. At least now, I can prepare him for it.
“Grandfather, Leslie…Leslie isn’t here anymore.” What I want to say is ‘Leslie and I divorced/went our separate ways‘ but I can’t bring myself to tell him in that way.
did the right thing by
“Wait…she stopped working?” He laughs, clapping in excitement, “Kian, you finally making that stubborn girl stop working. She never listened when I told her she didn’t have to lift a finger for the rest of her life when she has you!”
As I watch and hear him laugh, my heart clenches. I can’t do this. I can’t tell him about the divorce. I have to do something. A dangerous thought crosses my mind at that moment and I shoot out of my seat before I can change my mind.
“Grandfather, stay here. I’ll be right back!”
I rush out of the office and give stern warnings to Peter on the way out. He is to keep my grandfather here at all costs till I get back.
My destination is Hanson’s Fashion Company.
