Chapter 23

He ignored his grandfather for so long! If only his phone was turned off he would have known that there was something wrong with his grandfather and he would have come to see him since then! Then maybe his condition would never have gotten so bad. He really is a terrible grandson. His grandfather had done so much for him but he can't even look after him properly. And now he got sick because of him! "He is inside right? I can see him right?" Raymond did not want for the director's response. He went in to to see his grandfather.
Raymond entered the ward. He felt terrible when he saw his grandfather like this. It is all his fault! He was feeling really terrible and guilty now. It really is his fault that his grandfather was like this. He knew that it had something to do with him getting married. This topic always triggered him. today, when he did not come back, he must have thought about it a lot and he ended up hurting himself and getting so sick. And his phone was even turned off! He ignored his grandfather for so long. He had turned off his phone because he did not want to talk about what he talked about with Joanna he turned off his phone. .
If only he did not try to avoid talking about this! Right now, he was ready to do anything to make sure that he saw his grandfather better again! "Grandfather, I'm, I'm really very sorry. It's all my fault that this happened to you. If it wasn't for me then you won't be like this now. I'm really sorry grandfather. I'm going to do whatever you want now. I really don't want you to be sick anymore!" Raymond said. He still remembered what the doctor said. He had triggered him in some way. He had to listen to the old man now.
Peter his the smile that was growing on his face. This plan of his really is very full proof. He had not even said anything and this stubborn grandson of this is already saying that he will do whatever he says. It really is a wonderful development. He really had to thank that director. He made everything seem so believable. He was able to fool his grandson because of him. He wanted to smile but he remembered that Raymond must not know what is going on. Raymond is really smart and he would definitely figure out that something was going on if he made a mistake.
"Sigh..I am just an old man, at this stage, what could I possibly get from life? I already lived my life to the fullest and I don't have anything that I want anymore. The only thing that I really wanted was to see my grandson get married. But you don't want to. Cough cough. There is nothing that I can do then" Peter said. His voice was so pitiful. Anyone could feel the sadness from his voice. But only he knew just how happy he was right now. He is going to get his son married to that woman no matter what! No matter what happens he is going to make sure that Raymond marries Joanna Anderson.
Raymond sighed. He could see where his grandfather was going with this. He is in such a pitiful state and he is still trying to get him to get married. Does he really want him to get married to that woman so much? But he really can't do it. He can't marry someone that he does not love. And the only person that he will ever love is April. "Dad, you really want me to get married right? You want me to marry that woman right? Marriage should be between people who are in love. I don't love that woman dad. I am in love with someone else" Raymond said.
John opened his mouth in surprise. His grandson is in love with someone? How did this happen? When did he fall in love with someone else? He had people in his company who told him what he was up to. He had never been seen with any woman. So how can he have someone that he is in love with? Is that why he has been refusing the marriages? If he has someone that he is in love with then he should tell him about it! He will definitely make sure that Raymond marries the woman! He would have liked for Joanna Anderson to become his grand daughter in law but if Raymond is in love with someone else then he will definitely accept it!
Why did he keep something like this from him? He really could not figure out what Raymond is thinking! "What? Raymond there is someone that you are in love with? If you have someone that you are in love with why did you not tell me about it? Why did you keep something like this from me? Do you really consider me as your grandfather at all? I really cannot figure out what you are thinking. If there is someone that you love then you should get married to her as soon as possible! Or, did she reject you?" John asked. He doubted the last part though. Will a woman really reject his grandson?
Raymond sighed. His grandfather did not get him at all. He is in love with someone, but he can't marry her right now. Because he does not know where she is right now. He really was using up all of his energy to look for her but so far, he did not get anything out of it. But he did not want to give up though. He knew that she was still alive. He won't stop looking for her. Until he finds her, he can't get married. He can't be with another woman except her. She really is the only woman that he will love.
He felt bad that he won't be able to fulfil this one wish of his grandfather but there really was nothing that he could do. He really could not look at another person besides her at all. "Grandpa, I am in love with someone else. So I can't be with any of the women that you keep finding for me. I love her, but I can't get married to her right now. I don't know where she is right now. But besides that woman, I really can't love someone else" Raymond said. He finally came clean about his feelings to his grandfather. If he could not give him what he wants he should at least be honest with him right?
John opened his mouth in shock. He could not believe what he was hearing from his grandson. Immediately he said that he did not know where the woman is, John immediately knew who he was talking about. So after all these years, Raymond still did not give up on looking for that girl? How can he still be looking for her? She is already dead! They could not even find a body! How can Raymond still be so sure that she is alive? This really is very sad. That year, because Raymond kept insisting on it, he had people look for her.
But after so many months, nothing came up. They could not find her at all! She probably died in the water that day! The waves had carried her away. She was just a little girl, there is no way that she could have survived. Actually, it's a miracle that people were able to save Raymond, so how can she still be alive? Why can't Raymond still come to terms with her death yet? "Raymond, I, you, you still think that that girl is alive? It's already been so long and you haven't found out anything about her! How can you still think that she is alive?" John asked.
Raymond sighed. Everyone who knew about the incident told him that he was crazy for thinking that she might still be alive. Eleven years have already passed so how can she still be alive? It was a really deep river, after searching for so long they did not even find a body, so how come he is still insisting that she is alive? But for Raymond, the fact that they did not find a body was a confirmation that she is still alive. He firmly believed that she is still alive somewhere and he is going to find her.
He already lost his heart to her eleven years ago when he saw her for the first time. He already knew that in this lifetime, he won't be able to fall in love with another person in this lifetime. Sometimes, he felt like he was really stupid. But being stupid for her, felt like a really good thing to him. "Grandpa, she is not dead! She is still alive. They could not find a body that means that she is still alive somewhere right? I'm going to find her. I'm definitely going to find her. But until then, I can't be with another person" Raymond said.
John felt really sorry for his grandson. He has had to suffer so many things in this life. He lost his parents at once in a car accident. He almost died in that accident and when he woke up, he slipped into depression. He sent him to that town hoping that it would help him get better and he met that girl there. He had to admit that the few months that he was with that girl was the happiest of his life. He had never seen Raymond smiled the way he smiled whenever he looked at her.
But that day, that tragic incident had to happen. That girl did not think twice about it and she gave up herself for Raymond. Actually, if she was still alive, he would definitely approve of the both of them being together. But she is already dead! How can Raymond still miss her till now? Eleven years have already passed! "Raymond, but she is already dead! I know that she is important to you but eleven years have passed! You have to let her go now!" John said.
Raymond wanted to yell that she is not dead. He wanted to yell that he believed that she is still alive and that he is going to find her no matter the cost but he held himself back. His grandfather is still in this condition and the doctor said that he should not agitate him. Talking about these things were only going to make his condition worse. He won't try to argue about it with his grandfather anymore. However he knew that he won't be able to fall in love with someone else besides her.
"Grandfather, you are already in such a grave condition. You don't need to worry about things like this. It's only going to get you worked up for nothing. Don't think about it too much. I know that you want me to get married to Joanna Anderson but I won't be able to love her. I can't do that" Raymond said. And besides, he really hated that woman now. She really is so annoying. He would be doomed if he had to spend his life with her!
John remembered that he was supposed to be dying right now. Because that girl was brought up, he instantly forget what he was supposed to be doing. He was lucky that Raymond did not notice that something was wrong with his acting. John really wanted Raymond to get married to her. He had to think of something quick. Since he said that he is in love with that girl, then he would have to think of a way to make a bargain with him.
John immediately went back to his dying act. "I'm already at this point, I think that I won't be able to live for long. Can't you fulfil this one wish of mine before I die?
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira