Chapter 27

"I know. I know that you still miss that person. I know that you are still looking for that person after so much time has passed. Maybe it's all my fault. I should not have sent you go that town. I lost my son and I had to take care of the company, you weren't in your best condition and I just thought that sending you away will be the best option, I did not really think that you were going to meet her. No meeting her was a good thing. It was perfect. I did not think that that incident was going to happen, it's all because I was trying to run away from responsibilities. Maybe things were hard, but only if had let you stay here..." John's voice trailed off.
Raymond looked at his grandfather wide eyed. Is he saying that he is feeling guilty now? The both of them had never really talked about what happened then like this. He still remembered what happened that year. In that accident that took his parents life, he was the only one that surivived. But that did not mean that he was fine. He had PTSD. He also had to see a physicatrist. As if that was not enough, they were share holders who tried to take advantage of the situation. His grandfather just did not want him to be a part of it.
And so he sent him away. There was no way that he blamed his grandfather for what happened then. He just did what was best. He lost his son and his son's wife. The company that he spent his entire life trying to build up was about to be swallowed up by greedy people who wanted to take advantage of the situation. He had a grandson who was sick because of the accident. How could he have managed those things on his own? He could not and so he sent him away.
Actually the fact that he sent him away, it wasn't actually a completely bad thing. He was only trying to look out for him and take care of him in the best way possible. It would have been great, if only that had not happened. If only he did not get into that incident with her, everything would have been great. Raymond was the one who was feeling really guilty. He did not talk about it but for the past eleven years he has been carrying around that guilt. If it wasn't for him, that would not have happened to that girl. She would still be around, with her family.
But because she was trying to save him, she disappeared. Raymond did not want to accept that she died. When he could not find her, he tried to contact her family. She never told him anything about her family anyway so it was a long time before he found anything. He found out that her family already left the day after the incident. They already left that small town. He felt horrible, but he couldn't do anything anyway. Raymond shook his head. There was no need for him to think about these things. He would just focus on finding her this time then he can be free from that Joanna. "Grandpa, I already decided. I'm going to marry Joanna Anderson" Raymond said. For six months. Held going to marry Joanna Anderson. He really did not want to do this. But his grandfather already made so much sacrifices for him. He was mourning his son but he did not care. He did everything to hold on to his grandson because he wanted to make sure to give the company to him. He did not even have the time to mourn his son properly. And then, that happened. His grandfather sent him away because he wanted him to get better but he came back much more worse than before. But his grandfather still did not care. He still tried to take care of him in the best way possible. He was sure that for six months he will be able to put up with that woman so that his grandfather can get better.
That was all that he wanted. For his grandfather to get better. For these six months, nothing is going to happen right? Everything is going to go according to his plan. He already made up his mind and he is going to do it but he could not help but feel uneasy, like something is going to happen.
John looked at his grandson. He couldn't figure out what was going on in his head. Did he just day that he is going to get married to Joanna? He just told him that he is going to get married to Joanna? What the hell happened to him? What did he do when he went out of the hospital just now? He was hoping to use his fake sickness to convince him to get married but he did not think that it was going to be this way. For good ness sake he had been trying to convince Raymond for so long now!
He wanted to think that Raymond probably fell in love with Joanna but he knew that if did not make any sense. There is no way that that happened. There had to be something else. Raymond, what is he trying to do? He isn't going to play some tricks on him Right? "What? Raymond what did you say? You are going to get married to Joanna? You are not trying to trick me right.? What is going on here?" John asked. He was really confused.
Raymond laughed. He knew why his grandfather was acting like this. He told him about an hour ago that he was in love with someone else. And he even told him that he is going to find her no matter what and now he is saying that he wants to get married to Joanna. Of course his grandfather was going to be surprised. He knew that it was probably going to be easier if he just explained to his grandfather the type of deal that he and Joanna had but he did not want to do it.
He was still sick right now his main focus should be how he is going to get better. If he told him that he plans to divorce Joanna Anderson after six months, won't it make him get even worse? He did not tell him. When he finds April, it won't be too late to tell him about it then. "Grandpa, you've been nagging me about getting married right? Well I'm going to get married to Joanna Anderson. As you said, she isn't such a bad choice after all. Do you not want me to marry her anymore?" Raymond asked.
John looked at Raymond. Now he was more then convinced that something is going on. Is this the same person who told him that he is in love with someone else and that no matter what he won't be able to fall in love with someone else in this lifetime? He did not want his son to hold on to that but still...! He just told him this less than an hour ago. How did he come up with the conclusion that he is going to get married to Joanna? Why did he change his mind so soon?
Is it because he made him believe that he was dying? This is what it was supposed to achieve but it was just so quick. He could not help but think that Raymond was trying to fool him. "I really want you to get married to Joanna but you just told me less than an hour ago that you are still in love with that person. How did you change your mind so soon? You are not trying to fool me right? What is really going on with you Raymond. I know that there is something going on!" John accused.
Raymond sighed. He should have known that his grandfather won't fall for something like this so easily. He just told him that he is in love with someone else and now he leaves and comes back and he says that he is going to do as he said and marry Joanna.? He is a smart man and he will definitely know that something is going on. But still, he did not want to tell him. It was for his own good. He won't be able to forgive himself if something happens to him. He can sacrifice himself for six months for that.
"I already said that I am going to get married to Joanna. Isn't that what you always wanted me to do? Now that I said that I am going to do it you should be happy. Why do you keep asking me so many questions? And what? I am trying to trick you? Why on Earth will I want to trick you? What am I going to get from trying to trick you? I don't want to trick you. Joanna and I already talked about it. Tommorow, an article about our marriage is going to come out. I came back this late to tell you about it because I don't want you to be surprised when it happens and you keep suspecting me and telling me that I'm trying to trick you!" Raymond said. He was trying to act angry so his grandfather will stop asking him questions.
John looked at Raymond. He was even getting angry now. Now he was more than convinced that something is going on. But he did not want to think about it anymore. He already said that he is going to marry Joanna, that should be good enough right? If he thinks that he can get rid of Joanna so easily then he won't let him. Once the both of them get married, there won't be a way for him to run anymore right? And he already said that he is going to release and article tommorow about the both of them getting married, that should be great.
He should just go along with the flow for now. The both of them should get married first. Then he is going to find out whatever he is thinking. If he thinks that he can mess with him and get out of this marriage then he is mistaken. "Seriously?! You are really going to marry Joanna right? It's not as if I don't trust you it's just that it's so sudden and I was so happy. It's good that you and Joanna already talked about it. We should not waste any more time!" John said. He was really happy. He could leave the hospital now.
Once again, Raymond thought about April. She was such a sweet and wonderful girl. Who could have thought? He was sure that she would have been doing great by now if that had not happened. But because she was trying to save him, she disappeared. Raymond did not want to accept that she died. When he could not find her, he tried to contact her family. She never told him anything about her family anyway so it was a long time before he found anything. She really did not talk about her family.
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira