Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 58: Terms Can Change

Chapter 58: Terms Can Change

Lancaster Ancestral Mansion.

After a quiet dinner, Alexander’s father invited him to the balcony for tea.

"It’s been a while since you’ve slept here," Rock commented, gazing out at the garden he had meticulously maintained—a garden that once belonged to Alexander’s late mother, Alexa.

"You forced me to leave," Alexander shrugged.

"This brat! When did I ever tell you to move out?" Rock snorted, his mouth twitching in irritation.

"Well, you kept bugging me with those blind dates. I had no choice but to stay away from you, Dad. So in a way, you’re the reason I ran away from home," Alexander replied, his face stoic.

Alexander turned to look his father in the eye and directly asked, "Have you talked to William? Is he involved in my marriage?"

Rock snorted, shaking his head. "That brat ran away the moment I mentioned you were married. He even had the nerve to ask how I found out, and I told him you figured it out last week." He shrugged, clearly amused by the whole situation.

Without missing a beat, Rock shifted gears, his tone softening. "How about you come back home now, and bring your wife with you? It would be nice to have both of you here. You know, I’m not getting any younger, and my health isn’t what it used to be. Having Rain around would be a breath of fresh air, something to brighten up this old place."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Why tell me that? You should ask her. I’ll pick her up tomorrow if she agrees to live here." He then frowned, noticing the wide grin on his father’s face. "Are you that happy?"

Rock nodded. "Very happy. I have a feeling that your marriage with her will work out."

Alexander looked away, muttering, "Just to remind you, we’re getting a divorce in four months, so you’d better enjoy playing father-in-law while you can."

At that moment, Ben arrived with their chamomile tea and poured them each a cup. Rock turned to Ben and said, "Let’s make a bet, Ben. Do you think Alexander will get a divorce in four months or not?"

Alexander remained silent, letting his father indulge in his usual antics.

Ben hesitated before answering, "Yes?" His tone made it sound more like a question.

"I say no!" Rock declared, grinning. "My son will definitely choose to stay married to Rain. Though, I’m not so sure if Rain will want to stay married to him."

Alexander’s patience was wearing thin, but he maintained his composure as he sipped his tea. His father, Rock, was clearly enjoying this, his teasing grin only growing wider.

"Seriously, Dad?" Alexander said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Rock chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "What? A little fatherly confidence never hurt anyone. Besides, it’s not every day that I get to place bets on my own son’s love life."

Alexander rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You’re too much, you know that?"

Rock waved his hand dismissively. "All in good fun, Son. But I do mean it when I say I’m happy about this. Rain seems like a good match for you."

Alexander’s expression softened slightly. "She’s...different, I’ll give you that. But don’t get your hopes up too much, Dad. We’re both clear about the terms of this arrangement."

Rock leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of his tea. "Terms can change. People can change. Just keep that in mind."

Alexander didn’t reply immediately, staring into his cup as if the answers to his father’s words might be found in the swirling tea leaves. After a moment, Alexander looked up and met his father’s gaze. "We’ll see about that, Dad."

Rock smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "And I can’t wait to see how things progress, Son."

Alexander didn’t respond, instead releasing a deep sigh. He knew better than to make any final statements—life was unpredictable, and even he was confused by his own emotions.

The night he spent with Rain at his penthouse haunted him more than he cared to admit. The memory surfaced unexpectedly, making him question whether he was still in control of himself. He had never felt this kind of desire before, not even during his relationship with Carla.

’Is it just pure lust?’ he wondered, his expression darkening.

Meanwhile, Rock was observing his son keenly. It was the first time he had seen Alexander so troubled and distracted. William often teased his older brother about being an "unbothered king," indifferent to most things that didn’t concern family and their business.

After a stretch of silence, Rock couldn’t resist teasing him further. "So Rain was drugged and you brought her to your penthouse?"

Alexander grunted. "I can’t believe you’re stalking me."

"I’m not. Dr. Lambert mentioned it," Rock replied nonchalantly. Then, with a sharp look, he asked, "So, Son... did something happen?"

Alexander’s face reddened, and he opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.

"Ben, look at my son’s face! His ears are also red!" Rock burst out, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Stop that, Dad," Alexander muttered as he stood up.

"A Lancaster must take responsibility for his actions," Rock said firmly.

"What do you take me for?" Alexander retorted, placing his teacup on the table.

"Don’t stay up late. You need rest. You’re starting to imagine things," he added before quickly walking away, leaving the balcony.

Rock’s laughter echoed behind him. Turning to Ben, who sat beside him, Rock gleefully remarked, "Something must have happened between those two, right?"

Ben simply shrugged, but Rock continued, his tone full of amusement, "I have a feeling I’m going to win this bet against you, Ben. What do you say?"

Ben allowed a slight smile. "It seems the odds are in your favor, sir."

"It definitely will," Rock said with conviction. "But even if it doesn’t, I won’t just stand by. I’ll help those two work things out together. I know my son well, Ben. He might not see and realize it yet, but Rain is the right woman for him."

Ben hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sir, if I may ask... Have you considered Miss Rain’s feelings?"

Rock’s lips stretched into a wide grin. "Of course, Ben. Rain likes my son, trust me on this!"