The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 60: She Is Already My Wife

Chapter 60: She Is Already My Wife

"Auntie, I will greet Grandpa first." He left without waiting for her response.

"Happy birthday Grandpa. I’m sorry I did not prepare a gift. But with your power and riches, what else would you lack?" Jax intentionally spoke in a loud voice so everyone heard him.

"Hello Father, I haven’t seen you in a long time." He greeted the middle-aged man sitting to the right of his grandfather impolitely.

"You rascal! Why are you here?" George narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jax.

"Grandpa you hurt my feelings. Of course, it is your birthday so I am here to greet you. Am I not your ’favorite’ grandson? After all, I am your ’only’ grandson from your firstborn." He laughed but there was no laughter in his eyes.

"Now that you have greeted Dad, go greet your mother and your siblings." Jaime Lee commanded him in a domineering tone.

"She is not my mother." Jax retorted angrily.

"What’s with the attitude? Show respect to your elder." Grandpa Lee put down the glass he was holding with a bang.

"I’m sorry Grandpa. I’ll go now and greet Sofia and my siblings." Jax always called his stepmom on a firstname basis. He turned to leave but pivoted as if he remembered something.

"Congratulations on your marriage cousin. You are so secretive. I bet even Grandpa did not know about it?" He sneered before walking towards the table of his stepmom and half-siblings.

An awkward silence ensued after Jax revealed that Erik was married.

"You insolent fool! Why did you marry without discussing it with us first? What is her family background?" Grandpa Lee roared. He hit Erik with his cane. Even though Erik dodged, his shoulder was still hit.

Aryana cringed and looked at Erik worriedly. She felt the scorching gazes from different directions.

"Grandpa, I am already old. I am almost thirty. I know what to do." Erik said sternly. "Don’t create a ruckus on such an auspicious occasion Grandpa." He added, trying to coax him. He threw a cold stare at Jax. How dare he messed up Erik’s plans.

"Hmm, I’ll talk to you later in the study." He gestured to the butler and whispered something in his ear.

"Grandpa your granddaughters will sing a song for you. This is our birthday gift for you." It was Grandpa Lee’s youngest daughter Alicia Lee. She had a twin who was just six years old. His father doted on her and to impress him, she had someone tutor the two kids to sing a song.

Alicia selected a fitting song to butter up with his father. The title of the song was ’Wind Beneath My Wings.’

The twins sang beautifully but towards the middle of the song they forgot the lyrics and started to panic. They were about to cry especially when they saw their mother looking at them fiercely.

"Serves her right. Why would she push her children too much just to butter up to Dad?" Martha sneered.

The instinct of a teacher took over Aryana. She stood up and squatted in front of the twins so they were at eye level with her. She started singing the song to guide them. Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ears. Her voice did not overpower that of the children but blended it in such a way that hers was just a backup.

[Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?

You’re everything, everything I wish I could be,

Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle

For you are the wind beneath my wings

’Cause you are the wind beneath my wings]

The twins finished the song beautifully. They sang a birthday song after and Grandpa Lee was beaming with happiness when the twins went to him and gave him a hug. He handed both of them a thick red envelope.

Aryana stood but because she squatted for too long, she felt that her legs were numb. She staggered and was about to fall when two strong hands held her on her waist. She held onto Erik’s shoulder and balanced herself. She was saved from the impending fall.

Aryana looked into a gentle gaze. Her face became red as she murmured "thank you."

"You did well Yana," Erik whispered in her ear. He escorted her back to her table and pulled a chair for her.

Alicia approached Aryana and Erik.

"Thank you for helping them out earlier." She said politely.

"No worries. Your twins are so cute and they sing very well." Aryana sincerely praised the children which delighted Alicia who was grinning from ear to ear.

When dinner was over, Grandpa Lee called Erik and Henry to the study.

Aryana was very nervous. Erik squeezed her hand lightly and gave her a reassuring smile.

"It will be fine. Stay here and try to get to know my cousins, uncles, and aunts."

Aryana nodded and smile back at him. Deep inside she was very uncomfortable and scared.

Megan and Justin mingled with their cousins while Martha went to the other table to gossip with her sisters-in-law.

Jax chuckled behind her.

"Looks like we share the same fate tonight Aryana Jones. We are the odd ones. We don’t belong here." He said with a hint of bitterness.

He was holding a bottle of wine in his right hand. He poured the wine into his glass and also poured a glass for Aryana.

Aryana took a sip and gauged Jax. She was trying to read what his motives were in getting close to her. Unknown to her, sharp gazes from Erik’s uncles were directed at them.

"Auntie, can you teach us to play piano?" Two cute voices brought her attention away from Jax.

"Sure. Can you lead me to where the piano is?" She asked sweetly.

The twin flanked her at both sides. They hold her hands and dragged her along the cobbled path that lead back to the mansion.

Aryana looked back at Jax and smiled.

"I’m gonna change my fate tonight." She said loudly before she disappeared with the twins.

...

Inside the study, both George and Henry were fuming.

"How did I give birth to a fool like you? You can keep her as your mistress but why would you marry her? She is a nobody! Aren’t you ashamed to marry a chauffeur’s daughter?" Henry berated Erik.

"What? She is a daughter of who?" George asked angrily.

"Dad, she is the daughter of Robert Jones. Erik’s driver."

George clutched his chest. His heart was aching and he felt the veins bulging on his forehead.

"Grandpa you have to relax. She is already my wife." Erik said sternly.

George’s blood boiled. He picked up the ashtray on top of his desk and threw it to Erik. Erik dodged. The ashtray hit the wall before it fell down on the carpeted floor still intact. George cursed under his breath. He hit Erik with his cane. This time Erik did not dodge but shielded his face with his arms.

"Grandpa, take hold of your temper. Remember that cane is one of a kind. If you broke that you will regret it later."

George was exasperated. He sat down on the chair and tried to control his breathing. His grandson wanted to anger him to his death.

"Divorce her! She does not deserve you." Henry barked at Erik angrily.

"And who do you think is deserving of me? That slut Julia who slept with Franco?" Erik retorted sarcastically.

Henry was silent. How can Julia be stupid and not know that the man was Franco and not Erik?

"At least you were sensible enough to keep your marriage a secret. Find time to divorce her. You can keep her if you want but she can never carry my surname." George said with finality.

***

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