Mr. CEO Sassy Bride

“Grandma!” Nelson and Leilani exclaimed in unison, taken aback by the unexpected guest.

In unison, they descendedthe remaining steps and made their way to the entrance where Susan stood.

From the kitchen, two maids appeared, having heard Susan’s voice, and Susan instructed them to retrieve her luggage from the trunk.

“My dearest,” Susan beamed, opening her arms to welcome Leilani into a warm embrace.

Without hesitation, Leilani reciprocated eagerly, holding on tightly. “I’ve missed you so much, Mom,” she admitted, her grip loosening slightly.

Nelson couldn’t help but smile to himself, observing the way they resembled a perfect mother-daughter pair.

“I’ve missed you more, my dear,” Susan cooed, pulling away gently. She brushed away a few stray strands of Leilani’s hair and noticed her reddened eyes, a sign she had been crying.

Susan’s expression became tense as she turned her attention to her son. “What did you do to her, Nelson? Why did she have to cry so much?” she demanded, her anger evident in both her words and her expression.

Leilani and Nelson exchanged a quick glance before Leilani waved her hand dismissively.

“No, Mom. He didn’t do anything,” she defended. “In fact, he did something, but it was something good and unforgettable,” she finished with a wide grin.

Susan breathed a sigh of relief and her own face lit up with a smile as she observed the rapport between the two.

“Son,” she addressed Nelson, moving closer and cupping his cheeks affectionately.

“Just realizing you have an only son?” Nelson quipped, feigning annoyance.

Susan chuckled and pulled him into a hug, enveloping him in her arms. “I’ve missed you, Nelson,” she whispered.

Nelson returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around his mother lovingly. “I’ve missed you more, Mom. Please don’t ever leave like that again,” he implored.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they made their way towards Susan’s room, ascending the staircase.

“Doctor Naomi is coming tomorrow, Nelson,” Susan informed, causing Nelson to come to a halt.

“Will you be undergoing your next checkup tomorrow?” he inquired, taken aback.

Susan nodded in agreement and replied, “Yes, my dear. I’m sure you would have given me a call if you had remembered.”

Nelson let out a heavy sigh and murmured an apology, but Susan did not take offense.

“Do you think I should stay home with you tomorrow?” Nelson asked as they arrived at Susan’s room.

“Why would you? It’s not like I’m having surgery or anything. Plus, Leilani is here,” Susan reassured with a smile.

*****

Sighing deeply, Leilani gazed at the covered dishes she had prepared for the past two hours on the table.

Susan had been with the doctor in her bedroom since breakfast, instructing Leilani not to disturb them unless called upon.

However, it was getting late and the food had gone cold, not ideal for a woman of Susan’s age.

What could they still be doing since morning? Shouldn’t the doctor be finished by now?

Unable to sit idly any longer, Leilani got up and made her way to Susan’s bedroom.

She was about to knock on the door when she noticed it was not fully shut.

She cautiously turned the doorknob and pushed it open, only to hear the most shocking news ever.

“Yes, Susan. You have less than a year to live,” the doctor’s words echoed through the room, causing Leilani to gasp and sink to the floor in fear.

What?

“And there’s no chance of extending it for another three years? I just want to see my grandchild. That’s my only wish,” Susan’s voice trembled with emotion despite her attempt to sound stern.

The doctor, who appeared younger than Susan, sat beside her on the bed, his expression mirroring her sadness.

Their relationship had evolved from a simple doctor-patient connection to close friends.

“I’m deeply sorry, Susan. It’s an advanced-stage pancreatic cancer and there is nothing more we can do,” the doctor confirmed in a sorrowful tone, prompting Susan to burst into tears.

Her sobs grew louder and she knew that the tears were not only her own.

However, she pondered if it was Doctor Naomi, but then Leilani’s shattered voice resonated throughout the room.

“Tell me, Mom, that I heard incorrectly,” she pleaded, her sobs escalating.

Susan had not anticipated her sudden intrusion, as she had clearly instructed her not to enter unless summoned. But it was too late, Leilani had overheard everything.

With cautious movements, Susan rose to her feet and approached Leilani, who was weeping inconsolably.

“You must keep this from Nelson, Lani. He mustn’t discover it,” Susan cautioned, struggling to hold back her own tears.

Leilani abruptly stopped sobbing and shook her head in disagreement. “No, Mom. We must inform him. I am certain he will find the best doctor in the entire world to cure the illness. Please, Mom, don’t hide it from him,” she implored, breaking down once again.

She couldn’t accept it. She refused to believe it. In her eyes, Susan was an exceptional mother who did not deserve to die anytime soon.

Susan’s legs were trembling uncontrollably as she approached Leilani and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

“No, Mom. No. You can’t leave Nelson. You can’t leave me. You can’t abandon us, Mom. Please,” Leilani wailed, clutching her chest as if she could stop the pain throbbing there.

At this point, Susan could no longer hold back her tears as she wept just as intensely as Leilani. Even Doctor Naomi couldn’t contain her emotions, silently wiping her tears away.

Some time later, Leilani and Susan were sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard and gripping each other’s hands. The doctor had left a while ago, and they were left to console each other.

“Leilani,” Susan softly uttered, tenderly stroking the back of Leilani’s hand.

Leilani did not respond, her gaze transfixed on nothingness.

“Do you know that Nelson is not my biological son?” Susan asked, and Leilani promptly looked at her in disbelief.

“What?” she whispered, her eyes widening.

“Yes, my dear,” replied Susan with a heavy heart.

“After the tragic loss of Nelson’s parents, I took him under my wing as my own son. You see, I never had a child of my own and that was the reason my husband left me.”

Touched by her words, Leilani listened intently.

Susan’s smile wavered as she continued, “I couldn’t conceive for fifteen long years of my marriage. It’s only natural to get divorced, don’t you think?”

“Nelson’s parents left a significant fortune for their only child and I made sure to take care of him every step of the way,” Susan reminisced.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I watched him grow into a fine young man, and he eventually inherited his parents’ wealth. Everything was going smoothly for him in life and business, until he fell in love.”

Leilani’s eyes never left Susan’s face as she hung onto her every word.

“Ariel, a beautiful woman Nelson met by chance, stole his heart effortlessly,” Susan chuckled.

“He was completely smitten and willing to do anything to make her happy. He even forgot about being a successful business tycoon and indulged in some foolish acts for the sake of love.”

“Despite the warning signs, Nelson sincerely loved Ariel and entrusted her with his private credentials. Little did he know, she would nearly ruin his career,” Susan’s tone turned bitter.

“After Ariel dumped Nelson and ran away with all his possessions, he was left bankrupt and completely devastated for more than a year. It took him a while to pick himself back up and regain all that he had lost,” Susan sighed.

Leilani shook her head in pity, trying to imagine the pain Nelson went through during that time.

“To make a long story short, Ariel is the reason why my Nelson refuses to open his heart again. She’s the one responsible for his icy demeanor,” Susan’s tears began to flow.

“I used to know a lively and cheerful young man, not the cold and distant billionaire he has become. Ariel changed him by breaking his trust,” Susan’s voice shook with emotion.

Leilani’s hands balled into fists, and her nose flared in anger as she absentmindedly listened to Susan’s heartbreaking tale.

The yearning to attain her revenge on that scoundrel Ariel, who had caused Nelson so much agony, consumed her every waking moment.

“I regret burdening you with this, but I implore you to understand that Nelson is not as bad as you may think. He is a kind and generous man, always willing to lend a helping hand. I have no doubt that you could bring him back to his former self, Lani,”

“I long to see him return to his old self. Only then will I find peace, knowing that my son is in good hands,”

Leilani’s tears began to fall as well.

“I have faith in you, Lani. I trust that you can help me bring my son back to me. Will you do it for my sake?” Susan pleaded, her eyes locked with Leilani’s.

Leilani couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

She wished she could grant Susan’s request, but their contractual marriage was soon coming to an end.

The three months they had agreed on were almost up.