Isabella's POV
The moment Grandma turns off the Television set to cut me short the movie program I am engrossed in while chewing on the homemade popcorn I prepared this morning, I know it is high time we spoke.
"Bella", she calls, dropping the remote control on the small stool beside her and turning to me.
I chew on the remaining popcorn in my mouth and drop the bowl before facing her with a guilty look.
"I want you to tell me what is happening and why you are getting married", she goes straight to the point without beating about the bush.
Feigning confusion with my forehead furrowed, I shake my head. "Why am I getting married? I thought we have talked about this already?"
"Yes, we did but I am still not fully convinced with all you told me", she declares openly, watching me intently for something to hold on to. Probably a flash of guilt. Or breaking down in tears and confessing my sins to her.
But what will any of this do? What good will it bring? Nothing. Absolute nothing. Instead, it will make this issue all the more complicated.
First, Jayden will never let me out of this contract unless it is done and that is after a year.
Secondly, I really want to do this. After the fight with Juliet, I am more than convinced that this is for me and that this is an opportunity that I need to make use of to the best of my ability. I also want to prove a point to Juliet. She betrayed my trust. She betrayed me.
Thirdly, Grandma would never support me. She would never let me do this because of her and this is the most complicated aspect.
Jayden won't let me break this off and Grandma won't let me go ahead with it.
This is the more reason why I should still keep it away from her. She doesn't need to know the truth yet.
After a year, I am going to tell her the truth and plead for her forgiveness. Besides, we would be doing just fine by then. I will get a mart and get her something to do too. It will no longer be a problem because we will both be wealthy by then.
"I told you we fell in love. Aren't two people who are heads over heels in love with each other get married? Nothing should stop them from taking that bold step as long as it has been affirmed by the two of them that they want forever with each other", I find myself saying to her and it's unbelievable.
I do not know where the courage and confidence came from but I am determined to make sure this marriage happens and Grandma knows nothing about what I am hiding until it's done.
Silence creeps in.
She is still watching me. After a while, she leans backward and I avert my gaze from her, already tired of the pretense.
"You love each other, right?" She asks me again as if to be sure or use it as evidence in case something happens in the future.
"Yes, we do", I assert calmly, staring at her now.
"And you are both getting married next week?" She demands and I nod with a big grin on my face to complement my pretense of a happy bride-to-be.
She nods intermittently. "What then do we make of a bride's groom not showing up after the first day he met with the bride's only surviving family member?"
Confusion skates my expression.
"I haven't seen your groom since the other day. How do you expect me to believe the cock and bull story you made up for me?" Her voice is now raised and she looks angry.
My mouth drops open, disappointment flashing on my expression. "Cock and bull story?"
"Yes", she uttered firmly, almost barking at me.
I sigh, watching her for a minute in silence before nodding my head and leaning backward on the chair.
We are both silent. Deep in thoughts. I wish I could read through her and see everything she is thinking about so I can know how to get to her.
Suddenly, an idea strikes me. If Grandma doesn't believe my so-called cock and bull story, then it means she needs a third party for her to believe, and that third party ought to be my friend, Juliet.
I let out a frustrated sigh. The idea won't work because Juliet and I are not on good terms. If only we were good, I would just tell her to give Juliet a call or probably call her over to ask if I am being honest or not.
I know Juliet will take sides with me but now that we are not good with each other, it is impossible. I am glad that I got to know Juliet's true colors before Grandma called me to talk about the wedding. If I hadn't been told by Jayden, I would have asked Grandma to call Juliet and my cover would have been blown.
Suddenly, it dawns on me that Juliet can reveal my secret to Grandma now that she isn't speaking to me or even taking my calls.
After leaving her place of work yesterday, I waited desperately for her call but there was none.
When I couldn't take it anymore, I called her so we could reconcile our differences but she didn't pick up and that convinced me well enough that she is no longer a friend.
"I'm sorry", Grandma's apology shocks me to the bones. I am expecting that. I glance down to see the remorseful look on her face.
"I don't mean to be harsh and doubtful about your affairs but I just want you to be in safe hands. I find it very hard to believe that you fell in love with your boss in just a few days, coupled with the fact that he helped us with the surgery fee. It's so hard to believe."
Tears pool in her eyes and I flash her a sad smile before standing up to go to her. I sit beside her and we embrace.
She hugs me back. "I love Jayden, Mother."
Tears spring to my eyes too at this moment. It is in times like this that I wish I have supernatural powers. It is in times like this when I call her Mother that she becomes emotional in remembrance of her daughter who is my mother.
I wish things are different and I don't have to do this for money. But things aren't different, we aren't rich or well-to-do and this is the only opportunity that looks like a lifetime of which will never cross paths with me again if I don't take advantage of it.
She sobs as we hug each other tightly, realization dawning on me that after Jayden and I are married, Grandma and I will no longer live together.
There is no way on earth that I can convince him to let her stay with us. Grandma's prying eyes would be on us both and it will affect the contract between us.
"I'm sorry for doubting you. I guess my manipulative lifestyle when I was your age is making it difficult for me to believe that this is purely based on love and not something else." She chuckles lightly.
I don't know what to say so I am quiet.
She disengages from the hug, cups my face in between her palms, and leans forward to leave a peck on my forehead.
"I wish you nothing but goodness in your marriage", she prays and I say a loud Amen with a sweet smile.
"May you bear blessed fruits that will be the coolness of your eyes", she adds with a proud smile.
I raise a brow at her. "What does that mean?"
Her smile widens and her eyes hold twinkles of amusement.
"Children", she whispers and I blush red in the face, even though I know that will be impossible.
Jayden and I won't even move close to each other or sleep on the same bed as stated in the contract, for us to even make love which will lead to me becoming pregnant.
How then can I bear fruits without having sex with him?
"Your first fruits shall be twins", she remarks and I turn to her with wide eyes to see her eyes squeezed shut like someone in a spiritual realm.
"Mother", I fake a laugh and she opens up. "That's a lot."
"No, it isn't. I can see it", she comments and I shake my head. I don't believe she sees into the future but even if I do, knowing that having kids during the short term of my marriage to Jayden is impossible will not make me believe in any prophecy from her or anyone else about having kids for him.
She drops her hands from my cheeks and the look on her face turns into a deep frown.
Examining me carefully, the smile on my face still intact as I can practically feel my cheeks hurting from the fake smile, she blurts out sharply.
"Now that we have established the fact that you are in love with him, what about him?"
"What?!" I exclaim in confusion.
She hesitates for a moment before asking. "Does he love you?"
Instead of replying, I hack a cough and sneeze repeatedly before turning to her. "What do you mean?!"