Chapter 29: His to take

"Would you like to out with me" he said then quickly reconstruct his sentence.

"To get some air, it's getting stuffy in here"

Cassandra looked around looking for her father or mother. Perhaps to take permission. Sebastian figured out what she doing and chuckled.

"It's okay. Jake wouldn't mind" He gave her a reassuring smile before leading her through the back door.

Sebastian and Cassandra sat side by side on a stone chair not far away from the house. It was Sebastian who spoke first.

"Miss Hastings, I appreciate your coming out with me this night" he paused for a moment then continued as if choosing the right word to say.

"I have no intention of marrying you but the current situation of our family says otherwise." He paused again.

Sebastian thought if he blurt out that the plan he concluded on was for them to get engaged in a year and part ways she'll not believe him. Instead he had to explain why he is doing this.

"My grandfather had wanted my aunt to get married to your father, somehow the both of them fooled out grandparents and went to marry the love of their lives. Realising this, they came up with a plan when we were born to have us get married. So you see, it's not in our place to go against that if we both wanted our inheritance. However the will didn't have it anywhere in it that we can not get a divorce"

Cassy eyes lit up when she heard this part of the story, she could see where he is going to but waited for him to say it.

"It'll be a thing between us, we'll get married like they all wanted and get a divorce a year later. I'm certain you don't want to live with a man you barely know for the rest of your life"

Cassandra watched him intently, but in the dim light she could see no change in his expression. She could not believe her ears that this man is going to let her off after a year, that means she could still live the life she had always hope for. Travel to Africa and help build hospitals. She wished to tour all the wonders of the world with a man by her side. She once even day dream choosing out names with him. Her father…. If he knows, he'll never forgive her.

"My father… your family, if they find out…" she couldn't complete her sentence and was relieved Sebastian already knew what she was about saying.

"They will never find out. I'll have my lawyers do all the paperwork, Miss Hastings" he smiled.

"Cassandra! Cassandra!" Her father's voice reached them from where they are standing.

"I think he needs us else he'll send everybody in there to find me" she turned to Sebastian who looked at her with questioning eyes reluctant to leave without an agreement between them.

"You have my words, Mr Spenser Just a year"

Sebastian breathed, relief evidence on his face.

"If we're going to marry each other soon, I believe we should drop the formalities." He nodded at the house

"Your father would want to know what we were out here discussing" he smiled then let the way back to the house.

Cassandra could see eyes following them when they got back inside. For the first time in a week, she felt contented and smiled. After all, it's just for a year. Little did she know that, a lot could happen in just a year.

Present

SEBASTIAN

"You can't make rash decisions like this, Seb" Dave said.

"C'mon buddy, it's just for some weeks, pa won't even realised, I'll be gone" I run my hands through my hairs for what felt like the thousandth time today. It's an thing I do when I'm frustrated, and right now I'm not far from being frustrated. David Brooks, who's been my best friend right from diaper days choose today, a Monday morning to torment my life. I told him about my plan of leaving work and taking a few months of. I want to go to Africa and your the whole place, move to Australia, do everything I like without the impression that grandpa is watching me. God, that man is a pest. He monitors everything I do and that is fucking annoying.

"Justin, will never allow you and you know that" he said. "He'll surely know" Dave says. He is right though but I don't want to admit that to him.

"If you keep your fucking mouth shut and stay out of this he won't know" I

slammed my fist hard against the table.