Chapter 59 Firm

Chapter 59 Firm
LUCIEN

I had been sitting in this car for minutes and still hadn't made up my mind whether to go inside or not. Grandmother was displeased with my actions towards Amara. She hadn't called me since the last phone call, but I couldn't wait any longer.

I needed to see her as much as she wanted to see me. I needed to tell her that she had made a huge mistake trying to matchmake me and Amara. Just because we were childhood friends didn't mean we would be lovers. I don't even know her anymore. To me, she was just some girl I knew while growing up.

But I had been sitting here for minutes and still hadn't gathered the courage to step out and go inside. My grandmother would be inside. I knew how fierce and firm she was with her decisions. She didn't manage my parents' business for years by changing her stance and decisions. No. It was nearly impossible to change her mind.

I ran my fingers through my hair, breathing out. What would I do if she insisted on matching me with Amara? Agree to her decision and just keep mute? How would Sienna feel? What would she think?

Heck! This wasn't the way I expected things to play out.

I leaned my head backward and let out another deep breath. Grandmother loved me. I just needed to explain things to her. Or I could lie to her and tell her I already had a girlfriend. That should work, right?

My eyes pried open, and I unlocked the car and hopped out. I'd come here all the way from home. It would only be right if I accomplished my aim before leaving. So I headed inside with uncertainty and a little fear.

What if Grandmother kept saying NO? And Amara? What if I ended up settling for Amara because I wanted to make my grandmother happy? Would I lose Sienna in the process?

My hands curled into fists at the thought, and at that moment, I realized how much it scared me to lose Sienna. How much it scared me to know she wouldn't be in my arms or my bed again. Gosh. I hated the thought so much.

The moment I stepped inside the house, my eyes locked with the last person I wanted to see. Amara. She had Grandmother's legs in her lap and was massaging them. There was a huge smile on her face, and they looked like they'd been having a lot of funny conversations before my arrival.

The smile on her face slowly turned into something else. Not sadness. Something beyond that. She appeared pathetic and cheated instantly.

I batted my eyes away from her and shifted them to my grandmother, whose face was as emotionless as ever. She just stared at me like I was a piece of nothing.

"You’re finally here to see your useless grandmother," she let out, removing her leg from Amara's lap and sitting up. "Why are you? Didn't you hate me for wanting the best for you?" A hint of displeasure showed in her voice.

I chuckled, caging the light feeling of irritation I felt because of Amara's presence. How could she dare show up here right after almost ruining my relationship with Sienna? I don't know if that was right. Did we exactly have a relationship? Or it...

"Laughing at me? Whoa!" My grandmother's voice jolted me out of my train of thought, interrupting it.

"No, Grandmother," I muttered, rushing to her side with a face masked with a smile. "I wouldn't dare to do that to my beautiful, fearless grandmother." I sat beside her and took her hands. "You're the best, my love."

"Don't think buttering up to me would make me change my decision." She slipped her hands away from my grip. "You have to marry whoever I pick. Amara or nothing." Her voice was firm and her gaze unwavering, and that scared me more than anything. I wouldn't be able to change her mind? Nah. That cannot happen.

"I understand I've been disobeying you for years when you asked me to bring a girlfriend home, but I want you to know that I have been making plans behind the door. I just want to..."

"Cancel all the plans you've made and accept the one I picked for you," she interrupted me one more time, clearly not listening to whatever I had to say, and that infuriated me a lot.

The urge to teach Amara a lesson on the spot surged within me, but I held it in. She would be taught a lesson at the right time. Not now. Not in front of my grandmother. I was still trying to earn her merit; I shouldn't worsen things for myself... and Sienna.

"Grandmother, this is not the eighties. You know that, right?" I muttered. "You cannot just match me up with some girl, for God's sake. Who does that in the twenty-first century?"

The next route was the lecturing part. Maybe she needed a reminder to know that this wasn't her day, when parents would shamelessly match their children up with other children.

She looked at me for a few seconds, and something flashed in her eyes.

For a heartbeat. For just a little heartbeat, I thought my statement had hit her harshly until she opened her mouth.

"Did you listen to me when I was lecturing you about early marriage and giving me grandchildren?"

Everywhere fell silent. I knew it. She would use this as her argument tool, and she fucking wielded the sword properly.

My throat dried up. What did I say to counter her statement? Agree that I disobeyed her first and accept the girl she picked for me? Or deny it and reject the girl?

"Grandmother... I..."

"Amara will be your wife. That's final," she said as a matter of fact and tilted her attention back to Amara, who had been silent since the beginning of the conversation.

Fine. It was good she kept quiet. Or else... I would have taken advantage of that to punish her for coming out of nowhere to ruin my newfound peace and joy. What a bummer!

My grandmother didn't say anything to me again. She kept talking to Amara and laughing at intervals. It didn't just irritate me; it frustrated me also.

I used to be her favourite. She used to listen to me and do everything I wanted. What changed? What happened?

"Grandmother, I'll be leaving now," I swallowed hard, hoping that she would spare me a glance. She had to. She would. She had always done that whenever I wanted to leave her side. Then, she would suggest that I stay with her till the next day, but I wouldn't.

However, I didn't hear anything from her. She didn't even spare me a glance. She just continued with her conversation with Amara.

My feet felt stuck to the floor. I wanted to move them, but they seemed extremely heavy. Did she hate me now?

Still, I stood up and left the house.

And just as I took a few steps towards my car, I heard a voice.

Amara's voice.