Chapter 14: (A guilty gift)

Callie's smile was a beacon of victory. It was the kind of smile that said, "I've got this, and you don't." She watched as Omar's smug expression crumbled, replaced by pure shock.

He looked from the marriage certificate to her, then back again, his mind racing to find a crack in their story. But there was none.

He wanted to argue, to point out the inconsistencies he was so certain existed, but what could he say? Grayson had just handed him the most damning evidence possible—a legal document.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, dear cousin-in-law, I have a mother-in-law to get to know," Callie said sweetly, and with a slight bow of her head, she turned and followed Mrs. Wolfe down the hallway, leaving Omar to stew in his defeat.

In a balcony, Grayson was on the phone, his voice a low, controlled rumble. He was talking to his lawyer, giving him a list of documents to prepare.

"I want everything notarised and ready to go," he said. "Omar is a snake, and I won't let him get his hands on anything that is rightfully mine." He hung up, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.

He had outsmarted Omar yet again. But his thoughts quickly turned to Callie. She had been... surprising.

She had handled herself with a poise and a sharp wit he hadn't expected. The way she had put Omar in his place, the way she had kissed his cheek—it was all an act, he knew, but it was a damn good one. He had to admit, a small part of him was impressed.

He walked back into the living room, where Omar was still standing, holding the marriage certificate like it was a live grenade.

"You're a fool, Omar," Grayson said, his voice cold. "And you'll always be a fool because you underestimate me. You always have."

Omar finally looked up, his face a mixture of rage and disbelief. "This isn't over, Grayson," he spat. "I'll find a way to expose you. I'll find out what this girl is really after. You don't expect me to believe that you found love, right?"

Grayson just smirked. "Good luck with that. In the meantime, I suggest you get yourself ready. Mother is expecting us for lunch."

Omar stormed out, muttering under his breath, and Grayson watched him go, a sense of relief washing over him. He had won the first round, but he knew this was only the beginning of the battle. He knew Omar wouldn't give up easily. And he knew that Callie was a wild card he needed to keep a close eye on. She was a master manipulator, and he couldn't afford to forget that. He had to stay one step ahead of her, just in case she decided to turn her devious mind on him.

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Wolfe's room, Callie stood in front of a vanity mirror as the older woman locked a pear necklace around her neck.

Her eyes met the woman's eyes through the mirror, and her mind felt so heavy with guilt.

Callie felt terrible; lying to the poor lady and even taking her most prized jewellery from her all because she believed her son had found the perfect wife.

"It suits you," Mrs. Wolf spoke behind Callie.

Callie gulped quietly, smiling easily to hide her nervousness, "Thank you, Mother. But..." she glanced at herself in the mirror, the smooth, shiny pearl beads feeling heavy around her neck.

She knew she could never have been able to afford that piece of jewellery even if she worked a hundred shifts at a time.

This was emotional theft, and she didn't feel comfortable accepting. Grayson never told her that gifts were involved. She couldn't play people like that.

"I can't accept this, Mother. You don't have to give out such an important gift to someone," Callie slowly turned and faced the woman, "You don't have to give me gifts just because I'm marrying your son, I -"

Mrs. Wolfe lifted a gentle hand to stop Callie from speaking further. A faint smile adorned her lips, and then she held Callie's hand and led her to sit on her large bed.

"Yes, I'm giving you this gift because you're marrying my son. But it's not the only reason," Mrs. Wolfe chuckled, lowering herself beside Callie.

She took Callie's hand in hers and slightly turned her body toward her, "I'm also giving it to you because I now take you as my daughter, or am I wrong to take my daughter-in-law as my child?" She questioned with a slight raise of her brows.

Calie smiles, slowly shaking her head, "No, mother, it's not. I just thought you should keep this since it's so expensive." She managed to come up with a reasonable reply.

Mrs. Wolfe sighed quietly, "You don't have to worry, it might be expensive, but I didn't buy it. It was wedding gifts from my late husband, and before you think I'm giving away my memories, he gave me tons of them, all made of Pearl," she started, her eyes showing the weight of fondness, turmoil, and love that she had witnessed over the years.

Callie listened carefully, her mind wandering if she would ever find her person.

Would she ever have someone to share her life with?

Was she even made for someone?

She's never tried to venture into love or casual relationships, Grayson was the only man she had so much as had a relationship with, and it wasn't even real.

"He retrieved the pears in one if he'd voyages. And what better way to use them than to turn them into jewellery for his dear wife? So, as a fellow woman, I'm sharing with you a part of my life, wishing it brings to you the perseverance it brought to me," Mrs. Wolfe laughed very lightly, shaking her head.

"Marriage is not all about love, I hope you know that," she asked Callie.

Callie blinked slowly, biting her lower lip, "I know..." she nodded.

"It's good, you know, dear child. Marriage is all about selflessness. A selfish person can't stay in one place because when all the fun activities, libido, love withers away, what is left is the commitment and companionship," Mrs. Wolfe stood, joining her hands behind her.