CHAPTER 418: GOT A BOYFRIEND NOW

"Ivy, what are your thoughts about marriage?" Roderick asked.

"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking about it?" Ivy asked, holding the stem of the wine glass.

"We are dating for a while, so I want to know your opinion. That’s it," Roderick replied, not revealing what had happened to his grandfather.

Ivy studied his facial expression for a moment before answering. "I do have plans to marry you. Whenever you are ready, we can marry," she stated.

Roderick swallowed the food and looked at her. She took a slow sip of the wine, keeping her eyes fixed on him.

"But you’ve to tell me what’s going on? Is everything fine?" Ivy rested the glass on the table again.

"Grandpa is sick. He–he got a stage 2 stomach cancer," Roderick finally said, lowering the fork to the plate.

"What? Why didn’t you tell me before?" Ivy questioned. She quickly dabbed her mouth with the napkin. "How is Grandpa? What’s the diagnosis?" she asked, holding Roderick’s hand.

"Grandpa will have a surgery next week," Roderick stated. "The doctor is positive that it will go well. But I’m just scared. You know... After dad, only Grandpa gave me that kind of love. My differences with uncle grew a lot in that time. I don’t want to lose... My grandpa," he whispered, his lips quivering with fear.

"Nothing will happen to Grandpa," Ivy said, holding his hand. "Let’s go out."

Roderick hummed and drank the water before standing up. He paid the bills and the two walked out of the restaurant.

While walking through the quiet of the light in the park, near the restaurant, Ivy said, "I’ll tell my parents to visit your grandfather tomorrow. We can decide on the marriage date soon. I am sorry for delaying it all this time."

"Ahh, don’t apologize. I don’t want to force you, Ivy. I know your ambitions and I understand them," Roderick said with a tone of understanding.

"And my ambition is also to have a loving man by my side. I understand how we started, but our mutual feelings grew with time. I’m going to marry you. If you tell me to marry you now, I’ll do that too." Ivy’s eyes held the gaze of Roderick with adoration.

He hugged her tightly, feeling safe and a sense of comfort in her embrace. "Ivy, I love you. Thank you for being with me in this tough time. I was feeling so low when the news was given to me. I felt like..." His eyes engulfed with tears and slowly tears fell down from them.

Ivy caressed his back, her own eyes turning misty. "I understand that feeling. I’m glad I’m here to give you that comfort. I love you too, Roderick."

The two of them stayed like that for a while before Roderick pulled away first.

"You don’t find me jerk anymore?" He mused.

"No," Ivy replied while smiling. "You have changed into a better man. Someone who understands right and wrong, who is willing to take the responsibility of his actions," she affirmed.

"I have one good news to share too," Roderick said. "I got to see the ultrasound photo of my uncle’s and Layla’s baby. I couldn’t become a good man in Layla’s eyes. But I want to be a good brother to her baby. I never saw my uncle crying in happy occasions. I am happy for him. He suffered a lot in the past."

"That’s such a good news. And it’s good to see how you have accepted the flaws in you and worked to correct them," Ivy stated, looking at him with pride. Taking a deep breath, she hooked her arm around Roderick’s. "Let’s head home," she opined and they made their way to the awaiting car for them.

~~~~

Demitri ended the call with his grandmother and gently placed his phone on the nightstand. Just as he settled back, he felt Nora’s arms wrap around his waist from behind.

He tilted his head, a soft smile playing on his lips as he glanced over his shoulder. "What’s going on?" he asked, turning to face her and intertwining their fingers.

Nora slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. "I got an invitation today... an old friend from university is getting married."

"That’s lovely," Demitri said, his eyes lighting up. "When’s the wedding? Are you planning to go?"

Nora hesitated, her expression uncertain. "She really wants me there, but honestly... I’m not sure I want to attend."

Demitri’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Why not?"

"Because she used to make me feel small," Nora admitted in a low tone. "Back then, I believed everything people said to me, took every word to heart. Maybe I shouldn’t still hold on to it after all these years, but... it feels like showing up would mean letting go of my dignity. And I’m not sure I’m ready for that."

Demitri gently squeezed her hands with a softened gaze. "I understand. You don’t have to go if it doesn’t feel right."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Nora’s lips. "But a part of me wants to flaunt the fact that I’m not the same girl anymore. That I’ve got a boyfriend now, someone I’m proud of. I kind of want to make them regret underestimating me."

Demitri chuckled, his eyes locking with hers in amusement. "Well then, you definitely have to go. But..." he leaned in, the teasing lilt returning to his voice, "you’ll need to convince me to come with you."

Nora tilted her head, lips pouting playfully. "What do you mean?"

"You already know the answer," he murmured, his hand reaching up to cradle the back of her neck.

"Oh, that?" she whispered with mischief. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his, nipping them gently.

Demitri responded instantly, his arms circling her waist as the kiss deepened. He moved them toward the bed before lowering himself on the mattress while Nora straddled him.

She pulled out his glasses and he took them from her. They again fervently kissed each other as he placed his eye glasses on the night stand.