CHAPTER 63: MARGARET REID’S INTERFERENCE

Melissa stared at him like he had grown two heads.

"Stability?" she repeated slowly. "Gregory, she has a stable job, a stable home, a stable life—"

"That’s not what I meant," he interrupted.

"Then what do you mean?" she pressed. "Because you are pushing her into marriage like the house is on fire."

Gregory rubbed his temples. "I am doing what is best for her."

Melissa let out a breath that was a half–disbelieving laugh. "Are you sure it’s something that is best for her and not what’s best for your ego after what Benjamin said to you?"

Gregory’s entire body stiffened but he quickly managed to calm his nerves.

"Gregory—" Melissa whispered softly, stepping closer. "I don’t know what other things Benjamin told you but you can’t let his words affect you so much."

But Gregory turned away. "I am not letting his words affect me and this decision has nothing to do with Benjamin anymore."

"You are lying," Melissa raised her voice for the first time. "I am Evelyn’s mother. I have every right to know why you are deciding her entire future overnight."

Gregory took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he finally said, "Melissa, don’t you think Alexander is the best choice for her?"

Melissa froze, but she quickly answered.

"Alexander is a good man," she said truthfully. "But marriage? Now? They have barely begun anything. It feels rushed."

"She will get used to it," Gregory said firmly. "They can learn, grow, and understand one another after marriage. Many couples do."

Melissa stared at him with disbelief. "You sound like some old traditional patriarch. Since when do you believe in ’marry first, understand later’?"

Gregory set his jaw. "Since I realized what she is up against and what people are saying about her."

Melissa’s eyes softened but only briefly.

"You are her father," she whispered. "You are supposed to shield her, not trap her."

But Gregory didn’t like that, at all.

"It is not a trap," he said sharply. "It is an opportunity and Alexander is the only man I trust for her."

Melissa frowned deeply. "And his family? Have you forgotten who Benjamin Reid is? Do you honestly think he will welcome Evelyn as his son’s wife?"

Gregory looked away, just for a second but Melissa caught it.

"Gregory, answer me," she whispered, stepping closer. "What about Benjamin?"

But Gregory shook his head. "Benjamin is not my headache anymore."

"Meaning?" She frowned.

"Meaning," he said, exhaling sharply, "he won’t oppose it. His opinion is irrelevant to me. Margaret Reid has already agreed."

Melissa’s mouth fell open. "She knows?"

"She loves Evelyn," Gregory said simply. "She is happy with the proposal."

Melissa was stunned.

Everything was happening too fast and it was too big and too sudden

But something didn’t feel right.

"Gregory—" she grabbed his arm, "Please tell me what is really going on."

But he avoided her eyes.

"I have work," he muttered, pulling his arm out of her hold.

"Gregory—""

But he was already walking to the door.

"Gregory, Don’t you walk away from me!"

He paused at the doorway but didn’t turn.

"Prepare the house," he said. "We will have guests tomorrow."

And then he left, leaving Melissa frozen, confused and suddenly very afraid that something bigger and darker was happening behind the scenes.

.....

[Pauline’s House]

Pauline was arranging fresh flowers in a vase when the front door opened.

Before she could even turn, she recognized the firm tap-tap of a cane.

"Mother?" she called out.

Margaret Reid stepped into the living room, immaculate as always, with her wine-colored shawl perfectly draped and her expression suspiciously pleased.

"You are home late," Pauline said, studying her mother-in-law. "Were you out somewhere?"

Margaret waved a hand with exaggerated innocence. "Oh, just a little stroll."

Pauline narrowed her eyes. "A stroll in your chauffeur-driven car? Wearing pearls? And carrying the expression of someone who successfully bullied a politician?"

Margaret paused mid-step, then sighed in surrender. "You are too sharp for your own good."

"Mother—" Pauline folded her arms, "where were you?"

Margaret pretended to examine a flower instead of answering.

"Mother—" she raised her brows. "You can’t ignore me when I am standing right in front of you."

Finally, Margaret huffed. "Fine. I went to see him."

"See who?"

"Gregory Carter," Margaret said, as if discussing grocery shopping.

Pauline’s mouth fell open. "You—but why?" she asked, confused wondering why would Margaret suddenly go to meet Gregory in the middle of the day.

Margaret lowered herself into the sofa with the grace of an ageing queen. "Someone had to speak to the man before he made a foolish decision."

Pauline sat down beside her, horrified and curious. "Why would Gregory make a foolish decision?"

"Oh, perhaps because—" Margaret said dryly, "your dumb husband insulted the man’s daughter so badly that he stormed out of Benjamin’s office like a dragon who just discovered someone stole his treasure."

Pauline’s spine stiffened but she wasn’t that surprised. With how interested Benjamin seemed for the past few weeks about Evelyn and the Carters, she had a hunch that he was up to something.

"What did he do this time?"

Margaret lifted an eyebrow. "Do you think Benjamin tells me anything? All I know is that Gregory Carter left the building ready to strangle the entire Reid family."

Pauline swallowed hard.

She thought for a while before asking, "Is that why he started looking for suitors for Evelyn?"

"Oh, so you also heard about that?"

Pauline nodded. Things like this were hard to keep under the wraps given how much the people of the social circle loved to gossip.

"He started calling people. I intercepted what I could but the man was on fire and completely unstoppable," Margaret sighed.

"Mother, what did you say to him?"

Margaret’s eyes twinkled. "Well, that’s the interesting part."

....

[Flashback—Carter Enterprise]

After Alexander left, Gregory was pacing like a man who didn’t know whether to scream, hit something or simply sit down and cry for the first time in years.

He was torn, conflicted and furious about not knowing what to do.

Until this morning, he was determined and had a plan but after his intense confrontation with Alexander, he wasn’t sure anymore.

Just then, his assistant knocked softly again.

"What?" Gregory snapped at him.

"Sir, Mrs. Margaret Reid is here to see you."

.....