Chapter 58

Derek's POV

Arriving at my parent's house has always felt like a huge drag on me, specifically why I made most of my arrivals unannounced, unlike this one, considering I never knew what plan they were hatching up next.

But my visit here today had a purpose, and because of that, every fibre of my being wasn't completely dreading this visit.

The maids greeted me. I continued walking down the hall, meeting my father in his usual habitat, the bar. He had a drink in his hand, staring worriedly at his phone.

He welcomed me with a weary sigh and then nodded toward me in acknowledgment. "I wouldn't be anywhere near your mother if I were you. I'd do everything she says," Dad warned.

"Good evening to you too,o," I answered sarcastically.

I'd swear that my mother had some super hearing because right at that moment, she walked in.

“Derek," her eyes widened at me in excitement. She greeted me with an unexpected hug—a wide grin on her face the entire time.

"Honey, why don't you leave that phone of yours? Our son is here, and you should spend a little time with him." Mom said.

She made me sound like I was twelve.

"I used to see him every day for twenty years. Wasn't that enough time?" Dad asked, looking up from his phone.

"It was just seventeen," I corrected him.

"It was that long?" He chuckled.

This was the reason I spent so much time in therapy.

Maybe I should make the announcement already and leave.

"Well..." I said, grabbing both of their attention. "I have someone I'd like the two of you to meet," I announced.

They were both quiet, just staring at me like some lunatic. I thought they'd be happy about it, maybe not too happy since the last time I brought someone, it was Madison.

"You mean an actual woman can stand to be around you? That hopefully isn't a mad person?" Mom laughed.

I couldn't answer that without saying something that would possibly land me in the hospital.

"Maybe you might get the grandchild that you so desperately want." I hinted at it.

Mom continued staring at me as if I'd lost my mind.

"You don't have to try and get my hopes up, and I already know that you've insisted on not giving me any grandchildren." She answered.

I wonder where the change in attitude came from. Not long ago, she was ready to pair me up with almost anyone so I'd have a child.

"We should be happy about this," Dad said. Finally, someone with some reasoning. He walked over to me to pat my back. "If you are having a baby, I hope that kid ruins your life as you ruined mine," Dad said. He sounded serious. "All the diapers you are going to have to change. Not to mention all the stupid football games you will have to attend. Even if they suck, you have to support them and keep encouraging them despite knowing how dumb they look running across the field."

"You came to every one of my football games," I reminded him.

He chuckled. "You are old now. You can take it," Dad answered.

"Did anyone mention that I'm going to be a great-grandmother?" Grandma asked as she walked into the room, thanks to one of the maids holding her hand.

"No, your grandson is just delusional," Mom answered dismissively. "We should all prepare for dinner, and we have a guest arriving soon." She smiled.

I wonder who was arriving. But I wasn't keen on asking.

Mom rushed us all out and led us to the dining room.

The table had already been set and the food ready.

I took my usual seat next to Grandma.

Just as we had settled in at the table, one of the maids walked in to announce that the guest had arrived.Soon, a woman stepped into the room. Long silky black hair, around my age, and with a bright smile, she looked like she could very well be my mother's potential victim.

From the devious smile on my mother's face, I knew that this was part of her plan.

"Susanna," Mom yelled cheerfully as she pushed out of her chair.

She went and greeted Susanna, pulling her into a hug. Her excitement lasted a while as she introduced us to Susanna.

"Derek, sweetheart, aren't you going to stand up and properly greet our guests?" Mom said.

It didn't sound like a request, more like a threat.

"I'd love to, but I have a bit of the flu. I wouldn't want to get any germs on her," I answered. I wasn't playing into her trap.

"He was coughing terribly. I'm only sitting next to him because I'm old. I don't mind dying soon." Grandma sided with me.

Mom stared at me murderously.

Susanna took the hint as she gracefully accepted a seat across from me at the table.

I should have known Mom would try and set me up. She even used her special plates from Europe for tonight.

The maids began serving us dinner.

Mom carried the conversation, drilling answers out of Susanna and occasionally mentioning me.

“Derek, why don't you tell Susanna about your business here? He just scored a new business deal. "He is very successful and talented at what he does," Mom added.

"That new deal?" I asked sarcastically. "It almost failed spectacularly. I still don't know how I managed to get it through." I answered.

"You must be one lucky person if you can get a deal for more than a billion dollars." Mom laughed.

"That's widely exaggerated," I answered. Maybe a little bit.

Mom let out a fake laugh, hinting at her disapproval of me trying to ruin her plan.

"He can be too modest at times." Mom laughed. "That's one of his wonderful characters among many. He can be so sweet. I've always thought he'd make a great husband." She continued.

She was already jumping into marriage, and she needed to be stopped.

"Layla dear, if he were so perfect, he wouldn't still be alone." Grandma jumped in.

Grandma looked at me with a smile, assuring me she was there to support me.

Grandma seemed to have silenced Mom. We continued to have the rest of our dinner in silence.

"Why did you just help me?" I whispered over to Grandma.

"Because I already found a wife for you. You are going to love her." She whispered back with a smile.

Not her, either. I thought she was the only sane one in this family. It seems everyone is trying to find me a wife.

I turned away from Grandma, continuing to eat my food in silence.

“Derek, what would you think about a wedding in the summer?" Mom asked.

I nearly choked on my food. I don't know why my mother continues to surprise me. These are all things I'd expect her to do.

From everything, at least now I knew she planned to get rid of Madison and find me a wife. She was trying to get her way again.

"Didn't you and Dad have three weddings? Why would you want another one?" I asked.

Mom stared at me murderously.

I sighed. "I think I'll excuse myself. I'm already full, and I'd like to get some fresh air," I said, pushing out of my chair.

"Oh, why don't you take Susanna along with you? Take a stroll in the garden. The evening is quite lovely. I'm sure the two of you will have some fun together." Mom smiled.

Susanna stared at me pleadingly; I figured the poor girl hoped to escape this madhouse. This wasn't her fault.

"Okay," I answered hesitantly. "But I prefer to have my walks in silence."

Susanna nodded gratefully as she rose from her chair.

We set off for a walk outside, circling the garden in silence.

It was refreshing to take the time to breathe in the fresh air without anyone trying to find a wife for me.

I just wanted to escape my mother for as long as I could. I'd leave the house right after this.

Susanna cleared her throat. For once, I was forced to notice that she was here.

"I know you said you prefer to walk in silence, but how would you like to get married to me within the next two weeks? We can have a strawberry cake for our wedding, preferably with flowers, particularly red roses. You can wear any colour tux you want on the day except white because that would be my thing. And then we can honeymoon in Dubai and get straight to baby making. In less than ten months, we'd have a baby, maybe twins if we are lucky, then we can live happily ever after." She rumbled.

I nearly choked on my breath. She was crazier than my mother.

She turned to me and laughed. "Your face looks like it's about to turn blue. I can tell you are not too keen on this either." She said,

She was joking; I was relieved she wasn't a psychopath.

"You think?" I answered sarcastically.

"Look, you are cute, but I don't want to marry you either." She smiled.

"You are the first one to turn me down. I'm quite hurt." I laughed. "You just missed out on my billions." I joked.

"You know, last month alone, I made a deal for half a billion, so I'd say my finances are pretty good." She answered. So, she was smarter than she let on. "As for all this," she pointed at my face. "I can find another pretty face like you, so I'll be fine." She added.

"Where will you find another face like mine in Wonderland?" I asked sarcastically. "You know where Alice is," I added.

"I got it," she answered. "You are a little bit funny. I might decide to marry you after all. Your mother offered me your hand-in-marriage on a silver platter later." She joked.

"As hard as it might be for you to accept, I'm not as flawless as I look," I answered, pointing to my face.

"Is it that your hair looks terrible without your hairspray? I knew it was too pretty ever to be natural." She asked.

"I use about ten." I joked. "So, we can agree that we will never get married?"

"Never, I'd never marry someone who uses more beauty products than me." She answered.

That is not true at all.

At least we could agree to disagree.

We turned around and made our way back to the house. Even from a distance, I could see my mother peeking through the curtains.