Due to Darius’s request for a grandchild, Darwin couldn’t focus on work all day. Even when Randy and Kennedy came to visit the office, he ignored his two cousins for a while.
As a result, Randy, who was getting bored, immediately voiced his protest. He thought, why bother visiting if he was going to be ignored like this.
“Win, if you’re going to ignore us like this, we might as well leave.”
Randy was already standing, and he had even started pulling Kennedy to leave the room.
Seeing his two cousins preparing to go, Darwin sat up straight and waved his hand, signaling Randy to sit back down.
“Come on, Ran. Can’t you be patient? I have a headache right now. I can’t concentrate.”
“Why are you getting a headache again?” Kennedy asked curiously.
Being naturally curious, Randy decided to sit back down. He had prepared several questions to ask his cousin.
“It feels like you’ve been having a headache all your life, Win. Like you’re burdened with a national debt,” Randy joked.
Darwin appeared to be massaging his temples. Taking a deep breath, he tried to explain what had happened.
“I’m really getting a headache. This morning, Veronica’s dad came to the office. I’m not sure what he discussed with Veronica initially. When I arrived and was asked to sit together, out of nowhere, Veronica’s dad asked for a grandchild.”
Randy and Kennedy burst into laughter. Instead of being sad or getting a headache, they were ready to make fun of Darwin’s confusion.
“I thought you were getting a headache over something like Infinix Group suffering losses or going bankrupt. Turns out you’re just getting a headache over the idea of a grandchild. You’re a coward,” Randy teased.
“If Infinix Group is at risk of bankruptcy, there are ways to find a solution, Ran. This is different. If Papa Darius wants a grandchild, how am I supposed to fulfill that?”
Darwin sighed in frustration. He hated it when Randy gave careless advice like this. Instead of finding a way out, the problem seemed to be getting more complicated.
“That’s why both Kennedy and I have reminded you repeatedly,” Randy continued. “If you think six months is too long, try living as a married couple without any contractual arrangements for just a month. Treat Veronica the way you treat Vivian.”
“What do you mean?”
Randy sighed. He hated it when he talked at length and Darwin still didn’t seem to understand what he was saying.
“I’m sure you understand what I mean and you know what to do. Now it’s time to execute it and see the results. If there’s no improvement at all within a month, feel free to keep your distance until your marriage agreement is over.”
“But, what about Vivian, Ran? I’ve already-”
“Shush, you’re making so much noise about Vivian! Tomorrow, I’m going to kidnap that pebble of mine and sink it in the sea to be eaten by sharks. Besides, let her be whatever she wants to be. Vivian’s grown up, Win. Why are you bothering with all sorts of things? It’s better to focus on Veronica for now. Instead of her getting snatched up by Sean. Are you okay with that?”
Darwin fell silent. He didn’t know how to respond anymore. His mind was filled with various thoughts at the moment.
Even when he got home, Darwin couldn’t stop thinking. He ignored Veronica, who was trying to talk to him.
“Win, are you even listening to me?”
Darwin snapped out of his thoughts when Veronica raised her voice. He looked at his wife, and his forehead immediately creased. In front of him, Veronica was standing with a pillow in her arms.
“Where are you going with that pillow?”
“I’m going back to my room. After all, I’m all better now.”
Darwin was taken aback. He had been sitting on the bed, and suddenly, he stood up. He approached Veronica and pulled her arm, urging her to sit on the bed.
“No need. You can sleep here.”
Veronica looked puzzled. Then, after a moment, a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
“Aww, are you upset that I’m leaving or something?”
Darwin sighed lazily. He was trying to be serious at the moment.
“No need to be conceited.”
“Then why are you stopping me from going back to my room?”
“Do you remember what your dad said earlier today?”
“Which thing?” Veronica asked, pretending to forget. She deliberately tried to make Darwin finish his explanation.
“Tsk. You know, the thing he discussed with both of us earlier.”
“Which one? About the business partnership?”
“No!” Darwin shook his head repeatedly. “The conversation about a grandchild.”
Veronica chuckled. She nodded, then squinted her eyes playfully.
“Why? Are you going to grant Papa’s request? When? Right now? Alright, let’s do it!”
Veronica stepped closer. In fact, she deliberately pretended to unbutton the pajama she was wearing. This immediately caught Darwin off guard. He quickly reached for Veronica’s hand to stop her.
“Ve, don’t act like this!”
“Why is it acting?”
“I’m not trying to initiate anything.”
“Then what?”
“Listen to what I have to say first.”
Veronica let out a long sigh. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she put on an attitude as if she was ready to listen to what Darwin had to say.
“Alright, hurry up, what do you want to say?”
Darwin remained silent for a moment. He lifted his face, gazing intently into Veronica’s black eyes. Gaining confidence, he finally began to speak.
“Here’s the thing. For the next six months, we’ll continue our marriage as you requested. This means we have to act or behave like a real couple in public, especially in front of people and especially in front of our parents and extended family. And when we’re at home, we’ll go back to acting normally, as if nothing happened.”
“And then? Is there something wrong with that agreement? Or are you planning to change it?”
Darwin shook his head.
“I’m not changing it. I want to add something.”
“What do you want to add?” Veronica asked curiously.
“After thinking it through, how about for the next month, we genuinely live our lives as a married couple?”
Both of Veronica’s eyebrows shot up. Now, it was her turn to be puzzled.
“How so? I don’t understand what you mean.”
Darwin took several deep breaths. Scratching his neck, he tried to explain what he meant.
“So, for the next month, we’ll genuinely live our lives as a real married couple. Whether outside or inside the house. You previously said that you willingly became my wife from the start, right? If that’s the case, for the next month, I’m going to try doing what I should be doing. If it works out, we’ll cancel the six-month agreement we had agreed on earlier. But if it doesn’t work out, we’ll go back to the original agreement.”
“Are you suggesting that from this moment onwards, both of us-”
“Yes,” Darwin nodded. “I’m sure you understand what I mean.”
Veronica seemed to ponder for a few moments. She kept thinking whether she should accept Darwin’s proposal.
However, seeing the seriousness on her husband’s face, she believed that he was genuinely committed to what he had just said. Veronica thought there was no harm in trying. If it worked out, both of them would benefit.
“Alright, I agree. So, what’s the first thing both of us should do?”
Darwin shook his head. Using his hand, he patted the bed next to him.
“The important thing we should do now is sleep because it’s already late.”
Veronica laughed. Putting her pillow back, she then took a sleeping position right beside Darwin.
“Well then, good night.”
Darwin nodded. Dimming the bedside lamp, he pulled the blanket and then lay down.
“Sweet dreams, honey.”