Mrs Nolan scoffed storming inside. While Mr Nolan shook his head trailing behind her.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked. Jasmine puffed out some air before nodding her head.
“Let’s go!” He said leading her inside. She would have admired the mansion and it’s classy nature but the situation is what bothers her the most.
Just they walked in, a lady threw herself at Liam hugging him. Liam looked at Jasmine like he’s indirectly telling her sorry with his eyes.
Jasmine looked away observing the entire place. It’s just Liam’s parents, A middle aged woman and the lady hugging Liam. Its a good thing they were just few people around.
“Miss! Miss” Liam tapped the lady trying to get away from her.
“This is really you in person,,,” She said still hugging him.
“Miss! Let me go!” He said forcefully pulling himself from her.
She has that huge smile on her face. She still hasn’t noticed Jasmine’s presence.
“Please don’t call me Miss! baby, it’s me Claudia! Your fiancee” She said. grinning widely.
“Oh! You’re Claudia” Liam said srutinizing her. She nodded her head.
“Sorry Miss, you’re not my fiancee,,, She is!” Liam said, pulling Jasmine close to him.
That was when Claudia noticed her presence. The smiles on her face varnished immediately. Now she’s glaring daggers at her.
Jasmine also took her time to stare at Claudia and doing so, something clicked.
She’s the one! She’s the same rude lady she bumped into at the mall. And she’s Liam’s supposed fiancee? ;; Jasmine thought.
“It’s you!” Claudia exclaimed, gaining everyone’s attention.
“You two know each other?” Liam asked.
“We bumped into each other at the mall” Jasmine replied.
Claudia turned to Liam giving him a soft look,.. “Baby? I’m your fiancee, not her” She said in a nice tone.
Jasmine almost rolled her eyes, if only they knew how rude and pompous she is.
“I’ll say it again miss! This is Jasmine and she is my woman” Liam said.
Jasmine glanced at Mrs Nolan, she’s still giving her that harsh glare. And the Claudia, she fumming with rage. If an x-ray machine is placed in Front of her, you’d definitely see smoke coming out from her ears.
“What is going on here Mr Nolan?” The middle aged woman or definitely Claudia’s mom asked.
“Well Mrs Greyson; I suggest we go to the dining and gave dinner then talk about it calmly” Mr Nolan suggested.
“That would do!” The woman agreed.
She looks nice unlike her daughter here who looks like she could kill me if she had the chance;;; Jasmine thought.
“C’mon everyone!” Mr Nolan said leading the way.
They got to the dining and Liam pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you!” Jasmine said sitting down.
“Anything for you sweetheart!” Liam replied making sure his voice was a bit loud.
Jasmine looked around, not to the dishes though, but the people around. She has to be sure she isn’t sitting close to Claudia not Mrs Nolan.
But it’s a good thing, Claudia is just opposite her and Mrs Nolan is beside Claudia and they are both throwing her glares. She’s gonna die from it.
She averted her gaze to the dishes but clearly, her mind wasn’t on them but Claudia. Yes! come to think of it,
now she sees the reason Liam doesn’t want to get engaged to her.
To think of their encounter at the mall,,, She has to make this look real as the little revenge.
“What Is going on Mr Nolan?” Mrs Greyson asked again.
Mr Nolan cleared his throat… “Mrs Greyson, we’ve long been family friends even before our kids came into the picture. We as parents decided to make that relationship to the very last by bringing our kids together and mating them as couples”. Mr Nolan paused, seeing everyone’s attention focused on him, He continued.
“But what we failed to do is trying to know if they really wanted to be together. Again, this dinner was supposed to be the union between our kids but as it turned out to be, my son here, had a different plan” He stated looking at Liam.
Liam took it as a point for him to speak so he did.
“Mrs Greyson, I’m sorry if this didn’t go the way you wanted it. Claudia and I can never be together, I don’t love her and getting married to her wouldn’t be of help to any of us. Jasmine is the lady I love and would want to get married to” Liam said.
They all anticipated the reply from Mrs Greyson,, She had her gaze solely on Jasmine and Liam.
She held no expression on her face.. Slowly, she broke into a smile revealing her dimples.
“I’m proud of you Liam,, not all man would be brave enough to do this. I hold nothing against you dear! It’s a good thing you decided to follow your heart. You both look good together.”
“Thank you Mrs Greyson!” Liam said.
“Since, everything’s clear,,” He paused going on his knees.
He deepened his hands into the suit pocket and bringing out a ring box.
He opened it, stretching it towards Jasmine.
“Jasmine, I’d make a thousand wish just for you to be mine. Even if it means making the same wish till I die, I’ll gladly do it. please do me the honour of becoming my wife” Liam said.
Jasmine became tongue tied. She wasn’t expecting this at least not too soon. This whole act looks real and she secretly wished it was.
She glanced at Claudia, her eyes blazing out fire. This is an act she already started and there’s no turning back.
“Yes! I’ll be your wife” She said. Liam beamed with smiles as he quickly slipped the ring into her finger.
He leaned forward and pecked her cheeks.
“No!” Claudia growled, standing up and banging the table in the process.
“You are supposed to get engaged to me and not this lowlife,, It was supposed to be you and I” She yelled.
“Calm down Claudia!” Her mother cooed holding her hands.
She ignored, picking up a glass of juice and pouring it on Jasmine.
“Claudia!” Mrs Greyson gasped standing up. Claudia scoffed and walked out.
“I’m sorry dear!,,” Mrs Greyson apologized to Jasmine.
“It’s fine ma’am!” She simply said.
“I’ll take my leave!, Thanks for dinner.” She said and rushed after Claudia.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” Liam asked.
“Yes!”
“Come, I’ll show you the restroom” He offered.
“Let me do it!” Mrs Nolan said.
“C’mon! I’ll show you the restroom” She said again, standing up.
Liam nodded at Jasmine as a sign to go with his mom.
Jasmine stood up and walked slowly behind Mrs Nolan as they walked upstairs.
“What exactly is your relationship with my son?” She asked just as they walked into a room.
Jasmine remained silent trying to find the right answer.
“I asked you a question, lady!”
“I’m.. I’m..” Jasmine stuttered.
“Why the hell are you stuttering lady? What game are you playing uh” She asked squinting her eyes.
“It’s no game ma’am!”
“You mean to tell me you really love my son?” She asked again.
Jasmine nodded.
“Use your words lady!” Mrs Nolan ordered.
“Yes ma’am! I love Liam”
“Liam hasn’t been in love with any one for so long and all of a sudden, you come into the picture! How long have you you two been together?”
“For… For… A year ma’am” Jasmine said trying to sound convincing.
“How much do you need to let go of Liam? Name your price lady! Ten million? twenty million? or even more!”
If it were to be any other lady, they’d surely jump into the offer with open arms. Mrs Nolan, offering her the money is like doubting her dignity. This is the height of it. Yes! She doing this as payment for Jace’s fees to her this whole thing doesn’t look like an act anymore. Though they aren’t in love and it’s just a fake wedding but she’s willing to make it work just for the time being.
“With all due respect ma’am, Liam and I are in love with each other and accepting any money from you is like betraying my own existence. Liam means the whole world to me. I’m sorry ma’am but no amount of money can buy the love I feel for him” Jasmine said.
Seconds passed yet, Mrs Nolan hasn’t said anything. She seems to be deep in thought.
“That’s the bathroom! Come downstairs when you’re done” With that she walked away.
Jasmine breathed out in relief, holding her chest. That was a perfect unplanned speech she just did.
She walked to the bathroom and did her business then found her way back to the dining room.
They began to eat in silence. She noticed Mrs Nolan quietness and she wasn’t giving her harsh glares.
Mr Nolan spoke up…. “Liam, Jasmine…. You’d be getting married this Saturday” He announced.
“Dad!!” Liam exclaimed.
Jasmine chocked,, Liam quickly handed her some water. Rubbing her back in the process.
Mr Nolan waited for her to calm down before speaking up again.
“Do you have a problem with that Jasmine?” He asked.
“N-No sir,, It’s … it’s just too soon!” She said.
“You’re both in love right? Why delaying the final step?” He asked and they all remained silent.
“Saturday?” He asked.
Liam looked at Jasmine…. She had no choice but to accept,, this is part of the plan right?
“Yes sir!”.
“Okay Dad” Liam said.
“Great! Welcome to the family Jasmine!” Mr Nolan said beaming with smiles.
” Thank you sir”
“Dad,,, Call me Dad” He said.
“Thank you Dad!” Jasmine said. At this point, she felt intense heat. something in her guts wanted her to scream so badly. This is so real to be fake. She kinda feel like a liar particularly to Mr Nolan.
So many things in one day,,, Longest night ever!!.
TBC ..