CLAUDE
“Claude, thank you for accepting my invitation on such short notice.”
“You’re welcome, Uncle Vincent,” I replied with a smile to Haven’s father.
After leaving the office earlier, I headed straight to the main branch of Le Ciel Dore. It was only a five-minute drive from my office. When I arrived, I found Haven’s whole family-her father, mother, and younger sibling.
“I’ve already ordered our food. I hope you’ll like it, son,” Aunt Inara said.
“It’s okay, Aunt,” I replied, not surprised by Mrs. Inara’s statement. I was used to her always taking the lead with people around her. She loved making decisions for the majority, especially when it came to food. But somehow, her choices were always good, and I couldn’t find fault in them.
“I heard you got married, Claude. Is it true?”
I knew that was one of the topics they would discuss, so I wasn’t surprised by Uncle Vincent’s question.
“Yes, sir. I got married almost a month ago.”
“I don’t know if I should be sad or happy with the news. I didn’t expect it.”
I blinked at Uncle Vincent’s words. What concern did this old man have with my marriage? “Why would you be sad? What’s the problem?”
“I thought you and Haven were getting along well. I didn’t expect that after three years of not seeing each other, you’d find someone else.”
I straightened up in my seat, unable to believe what Haven’s father was saying. When I glanced at my friend sitting across from me, she avoided my gaze. Was this her doing?
“Uncle, Haven and I don’t have a relationship. We’re just friends. My marriage has been planned for a long time. As far as I know, my parents arranged it when I was still young. I need to get married after my father passes on the CEO position at Artisan Furnitures to me. If I don’t agree with what they want, they’ll revoke my position,” I explained, wanting to clarify to Haven’s family that her leaving had nothing to do with my parents’ decision for me to get married. But it might hurt the Lee family more if I did that.
Uncle Vincent sighed deeply while Aunt Inara let out a heavy breath. Haven frowned while her younger sibling remained quiet. Harvey seemed completely indifferent to our conversation.
“It’s a shame because I had a good plan for you and Haven if you ended up together. I was going to talk to Donovan about giving back the thirty percent shares if you married Haven.”
I was taken aback. What was Uncle Vincent talking about?
Three years ago, Uncle Vincent’s entire family migrated to Singapore. That’s when he sold his thirty percent share to my father, leaving only twenty percent in the company. Now, I wondered why Uncle Vincent planned to use that share for Haven’s sake. If he was really interested in getting me and Haven together, he should have done something about it earlier.
“Uncle Vincent, I don’t understand why you’re saying this to me. You should have told my father about your plan.”
“Actually, Donovan and I talked about you and Haven before. He told me then that he doesn’t interfere with your decision, especially since you weren’t here in the US at that time. But it seems everything changed after we left.”
I fell silent, unable to believe what Uncle Vincent had just told me about my father’s words. That wasn’t what happened. My parents forced me to get married-that was the truth.
“Who did you marry, son?” Aunt Inara interjected suddenly.
“I married the eldest daughter of the owner of Artisan Paper Corporation.”
Haven’s parents exchanged glances. “The child of Gregory and Hazel Harris?” they asked simultaneously.
“Yes. I’m referring to Alessia. Do you also know her parents?”
Suddenly, Uncle Vincent tapped the table. Fortunately, the food hadn’t arrived yet.
“Of course, I know your dad’s best friend. The truth is, Artisan Paper is named after Donovan’s company because Donovan himself provided the capital to establish that business. He’s just Gregory’s industrial partner.”
My mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Were my parents marrying me off to Sia to get their hands on the company my father invested in? Was that it? But there must have been other ways for my father to acquire it without me having to get married.
Shit! What did I get myself into?
“I didn’t know about that, Uncle Vincent.”
“I know. Donovan wouldn’t mention that. Only the three of us friends know. Your dad is closer to Gregory because they’ve known each other since childhood. I only became friends with them when we were in college.”
I was about to speak when the food suddenly arrived. I felt hungry when I saw the dishes in front of me. I forgot what I was going to say as we started to eat.
“I have a proposition to make. Claude, listen to this and think it over carefully,” Uncle Vincent said after a few minutes.
I glanced at him.
“If you divorce Gregory’s daughter, I’ll return the thirty percent share I took from Artisan Furnitures. After you marry Haven, the company will go to you and not to someone else who didn’t contribute to the business your family had worked hard for.”
“You don’t need to decide now, son. We’re willing to wait,” Aunt Inara added.
“Claude, you have one week to think it over. You won’t only make Haven happy with the right decision. Your dad and I will also be pleased,” Uncle Vincent concluded.
I furrowed my brows at Uncle Vincent’s last statement.
I was about to leave after our dinner, but my phone suddenly rang while I was driving. When I checked my phone, there was a text from Haven.
“I want to talk to you. I’ll be waiting in my condo. Don’t make me wait longer.”
I raised an eyebrow at her message. I pondered deeply for a few seconds. I hadn’t made a decision yet when my phone rang again. I thought it was Haven calling, so I ignored it. But the ringing didn’t stop, so I was forced to answer.
I smiled when I saw Monte’s name on the caller ID.
“Chaos, where are you?”
I chuckled at Monte’s greeting. “I’m driving. Why are you asking?”
“Pyro is looking for you here at Midnight Manor. Come over now. He needs someone to lean on. The guy is troubled.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“What’s his problem? Money? Or his family?”
“His wife.”
“His wife? Since when did Pyro get married? He’s married now? Since when? Who’s the woman?”
“Yvette. Colonel Danvers’s daughter.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Pyro himself told me. And Arlo confirmed it because he was the only one who attended their wedding.”
I nodded. I checked my watch. It was already nine-thirty. It was late to go home, so I might as well make it done. Zion needed me.
“Okay, I’ll be there in thirty,” I said as I hung up my cellphone and turned my car around. I would just go to Zion’s. It was better than going to Haven. I didn’t want to listen to her drama.