Chapter 198: Chapter 198
Leandro felt his heart shake in greater joy.
In the old Michaelson’s understanding, Brianna’s words were more than any sweetly spoken promises. The deliverance of her words may appear cold and tough, but Leandro was even more than just convinced of her sincerity and echt.
“Grandpa, as you know, Anna expresses her words in her own charming ways,” Lucien tried to justify Brianna’s ways of conveying her thoughts.
Lucien was fully aware his grandpa was a man who would easily fold to sweetness and to an affectionate way of speech and communication. Still, with how Anna said her words, Lucien was worried it would create a negative impact on the old Michaelson, so the grandson tried to butt in.
“I know. I know,” Leandro smiled warmly as he nodded, affirming Lucien’s words to be true. “And I don’t know what makes you feel so worried about that. Why did you have to explain?” Leandro chuckled as he teased a nervously-looking Lucien. The grandpa realized his grandson was somewhat funny; looking so worried the older Michaelson would not like Anna’s words or way of saying her honest thoughts.
Brianna did not notice Lucien’s eagerness to defend her when Lucien spoke right after she finished her words. She just perceived Lucien’s words when Don Leon commented about it, although in a comical way.
“I don’t know how to sound more convincing that how I have managed to say those words. And whether you believe it or not, I am not really bothered. I do not know how to lie either. What you see is what you get,” Brianna turned her face to Lucien and said her words indifferently.
“Babe…?” Lucien smiled awkwardly. “Of course, I believe every word you say. More than anyone here, I believe every word even before you spoke of them.”
Lucien explained with desperation. He was worried the way Brianna said her words meant she was hurt. Lucien could not avoid speculating such thoughts since his grandfather also teased him about explaining or justifying Anna’s words.
Leandro laughed out loud as he leisurely witnessed the peculiar scene between his grandson and his soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law. His roaring laughter made Brianna and Lucien stop at their silent quarrel; Brianna had one of her eyebrows almost flying high while her eyes were squinted at a poor-looking Lucien, who was trying to elucidate his reasons. Leandro’s laughter turned even more thunderous when he saw the youngsters astonished faces staring right back at him. Lucien and Brianna’s eyes were jumping back and forth at each other’s faces, then to Enzo, who was holding his smiles, and to Don Leon, who was becoming even more boisterous.
After a little while, Lucien and Brianna also burst into laughter, and soon enough, Enzo was also clearing his throat as he swallowed his laughter, but his face could not hide cracking no matter how hard he tried holding his smile in.
“I believe you,” Leandro wiped his tears of joy from almost excessive laughter.
He had an in-house physician as per Levi Michaelson’s insistent demand to monitor the Old Michaelson’s health around the clock. Leandro was not worried about anything and let his joy be expressed and known by everyone around him. If he was going to die overjoyed, Leandro was not going to regret it. He will welcome death anytime with such a joyful heart. But aside from the fact that he was not scared to die in such a way, he was also confident of seeing his doctor not so far away, as if he was on standby and ready to run to the Old Michaelson’s side if the latter needed any medical assistance of any kind.
“I am so happy, and to be honest, my fragile heart is struggling,” Leandro laughed breathily again, “But I don’t want to miss the chance to see both of you exchanging vows. And if I may ask for more, such a greedy old man, right?” Leandro chuckled, pausing his words to personally nag at himself.
Everyone around Leandro, including the young couple, just smiled and did not say anything for him to continue.
“I also want to be around as you both welcome a new generation of Peters and Michaelsons,” he raised his cup of tea as if offering a toast.
Lucien was worried Brianna would not feel comfortable about the joke his grandpa just said, so he was about to speak to defend his woman and reprimand his grandpa for saying such words, but his words were swallowed back into his throat after hearing Anna’s reply.
“Well, who knows, we might already have them as we speak. Right, Luci?”
“Huh?!” Lucien answered mindlessly.
“What? You’ve been too busy working last night, remember? We- mmmmmm….” Brianna spoke nonchalantly. Lucien had to cover her mouth and muffle her words.
“What are you doing?” Lucien whispered his words to Brianna’s ears, but as the whole place turned so quiet, everyone still heard his words.
But Brianna is not a weak woman to start with. She was able to free herself from Lucien’s holds and asked him clearly.
“Are you ashamed to say you slept with me last night?” Brianna asked with a frown. “And we didn’t use any contraception. May I remind you, do you wish to deny it will be your child in case I turn out to be pregnant?”
Leandro’s calmed laughter turned even more zestful. And the sound of it bursting caught Brianna and Lucien’s attention as Leandro tried to hold it in but failed miserably. The youngsters saw the old man’s whole face had turned beet red.
“Enzo, is he alright?” Anna asked worriedly.
Enzo called the doctor nearby as soon as he heard Anna’s worried voice talking to him. The assistant was also cautious about his Master’s health, but Leandro had been shaking his head at him even before the moment his laughter called the young couple’s attention.
“Grandpa, please….?” Lucien begged. Then Lucien turned to Anna. He silently pleaded for her to speak some senses to his silly grandpa.
Brianna gave Lucien a rounded-eye look as if saying, “what do you want me to say?”. Lucien kept his eyes speaking silently to Anna as if saying, “Anything. Just make him stop and calm down. His heart might not bear the pressure.”
Brianna frowned at Lucien. She felt like Lucien was asking her to do something impossible. But when she looked back at the Old Michaelson, she saw Don Leon was having difficulty breathing. And though the doctor was already by his side and was about to give him a shot of sedatives to soothe his raging emotional joy, the medicine might still take time before taking effects.
“You must stay healthy until I bring you a great-grandchild. If not, I might consider changing my mind and cancel any exchange of vows with Luci.”
Brianna’s words seemed to have taken effect faster than the sedatives given to the Old Michaelson. He cleared his throat and spoke to the physician with urgency.
“Okay, okay,” Leandro said softly. “You heard what she said, doc, hurry up.”
Instead of a shot, the doctor prepared to give Leandro a bottle of drip so the sedative will run through his veins more speedily. Leandro indeed felt relief as his breathing returned to normal. Despite being assisted medically, Leandro entertained his guests with unchanging jovial and cheeriness.
“Don’t mind me, please enjoy your tea. My dear doctor here says I should not indulge, but I can sit with you and continue our joyful conversation,” Leandro gleefully uttered.
“Well, you have to remember what I had just said,” Brianna shrugged her shoulders as she said.
“Did he do well last night? Do you think I should be expecting a little rascal like him or a little beauty like you soon enough?” Leandro playfully whispered, covering the side of his face with an open palm while winking at Brianna as if hiding his questions from Lucien, who was not even a few inches away from the person Leandro was asking to.
“Grandpa!?” Lucien felt helpless at his grandpa’s wild and childish behavior.
“I don’t really know how to rate him. All I can say is I was satisfied, but I can’t say you should expect anything, you know? We can do the act, but we can’t say they always bear fruits no matter how hard we dig the ground,” Brianna answered with a straight face. Then she sipped on her tea casually.
Leandro almost busted his gut as his laughter filled the whole mansion again.
“Did you guys dig the ground last night? I thought it was an earthquake,” Leandro managed to say between his laughter. “So, it turned out to be you two, huh?”
Lucien paled in worry, but he was speechless. Anna was calmly drinking her tea. His grandpa was wildly laughing. He turned around when he heard the sounds of people giggling.
“Babe, please….?” Lucien looked at Anna pitifully.
“Huh? Please, what?” Brianna asked innocently.
Her simple words made Leandro cackle again.
“Luci, you should give your mom and dad a call,” Leandro said after a shaking mirth. Then he turned to Brianna. “Is it alright with you, Anna?”