Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Arthur and Grayson walked into the dining area one after another, both dressed up. The former was wearing a suit while the other was dressed up for school. They had glum expressions until Kendall, who wore an apron, smiled sweetly and welcomed them.

Of course, Arthur smiled back. Grayson, on the contrary, only nodded in response.

They sat at the dining table and took a closer look at the food, which caused their pupils to dilate in worry. The two men swallowed nervously and exchanged gazes, unable to speak for a second. Then, they raised their heads at Kendall, who was still smiling at them.

Breakfast was usually served in a variety of bright colors. However, the food that Kendall prepared only came in one—and that color was black. There were toasted omelets, burnt hotdogs, burnt bacon, blackened ham, and off-colored fried rice on the dining table.

"I'm sorry if my dishes turned out like this, Mr. Hoffman. It's just that my vision gets defective whenever I am cooking. I tend to become color blind, so I don't notice that my dish is turning black," Kendall reasoned before she could hear their unpleasant comments.

"Hailey, do you want us to have colon cancer?!" Grayson growled.

Hearing his grandson's tone, Arthur glared at the latter and scolded, "Don't talk to Hailey like that, Grayson! Don't complain as if you hadn't gotten used to my cooking. If you find it hard to swallow, drink water."

Grayson only sneered in displeasure and remarked, "I warned you not to trust that woman, Grandpa. Why did you ask her to cook? Look at what she has done! Our kitchen might be on fire for good the next time you let her use the stove."

Arthur, who didn't like what his grandson said, looked at Grayson with eyes filled with warning signs. He took a deep breath as if he was gathering the remaining patience he had for the young man and said, "Grayson, how could you talk to a woman like that? She worked hard to cook these, so why don't you just appreciate her effort? Sit down and stop being a spoiled brat, okay? Let's eat because I still have a lot of things to take care of in the company."

Because of that, Grayson, who his grandfather had always favored, was taken aback by his words. "Me? A spoiled brat? Grandpa, are you siding with this girl instead of your grandson?" he asked, slightly raising his tone.

Arthur then shook his head and replied, "I'm not taking sides. I'm just saying that you shouldn't blame Hailey because I was the one who ordered her to cook in the first place. Now, take a seat and eat."

Kendall smiled mockingly at Grayson, but her expression instantly changed when she turned to Arthur. Her eyes sparkled, and her smile widened as she said, "Don't worry, Mr. Hoffman. It may look terrible outside, but I made it with love!"

"You made this with love?" Grayson repeated with one of his brows raised. "If this is what your love looks like, I feel sorry for your lover."

"That's enough, Grayson," Arthur firmly said before looking at Kendall. "Come and join us too, Hailey. You also have a class to attend," he invited.

"That's right," Grayson mirrored. "Join us so that you can taste how awful these dishes are."

Kendall only shrugged, took off her apron, and sat at the table. Then, she watched the two men with a full smile as they ate, not even bothering to lift her spoon.

When Grayson noticed her unwavering smile, he looked at her with a piercing gaze and said, "Why are you smiling like a fool, Hailey? Are you happy to watch us struggle to swallow the food you cooked?"

Kendall only rolled her eyes at Grayson's indictment, not wanting to argue with him. Then, she said, "No. I just remembered my family."

"Why, sweetie? Do you miss them already?" Arthur asked worriedly.

Kendall wanted to nod because that was how she felt. However, she still wasn't finished with her mission, so she didn't want to show them her vulnerable side. "No. It's just that your reaction reminded me of how they reacted when I once cooked breakfast for them," she answered, causing the two men to choke.

They hadn't even composed themselves when Kendall spoke again, saying, "Do you want me to cook for you again, Mr. Hoffman? I'd be more than willing to do so!"

Arthur was immediately alarmed by the woman's question. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he also thought her suggestion was not a good idea. Thus, he smiled at her and said, "Don't bother, Hailey. You've already cooked for me once, and that's enough. I wanted to taste the food you prepared while I was here, but I don't want you to lose focus on your studies."

After that, he needlessly gulped a glass of water.

While he was drinking, Grayson laughed from his seat. He looked at his grandfather and urged, "Come on, grandpa. Stop sugar-coating your words. Just tell her directly that her cooking sucks!"

After saying that, he received nothing but a deadly glare from his grandfather, who later on said, "Grayson, it's not about how it tastes but rather about her willingness to do it. Not all girls will ever be thoughtful enough to cook for you regardless of their skill."

"You're defending her again?" Grayson asked in annoyance before turning to Kendall, who seemed to be enjoying the situation. "Admit it, Hailey. Did you put a potion on the drinks you prepared for my grandfather?!"

And then again, Arthur answered on behalf of Kendall, saying, "Don't vent your frustrations on her, Grayson. I'm just thrilled to have her here with us. You know I have always wanted to have a granddaughter, right?"

Grayson then immediately fell silent when his grandfather brought that topic up. His teasing smile faded, and his expression instantly became serious.

Kendall knew she should not butt in with the two men's conversation, but she couldn't help but ask, "Do you want to have a granddaughter, Mr. Hoffman?"

Arthur, of course, smiled and nodded without any delay.

Even though his wish sounded simple, Kendall knew it would be hard to achieve. She thought, 'Mr. Hoffman has no other married child from whom he could expect a granddaughter. Grayson, on the other hand, is still too young.'

Thus, there was only one possible solution in her mind. "Are you planning to adopt one, Mr. Hoffman?" she asked, utterly curious.

However, Arthur only laughed at her innocent question. Then, he explained, "No, sweetie. That's not what I meant when I said that. I'm saying that I have been waiting for Grayson to bring a granddaughter into our family."

Kendall, who had always had a simple understanding of things, became even more confused upon hearing that. Shocked, she turned to Grayson and asked, "Grayson, do you have a daughter I am unaware of?!"

"Shut up, Hailey," the latter replied, rolling his eyes. "You're making it obvious that you have a low IQ."

Kendall then fell silent for a second as she pondered. After a while, she looked at Arthur and said, "Oh! I get it now. Are you referring to the woman Grayson would be marrying?"

The old man nodded.

Eyes sparkling, Kendall exclaimed, "Don't worry, Mr. Hoffman! That could happen anytime soon. Who knows if Grayson abruptly decided to get married today or the following day? That's..."

Kendall was yet to finish her sentence, but Grayson had already cut her off, saying, "I said, shut up, Hailey!"

Scared, she looked at Arthur, asking for help, and said, "Look how your grandson stares at me, Mr. Hoffman..."

Of course, Arthur backed up Kendall all the way. Even though he wanted to say something about what Kendall mentioned, he knew this wasn't the right place to talk about such a private matter. Thus, he only said, "That's enough, Grayson. Can't you see that we are in the middle of breakfast? Anyway, meet me in my office before you go to school."

With that, Grayson nodded and focused on his food. "Alright, grandpa," he muttered.

...

"Grayson, are you still taking our agreement seriously?" Arthur asked bluntly when he and his grandson, Grayson, were the only ones in his office in the mansion.

Sure enough, Grayson nodded flatly and said, "Of course, grandpa. I haven't forgotten about our agreement."

Arthur then nodded at his grandson's response and sighed. Traces of helplessness were visible in his eyes as he said, "I know that what I am asking for from you is not easy, Grayson. However, please understand my part as well. I'm already old, buddy, and time won't stop for me. I might leave you anytime soon, and I don't want you to be alone."

He stopped talking halfway and roamed his gaze around the massive office full of things worth thousands of dollars. Then, he added, "I prepared everything for you; this mansion, our business, and the entirety of our wealth. They are all yours, Grayson. Yes, you have everything now, but when I die, you'd lost the most valuable thing you could have in this life—a family."

Arthur looked earnestly at his grandson, trying to read what he was thinking. However, Grayson only gave him a blank expression, not letting him see through his thoughts.

Because of that, Arthur could only go on with what he was saying. "I don't want to watch that happen, Grayson. So, I hope you can let me see you having your own family before I die. I know you are still young, but life hasn't been harsh and unfair on your part, has it? You are the heir of a multi-billion company. I am letting you carry on with anything you want to do and live your life to the fullest now. However, you should not forget that you have to take over our business and start a family of your own sooner or later. Right now, I am in a rush to settle everything for you."

Grayson smiled wistfully at his grandfather. The latter's words weighed so much, and he wouldn't deny that they had somehow burdened him. Still, he nodded and guaranteed, "Don't worry, grandpa. I'm not going to disappoint you."

"But are you working on it?" Arthur asked with expectant eyes. "I noticed you go out with your friends more often than with Abigail. Do you want me to help you, buddy? Do you need me to talk to Abigail's parents and suggest having fixed marriage?"

Grayson bit his lips when his grandfather mentioned Abigail's name. He knew that the latter had always liked her for him. However, he could only be honest with the old man even though he didn't want to burst his bubbles. "Abigail and I have broken up, grandpa."

Arthur suddenly fell silent.

"I know you like her very much, but I'm dating a different girl now," Grayson calmly explained while fidgeting with his hand.

Arthur looked closely at Grayson, who couldn't look straight at him. He thought deeply for a moment before letting out a sigh.

Then, he said, "Okay, from now on, I will not interfere with whoever you choose to marry. I know things are already overwhelming for you, and I don't want to add more fuel to the fire. What's important is that you love her, and she loves you too. You are the one who will be living with her, so you should be the one to choose with whom you want to spend a lifetime. I want you to be happy, so you better start taking your relationship seriously."

Hearing his grandfather's last sentence, Grayson asked, "I still have time to think and prepare, right? We agreed that I'll get married when I reach twenty."

"Yes, but I'm hoping you'll get engaged on your nineteenth birthday so my granddaughter-in-law will still have time to get to know our family and the same thing for us before you marry," Arthur replied.

Helplessness filled Grayson's face as he almost begged, "But that will be four months from now, Grandpa. I hope you can give me more time to prepare. Besides, I still have to talk to my girlfriend about this matter. If she's not ready for this, I'm afraid I can't do anything about it."

"I know, but I trust you, Grayson," Arthur smiled. "I know that you won't disappoint me as you promised."

With that, Grayson fell silent.

Before the atmosphere inside Arthur's office became even more suffocating, the latter smiled and said, "You can leave now, Grayson. You will be late for class if you don't. Let's talk about this some other time."

Grayson then stood up lazily and waved goodbye to his grandfather with a forced smile.

"See you later, Grandpa," he said.

As soon as he came out, Kendall greeted him with a smile.

"Are we leaving now?" she asked.

"Yes," Grayson briefly replied.

...

Only the muffled sound of the air coming out of the air conditioner and Grayson's continuous sighs could be heard inside the car while they were on the way to the university.

Unable to take the stillness any longer, Kendall glanced at the man sitting beside her and said, "Grayson, can you stop doing that? You're making me feel depressed! Is there anything wrong?"

"None," Grayson replied as his eyes remained focused outside.

"Did you argue with your grandfather?" Kendall asked again, which Grayson only shook his head as a response.

Since he only gave vague answers, Kendall kept asking. "Then, why does it seem so hard for you to smile right now? Why do you look like heaven has turned its back on you?"

However, all she received as a response from him was, "Let's not talk about this right now, Hailey. I'm not in the mood."

After that, he closed his eyes and took a nap.

...

Grayson had no appetite the entire day. He was distant, barely saying a word. Sometimes, Kendall would even catch him staring at some random thing, evidently lost in his thoughts. When he asked her to drive into the bar when their class ended, she could only obey his order.

Kendall originally planned to wait for him in the car because that was what she used to have been told to do. However, she didn't expect him to invite her inside, which was unusual.

"Why don't you ask Cady to come over?" she suggested.

"Why should I?" he casually replied.

When they got out of the car, Grayson put his arm around her and patted her shoulder, saying, "Let's get wasted tonight, Hailey! Let's enjoy our youth!"

Grayson then ordered a bucket of beer and opened one each for the two of them. "To a life of nothing but happiness!" he smiled and raised the beer bottle. While he was enjoying himself, Kendall, on the contrary, couldn't help but feel strange about his behavior.

"Grayson, are you sick again?" she asked, puzzled.

"Nope," he replied.

Wanting to make sure, Kendall even checked his temperature by putting her hand on his neck. "Yes, you don't seem sick. Then, why do you suddenly want to drink with me? You used to stop me from drinking with you and the gang since I'm going to drive."

"No reason, Hailey," Grayson replied with a smile. Then, he added, "Stop thinking about other things and enjoy the rest of the night. We'd soon be past our prime, so let's make the most of our joyful and trouble-free days."

"You have a problem, don't you?" Kendall probed, narrowing her eyes.

However, Grayson remained silent. He only averted his gaze from her, listened to the singing acoustic band, and drank his beer.

After what seemed to be a long time, he turned to Kendall and asked, "Hailey, what age are you planning to get married?"

Grayson's question caught Kendall off guard, causing her to almost spit out her drink. She looked at him with surprised eyes and asked, "What kind of question is that, Grayson?!"

Then, she put down the beer bottle on the cocktail table, fixed her sitting position, and added, "Isn't that the same as asking me when I want to have a grandchild? Gosh, Grayson! Why are you already thinking about those things? How could you ask me about my plans of getting married when I don't even have a boyfriend yet?"

"Why? Aren't you planning to get married in the distant future?" Grayson asked, raising his brows. "You know, normal women have a certain age in mind when they want to get married."

"Well, you said it yourself. Normal women have, but since I'm not-so-normal in your eyes, how could I have a prepared answer for that?" Kendall replied, shrugging.

"You have a point," Grayson muttered as he agreed.

"Wait," Kendall suddenly said, as if she had realized something. "Are you tired of jumping from one woman to another, so you are now planning to get married?!"

Grayson only grinned as a response. He drank the beer until its last drop and pretended as if he hadn't heard anything. Kendall, on the other hand, suddenly remembered what Arthur said while they were having breakfast.

She realized Grayson had been in a bad mood since then, so she thought his strange behavior and profound statements just now had something to do with it.

"Is Mr. Hoffman serious about what he said earlier?" she asked cautiously.

"Which one are you referring to?" Grayson asked in return.

Kendall hesitated to ask at first, not wanting to sound offensive or nosy. However, her curiosity prevailed. "About him waiting for you to bring a woman into your family and get married."

Of course, Grayson didn't answer.

Receiving no response from him, Kendall added, "Was it what you and Mr. Hoffman talked about in his office? Is that what's bugging you the entire day?"

Grayson would tease Kendall whenever he found a chance, so Kendall had never been accustomed to him being so distant and preoccupied. However, she could understand where his frustration was coming from.

When their eyes met, Grayson's expression instantly became serious. He asked, "Hailey, would you find me funny if I suddenly got married?"

'Looks like my guess is right,' Kendall inwardly said to herself. Then, she looked down at the ceiling and replied, "If you're poor, yes. I won't only find you funny but dumb as well. Someone in his proper state of mind wouldn't jump into marriage without plans. What would you feed your family if you're not financially stable? None, of course!"

Kendall stopped for a second and smiled faintly. She looked at Grayson with eyes full of pity and said, "But then, you're different, Grayson. You're wealthy, so it won't be a big deal if you get married early. It'll be easy in terms of that, but you have to ask yourself two questions."

"Are you ready, and have you found the woman you want to marry?" she added.

Grayson paused and thought for a moment.

Worried, Kendall asked, "Grayson, did Mr. Hoffman force you into an arranged marriage? I asked because that usually happens to wealthy families in movies."

As much as Grayson wanted to maintain his composure, Kendall's question made him laugh. He shook his head with a smile and said, "No, that's not the case, Hailey. Grandpa only wants me to get married when I reach twenty."

"If it's not an arranged marriage, then it should be fine, right? You could choose any girl you fancy," Kendall replied, nodding. Since Grayson seemed to be in a good mood already, she didn't hesitate to ask the question she had in mind. "But why does Mr. Hoffman want you to get married this early?"

"He said he's already old. You see, my grandfather and I only have each other to rely on. So, he was afraid that I would be left alone once he died," Grayson explained, which moved Kendall.

'I've never met someone this considerate in my entire life,' the latter thought.

She then stared at Grayson and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. 'This must be hard for you, but I understand where your grandfather is coming from. You may be left with unimaginable wealth, but having a family is far more valuable.'

Helpless, Kendall asked, "What's your plan then? Are you going to fulfill your grandfather's wish?"

"I have already agreed with him, and I don't want to disappoint him as much as possible. He has always prioritized my happiness, so I want to give back all the kindness and love he showed me. Still, I would be lying if I said I am not scared," Grayson replied.

"What if I'm making the biggest mistake of my life? What if I choose the wrong girl? What if I thought I was ready even though I am still not? I know grandpa is doing this for my happiness, but— what if this won't make me happy at all?" he added.

"Life is a complex concept, Grayson," Kendall stated, smiling. "No matter how many books you have read, facts you have found out, or experiences you have experienced, you won't know everything you have to know. Regardless of our age, race, or status in life, there is no guarantee that we will have a happy life ahead. Even mature people who get married also end up getting divorced."

After that, she leaned comfortably against the chair, stared at the ceiling, and said, " Married life could be overwhelming, so make sure to choose the woman you love. If there's one thing I am sure of, that would be the fact that no problem will ever be insurmountable if you have your reasons. As long as you love each other, you will keep fighting for each other. You won't let your relationship be in vain."

Kendall wanted to laugh upon realizing how serious she had become. She had never been in a relationship, so she found herself funny for advising about something she didn't fully understand.

Still, she went on with her advice and said, "So, if what you feel for her is genuine, then I am certain that you would stand by your decision to marry her."

Silence commenced between the two of them after Kendall's lengthy speech. Wanting to break the awkward atmosphere, the latter spoke again and asked, "Wait, is this why you keep flirting with girls? Did you struggle to choose between Abigail and Cady because you are weighing your options?"

Grayson then laughed slightly and nodded.

Then, he said, "But I'm thinking of not getting married yet, Hailey. Maybe, I could just focus on taking over the company in the meantime. I might be lonely now, but I'll get married eventually. Besides, we'll never know when grandpa will leave me. Who knows if heaven grants him another twenty years to live? But if he did die early, I think I would be fine. I won't be alone because I've got friends. I have Chester, and I have—you."

Kendall's heart swelled with pleasure when she realized Grayson considered her a friend. However, she felt guilty for not being fully honest with him. It was his first time verbalizing his most honest thoughts, but she felt hurt more than ecstatic.

"Can you endure watching your grandfather get hurt, though? Don't you want him to spend the rest of his days happy with you?" she asked, to which Grayson didn't respond.

Because of that, Kendall went on and said, "Grayson, friends are not the same as family. The joy that your friends can bring you is not the same as the one your family could. Friends, unlike family, do not stay with you forever. They can't always be there for you. Some friends disappear over time, and some vanish as quickly as they arrive in your life."

"Take me, for example. I can't guarantee that we will be friends for a lifetime," she added.

Grayson immediately looked at Kendall upon hearing what she said. He felt like needles were pricking his heart. "What are you talking about, Hailey?" he asked, confused.

"Our friendship may be solid right now, but we can't guarantee that we will always be like this," Kendall stated. "Who knows if you will one day discover something about me that you cannot accept? Or perhaps, one of us might take a different course of life from the other? We can't really tell, Grayson. Anything could happen anytime that could break our bond."

"Why does our friendship have to be affected, though? Aren't our friendship strong? So what if I discovered something I despise about you? Let's fight about it temporarily and forgive each other like we used to," Grayson replied.

"How could you say those things easily, Hailey? I thought you wanted to be my friend," he added.

"I was just giving an example, Grayson," Kendall reasoned before drinking her beer, trying hard not to meet the man's gaze.

Grayson, on the other hand, glanced at his watch, looking like he was not in the mood again. "It's getting late, Hailey. How about we go home now?" he suggested.

"If you say so," Kendall softly replied.

After that, they left the bar and quietly walked to the parking lot. None of them spoke, which made the atmosphere utterly suffocating. When Kendall tried to talk to Grayson, the latter only looked in a different direction, giving her the impression that he was affected by everything she said.

"Hey, Grayson!" one man suddenly called from behind, causing the two to stop walking.

When they turned around, they saw three men walking toward them with mischievous smiles.

'I know these guys!' Kendall exclaimed in her mind as she remembered the three men who surrounded Grayson in the empty alley when she first encountered him.

"Dude, give my motorbike back," one of the three men firmly said, facing Grayson.

No matter how deep his voice was, Grayson remained relaxed. He only raised one of his brows and said, "I don't have it. Chester does. Besides, why would I give it back to you? You placed a bet, and you lost."

"I was only joking when I put my motorbike on the line!" the man explained.

"Were you? Well, I wasn't joking," Grayson casually replied.

Kendall grabbed the latter's hand as the three men went closer. They looked at each other as if they could talk through their eyes.

"Stop there, you three!" Kendall boldly ordered as she glared at the three men. "If you don't stop what you are planning to do, you won't like what I would do to you."

"Woah!" one of the three exclaimed. "Who's this girl, Grayson? Are you dating a gangster now?"

Hearing that, Grayson sneered and asked, "Don't you remember her?"

Kendall automatically squeezed the latter's hand because of what he said. She shook her head, signaling him to stop provoking the three men, afraid to enrage them more.

After that, she counted softly.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

"Run, Grayson!" she yelled.

After that, they both ran fast.

"Hey! Where do you think you guys are going?! Come back here. I am not done with you yet, Grayson!" the man called.

Kendall had been in the service for years, so she had long developed her speed. She could escape the three men without difficulty, but she kept Grayson's pace in mind. They held hands and ran non-stop like kids who wanted to escape their terror teachers.

Even though the three men were fast, Grayson and Kendall were faster.

In the end, the three surrendered from chasing them and went back. Kendall and Grayson, on the other hand, continued running until they realized they were no longer being pursued.

Only when they stopped running did they let go of each other's hands.

"Damn! That was fun!" Grayson exclaimed excitedly while catching his breath.

Kendall, on the contrary, could only nod at him consecutively, unable to say a word due to tiredness.

After composing themselves, they looked at each other and smiled.

"Hailey, don't ever say that thing again," Grayson uttered.

"Say what?" Kendall asked, a little confused.

"That we're not going to be friends forever," he replied.