Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Dylan had almost made his apartment his home with Madison in it. The arranged marriage would take place soon. While carrying out a plan on how to stop it, Dylan wished to stay with the woman he wanted to be his bride. He would not have returned to the mansion if his mother had not called.

"I'll be gone for a while, darling," Dylan said softly to Madison, lying asleep in bed. "I'll be back soon. I love you." He left a note on the bedside table to inform her when she woke up. The fridge was also stuffed with food she could eat while he was away.

Dylan stared at Madison's innocent, sleeping face. His fingers caressed her cheeks, and his lips brushed hers before he left the apartment.

On his way to the garage, his phone rang again.

"Where are you?" Laurene asked as soon as Dylan picked up the phone.

"At my apartment, Mom. I've been staying here," Dylan replied. He looked at the screen of his phone. It was only five in the morning. "What's the matter? You called so early today," he asked.

"Brace yourself, sweetheart. I've got some bad news," Laurene bitterly forewarned. Dylan could hear his mother's sigh on the other end of the line. "You know the Welchs. They don't listen to anything your dad and I have to say. Go home, sweetheart. We need to talk."

Dylan glanced at the sunrise and took a deep breath. "Okay, Mom. I'll be there soon," he said and ended the call. In less than half an hour, his car had arrived at the mansion. The agitated look of his parents in the living room greeted him.

"Morning," Dylan greeted and kissed Laurene on the cheek, trying to lighten up the atmosphere. But judging from the same expression on his parents' faces, he could tell that even he would feel the same way once he heard the news. "What's wrong?" he asked while standing in front of them.

Two pairs of eyes looked at Dylan, screaming that they felt sorry for him. He could not help but mirror the same feeling for himself even when they had not said a thing.

"Come on, guys. What is it this time?" Thinking of the worst-case scenario, he guessed, "Don't tell me the wedding will be happening too soon." A burst of nervous laughter escaped his mouth.

It was supposed to be sarcastic. But Laurene and Armand looked apologetically at Dylan and lowered their heads as they quietly nodded.

Dylan gasped out, "Damn it!" He shifted his eyes to Armand leaning on the side of the couch. Dylan shook his head in frustration and whined, "That can't be!"

"I'm sorry, son," Armand apologized, confirming that the wedding would be held in advance.

Heaving an exasperated sigh, Dylan sunk next to Laurene. He lowered his head and closed his eyes as though whispering a prayer. "How soon?" he asked in a whisper, unsure whether he wanted to hear the new date.

Laurene took a deep breath before giving the details. "The wedding will be held a week from now. It'll be on Saturday, to be exact."

"That's bullshit!" Dylan bellowed in utter shock, his hands balled into a fist. He turned to his father and yelled, "Come on, Dad! Tell me that's not true! I've had enough of this bullshit!"

"Don't talk to your father like he wanted it, Dylan!" yelled Laurene, who was now standing in front of Dylan. She gasped, trying to calm herself. "We talked to them, but your dad's friend just won't listen."

Helplessness was evident in Laurene's voice, so Dylan apologized, "I'm sorry, Mom." He stood up, and without looking at Armand, Dylan sarcastically asked, "Any more terrible news than that?" The advanced date was putting pressure on him. Unfortunately, his parents could not help him think of a solution to stop the wedding. When Laurene shook her head in response to his question, Dylan started walking out of the mansion.

But before he could open the door, Armand apologized again. "I'm so sorry, son. I'm doing all I can to stop that wedding, but a week is too short to think of other ways. I'm sorry."

Judging from Armand's voice, Dylan could tell his father's sincerity. But unlike his father, Dylan was not hopeless. "A week is still a time to think, Dad. I'll do everything to stop that damn marriage." He turned around to look at Armand before speaking again. "I'll do everything, Dad. I assure you that. I won't marry anyone but Madison."

While driving, Dylan could not help but sigh. His father was right. A week was not enough to think of a solution. But he sighed again, determined to prove Armand wrong despite not having a solid plan. 'I need to think of a way,' he thought firmly and took out his phone, thinking of calling Suzette.

"Damn!" Dylan threw his cellphone on the dashboard out of frustration. "I need to talk to her! She's my only card and probably the last one!" But he could not talk to her even over the phone. Her bodyguards always surrounded her.

He drove straight to the Welchs' residence, but a maid said none of them were home. Dylan remembered that Suzette must be in Hades' office at the moment. Hoping to talk to her, Dylan headed to the Welchs' company.

Hades was leaning on his swivel chair with his eyes closed. When he opened his eyes, he flashed a smile and gestured for Dylan to take the chair opposite Hades.

"What brought my son-in-law here?" Hades asked as he put his finger on his chin. Shortly after, his finger snapped in the air as he said, "Ah! You found out from your parents that the wedding will be on Saturday! And you're here to ask something. Am I right?"

Dylan nodded. "Mom and Dad told me about that. I'm not here to object, sir," he lied. His father's best friend would most likely take the groom's one-week preparation if Hades found out about Armand's son's objection, so Dylan convinced his bride's father. "I came here to talk to Suzette. I want her to be the one to decide on the remaining things we need to do for our wedding."

Staring at Dylan suspiciously, Hades snickered with a frown. "What made you think I'd let you talk to my daughter?"

'I can't lose here,' Dylan reminded himself. It was his future at stake. Trying to find a solution, he had to please Hades.

"With all due respect, sir, it's our wedding. I want my fiancée to handle the rest of the things we need to be prepared for. We barely talked. The wedding planner does almost everything we should be taking care of. But Suzette will be my wife soon. Becoming her husband, I need to know her preferences at least," Dylan explained confidently, coaxing Hades. He added, "I want her to decide according to her preferences without being dictated to by the wedding planner you hired. Please let her and I prepare for our upcoming wedding."

Hades raised an eyebrow and lowered his eyes to the table between him and his future son-in-law. Still second-guessing, he insisted, "Your wedding will be happening a week from now. Everything is almost set. What made you think I'd let my daughter take care of your wedding? I don't want anything to be delayed."

"I'll marry your daughter on time, sir," Dylan assured, gaining Hades' trust. "Nothing will delay it. If she wants to change something, I'll make sure it'll make the wedding perfect but still on time."

It was Dylan's only card. Hades fell silent while Dylan waited to hear an agreement until Hades stood up from his chair. Suzette's father stared through the glass window, observing the buildings in front of him. Dylan's heart was pounding as he waited for Hades' response. Partly, the young man doubted he'd convince his father's ridiculous best friend. But thinking about Madison, Dylan held on to his hope.

After a while, Hades turned to Dylan with a faint, genuine smile. The former had never smiled at the latter like this since they met.

"You win this time, son," Hades replied. When he paused, Dylan prepared himself to hear the condition. "Just promise me one thing," Hades asked with a hint of a warning.

"Anything, sir," Dylan immediately replied, smiling faintly.

"I want my daughter's wedding to be perfect without any hindrance. You will make that happen, won't you?" Hades asked.

Dylan was smart enough to know he was being threatened, so he replied, "I assure you that, sir."

"Alright, I'll let my daughter talk to you. But not now. She's somewhere else today. Meet her at your wedding planner's place tomorrow at seven," Hades instructed with a smile.

"Thank you, sir. I'll make sure you made the right decision to allow us ourselves to prepare for our wedding," Dylan said, returning a wide smile. "I'll get going now, sir. I also have something to do today. Please tell your daughter I can't wait to see her tomorrow."

Dylan exchanged a handshake with Hades before leaving the company with a triumphant smile.