Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

In that lavish greenhouse filled with the scent of irises and dahlias, two men were sipping tea. Amidst the warmth, those two were engaged in what seemed to be a staring contest. 

Alexander clicked his tongue as his patience waned. And he didn't want to stare at Jonathan's face. He does not have the magic Victoria has.

Both of them know what each other want. And Alexander knew that Jonathan will definitely ask something from him before agreeing to the wedding.

"If you think you can get something from me, keep on-"

"I do want something from you," Jonathan interjected. He saw Alexander squirming in anger and that lifted his spirit. 

"Are you seeing the same moon as me, love?" Jonathan spoke looking at Alexander and Alexander felt his entire body crawl out of disgust. 

What the hell is he doing?

"And these clouds… Do you think they will deliver my message to you, My dove? Or how about these doves I raise? Will~"

"Stop it!" Alexander almost threw his teacup on the table. He wanted to throw up hearing those words from a wrinkly old man. 

"Why?" Jonathan chuckled. His voice, chirpier than ever. He is a happy man thanks to his great-granddaughter now staying in his home. "I was impressed by the ballads composed by your dear grandson. I was thinking of making a Vinyl album and market it," Jonathan laughed. "By how macho he looked I thought he was tough but-"

"That's enough, Jonathan!" Alexander cut him off. He doesn't like others taking bad about his grandson. That right only belongs to him. 

"Of course Mike sings well. And Vinyl? Your age shows. My grandson doesn't even know what Vinyl is. Kids these days just stream music," Alexander scoffed.

Of course, Alexander doesn't quite understand the concept of streaming, but he said it anyway to have an upper hand against Jonathan. His grandson teaches him quite a lot of modern things although he doesn't understand any of them. He can show off, right? 

"Hmm…" Jonathan's face turned serious. "Jerlina wants Matilda to suffer the same as her. And I decided I will give in to her wish," he said and Alexander picked up the teacup. The staff topped it with warmer tea. 

"That's smart of her," Alexander sipped the tea. 

He's heard her husband made enemies of quite a few powerful people. He's known about Arnold Belfauger. Belfauger is another ogre in the same slime as Jonathan. And it seemed like Matilda's husband has restless hands syndrome and he once tried to touch Belfauger's daughter. Arnold kept his silence since he didn't want to go against Jonathan but now it would be open season.

"She is!" Jonathan puffed his chest although it was hard for him to sit straight. "And she does not want to have a lasting connection with the Erling family. She made it clear that she will cut off any relations with my family once I die," Jonathan's voice trailed. 

"As I said, she is smart," Alexander was in no mood to feel bad for Jonathan. He is getting too much from already if she has decided to keep in meeting Jonathan. 

"And she agreed to have the patents back," Jonathan said and Alexander looked at him, knitting his brows. 

He wondered what Jonathan meant by she 'agreed to' take back. If she agreed to take it back, does that mean she was offered? Jonathan offered her patents back?

"She refused the money though," Jonathan sighed. 

"Money? What money?" Alexander looked at Gordon and he explained with Jonathan's permission.

Alexander was shocked to hear that he always had separate financials for that. He wondered if he thought he was keeping it separate for the sake of Delvina. He might have thought that Edward will take Delvina back after everything at least for that patent. 

That probably is it!

"So, you knew Edward would be good for Delvina, huh?" Alexander asked and Jonathan gulped. 

That was the truth. When Edward came to him to ask permission to marry his daughter, he was proud of his daughter for choosing a good man. If only he was from a different family, things would have been different. 

"Is that why you didn't think twice before killing Edward's wife?" Alexander fisted his hands. "You thought your daughter had a chance?"

"Wife? My daughter was his wife! How could he ignore her?" Jonathan raised his voice. 

"Your daughter left him, remember?" Alexander scoffed. He got very angry at Jonathan for still thinking this way. And of course, Jonathan would never say this in front of Jerlina. 

This fraudster!

"All because he was from the Hamilton family…" Alexander shook his head. "And what are your plans for Jeremy Razumovsky?" he asked. "Didn't you laugh when our royal family fell?"

Alexander knew Jonathan won't do anything rash to Jeremy for the sake of Jerlina but he wanted to know about his true thoughts. 

"Is he planning on taking back his throne?" Jonathan asked. 

Alexander didn't answer as he was skeptical of him. 

"I want to help him in that case. If he becomes King, won't my great-granddaughter become the Queen? She has the right to become the Queen," Jonathan's face brightened. 

Alexander observed Jonathan and he seemed to be truly having no hard feelings towards Jeremy. 

"So you will let him go for your great-granddaughter?" Alexander questioned just to be sure. 

"Of course," Jonathan replied immediately. Gordon standing by his side nodded unconsciously as he had a lot to do in that regard.

Alexander noted it and realized Jeremy was in no danger from Jonathan unless Jerlina goes to him and complains about her husband. But Alexander knew Jerlina is not such a person. 

"You could have thought the same about Edward too, you know?" Alexander sighed. "Then, you could have watched your grandchild and your great-grandchild grow in front of your eyes."

Jonathan said nothing and bowed his head. 

Is he feeling remorse?

Alexander was surprised. 

"I want you to talk to her and make her accept the money. Then we can conduct your grandson's wedding however you please," Jonathan met with Alexnder's eyes.

Is he serious? Does he want nothing from our family? Does he just want to give money to Jerlina for him to allow the wedding to happen? I have full control over the wedding? He gives me the full autonomy? What happened to him?

"Did he do lobotomy by any chance?" Alexander looked at Gordon. "Who is he?" he pointed at Jonathan. 

Jonathan laughed. "Don't be a dramatizer! Just make her accept the money and we can commence the preparations for the wedding. I have a feeling that this might be the last wedding I witness."

"Oh, come on!" Alexander slapped his thigh. He still wasn't convinced that Jonathan has no requests. But if he is saying it, then he must mean it. 

Isn't this better? Wouldn't this make my grandson happy? Jerlina would agree to take the money if Mikhail's happiness depends on it. And then…

How come it turned out so easy?

"I still haven't approved your great-granddaughter for my grandson," Alexander looked to the side.

How can he agree to it so easily?