Chapter 58: This Is My Final Wish
For some reason, she felt like once the book was over, her grandfather would pass away. She read as slowly as possible. If what she felt in her heart was true, she wished she could keep reading this book forever.
But she also worried that her grandfather could pass away before he could hear how the book ended. Would it be a lifelong regret for him? It was his wife and daughter’s favorite book, after all.
Arianna read the book aloud with such emotion that her voice became hoarse only after a few pages. Mr. Sanchez told her they could continue the next day.
Reading the book became her only way to connect and get along with her grandfather. After a few days, the pages left in the book were decreasing at an alarming rate, and Arianna’s voice could not return to normal. This made the sophisticated words even harder to understand.
The old man said, “Let’s take a break.” Arianna stopped and inhaled deeply, like an ex-smoker taking a drag of a cigarette. He added, “How come I’m not seeing your boyfriend these days?”
Arianna was stunned by the question but was interrupted before she could deny his words. Mr. Sanchez said, “You said you had a boyfriend a few months ago. Don’t tell me you broke up with him because I was pulling your leg.”
She vaguely remembered admitting she had a boyfriend to deny her acquaintance with Ryan Cooper in front of her grandfather. She regretted it.
“I would like you to introduce him to me. I don’t think I have much time left. I want to meet the man my granddaughter has chosen.”
Arianna was embarrassed. At that time, she wanted to admit that she had lied, but her grandfather’s expression stopped her.
“My dear, are you still mad at me for that time? Is this why you are hiding your boyfriend from me?”
Squinting her eyes, Arianna tried to understand which memory her grandfather was referring to. She continued to give him a confused expression.
“I told you to break up with that man and hit you… You were so angry and ran away from home for years. Do you remember?”
That memory was not one that actually happened, or he was getting separate memories confused. Arianna relaxed a little and said softly, “I know you only meant the best for me, but I…”
“Or, you haven’t broken up with that man yet? Take it easy. I understand. Although he doesn’t deserve you, it’s alright as long as you love him. Bring him to me so I can take a good look at him. This is my final wish.”
Her grandfather also told her how terrible it was for a woman to stay single in this world and that though the times were different now, she should know better.
Arianna hoped that her grandfather would forget this matter by the next day. The thought terrified her.
****
Her grandfather was particularly persistent in this matter and did not forget his wish to meet Arianna’s boyfriend. Franco Sanchez mentioned it once every day. This way, neither of them would forget about it.
In a few days, it would be her grandfather’s 84th birthday, probably the last birthday celebration before his final breath. Arianna pondered the thought for a while before deciding to satisfy her grandfather’s last wish as a birthday gift.
She thought of the men she knew. There were only a few on the list. After excluding those who were married or in a relationship, she could only think of two. But even if those two men would go along with her charade, her grandfather would probably be able to see right through it.
Arianna even looked online and read about blind dates or paying someone to play the role. Her main condition was to meet them at the hospital. She didn’t dare to leave for too long because her grandfather was losing time. Arianna promised herself that she would stay beside him as much as possible.
Her other requirements for the role emphasized the personality and appearance of the man. She didn’t care about their income or family background, as it would only be the one date.
However, only a few people responded to her ad. She soon found that her idea was really boring. The men who would satisfy her requirements would never come to such an event. They wouldn’t even find her advertisement.
Those who did meet with Arianna had strange motives. They were trying to look for excitement or surprise. One candidate was a pretty boy, one was very rugged looking, and the third looked like he had just escaped from jail. Arianna had to reject all of them.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Franco Sanchez’s birthday was approaching quickly, and she still had not found a suitable man to present to her grandfather. She even considered Ryan. She thought as long as she compiled a good story, her grandfather would not suspect it was a lie.
However, Ryan was with Travis Cooper. She was unable to refuse their help previously because it would have put her grandfather’s life at risk. They had money and a strong network of relationships. Refusing them would have ended Mr. Sanchez’s life quickly. But when it came to this occasion, she did not want to ask for their help because it would be a direct insult to her grandfather.
Suddenly, she thought of Charles. Arianna didn’t intend to have anything to do with him, but she was out of options. And to her surprise, Charles agreed instantly. He came to the hospital the next day.
It was very windy and rainy that day. His suit was covered in beads of water from the rain. They spent five minutes going over their story before heading into her grandfather’s room.
Charles was elegant and composed. He also brought a gift for the old man. It wasn’t expensive, but it was thoughtful. He patiently answered every question Mr. Sanchez asked.
After an hour, Charles even played a game of chess with the old man. Though Mr. Sanchez often broke the rules of chess, Charles still managed to defeat him.
Franco Sanchez smiled a little. Arianna knew her grandfather was really happy with her’ boyfriend’. Her grandfather held Charles’s hand and asked, “Are you going to marry my little Arianna?”