GREED

CHAPTER FOUR

NOBLE AUGUSTEN POV

My illness is starting to show and I've started getting sick maybe it's also because of my age as well. I can't seem to hide the dark circles under my eyes, or my pale skin, I've lost weight and am constantly visiting the hospital. 

Sooner or later Christina would find out about my condition and I need to start preparing my will and funeral. 

I called my lawyer to prepare everything necessary. I knew that I wouldn't make it for Christmas this year. My doctors had already confirmed everything and they suggested that I should be admitted into the hospital for treatment to add some months, but I flatly refused. It wouldn't matter whether they added a few days or months in the end I would still die. In these last days I would spend every minute with my favorite grandchild Christina. 

I didn't trust my other family members, but I trusted my lawyer and Eric Wilder. They would both sort out everything in my absence and I had nothing to worry about. 

The memories haunt me and sometimes I break down and wish things could be different. I've watched Christina grow from a little girl to a young independent woman and I am very proud of her. 

She has a good heart just like her father, my late son Chris. The guilt always haunts and I wish I could turn back the hand of time and he would never have died in that awful way. I watched her parents helplessly die and it's all my fault I got so caught up in the dark business and they targeted her parents. 

Being a mafia comes with its advantages and disadvantages and I experienced the bad side of it. If Christina was to ever find out about this dark secret she would hate me forever and I couldn't handle losing the only memory of my son Chris. Him and his late wife Fae left me a precious little girl that I've matured into a young beautiful confident woman. 

I wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. 

CHRISTINA'S POV 

When Eric suddenly left and never came back I felt angry, frustrated and disappointed with myself. After all it was all my fault and I had pushed him away. Time went by and I had still hoped for his return and once I graduated from high school I knew that I had lost him for good. 

I started college and that's where I met my fiancé ZackaryChan , but for short I call him Zack. 

He is originally from Japan, but when his girlfriend died leaving him with two beautiful twin girls went to the states to live with his mother. 

Our connection wasn't instant like in the movies where the boy and girl have a cute meet. Actually it was just the opposite of that and it just brings a bitter taste in my mouth when I recall that fateful day. 

FLASH BACK 

It was my first day of college and I was dressed in a white loose sweater. It was my favorite. I was taking the time to admire the fabulous view and just then a guy bumped into me pouring his black coffee on me. 

I let out a small gasp staring at the affected parts. 

"s**t am so sorry" he apologizes quickly and our eyes meet intensely and I dangerously glare at him. 

"You ruined my clothes and that too on my first day of college" I scolded furiously and he sighs deeply. 

"Please don't worry I'll pay for your dry cleaning Ms?" 

I frown at him. 

"It's Christina Augusten." 

His eyes lit up with excitement. I didn't understand why. 

"But honestly I am very sorry Christina gave me a chance to make it up to you. I could buy you a milkshake or coffee." 

Once my anger disappears I give him a small smile. 

"I'd like that, but I prefer a milkshake." 

He chuckles lightly. 

"No problem by the way my name is Zachkary Chan." 

He offered his hand and I hastily grasped it and that's how our friendship began, but it slowly started changing without even me realizing it. 

He kissed me on the lips for the first time on our graduation and that's when I knew that we were more than friends. 

I loved Zack. He's a good person. He was smart, funny, good looking, caring, polite, kindhearted and honest and that's what I wanted in a man. 

A few months later we started dating and we had a rocky start at first mostly because he wanted me to take up responsibilities in his house like cooking, cleaning, grocery, picking up his kids. 

But as time went by I forgot about our differences and I agreed to help with a number of duties on a daily basis. 

I forgot about Eric and focused on Zack, his family and our relationship. 

It seemed like a decade when he finally proposed to me and I gladly accepted, but he had a rule that we couldn't break no matter how things get intense. 

No s*x before marriage Zack was very strict and firm on this rule he only preferred to kiss and cuddle me. 

We would sleep in bed together and he'd just hold me close to him even if I felt his erection poking my butt and sometimes I got frustrated. 

When I told grandpa about Zack and our engagement he wanted to meet him immediately and I was nervous and scared. 

But once they both talked grandpa had liked him and he welcomed Zack into our family whole heartedly. 

In less than a year I would be getting married to my best friend. And I would be dressed in a white fabulous wedding gown. 

After four months the twins had finally warmed up to me and they started calling me mommy. They were very cute and special. Their names were Cassandra and Kenzie, but it felt like something was missing even if I had it all. 

PRESENT DAY

I left the kids with their grandma Zacks mother Olivia and decided to go visit my grandfather. Twenty minutes later I arrived at the mansion the guards opened the gate and I parked my car. 

I walked in and went to his study, but unfortunately he wasn't there and it was unlike his usually in his study reading the newspaper. 

Fred, my brother, was busy playing video games and my aunt, uncle and cousin seemed lost on their own so I didn't bother to ask any of them. 

I went upstairs to his bedroom when I opened the door my eyes widened in shock. 

Grandpa was laying on the floor coughing and gasping for air. 

"Grandpa!" I screamed and rushed at his side and tightly grasped his hand. 

"Don't worry you'll be fine I'll call-call the doctor…" I said between sobs. 

He cupped my cheeks, wiping away my tears. 

"It's too late Christina…call Leo - and…" he coughs uncontrollably. 

"Please don't go grandpa…" I sobbed painfully.