Marry Me, Mr Knight

Chapter3

Next morning…

Lara woke up earlier than usual.

She stared at the small wall clock on her desk. It was exactly five o’clock.

She lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling.

Then she pulled her duvet up over her nose, shivering as the drafty Seattle winter leaked through her bedroom window.

Then she remembered Bryce. A small smile tugged at her lips. She thought about everything he’d been doing for her and what he’d done last night.

The groceries, Milo’s tuition, and that ridiculous little note he’d left for her.

“Oh, how sweet is my best friend,” she had gushed before rolling over in bed.

Bryce was honestly the best best friend anyone could ever ask for.

She still couldn’t believe he’d sorted out Milo’s tuition without making her feel bad about it. She had been so worried about where the money would come from, and somehow, Bryce had just taken care of it.

Her smile widened.

She wasn’t supposed to be surprised, though. Bryce had always been a shoulder to lean on.

If not for her stubborn a*s always wanting to prove she could handle everything herself.

Perks of having a billionaire as your best friend.

She was definitely going to thank him properly later. Maybe with food. Or maybe she’d just let him buy the food, as always.

Yeah, that sounded way better.

Lara rolled onto her back and glanced around her room.

It was a complete mess.

Her clothes were scattered across the floor. She sighed. She’d clean it up later.

Just, maybe.

She rolled her eyes. Lara hated cleaning, and that had always been a big problem back when she was still living with her mum.

She remembered one time her mum had gotten so fed up that she chased her out of her room, locked it, and told her to go live with their little dog, Jimmy, just because she refused to clean the room.

She chuckled at the thought.

A loud, aggressive pounding suddenly shook her front door, disrupting her dreamy, funny thoughts.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound came again, and Lara glanced at the clock. It was now six forty-five in the morning.

Her eyes widened excitedly.

That must be Alex.

“Alex!”

She jumped out of bed, a spark of excitement hitting her instantly.

Maybe he had finally gotten back from his trip and couldn’t wait to see her. Lara hurried across her messy room, barely paying attention to what she was wearing.

“Alex, you could have just texted…” The remaining words died in her throat.

So did her smile.

Standing right in front of her was nothing like her boyfriend.

Instead, there was a sharply dressed older woman with a string of pearls around her neck, an impeccable gray bun, and a golden walking stick that probably cost more than Lara’s annual rent.

Beside her stood a younger, elegant woman in a tailored designer suit, looking just as intimidating.

Yes, she knew them. She has seen them before.

Once?

No, twice?

Thrice?

Damn it! Lara. That wasn’t the case now.

She gave them a sheepish smile. “H-hi,” she greeted, waving her hand awkwardly in the air.

Grandma May lowered her sunglasses, her sharp eyes scanning Lara from head to toe. A tight, knowing smile spread across the older woman’s face.

“Well, Lara,” Grandma May said, her voice smooth but commanding. “Don’t just stand there in the cold. Aren’t you going to invite your future in-laws inside?”

Lara’s jaw dropped. “What?” She screamed the word in her head because no words could form in her mouth.

Her eyes slowly traveled from the women’s perfectly put-together appearances down to herself.

A sleeveless nightie that stopped right under her butt, her hair in a messy bun that made her look like she had barely survived the night, and her oversized fuzzy slippers.

Oh God!

“I think it’s time you told us why you and Bryce have been keeping your relationship a secret all this while.”

Lara’s mind went completely blank.

Oh s**t!

Her brain was misfiring.

She finally opened her mouth and tried to speak, but Grandma May didn’t even wait for an invitation.

The older woman stepped right past her and into the small hallway, the tap-tap of her walking stick echoing through the apartment.

Eleanor Knight followed silently behind her, looking around the modest apartment with an unreadable expression.

“A bit small for the next Mrs. Knight,” Grandma May observed, adjusting her fur coat. Then she nodded. “But cozy.”

Lara blinked.

was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?

“Now,” Grandma May continued, lowering herself onto the couch like she was doing Lara a favor. “About this secret engagement…”

“Secret engagement?” Lara asked, her brain still trying to process what was going on.

Grandma May completely took off her glasses. “Bryce called last night, and he confessed that you both have been in a relationship for a while and recently got engaged.”

“Huh?” Lara gasped, her eyes almost bugging out. Before she could even attempt to form a sentence, the front door, which was still slightly ajar, was pushed open.

“Babe, who owns the car on the driveway?”

Alex?

That was f*****g Alex!

Alex stepped into the small sitting room, holding a travel duffel bag over his shoulder. He looked exhausted from his flight, or maybe work, because his hair was messy.

“Babe!” His face lit up when he saw her, as if he hadn’t even noticed the visitors inside.

“Babe?” Grandma May asked, slowly turning toward Lara. “Dear, who’s this? I thought you lived alone.”

Lara’s heart dropped.

Then Alex froze.

That was when he brought his gaze to Grandma May and Eleanor. “What’s going on here?”

“I—he’s—” Lara stuttered.

If she told them the truth that this was her actual boyfriend, Bryce’s entire cover story would collapse before it had even started. Grandma May would probably kill him.

And she might also lose her best friend’s trust forever. Her brain scrambled for anything that could save herself and Bryce.

“Lara, dear,” Eleanor called.

“He’s my brother!”

The words flew out before she could stop them.

Alex blinked. Completely confused.

Without giving him a moment to think or talk, Lara grabbed his arm almost immediately. “He just got back from a trip. His name is Alex.”

She smiled nervously. “My dearest brother.”

Alex arched a brow as if trying to understand the gibberish she was saying. Then he looked at both women sitting in front of them. Then back at Lara.

“Brother?” He frowned. “What’s going on here? Lara, am I not your—”

“My dearest brother!” Lara cut him off loudly. She stepped in front of him. “Who I love so much and haven’t seen in ages!”

Alex stared at her like she had completely lost her mind.

Before he could say anything else, Lara grabbed the front of his jacket, spun him around with strength she didn’t even know she had, and shoved him back outside.

“Lara, what the hell?!”

The cold air welcomed them.

Lara slammed the door shut behind them. She was beginning to shiver in her exposed nightie, her heart hammering against her ribs.

“Alex, listen to me, please.” She grabbed his arms desperately. “I know this looks insane. But those two women inside are Bryce’s family. His grandmother and his mother.”

Alex’s confusion quickly turned into frustration. “Bryce?” He pulled his arms away. “Your billionaire best friend?”

“Yes.”

“Why are his mother and grandmother in your house at seven in the morning? What’s going on?!

Lara opened her mouth.

“And why the hell did you tell them I’m your brother?”

“Because Bryce told them we’re engaged!”

“What?”

“See, Alex,” she started, trying to calm him down. “It was all a joke!” She hissed the words, glancing nervously at the door.

“Yesterday at lunch, he was stressed about an arranged marriage, and I made a stupid joke about marrying me instead.”

She ran a hand through her hair. “And somehow, he took it seriously.”

Alex let out a dry laugh. “So what happens now?”“You’ll marry him?”

Lara stared at him. “Alex, I honestly can’t tell them the truth now. I need to hear from Bryce first because if his grandma finds out the truth, his whole life will get ruined, and…”

“What about my life, Lara?” His voice cracked with a low hiss. “You’re putting him first before me?”

Lara stopped seeing that he was clearly hurt. His eyes said it all, and that made her stomach twist.

“I just got off a red-eye,” he continued. “I came straight here because I felt bad about not reaching out to you and ignoring your texts last night.”

He shook his head. “And the first thing you do is shove me outside and tell another man’s family I’m your brother?”

“It’s just a temporary lie,” Lara said quickly. “Just until I can call Bryce and figure out what’s going on. Please.”

“No, Lara.”

He took a step back and pulled his duffel bag higher onto his shoulder. “I’ve always been understanding about how close you and Bryce are. I know you have history.”

He looked at her. “But this?” He shook his head. “It’s way too much.”

“Alex, you should understand that I’m just trying to help a friend.”

“He’s a grown man, for crying out loud, Lara. A grown-a*s man. He can handle his own family.”

Lara opened her mouth, but...

“Everything alright, dear?” Grandma May’s voice cut in from inside, her tone dripping with polite curiosity.

Alex turned toward the front door. “Hear that?” He chuckled.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Alex.”

“I’m going home.”

He looked at her one last time. “And please don’t call me until you’ve sorted out whatever game you and your best friend are playing.”