The Convenient Love

Chapter2

Charlotte's pov

"I looked at the old man on the bed, his frailty striking a chord within me. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

I turned to Damien, expecting to see his usual arrogance, but instead, I found a glimmer of vulnerability in his eyes. It was a fleeting moment, but I saw it -

The arrogant son loves his grandfather after all.

My heart softened, and I would have reached out if not for the tension between us.

“When did the doctor say he was going to wake up?” I asked, trying to sound detached. But before Damien could respond, a weak voice called out, 'Charlotte...' My name echoed through the room, and I turned back to the man on the bed, my eyes locking onto his as he struggled to speak. “You came”

"You didn't come to see me for 3 days and to top it all you are bedridden, this doesn't fit you old man" I couldn't control my anger.

Instead of replying to me, he had a smile on his face. Has his sickness affected his brain?

"Don't shout at him like that and before you keep running your mouth, let me find out what the test results say" Damien said with a cold tone.

What is his problem? First, he ordered me to follow me and then he was being rude. I can't stand this man. If not for Andrew, I would have given him a piece of my mind.

A man wearing a shirt and trousers with glasses on his face came in and handed the test results to him. "Your father has cancer"

I held the old man's hands and looked at him in pity. "What stage?" Damien asked the doctor.

"Last stage, he has about a year months or more to live if he follow his treatment, I am sorry Mr. Norman" he bowed his head.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" I spoke softly thinking of the times we had together. He never looked sick.

"I thought it wasn't going to be serious,"

"Since when did you know about this?" Damien asked him and I closed my mouth and waited for his grandfather to answer his grandson's question.

"For some time now," he said. A frown came on Damien's face and he left the room angrily.

"Why didn't you tell your grandson?" He rolled his eyes "When did my Charlotte become this soft?" He gave a dry chuckle.

"I don't want to lose you" I finally said the words. His smile disappeared. "There is a treatment but it might not work out, if it doesn't work out I want to die a happy man"

"Are you not a happy man, grandfather?" Damien entered the room.

"When you finally have your family I will be happy" I sigh. He had always wanted his grandson to have his family. He had always told me his dream was to have a big family but his grandson wanted something different.

"We have spoken about this grandfather, I don't want what you want"

"Can't you honor a dying man's last wish?" I looked at him on the bed. He was weak, vulnerable, and fragile. I knew him to be strong and vibrant.

“Marry Charlotte'" The words hung in the air like a challenge, leaving me stunned and disbelieving. I turned to Damien, his eyes wide with shock, and then back to the old man, my mind racing. "What?" we exclaimed in unison, our voices laced with disbelief.

"Are you insane, old man?" I continued, my tone incredulous. "I am alright, Charlotte, I have cancer, I am not dying," he said, his voice weak but resolute. I stood up, my hands on my hips, my eyes blazing with defiance. What is this old man up to?

"There is no way I am marrying your grandson! Have you seen his rude behavior?" I glared at Damien, my anger and frustration boiling over.

"Miss Green, I had better warn you to watch your tongue," Damien said, his eyes flashing with a warning, but I wasn't having it.

"You are the reason your grandfather is in this condition, he was always worrying about you while you were busy partying and clubbing". He came close to me and stood in front of me. I felt small due to his height but I refuse to be intimated.

"And how is that your business, Miss Green? Last time I checked you were a waiter" I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't think of anything to say. He was right. I had no right to question him.

"I should go". I took my bag from the couch in the room and turned to Andrew. "Take care of yourself, I will check on you later". I kissed his hand before reaching the door.

"Damien will drive you home", Andrew's voice stopped me, and I turned to him and rejected him with a smile.

"I would rather prefer we don't kill ourselves before we reach my destination, thank you" Damien gave me an annoyed look before I left the room.

I am sure my work is on the line now. I went without telling anyone.

I knew I was in trouble when I saw the manager standing In Front of the counter. "Where did you go?"

"I had some urgent work'' I said, tired from the bickering between me and Damien . "You go about flocking with everything under the trousers, that is not an excuse."

I will take anything but not someone insulting me. "I said I had urgent work, I wasn't doing what you accused me of, if you will excuse me I have to go back to work."

"There won't be a need for that, you are fired", I stopped. "You can't just fire me" he gave me a wicked grin and looked at me with a dirty smile.

"I can, I am the manager, you can have your job back if you do what I tell you". I was beginning to have a headache due to his irritating voice.

"If it is to have anything to do with you, then you can stuff your work in your ass". I gave him a sweet smile and walked out the door.

Rumor has it that he does that to sleep with girls he is interested in, he just hadn't done that to me until today. I didn't need the job anyway, the pay was too small for my bills.

I went to the orphanage home, and I was surrounded by the children. All my worries felt light when I saw them.

“Charlotte, I finally did my painting. Want to see it?”

“Charlotte, I lost my tooth!”

“Charlotte, you have to tell us stories!” “Charlotte, I lost my teddy!”

“Charlotte, I missed you!" The chorus of voices enveloped me, each one tugging at my heartstrings.

I smiled patiently, taking my time to listen to each child's plea, offering words of encouragement and help. But as I scanned the room, my eyes searched for one little face in particular - the one who always held a special place in my heart.

“Charlotte, you didn't come to check on the kids as usual,” the nanny said, her warm hug a comforting embrace. I felt a pang of guilt for my absence, but the warmth of the children's voices and the nanny's kindness quickly dispelled it.

"I am sorry, I had extra shifts" She nodded in understanding.

"Where is Amelia?" She sighed in sadness "I should have told you but Amelia's condition is worse"

I felt cold all of a sudden. "Where is she?" She pointed to the kids' room. I went to look for her and the sight broke my heart.

I stood there staring at her. "Char'' I heard her fragile voice and went to her bed. "I thought you wouldn't come and see me again"

"Why?" I frowned. "Because I am

Sick" The tears I had been trying to hold in escaped my eyes. She is in a lot of pain. And it is all my fault.

If I had raised the money for her operation earlier, she wouldn't be in so much discomfort and pain.

"I won't ever leave you, Ama, I love you so much". I assured her

I hugged her, careful not to hurt her. "I love you too" she responded, and I stayed with her for a little while.

The kids sensed my sadness and tried to comfort me. I had to give them a little smile to make them feel better. "I know you are trying, but Amelia's condition is deteriorating fast and she might lose her life."

I gasped and sat down in defeat. I failed. I failed Amelia. I failed to fulfill my promise. I failed her.

"But there is a solution." I raised my head in hope, but her expression told me something different. “And you might not like it”