Rhoda had just left my room after cleaning, and I let my body sink into the bed, exhausted.
When I woke up, the sunlight was already peeking through the curtains. I blinked a few times, my mind still hazy. Something felt… off.
Wait.
It was Friday.
My eyes widened as I sat up in shock. Did Thursday just pass? Just like that?
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. That meant I wouldn't have to meet Jason's grandpa. Relief flooded me, and I almost wanted to laugh. Maybe luck was on my side after all.
Just then, a knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door opened, and Rhoda stepped in.
"Jessica, are you awake?" she asked, stepping closer.
"Yeah," I said, rubbing my eyes before sitting up properly.
She was holding a shopping bag in both hands, and for some reason, that made me nervous.
"This is from Jason," she said, placing the bag on my bed. "He told me to tell you to wear this and get ready."
My relief vanished in an instant.
"Me? Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"I don't know," she said with a small shrug.
I hesitated for a second before standing up. Surprisingly, my foot didn't hurt as much anymore. I could walk fine. Rhoda left the room without another word, and I turned my attention to the bag.
With a deep breath, I opened it. Inside was a black short dress—elegant yet simple—and a pair of heels.
Jason.
What was he up to?
I sighed, knowing I didn't have much of a choice. I got ready, slipping into the dress and the heels he had picked. The fabric felt soft against my skin, hugging my body perfectly. He must've chosen my exact size.
Once I was done, I made my way downstairs. Jason was already in the living room, dressed sharply in a black suit, looking effortlessly intimidating. He was seated, his legs crossed, his fingers lazily resting on the armrest of the couch.
Halfway down the stairs, I stopped, my eyes locking onto him.
He must have sensed it because he looked up. His cold, deep voice cut through the silence.
"Are you ready?"
There was something in the way he asked that made my stomach turn.
I swallowed. "For what?"
Jason didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood up, adjusting his suit, his gaze never leaving mine.
And then, with that same unreadable expression, he said the words that made my breath hitch—
"We're going to see my grandfather."
My heart dropped.
I thought I had escaped this.
I thought I was safe.
But I was wrong.
We reached his luxury car, and to my surprise, Jason got into the driver's seat himself. I hesitated for a second before sliding into the passenger seat. The silence inside the car was thick, and I had no idea where he was taking me.
The farther we drove, the more anxious I became. My fingers fidgeted on my lap as I stared at the passing scenery. The roads stretched longer, leading to an area that screamed wealth and power. And then, after what felt like forever, the car slowed down in front of a massive mansion.
My stomach twisted.
No.
I already knew where we were.
Jason's grandfather's house.
I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of my dress.
Jason parked the car smoothly and stepped out. I hesitated, but before I could process my thoughts, a man in a suit approached.
"Mr. Jason," the man greeted with a respectful nod.
Jason didn't respond right away. Instead, he walked over to my side and extended his hand. Confused, I looked up at him.
"Come on," he said.
I took his hand hesitantly, but just as I was about to pull away, his grip tightened slightly. He leaned in closer and spoke in a low, commanding voice.
"Act properly," he warned. "And don't say anything foolish."
I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
Like I even planned to greet his scary grandfather in the first place.
Jason raised a brow, waiting for an answer. His cold stare made it clear he wouldn't tolerate any nonsense.
"Okay," I muttered reluctantly.
"Good," he said before leading me inside.
The moment we stepped into the mansion, I felt the weight of the atmosphere shift. The air was thick with authority, the kind that made my skin prickle.
And then, in the center of the grand living room, sitting like a king on his throne—
Was Jason's grandfather.
His piercing gaze landed on us the second we entered, and my breath caught in my throat.
I had a really bad feeling about this.
Jason's grandfather stood up, his presence commanding as he approached us.
"Jason," he said in a cold, firm voice. His sharp eyes studied me before he added, "Is this my daughter-in-law?"
Jason remained calm, his expression unreadable. "She's my girlfriend," he corrected.
I forced a polite smile, hoping to mask my growing nerves. "Nice to meet you, Grandpa," I said, trying to sound confident.
To my surprise, his stern features softened slightly. "You're more beautiful than I thought," he said, offering a small smile.
And you're more different than I expected, I thought to myself.
"Oh," I said, keeping my smile in place.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Jessica," I replied.
"A lovely name," he said with approval. "Come, have a seat."
Jason and I walked toward the couch, my hand still held in his. Jason's grandfather settled into the chair across from us while I took a seat beside Jason, trying to ignore how tense he felt next to me.
Then came the question I had been dreading.
"Has Jason been treating you well?" his grandfather asked, his gaze sharp and expectant.
No, Grandpa, your grandson almost murdered me yesterday over fish.
I pushed down the urge to laugh at my own thoughts and instead gave a well-rehearsed, sweet smile. "Yeah, he's so kind to me," I said, lying through my teeth.
Jason's grandfather smiled, seemingly pleased.
"That's good to hear," he said, then turned his gaze back to Jason. "Jason, don't you ever make my daughter-in-law sad."
Jason exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Grandpa, I'm your grandson," he pointed out dryly.
His grandfather simply waved him off. "But now she's more important than you."
Jason let out a quiet sigh, but before he could argue, his grandfather dropped the real bomb.
"I want to see a child from you two soon."
I nearly choked.
Jason stiffened beside me. "Grandpa," he said in a warning tone.
"Shut up," his grandfather shot back. "I want to see you two married before I die."
I forced another smile, nodding slightly—anything to keep him from turning as cold as Jason. But inside, I was screaming.
What did I just get myself into?
After a long conversation with Jason's grandfather, I realized he wasn't as intimidating as I had expected. In fact, he was probably the funniest person I had ever met. The tension I felt earlier had completely disappeared, and for the first time, I actually enjoyed his company.
Dinner passed smoothly, and soon after, Jason drove me back to his house. As soon as we arrived, I stepped out of the car and headed inside, walking up the stairs to my room.
"Jessica," Jason's voice stopped me just as I reached the stairs. His tone was cold, making me pause.
I turned around. "Yes?"
He stood near the entrance, his hands in his pockets, looking at me with that usual unreadable expression. "Tomorrow, come to the company to work," he said.
"Oh… okay," I replied, a bit caught off guard.
I wasn't thinking about working, but then again, why was I? Back home, I worked because our family depended on it—Liam, Mia, Mom, Dad, and I all pitched in to pay the rent. But now, I was staying in Jason's house. There was no rent to worry about. So… why was I working?
Pushing the thought aside, I continued to my bedroom. As soon as I closed the door, I let out a deep breath. I changed into something comfortable and slipped into bed, exhaustion taking over.
Within minutes, I was fast asleep.