Take Me Away novel Chapter 3

Suddenly, Fiona's eyes widened and she stared at Spencer, unable to move.

"Great! Ahem..." Wayne cleared his throat. He was finally relieved. "Fiona, what do you say?"

"I..." Fiona stammered. "Grandpa Wayne, I'm still quite young!"

"Not at all. I think you're old enough. Spencer's grandmother was almost the same age as you when she married me."

"Yes," Anna smiled. "Spencer is older than you. He knows how to take care of you."

Fiona glanced at the man in front of her. She was highly doubtful about his ability to take care of her.

"Fiona, Spencer has already agreed. All you have to do is say yes. Please," Wayne said with a hopeful expression.

Fiona felt a rush of anxiety. She knew that her aunt Jenny as well as her family would have given her a hard time if it wasn't for Wayne's help all these years. Now Wayne was sick and he only had one wish. Fiona was supposed to say yes to marriage. However, it was such an important decision and a big commitment! How could she just agree for his sake? Plus, she was still young. Marriage was a very far-fetched notion for her!

"My dear girl, Spencer is a good boy. Trust me. I will feel so much ease knowing he is taking care of you!" Wayne coaxed. "You've been living alone for so many years. You will have Cheng family to look out for you after you get married."

Fiona didn't look convinced. She was still hesitating.

"Fiona, I know there's something on your mind, but your parents have promised your marriage to Spencer," Wayne explained, his wrinkled face wrought with emotion. "They certainly don't want you to be alone. If you don't say yes, I can't explain this to them after I die."

Biting her lips, Fiona finally relented, "I...I agree."

"Oh! Good girl, good girl!" Wayne burst into peals of joyous laughter. He held Spencer's and Fiona's hands. "You can get married at the Civil Affairs Bureau on Fiona's birthday!"

"Okay," Spencer said.

"Hasn't Celine arrived yet?" Wayne inquired, glancing around the ward. Spencer's left eyelid twitched when he heard the name.

"Celine...umm..." Anna tried to find an excuse. "She's still studying abroad. She..."

"Humph!" Wayne interrupted her angrily. "I don't care!"

Fiona knew that Celine was Anna's daughter and she was one year older than Spencer. Wayne had never liked her.

Soon Wayne fell asleep and everyone in the ward walked out quietly to let him rest. Ethan left in a hurry because of some emergency business.

Fiona's palm was sweating, as the warmth from Spencer's palm was still lingering.

"Fiona," Spencer called out.

"Hmm? Yes?" Hearing her name, she snapped out of her reverie. She looked around and found nobody in the corridor other than the two of them. "What's up?"

"So when is your birthday?" With one hand in his pocket, Spencer was staring at Fiona, seeming a little impatient.

"There are a few months left," she replied somewhat curtly.

"I want the specific time!" he demanded, incensed by her short reply.

Fiona glanced at him and answered, "October 8th!"

"Let's get married on that day," Spencer commanded, leaving no room for discussion.

"What? Get married? Are you really going to go ahead with this marriage?" She didn't want to get married so soon!

"Do I look like I am kidding?" Spencer asked, curling his lips.

"But we have only just met," Fiona responded in a mix of confusion and shock.

"I think you have misunderstood this entire thing," Spencer snorted. "I am marrying you only for the sake of my grandpa. I can't refuse his request. I will marry you just to set his mind at rest."

"And then what?" Fiona asked. Instead of getting panicked, she felt relieved. "What are you trying to say?"

"I won't fall in love with you." Spencer's eyes were cold. "Grandpa's health is deteriorating by the day. The doctor said he probably only has three years or so. If grandpa passes away, our engagement will be canceled."

"Okay, that sounds like the best option." Fiona acquiesced. There was really no better solution to this predicament. "Grandpa Wayne has been taking care of me for so many years. I will try my best to fulfill his wish," she continued. "But I have one condition."

"What condition?" Spencer asked raising his eyebrow.

"The bracelet will still be mine," Fiona stated coolly. She had been wearing that bracelet ever since she was a child. She had great interest in jewelry design because of her mother, which was why she had chosen it as her major. She wouldn't allow anyone to take it from her!

Spencer silently glanced at her slender wrist and at the dark golden bracelet shining on it.

"Your mother gave it to me." Fiona took a deep breath, trying to convince him. "So, you don't have the right to take it back."