The Marvelous Elijah's Return novel Chapter 63

Marriage Contract

As Peach and Elijah sat in the backseat of the vehicle with Matt behind the steering wheel, the atmosphere was awkward as the two tried not to look at each other. Even Matt was concerned about how quiet they both were and glanced in the rearview mirror, noticing that Peach’s lips were puckered together as if she was deep in thought. With his gaze on the windshield, Elijah’s index finger slowly rubbed against his bottom lips, and then finally darted his eyes towards Peach. 

“A penny for your thoughts,” He quietly remarked, his voice low. With her eyes fixed on the file of her grandfather’s will, Peach hesitated for a while before deciding to open her mouth and speak, “It’s nothing.” “It’s nothing,” Elijah commented as he shifted his gaze to glance at her. She sighed heavily, and stared out the window, her heart sinking, “I don’t know what to do… There’s a dilemma, and it has my thoughts spinning. And my mind is telling me something, but my heart is screaming at me not to do it.” Hearing what she said, Elijah frowned slightly and then turned sideways to face her, “What do you mean?” “My grandfather will… What he wants. I…” Peach trailed off, lowering her eyes as she played with her hands. “If I inherit that company then mother and I won’t have to worry about our next meal or how we would pay the bills… This gift… This burden from grandpa could help my mother and me greatly. But…” “But you need someone to marry,” Elijah casually blurted out, making Peach turn her head sharply to stare at him, her mouth opened slightly, unsure of what else to say, so she settled for staring straight ahead at the window once again. 

The car grew silent as Peach watched the night lights pass by, her thoughts racing and the questions running rampant in her mind like a hurricane. Finally, when she decided that she couldn’t think anymore, she looked up and gazed at Elijah. “Yeah, marriage is the only thing standing between me and that company, and I…” she paused for a brief moment, taking in a deep breath, “I don’t want to take this risk and marry the wrong person… It’s just … A big decision.” “Let me see the will,” Elijah asked softly, holding out his hand. 

His request left her puzzled for a brief second before she took the folder off her lap and handed him it. 

Taking the file, Elijah flipped through the pages, until his eyes found the one he was looking for. 

With careful fingers, he held the paper over his lap and began reading. His brows furrowed as he focused on the contents of the document, and Peach couldn’t help but notice his facial expression change, almost imperceptibly at times. 

After several minutes, he closed the file and placed it down beside him on the seat, and she silently waited for an explanation. 

Finally, after a few seconds, Elijah looked up and locked eyes with Peach, his expression serious as he spoke, “Marry me then.” His words left her speechless and she blinked several times before stammering out a reply, “W 

– what?” 

Even Matt was startled by Elijah’s sudden request, and his head whipped around to give his boss a bewildered look for a second before focusing on the free road. 

“Marry me, Peach, “Elijah said, his eyes never leaving hers. 

Her jaw dropped, the shock of being offered such a proposal causing a lump in her throat. The silence between them was becoming deafening and she wanted nothing more than to ask him why he was doing this. 

“B-but you… you said that you don’t want to get married to anyone again… you told my mother that recently…” Peach muttered in response, still trying to process this sudden proposal