Chapter 10: The Uninvited Guest
Charles Koch initially thought Ham’s sudden disappearance today was due to him falling for a scammer. He never expected that the woman was his grandfather’s savior.
More surprisingly, she hadn’t even mentioned it when she stopped the car earlier. Wouldn’t most people at least ask for some reward?
“She saved me with a necklace. I may have been weak and sluggish then, but my mind was still sharp. I saw everything, yet I couldn’t do anything. Charles, she’s a good girl, I promise you. She’s different from the girls I’ve introduced to you before!”
Hearing his grandfather speak with conviction, Charles finally understood why Ham entrusted his pocket watch to Daphne Finney.
“Alright, assume she is a good person and saved your life. But how can you be sure she’ll agree to marry me? If she is as good as you say, she wouldn’t just accept a marriage proposal from a stranger, would she?”
Charles leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, arms folded, speaking indifferently.
“She will say yes. Your grandmother, Beth, told me so last night.”
Ham’s confidence was unwavering.
“Oh, come on, not this again! Fine, I’ll propose to her tomorrow. But I'll try to accept her if she’s as wonderful as you claim.”
“What’s your condition?”
Ham knew Charles too well. If he agreed this quickly, there had to be a catch.
“I need to test her.”
“How?”
“By hiding my identity.”
“Are you afraid she’s after your money? Charles, that’s not very manly of you.”
“Grandfather, aren’t you even a little worried that someone who has never been in a relationship might be tricked? Do you want to risk that? Even Beth would want me to marry someone who can withstand a test. My future wife will also be the lady of the Koch family.”
Ham sighed. “Alright, if Daphne Finney agrees to marry you, I hope you’ll treat her well. Because once you pretend to be poor, you’ll have lost the only thing that attracts women. Let’s be honest—you’re rigid, dull, and have no sense of humor.”
“Grandfather, no personal attacks before bed.”
“Fine, fine. Just don’t forget to propose tomorrow. The sooner you succeed, the sooner I’ll take my medicine. You wouldn’t want me to start forgetting you, would you, my dear grandson?”
After leaving Ham’s study, Charles walked along the red-carpeted hallway, his pace unhurried as he reached the second-floor balcony of the villa.
He picked up a glass of whiskey from the liquor cabinet, which he had prepared in advance. The amber liquid swirled gently in the crystal glass, gleaming like molten gold under the soft light.
He stood still, his silhouette merging with the night behind him—solitary and profound.
Dressed in a black suit, David stood respectfully to the side, hands neatly folded before him, not daring to make a sound.
Charles turned to David, a bitter smile on his lips—one filled with self-mockery and resignation. He chuckled dryly. “Don’t you think Grandfather’s idea is absurd? A stranger agreeing to marry me without knowing anything about me? She must have ulterior motives. It’s either money or status. There’s no such thing as genuine sincerity.”
Unable to suppress his curiosity, David cautiously asked, “Then why did you agree, sir?”
Charles shrugged, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “I just want Grandfather to see for himself how ridiculous this is. He won’t give up on an idea until he watches it fail.”
David raised an eyebrow, recalling the girl he had seen earlier that day. If Charles wasn’t interested, did that mean he had a chance?
He shot a sidelong glance at his self-assured boss, suddenly finding Ham’s plan more entertaining than a Broadway play.
“Sir, tomorrow is Monday. Shall I contact Miss Finney and arrange for the two of you to register the marriage at 10:30 AM?”
Charles narrowed his eyes at David’s eagerness. He couldn’t shake the feeling that David and his grandfather had some hidden agenda.
But since he had already agreed, he waved his hand in approval. “Fine.”
Then, suddenly remembering something crucial, he quickly added, “Oh, and bring Grandfather along. I want him to see whether his chosen girl is as perfect as he claims. If she turns out to be a gold-digger, he’ll have no choice but to drop this madness.”
—
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in a dimly lit, old apartment, Daphne Finney lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind consumed by two conflicting thoughts—like an angel and a devil battling within her.
Was it illegal? Or was it not?
She was torn.
Should she take a risky gamble for money?
Or should she marry a man who already had a house?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, it suddenly seemed like a plausible solution!
She got excited for a brief second—before reality doused her enthusiasm.
How could she easily find the right man in a city of millions?
With a sigh, she sat in bed, kneeling with her hands clasped together in prayer.
“Dear God, please send me a reliable man. I don’t care if he’s ugly or poor, as long as he has a house and a good heart. I need someone I can depend on.”
Her voice was soft yet filled with sincerity, echoing in the quiet room, as if her words could transcend walls and reach the heavens.
Every Monday morning was a race against time for Daphne.
Her brother-in-law, Parson, was a vice president at Millen Group. He was busy with meetings every Monday morning, leaving him no time to take the kids to daycare.
Her sister, Anne, loved her husband dearly and knew how picky he was about food. He insisted on only the freshest ingredients, under the pretense that morning produce was cheaper—when, in reality, he enjoyed the taste of the freshest dishes.
So, every day at 5 AM, Anne would wake up in the dark and rush to the market like a diligent bee, buying the best ingredients to prepare a delicious breakfast for the family.
Feeling sorry for her sister, Daphne volunteered to take the kids to daycare every Monday morning.
Before dawn, she was already up and moving. She was dressed in simple yet practical clothes, her hair tied in a ponytail. She held the hands of her niece and nephew, who were quickly making their way downstairs.
Unbeknownst to her, a group of unexpected visitors was already waiting downstairs.