Chapter 12: My Boss Has a House
Daphne Finney immediately understood what was happening—Grandpa Ham Koch must have been confused again.
She gave a helpless, wry smile, full of warmth and patience, and quickly explained, “Grandpa Ham, I’m not your granddaughter-in-law. My name is Daphne Finney.”
But Grandpa Ham Koch seemed not to hear her at all. One of his hands still firmly gripped Daphne’s wrist, showing no sign of letting go. Meanwhile, his other hand swiftly grabbed Chad Koch’s wrist, pulling their hands together. His eyes were filled with urgency as he loudly declared, “This is my grandson, Daphne. You two should hurry up and get married! If you keep dawdling, the city hall will close soon.”
His words were like bombs exploding on the street, drawing the attention of passing pedestrians, who turned their heads and cast curious glances.
Hearing this, Daphne felt a buzzing in her head like a swarm of bees was crashing inside. She doubted her ears. She stood frozen in place, her eyes wide and mouth agape, unable to utter a word.
It took her a long moment to snap out of her shock. Still in disbelief, she asked, “Grandpa Ham… what you just said?”
“Daphne, did you know? I’m sick,” Grandpa Ham said, his eyes tinged with sorrow, his voice full of helplessness and sadness. “My body is getting weaker by the day. I feel drained all the time, unable to do anything. I need someone to care for me most right now.”
“But it seems like no one truly loves me anymore. I’m all alone every day, and it’s unbearable.” He paused momentarily, taking a deep breath to steady his emotions. Then he continued, “Until I met you, Daphne. The moment I saw you, I felt like you were an angel sent by God to save me. You radiate warmth and reassurance.”
Standing to the side, Chad Koch twitched the corner of his eye, inwardly complaining, “Grandpa is pulling his usual tricks again. And the worst part? His acting is flawless every time! He always manages to fool people. Someone always falls for it.”
“Honestly, if Grandpa hadn’t been burdened with the family business, he probably would’ve ended up in Hollywood. He might have even become a legendary actor.”
“Hmm, Grandpa Ham, you do seem a little unwell,” Daphne said, gazing at the elderly man’s haggard face, her eyes filled with sincere concern and kindness. “You need to take good care of yourself. If you’re not feeling well, you must see a doctor.”
“Exactly! Even you can see it! My body is failing, and I need someone to take care of me. But there’s no one left in this world who loves me. I’m so lonely…” Grandpa Ham Koch raised his head slightly, staring at the sky as if pouring out the most profound grievances in his heart. “Until I met you… You are my angel, sent by God to save me...”
His voice grew increasingly passionate, and a special gleam appeared in his eyes. “So, Daphne, will you take care of me? Listen, in our family, we have a huge—”
Chad Koch’s eyes widened in alarm. If Grandpa said anything more outrageous, this situation would spiral out of control.
He lunged forward quickly, covering his grandfather’s mouth and interrupting, “Grandpa has a big dream!”
While speaking, he shot Grandpa Ham a pointed look, full of helplessness and warning, as if saying, “Grandpa, don’t blow your cover! Weren’t we supposed to pretend to be poor?”
Grandpa Ham Koch, his mouth forcibly covered, glared at Chad with fiery eyes, as if cursing his grandson for ruining his plan.
Chad quickly released his hand and turned to Daphne, his face carrying a hint of apology. He bowed slightly and politely said, “Miss Finney, I sincerely apologize for today. It was quite abrupt of us to find and disturb you like this. I’m truly sorry.”
“But my grandfather has been constantly talking about you, saying you are a wonderful woman—kind and gentle. So today, I came specifically to discuss marriage with you.”
Hearing Chad’s words, Daphne’s mind buzzed like lightning. She was completely dumbfounded.
She widened her eyes and thought, “What nonsense is this? Who proposes to someone they’ve only met once, someone they don’t know? This is absurd! Ridiculous!”
Sure, she had met Grandpa Ham Koch once before, so they weren’t strangers, but it was just a brief encounter.
As for Chad Koch, yes, he was undeniably handsome. He had a tall, well-built figure, godly sculpted features, deep-set eyes filled with mystery, and a sharp, prominent nose that made his face even more striking. His firm, defined jawline was enough to make anyone sigh in admiration.
But he was too perfect. It felt like a scam.
Besides, what did she have that was worth scamming? She only had the 20,000 she had painstakingly saved over the years.
Even so, she knew nothing about this man. She had just learned his name moments ago.
“Are people getting married this casually nowadays?”
Daphne raised a hand, stopping the silent exchange of glances between the grandfather and grandson. With a half-exasperated, half-amused look, she said, “Are you filming The Big Bang Theory? Or is this some absurd soap opera? Maybe a prank show?”
Both Chad and Grandpa Ham shook their heads.
Daphne nodded, confirming, “Then you must understand marriage is a serious, life-changing decision. It’s not something to joke about.”
Seeing her hesitation, Chad subtly signaled to his assistant, David, who had been observing from the side. David immediately understood and stepped forward, presenting a neatly prepared set of documents, including Chad Koch’s proof of single status, passport, and driver’s license.
Handing the documents to Daphne with a respectful and confident smile, David reassured her, “Miss Finney, please don’t worry. My boss, Mr. Chad Koch, is a legitimate, single, unmarried man.”
“Also, he doesn’t just own a house—he owns properties in some of the best locations.”