Chapter 13: Not the Same Person?
<Chapter>Chapter 13: Not the Same Person? </Chapter>
Seeing Charles Koch squint at him, David quickly stopped talking and continued, “My boss has another car. If you think he meets your standards, getting married today isn’t out of the question. After all, outstanding men like my boss are rare.”
Daphne Finney, half-believing and half-doubting, took the documents from David’s hand, her heart pounding like a rabbit in a cage. She furrowed her brows slightly and carefully flipped through the files.
Sure enough, Charles Koch owned a property on Central Avenue, at the edge of East City.
In her mind, only the wealthy could afford to live in such a prime location. The surroundings were beautiful, and the facilities were comprehensive—just thinking about it felt incredibly luxurious.
What shocked her even more was that there was even a medical report on Charles Koch among the documents. The level of detail was astonishing—even his sperm count was recorded.
Daphne’s cheeks instantly flushed red, turning as bright as a ripe apple. Embarrassed, she lowered her head, not daring to look at the documents any longer.
Grandfather Ham Koch, however, paid no mind to any of this. He tightly grasped Daphne’s hand, grinning like a child full of joy, his eyes squinting into slits. Then he eagerly pointed to her bag and asked, “Did you bring your passport? A driver’s license will do too. We need to act fast.”
Daphne dumbly nodded, still not fully recovered from the series of shocks. Seeing this, Ham Koch became even more anxious. He swiftly opened the backseat door and, with a little force, pulled Daphne inside smoothly.
Then, like a commanding officer, he waved at his grandson standing by the roadside, urging, “Quick, quick, quick! I specially booked a time at City Hall—10:30 AM! We’re running out of time. If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late!”
“But Grandpa...” Charles Koch had just opened his mouth, trying to persuade his grandfather that this was too rushed—how could they get married so hastily?
But Ham Koch gave him no chance to speak. He turned his head, pointed at Charles, and looked expectantly at Daphne. “Isn’t he handsome?”
Daphne was caught off guard by the blunt question, her face turning even redder. She nodded shyly, her eyes revealing her bashfulness.
“Then that’s enough! Daphne, don’t worry. As long as I, old Ham, am here, I won’t let him mistreat you. My grandson is extremely capable—whether in business or handling affairs, he excels.”
“Oh, and he has a strong sense of responsibility. He’ll do his best to fulfill something if he promises something.”
“He’s just a bit stubborn. Once he sets his mind on something, not even nine bulls could pull him back. And he’s a man of few words—not much of a talker.”
“But these aren’t major flaws. Overall, there’s not much to worry about.”
Ham Koch patted his chest as he spoke as if giving Daphne a guarantee.
“Besides, he doesn’t drink and has no violent tendencies. He’s a well-behaved kid. If he ever acts up after marriage, just let me know—I’ll teach him a lesson on your behalf. No mercy. I’ll always be on your side.”
And just like that, under Ham Koch’s persuasion and encouragement, Daphne held a marriage certificate, feeling like she was in a dream.
For a moment, she could hardly believe it. How had she gone from single to married in just two hours?
She reached out and pinched her arm. The sting confirmed that this wasn’t a dream—it had happened.
Daphne repeatedly examined the marriage documents, memorizing Charles Koch’s full name and family name, contemplating what it meant to come from a strong family background.
They weren’t just ordinary farmers or gold prospectors for at least three generations. They were likely prominent new immigrants with solid wealth.
However, a straightforward fact convinced her to marry Charles Koch: “He has a house.”
Wasn’t this exactly what she had prayed for last night?
What more could she ask for?
Not to mention, this man was extremely handsome. Plus, he had such an adorable grandfather—albeit a bit muddled at times, but genuine. He also had a seemingly silly subordinate.
Life ahead didn’t seem too bad. At the very least, she had a stable place to live now.
Seeing Daphne staring blankly at the marriage documents in her hand, Charles Koch stepped forward, took a set of keys from his pocket, and handed them to her.
With a calm expression, he said, “This is our marital home, located at 88 Central Avenue. The house is well-furnished and fully equipped. You can move in anytime.”
Then, he took out a blue permit and handed it to her, adding, “This is the pass for night access to Central Avenue. Keep it safe—it might come in handy.”
After that, he took two business cards and passed them to her.
“This is my number. This one is David’s. I’m usually busy during work hours, so if you need help with anything, you can ask David.”
“After work, if I don’t have any social engagements, I’ll come home right away. You don’t need to call me if it's not urgent.”
Charles Koch supported his drowsy grandfather, who had just taken his medication, and left. He didn’t even mention helping Daphne move. His figure quickly disappeared at the end of the street.
Daphne stood there, watching her newlywed husband leave, but her thoughts drifted to yesterday’s events.
She remembered very clearly that yesterday, he wasn’t driving this car. The scene then featured a long procession of grand and imposing luxury cars—completely mismatched with his low-profile appearance today.
Could it be that the person in the car yesterday… wasn’t Charles Koch?