Dumping My Fiancé For His Uncle By Danielle Sayers

Chapter 24

The black Maybach glided to a stop at the entrance of Sunnyen Manor.

It was perched on a hillside in the suburbs. Even in its remote location, the manor's grandeur was impossible to miss.

Its elegant, antique architecture and meticulously crafted gardens spoke volumes about the owner's influence and prestige. Thea reminded herself of her role for the day. Standing beside Nicolas, she kept a poised smile on her face.

The dappled sunlight streaming through the trees cast a warm glow on them, making their figures seem like a perfect pair. A servant led them through the garden, where an elderly man in his sixties sat in a wheelchair, gently watering flowers. Though his posture was slightly hunched, his hair graying, and his aged face showed signs of fatigue, his eyes were sharp and full of life. Just a glance from him was enough to unsettle anyone. "Dad, Nicolas said, stepping forward with Thea. "I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Thea Rowland."

Thea froze for a brief second, startled by the sudden introduction. In all her time with Jake, she had never met this legendary old man. Stefan Hendrix.

Stefan had been mostly out of sight, recovering from illness in the mountains. She had only heard whispers about him. Nicolas was Stefan's late-in-life son. His mother had died in childbirth, and coupled with Stefan's favoritism, Nicolas had always been somewhat estranged from his brothers, spending much of his life abroad alone.

"You brat, you finally brought a girlfriend home. Stefan beamed his eyes crinkling with joy as he turned and studied Thea with a fond look. "My dear, what does your family do?"

For a split second, Thea hesitated, her mind racing. "Just some small business, sir. Nothing that would be worth mentioning to someone like you."

Stefan nodded thoughtfully. "Family background doesn't matter to me. What matters is that my son finds someone who'll care for him

"After all, I'd hate to kick the bucket and leave him all alone. Oh, dear, you must have had to endure quite a bit to be with this troublemaker, haven't you?"

many admire him. Being with him has been

Stefan's eyebrows raised, a

heart skipped a beat as she realized

wrapped around hers. He smiled, his usual cool demeanor softening. "Dad, don't tease Thea. She is a

racing as she lowered her gaze to hide her

doubt in Stefan's eyes faded, but he couldn't help but push further. 'Oh, come on. You guys are moving too slowly. I might not live long enough to see your

his hands, he made his decision. Ford, the weather's lovely today. Why don't you take these two

get to know each other better first? Besides, given my background, I might

reading people, and seem just right to me. I believe you and Nicolas can have

you

a rumored date. You're the first person he's

today, I'll stop my treatment. I've been undergoing treatment for years with no real change, so I may as well skip

a smile, and he waved his hand. "Ford, take

the tension was palpable. Sitting beside Nicolas in the back seat, Thea clutched at her clothes before gathering the courage to say. "Mr. Hendrix, if you're uncomfortable, I can explain to your father. I'll say it was my- Before she could finish, Nicolas cut in, his gaze fixed out the window, his voice calm and unreadable, "My father's greatest fear is that I'll be left alone after he's gone. His

emotionless. T'll agree to anything he

Since you're trusting me with this, I'll do my

nod, seeming content with her

waiting outside city hall. They proceeded with the marriage

city hall holding the marriage license, it