Zale Harris, the inscrutable and powerful CEO of the Harris empire is put in a state of crisis when he was told he had only one year left to live. Determined to have an heir to his empire and fulfil his parents' wish of having a grandchild, he sets out in the search of a bride. But his motives take a different turn when his Ex, Aria Smith, shows up to the interview with a child in her arms. Stuck between fulfilling his dying wishes and getting the answers to the question he's held inside him for years, he eembarks on a marriage of many possibilities with his EX..
Chapter 1 Finding a bride
Zale Harris:
I strutted into my company with a scowl on my face, my workers who were standing around doing nothing all scampered over to their respective cubicles and pretended to be busy the moment they caught sight of me, and those that were far from their offices immediately stood to the side with the heads bowed and I could see the fear and nervousness they were emitting. They muttered greetings to me as I walked past them but I didn't bother gracing any with a reply, and just walked into my private elevator and pressed the button for my office floor.
In a few seconds, I was on the highest floor AKA my office floor, and I walked into my office and took a seat. I picked up the intercom and buzzed my PA, who came running in the next second, "yes sir?" He said as soon as he walked into my office.
"Cancel all appointments I have today" I ordered in a monotone voice, and he frowned.
"But sir, you..." He started but I cut him off by raising my hand.
"No buts Olives, I want all appointments canceled. I don't care how important it is, I want it all canceled" I sneered and he flinched. He stood at a spot and cocked his head to the side, he stared at me for a while before a sigh left his lips.
"Alright, Zale," he said and I knew he had just switched from my PA to my best friend, he walked over to one of the office chairs and sat down, "what is wrong? And don't even think of lying to me, you know I'll always sniff it out".
I let out a breath and threw my head back, "It's the doctor's appointment" I started and slowly raised my head to meet his eyes "I have a brain tumor and it's cancerous, it's been estimated that I only a year to live" I mumbled and his eyes widened.
He stared at me motionless for a while before he chuckled and shook his head, "okay! Nice prank, it worked! I was scared. Now knock it off" he said with a smile, but when he saw I was not smiling, his shoulders slumped and he paused, "Yo-you're serious?" He stuttered and I nodded my head.
"I only have one year, Liv, only a year" I mumbled and my chest clenched painfully with each word I said.
"No man! That can't be. There's.. there's probably a mistake somewhere" he stood up and paced around the room, then stood before me again, "there should be something we can do, Zale! You can't just die in a year" he banged his fist on the table and stared into my eyes, but I sighed and turned away from him. "You possibly can't just give up without trying!" He exclaimed and I snapped my head towards him with raised brows.
"Give up? Without trying?" I repeated and he rubbed his face with his hand, "you think I haven't thought of options and asked around? My only option is surgery with only a 40% chance of survival, and I'd rather die than keep my faith on something that has a shaky 40% success" I said and by the time I was done, I was panting heavily.
Oliver immediately tensed up when he saw me panting and immediately rushed to me, "are you okay? What's happening?" He grabbed my shoulders and shook me gently as he pressed me with questions, "take a deep breath, take a deep breath Zale" he repeated softly and I tried to follow his instructions, but the world was already blurry for me and his voice was quite distant.
"Liv... I think I'm..." I didn't get to finish my sentence before the darkness overcame me.
The sound of machines beeping kept resonating in my ear, and I groaned, "what's.. what's happening?" I crooked as I slowly opened my eyes, and I nearly yelped when my eyes adjusted to the brightness and found 3 frowned faces staring down at me, "can you guys please shift away from my face?" I rasped out when I recognized the faces belong to my parents and best friend.
"You're awake! Ralph, he's awake, my son is awake" my mum exclaimed and I had to resist the urge to stuff my fingers in my ear, I love my mum but sometimes like right now, she's unbearably loud. I heard her exclaim, "he's awake" one more time before she started sobbing.
I groaned internally and looked at my parents, my dad held mum as she sobbed into his chest, while he whispered comforting words into her ears. I would have rolled my eyes at them, but It felt like I'd pass out again if I did so I just averted my gaze to Oliver.
He stood at the foot of the bed, staring at me with hooded eyes, "please get me water" I pleaded and he immediately rushed to my side, poured water into a glass, and passed the glass of water to me. Which I took gratefully and drank to my satisfaction, I let out a breath with my mouth and mumbled "thank you" to him as I returned the cup to him.
"What happened to you, Zale? Oliver called us a while ago and told us you passed out" my mum asked the moment I finished drinking water, "Oliver, what happened to him?" She turned to Oliver when she realized I wasn't willing to talk.
Oliver made to tell her what happened, but I immediately held his hand and shook my head. He stared at me in defiance, and I shook my head again, "please" I mouth and I saw his resolve weaken. He then sighed and turned to my parents who had seen our little interaction and were now frowning.
"What was that?" My dad was the first to break the ice, after Oliver turned back to them, "are you two hiding something from us?" He asked, and before Oliver could answer, the doctor, Alfred, walked in.
Both of us shared a panicked look and I slowly sat up on the bed as the doctor walked closer to us, "Mr. Harris, you are awake!" He pointed out with a smile, and I bobbed my head, "any pains?" I immediately shook my head and he wrote that down on the tablet he was holding.
"I'm glad you are not experiencing any pain, but as days go by, this will get worse if you don't carry out the..." I didn't let him complete was he was saying, and immediately cut in.
"Yes Alfred, noted. I'll carry out the due rest you've asked me to take" I said with a forced smile on my face, and he scrunched up his brows.
"What are you saying?" He queried and I chuckled.
"Dr. Alfred, are you confused? I came earlier and you told me I was too stressed and I should get plenty of rest, but because I didn't listen, I passed out" I laughed heartily and Alfred still had the confused look on his face, so I began wiggling my brows hoping he'd get the hint, but he didn't.
"Let's go, Dr.Alfred, So we can discuss the bill and let the patient rest" Oliver suggested, coming to my rescue.
The moment he walked out with Alfred, I released a breath of relief and then turned to my parents, my next big challenge, "oh! Mum, Dad! You guys look so cute!" I teased, trying to divert the attention from what just happened but that only worked as far as a lame joke would work on an extremely intelligent person.
"What was that, Zale?" My mum was the first to ask and I shrugged my shoulders.
"What was what mum? Nothing happened" I squeaked out and she instantly sat on the bed, then grabbed my face gently and her eyes hovered around my face.
"Don't lie to me, Zale! I know something is wrong, please tell us. Did anything happen? Why were you at the doctor's earlier? Please tell your mother" she pleaded and tears pooled in her eyes, and that was my breaking point.
I can't stand to see my mum cry, but right now I can't afford to tell her the truth either, that'd only open up a dam in her eyes, so I sighed and cradled her face with my hand, "Mum, there's nothing to worry about, I just didn't want you to know that this was all a result of stress, because I know you'd scold me" I said, but the look on her face told me she wasn't in the littlest bit convinced, "plus, I wanted to get the doctor out of the room because I have something to tell you guys"
My dad immediately stood in front of me with raised brows, "what do you have to tell us?" He asked and I glanced at him with a half-hearted smile on my face.
"Mum, Dad" I called and they hummed in response, "Congratulations, your son is getting married!".
"What?!" A voice thundered from the door, and we all turned to see Oliver staring at us like a drenched rat, "you are getting married?" He asked as he swiftly walked up to us, I slowly bobbed my head and slightly nudged my head towards my mum, and he immediately got the hint, "wow man! I thought you were joking when you said it earlier" he exclaimed and shook hands with me.
"Oh my God! I can't believe this!" My mum exclaimed and we all turned towards her, "you're getting married!" She whispered and looked up at my Dad who was grinning like he won the lottery.
"We will have a daughter soon and grandchildren!" My dad said and I choked on air, but they paid no mind to me and were busy giggling like little children. I exchanged panicked glances with Oliver before I turned back to my giggling parents with a tight-lipped smile.
"So when are we going to meet her? When is the marriage taking place? Have you proposed to her yet?" My mum asked all at once and I smiled.
"Easy there mum! I'll answer all your questions when I'm out of the sickbed" I said and she bobbed her head excitedly, "now, you and Dad should go home. You know I hate seeing you guys at hospitals" mum looked like she wanted to protest, but dad shook his head and she reluctantly agreed.
"Alright, we'll go now. Call us!" My dad said and gently dragged my mum up from the bed, she pouted and placed a kiss on my forehead, "and try to rest up" he added and I nodded. He smiled at me and then walked away with mum sulking behind him.
The moment they were out of the hospital room, I immediately whipped my head towards Oliver, who was already staring at me, alarmed "I don't care about anything else right now, we've got to find a bride, fast"
Chapter 1 Finding a bride
20/06/2022
Chapter 2 Interview: Be mine again
20/06/2022
Chapter 3 Contract accepted
20/06/2022
Chapter 4 Engaged
20/06/2022
Chapter 5 Meeting the parents
20/06/2022
Chapter 6 Date announcement
20/06/2022
Chapter 7 Dad knows
20/06/2022
Chapter 8 I want Daddy
20/06/2022
Chapter 9 Time to uncover the truth
20/06/2022
Chapter 10 Making up with Jacqueline
20/06/2022
Chapter 11 Conference
24/06/2022
Chapter 12 Moving in
24/06/2022
Chapter 13 Wedding day (1)
24/06/2022
Chapter 14 Wedding day (2)
24/06/2022
Chapter 15 A day after the wedding
25/06/2022
Chapter 16 In pain
25/06/2022
Chapter 17 In pain (ii)
25/06/2022
Chapter 18 In pain (III)
25/06/2022
Chapter 19 Oliver
25/06/2022
Chapter 20 Private investigator
01/07/2022
Chapter 21 You did what !
02/07/2022
Chapter 22 Dinner
03/07/2022
Chapter 23 Alicia Dubris
04/07/2022
Chapter 24 Her over me
05/07/2022
Chapter 25 The morning after
06/07/2022
Chapter 26 Honeymoon talk
07/07/2022
Chapter 27 Tori
08/07/2022
Chapter 28 Honeymoon talk (2)
09/07/2022
Chapter 29 Amusement park
10/07/2022
Chapter 30 What are we
11/07/2022
Chapter 31 Operation FTT
12/07/2022
Chapter 32 Friends
13/07/2022
Chapter 33 Effiel tower
14/07/2022
Chapter 34 Pity party
15/07/2022
Chapter 35 6 years ago
16/07/2022
Chapter 36 Zale
17/07/2022
Chapter 37 Second Chance
18/07/2022
Chapter 38 Confession,
19/07/2022
Chapter 39 Conk out
20/07/2022
Chapter 40 Tell me the truth, Oliver
21/07/2022
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