Chapter 3 Grandma's Hope

Mrs. Sonya was sipping her chamomile tea in the living room when she saw Andrew walking past her. "In the next few days, I will hold a press conference to announce the CEO's position transition," Andrew's steps halted upon hearing Mrs. Sonya's voice. Since the death of his parents, he had been living with his grandmother at their home. "You should bring your future wife when that time comes." Andrew decided to approach and sit with Mrs. Sonya on the sofa instead of heading to his room to rest. He had just returned from the office, and his double-breasted suit still felt stuffy on his body. "You don't need to worry, Grandma." Andrew reached for Mrs. Sonya's hand and gently kissed its wrinkled back. "I don't want to go against what your grandpa had wished, Andrew. You know, he didn't want anyone else but his descendants to lead this company. You are the only hope. I have been preparing you since your father's passing." Andrew just smiled and looked at his Grandma with warmth. The only person in the world he treated with utmost respect and didn't want to hurt was this woman. "I know it sounds silly, Andrew. But your uncles at the company seem to be planning to get rid of you." Andrew understood what Mrs. Sonya was referring to: the commotion at the shareholders' meeting a few weeks ago. The incident spread like wildfire after the meeting attended by the senior members of the Jonas family. Since then, everyone who met Andrew seemed to doubt whether this young man would be the future CEO of Jonas group. "I told you, Grandma, you don't need to worry. I will follow everything you want." Still holding Mrs. Sonya's fingers, Andrew tried to reassure her. "I know you won't disappoint me, Andrew." "Of course." Andrew kissed the back of Mrs. Sonya's hand once more, and she responded by caressing Andrew's head, her only grandson. "Well then, I want to take a shower and rest." Andrew got up from the sofa. "You should rest too, Grandma. It's already late." "I said your wedding will take place before my seventieth birthday. You know that, Andrew?" Andrew had turned around, but his steps halted again upon hearing his Grandma's voice. The promise Mrs. Sonya made to the shareholders to hold Andrew's wedding before her seventieth birthday had reached Andrew's ears, but hearing it directly from her still surprised him. "Don't worry, Grandma." Andrew answered without turning towards her. He then continued his steps towards the bedroom. Andrew tossed his suit and tie on the floor. The press conference to announce the CEO position transition would take place next week, and Grandma's birthday was less than two months away. After being rejected by Rose, Andrew was perplexed about which girl he would bring and introduce to all the shareholders as his future wife. "Children?" Andrew still clearly remembered Rose's shocked expression when he proposed to her. "I... I haven't thought about having children, dear. Of course, I want to be your wife. Who wouldn't? But children, isn't it too soon? We're still young, dear. I still want to pursue my career in modeling." At that moment, Andrew decided not to put the diamond ring he had prepared on Rose's finger. All that was on his mind was to get married and have children as expected by Mrs. Sonya and the shareholders to secure the company's future. If Rose didn't want to give him that, then Andrew wouldn't force it. He wouldn't push a marriage with Rose. "Damn it!" Andrew punched the bathroom wall hard. His fingers were scraped, but he didn't show any pain. Andrew agreed with Mrs. Sonya that the shareholders' concerns were nothing but nonsense. How absurd it was to think that Andrew wasn't qualified to take over the CEO position just because he didn't have any descendants yet. He had dedicated twenty-four hours of his life to the company. As the youngest CEO, Andrew had doubled the company's profits in five years. Couldn't they see all that and instead focused on his personal life? Marriage was at the bottom of Andrew's priority list. He never expected that something at the bottom would suddenly rise to the top of the priorities and needed to be done immediately. Andrew turned on the shower tap, and water droplets fell, soaking his hair and body. If marriage was what could make Mrs. Sonya peaceful and stop worrying about him, then that's what he would do. If marriage could make Mrs. Sonya rest at home without being busy with the company, then that's what Andrew would do. If having children was the solution to all these problems, then that's what he would give. With Rose or any other woman, he seemed not to care.