•Ivy•
I didn't take Camden's words seriously because I knew very well that after three years, I would be returning to my own personal life and there would be nothing linking me with the Evander family anymore.
At least, I hoped so.
Camden's grandfather arrived before my water did. He seemed to come in from the back entrance of the house. His eyes were a duller shade of green in comparison to Camden's eye color.
William Evander should be in his seventies, but he damned well could pass as a man in his mid forties. If their family wasn't so rich in business, they would make bank off selling just their face cards.
Old William was a bit too cool for his age. He was sitting on an electric wheelchair, casually smoking an e-cig without a care for the world expression on his face.
However, I never knew William Evander had issues with his legs. I gave Camden a questioning look and he rolled his eyes, saying, "He's just lazy."
My mouth formed a small 'o.'
"Your left eye, that's what lazy." The old man snapped at Camden with a grouchy tone, causing me to veer back.
I had no idea his hearing was that good. He wasn't that close to us yet and Camden's voice wasn't loud.
"Sure, whatever." Though Camden looked like he could come up with a smarter reply to his grandpa, he let the man's words roll off his back like they were nothing.
"Ayy, come closer to me, kid. Let me see your face." Old man William beckoned.
Camden took a step forward in his direction. His shin ended up getting kicked by the old man.
"Not you, idiot. I see your face every time. Why would I want you any closer? I was talking to her." Old man William looked at me with a strange expression on his face.
"Oh," I moved towards the man awkwardly while Camden shifted away with a pained look. I almost chuckled watching him act like he wasn't hurting.
The same man who gave me a whole ass lecture about keeping myself in check so I wouldn't be in any kind of pain earlier.
"Good evening, Mr. Evander." I greeted the man politely, wearing a charming smile on my lips.
Old man William didn't say anything at first, only observing me as though trying to spot a flaw. He wouldn't find any visual drawback on me today because I was looking perfectly put-together.
I had just gotten my hair done. The wavy curls of my dark brown hair were shiny and silky. My makeup was sophisticated, as well as my pearl jewelry. The black gown on my body was fitting and classy, along the red bottom heels I paired the outfit with.
"You're very beautiful," old man William said to me after close scrutiny.
"Thank you."
"Good manners. Polite, too. Unlike that one." The man looked at Camden scornfully. I sniggered quietly at the comparison.
"Got my impolite manners from you, Grandpa." Camden bit out.
The old man ignored him and said straightforwardly, "He told me you two were in love and wanted to get married. I don't believe it. How much did he offer you for this act?"
My eyes widened in alarm.
"I can offer you ten times what he promised if you tell me the truth, girl."
My mouth watered at the possibility of getting something better than IVORY. As though Camden could read my mind, he shot me a look that made me snap back into reality.
I quickly put on an oblivious appearance and feigned an innocent voice. "I don't understand what you're talking about. Camden isn't paying me to do anything."
Technically, I was telling the truth. Camden wasn't paying me to be in his life. He was just… sponsoring my future.
"Is that so?" The old man looked highly skeptical.
"It is. I swear on Camden's life, Mr. Evander." I was half-serious, half-joking.
"Heh. I like you. Even though you may be deceiving me." Old man William chortled. He turned his wheelchair around and said, "Come. It's time for dinner."
Camden and I exchanged surprised looks. I thought the old man would hassle me some more before eventually going along. He wore down so easily that it was suspicious.
Suddenly, his wheelchair movement stopped. I stiffened.
"Oh, and it's not Mr. Evander," the old man said, looking at me. "Call me Grandpa."
I blinked a couple of times as I processed the words in my head. My lips stretched of their own accord and I said, "Of course. Grandpa."
The old man nodded in approval and continued moving. Camden closed up to me with a proud smile on his face. "Look who's been nominated for the Oscars for Best Act." He teased me.
I indulged him a little, raising my shoulders smugly.
"That was good. More of that and we'll be out of here in no time." Camden gave me words of encouragement.
I nodded, taking them to heart. But suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he said, "You hesitated when Grandpa offered you ten times of what I was offering. Didn't know you had a sly bone in you."
I thinned my lips and shrugged. "Any businesswoman would have given the offer a brief thought. But I wouldn't have fallen for it. You and I have a signed contract.
"Your grandpa doesn't even know me, and I would guess he isn't the type to throw so much money just to confirm something that he could very well get to the bottom of if he truly wanted to with hired help for an even cheaper price." I reasoned.
"Fair enough." Camden seemed satisfied by my response.
I opened my mouth to say something but I heard a grumpy voice yelling from a distance, "What are you two still doing there? Come over. Dinner's getting cold. Don't you—"
"We're coming, old man. Chill!" Camden cut off his grandpa with a yell.
That did nothing to silence the man who kept on shouting.
"Let's just go." I said to Camden with a headache creeping in from all the yelling.
I never knew the grandson and grandfather pair would be so chaotic.