BXBX NOVEL Chapter 402 - Proud Of Him
"My love, I'm going to visit the headquarters and see my men again. I will surprised them. Until now they only knew that I'm still in coma. And then afterward, I will proceed to the South Pond Town to visit my family there. I hope you're okay with my hectic schedule in the coming days. Are you okay with everything?" he asked.
Laura smiled brightly. "Yeah, sure! Go visit them! I'm sure your men and your family are already worried to death of your condition. They need to see you back alive with their own eyes, that's the only way to alleviate their sadness and worry," she replied.
"Um... I might not be able to return tonight," Graven said.
Laura responded, "It's okay, I'll have my sister or my mother to sleep with me here in the room tonight."
"Thanks for your understanding, wife," Graven said and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, if I'm no longer busy with my business affairs in South Pond Town, I'll stay here beside you more often," he added.
Laura smiled. "It's okay. I know that you're carrying many responsibilities on your shoulder. You have to check a lot of things, including the family business. No problem with me," she said.
"Thank you, wife!" Graven said and went to the cabinet to get some clothes. He entered the bathroom and have a quick bath.
Fifteen minutes later.
Graven bid goodbye to his wife and vanished from the room instantly.
Laura left the bedroom, going to her mother's room to continue their knitting session that was halted in the fast few days.
...
A few minutes later.
Graven appeared in his headquarter located on the outskirt of South Pond Town.
Horace and Calder were having a conversation when their lord suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. They rushed to Graven's side.
"Lord Graven, you finally returned! Welcome back!" Horace exclaimed in happiness.
"Welcome back, my lord! It's nice to see you again!" Calder roared. His happiness shoot to the roof.
Graven smiled brightly at his two most trusted men. "How things are going here? How's the South Pond Town?" he began his series of inquires.
"South Pond Town is peaceful nowadays, my lord. You have nothing to worry about," Horace replied promptly.
"That's good!" Graven said.
The men settled in the chair and discussed the peace and security of South Pond Town and neighboring areas. They also discussed the condition of Graven and his family's businesses.
"I will be touring starting tomorrow morning to check everything," Graven said.
"Copy, my lord!" Horace said.
Graven looked at Calder. "How's our men?" he asked.
"They're doing fine, my lord. They're also waiting for good news about your situation. They'e very much worried about your condition..." Calder replied.
"Alright, after we're done talking here, you can visit our men that are stationed all over the town and informed them the good news that I'm finally back. We will hold a feast a after two days to celebrate my homecoming. Inform the cook to prepare delicious dishes so that everyone can enjoy good food and wine with me," Graven ordered.
"Noted, my lord!" Calder said joyously.
After one hour of chitchatting with his men, Graven concluded their meeting. He and Horace teleported directly to his father Nicholas' mansion, they landed outside the gate.
The guard opened the gate right away.
"Nice to see you again, my lord!" The guard smiled brightly.
Graven returned the guard's smile. "Where is my father? And where is everyone?" he asked.
"They're inside the mansion, my lord. Lord Cooper has already gone to work," replied the guard.
"Ah, okay," Graven said.
The men entered the gate and walked on the pathway leading to the entrance of the mansion.
During that time, Nicholas was playing with his grandchildren in the living room together with Sarah.
When Horace and Graven entered the door, their eyes brightened in delight especially Nicholas. Tears of happiness shone in his eyes.
"Father!" Graven said and rushed to his father's side.
"My son! Where have you been? Cooper told me that you were in a fishing expedition across the sea, and you will return home next year! How's you expedition?" Nicholas asked anxiously.
Graven looked at his sister-in-law with a raised brow. Sarah winked at him as if trying to tell him that they didn't inform his father the whole truth about what happened to him. "Um... the expedition didn't go well, Father, so I return home early," he said and lowered himself on the couch.
"Ah, I see... but why? Why you didn't tell me about the expedition?" Nicholas asked.
"Ah, it was a rush expedition, Father. I'm sorry, I have no time to bid farewell to you," Graven said.
Sarah gathered the children and brought them outside to avoid disturbing the father and son's discussion. They went to the garden at the back of the house.
Back in the living room.
"Son, you should sleep here tonight. I miss talking to you! We shall have a long talk all afternoon and all night long!" Nicholas said cheerfully.
"Sure, Father! I'll stay here the whole day. I'll sleep here as well so that we can catch up with each other," Graven agreed.
"Good!" Nicholas stood up and looked at Horace. "Boy, can you please go to the kitchen and inform the cook to prepare a delicious feast for lunch and dinner tonight," he ordered.
"Yes, Sir!" Horace said and walked in the direction of the kitchen.
Nicholas stood up. "Let's proceed to my study room, son," he said.
"Sure, Father," Graven said.
The father and son climbed the stairs and proceed to the study room on the second floor of the house.
After they entered the study room. They settled on the couch.
Nicholas looked at his son. "Tell me about your expedition in the sea, son," he said, eager to learn his son's adventures in the sea.
Graven smiled. "We rented a ship and went on a trip. I was planning to buy a fishing boat and engaged in a fishing business, unfortunately, we encounter big waves in the ocean and I got dizzy and I vomited the whole time. That's when I realized that although the ocean is amazing, I think fishing business is not meant for me. So after one month of voyage, I decided to come back to the shore and completely give up the fishing business. That's all, Father!" Graven explained his lies flawlessly.
"Ah, I see... that's good. I hope you enjoy your one month expedition in the sea," Nicholas said, amused by the whole thing.
"I enjoyed it a bit, Father," Graven lied. Then he cleared his throat. "Um... Father... I have a confession to tell you..." he said. He thought that it's about time that his father and his family will know about his marriage to Laura, and she was already pregnant with the newest addition to the family.
"What is it, son? Tell me, I'm excited to hear about it," Nicholas urged him.
Graven took a deep breath. "Father... um... did you remember, Laura? Sir Simon's daughter that was supposed to marry my brother Cooper?" he said.
"Yeah, I remember her. Why-? Did you see her? How is she?" Nicholas asked.
"Father, don't be surprise because Laura and I fall in love with each other during the trip when I'm sending her back to her hometown. Then we got married in the backyard of their farm. I'm sorry that it was a rush wedding and I wasn't able to inform you about it," Graven apologized.
"It's okay, son. It's a rush wedding, there must be a reason behind it. I don't want to press you about that matter. So, where is your wife now?" Nicholas asked.
"Laura and her family were living in my manor and she's currently pregnant with our first child," Graven replied.
Nicholas' eyes widened in happiness and excitement. "Wow, I'm going to become a grandfather again! This is good news!" he said happily. "So, when can I see Laura and her family again? When are you going to bring them here?" he asked excitedly.
"Ah, I'll think about it, Father. I'm kind of busy right now. How about next week? We will hold a dinner so that the two family can meet each other," Graven suggested.
"Great! I'm looking forward to it! Inform me two or three days before they come here so that I can make preparation," Nicholas said.
"Okay, Father," Graven replied.
Nicholas was beaming. "The union between Simon's family and our family is finally happening! I'm so happy that you have chosen Laura as your wife. I like her to be my daughter-in-law!" he gushes in elation.
"I'm happy that you approved my marriage to Laura, Father. I'm greatly relieved," Graven said merrily.
Nicholas looked at him. "As long you love each other then I'm happy for the two of you. How about we hold another wedding here at our mansion. I just want to see you marrying Laura in my eyes. What do you think, son?" he suggested.
Graven smiled. "Sure, Father! I would love to marry Laura again in front of the two families and our guest," he replied. Whatever makes his father happy, he will do it.
"Now that's settled, son. We will discuss the wedding preparation after you bring Laura's family here next week," Nicholas said enthusiastically.
They discussed the wedding further. They also chatted about how Cooper managed the family business well under Horace's guidance.
"I'm happy for my brother Cooper. He finally become the business man that we always wanted him to be! I'm so proud of him!" Graven said in a thrilled voice.
Nicholas grinned. "Yeah, he is now a responsible father and businessman. I'm very much happy of his phenomenal transformation!" he said proudly.
The father and son's conversation lasted for two hours.
Then Nicholas stood up. "Son, I'm going to my room to rest. Talk to you later," he said.
"Okay, I'll accompany you to your room, Father," Graven offered.
The men left the study room and went to Nicholas' bedroom.
After settling his father comfortably in the bed, Graven left the room and went downstairs to join Horace in the living room.