Love Unexpected

I’ll marry her

Ashley woke up the next day with a heavy heart. The previous night’s conversation with her father had left her feeling unsettled and sad. She wasn’t ready to face the day, much less the meeting her father had mentioned.

But as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the morning light filtering through the curtains, she heard a soft knock on her door.

“Ashley, may I come in?” George’s voice was gentle, almost pleading.

Ashley sighed, pulling herself together. “Come in, Dad.”

The door creaked open, and George stepped inside, his face etched with worry. He walked over and sat beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder.

“I know this is hard for you,” he began, his voice filled with concern. “But Kurt’s family has prepared a lunch for us today at the hospital. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, but… could you join us?”

Ashley bit her lip, the sadness from the night before still lingering. She didn’t want to face Kurt’s family, didn’t want to see the pity or the judgment in their eyes. But she also knew how much this meant to her father. He had been so strong for her all these years, raising her alone after her mother’s death. She couldn’t let him down, not now.

After a long pause, she finally nodded. “Alright, Dad. I’ll go.”

George’s face lit up with relief, and he pulled her into a tight hug. “Thank you, Ashley. We’ll leave after lunch, I promise.”

Ashley nodded again, her heart heavy with anxiety. She knew today was going to be difficult, but she had to push through it for her father’s sake.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Jake and his assistant Anthony were making their way back to Kurt’s room. The morning had been a blur of thoughts and emotions, and Jake was still trying to process the bombshell his father had dropped on him the night before.

As they entered the room, Leonor greeted them with a strained smile. “Jake, we’ve prepared a lunch with George and Ashley. It’s important that we all meet and… get to know each other.”

Jake sighed, “I know, Mom,” he replied, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. He didn’t want to think about this meeting, didn’t want to think about the fact that his father was pushing him into something he wasn’t ready for.

Kurt, lying weakly in his bed, looked at his son with tired eyes. “Please, Jake,” he said softly. “Give Ashley a chance. It’s my dying wish.”

Jake sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his father’s words. He knew how much this meant to Kurt, but the idea of marrying someone he had never met, someone who was being thrust upon him out of obligation, made him feel trapped. “Alright, Dad,” he finally agreed, though his heart wasn’t in it.

As they waited, their personal cheff began to set up the lunch. A table was arranged with an array of dishes, far more food than Kurt could possibly eat in his condition. Jake watched with a frown, his irritation growing. It all seemed so unnecessary, so excessive. His father could barely manage a few bites, yet the table was overflowing.

Kurt glanced at his watch, his face pale and drawn. “George and Ashley will be here any minute,” he said, a note of anticipation in his voice.

Jake sat down at the table, placing his phone beside his plate. He looked at the food spread out before them, his frown deepening. It was all too much, too extravagant for a situation like this. He couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom that hung over the room.

Then, there was a knock at the door. Anthony, who had been standing nearby, quickly moved to open it. George stepped in, followed closely by Ashley.

Kurt’s face broke into a weak smile. “Thank God you’re here,” he said, his voice full of relief. “Where’s Ashley?”

Jake turned to the door, his breath catching in his throat. When Ashley stepped into the room, his world seemed to tilt on its axis.

The woman standing before him was not at all what he had expected. Her appearance was startling—Ashley had a large, dark birthmark covering the entire left side of her face, and she was significantly overweight. Obsessed is the exact word. Jake’s mind screamed in shock, his thoughts a chaotic mess of disbelief and revulsion.

In that moment, all his preconceived notions shattered. He had thought George, being a man of stature and wealth, would have a daughter who was equally striking. Instead, he found himself facing a woman who was the complete opposite of what he had imagined.

Jake’s stomach churned, and he could feel the bile rising in his throat. He couldn’t believe his father was seriously considering this—marrying him off to a woman he found so repulsive.

“No,” Jake blurted out, standing up from his chair, his voice laced with anger and disgust. “I will not agree to this. I’m not a fool, and I’m not marrying that kind of woman!”

His words hung in the air like a slap, and the room fell into a stunned silence. Ashley’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked down at the floor, her shoulders trembling.

Leonor, too, was speechless, her gaze shifting from Jake to Kurt as she tried to process her son’s outburst.

Kurt, however, remained calm, though his eyes darkened with disappointment. “Jake,” he began, “you’ve always known what kind of man I am. I’ve never asked much of you, but this… this is the one thing I need you to do for me.”

Jake’s anger only grew, his hands trembling with fury. “Dad, you’ve met her, haven’t you?” he demanded, his voice rising. “You knew what she looked like, and you still thought this was a good idea? You know this isn’t the type of woman I’d ever be with!”

George, who had been standing quietly by Ashley’s side, finally spoke up, his voice cold and sharp. “Don’t you dare call my daughter disgusting,” he said, his eyes narrowing at Jake. “She’s a good person, better than you deserve if this is how you treat people.”

Ashley’s tears were flowing freely now, and she desperately tried to hold them back, but it was no use. She had never felt more humiliated in her life. All she wanted was to disappear, to escape from this nightmare.

Kurt, his face contorted with pain, raised a hand to stop George from saying anything further. “Enough,” he commanded, his voice quivering with both anger and sadness. He looked at Jake, his expression hardening. “If you don’t agree to this marriage, then you will receive nothing from me when I’m gone. Not a penny.”

Jake froze, his eyes widening in shock. “What… what do you mean?”

Kurt took a deep breath, gathering his strength. “I’ve already made my last will and testament,” he said, his voice firm. “If you don’t marry Ashley, then half of my wealth will go to charity. The other half will go to George, as he is my best friend and like a real brother to me. You, Jake, will get nothing.”

Leonor gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Kurt, you can’t be serious! And what about me? I am your wife!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Kurt turned to her, “You know we have a prenuptial agreement, Leonor. You can’t have what I have when I dies, then If Jake doesn’t marry Ashley, he won’t inherit anything from me too.”

Leonor was at a loss for words, her mind reeling. She had never imagined that Kurt would go to such lengths to ensure this marriage took place. The thought of her son being left with nothing was unbearable, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Jake’s anger turned to cold fury as he processed his father’s ultimatum. His hands clenched into fists, and his entire body trembled with rage. He felt trapped, cornered by his father’s unyielding demands. There was no way out of this without losing everything he had ever known.

Finally, with a deep, frustrated sigh, Jake sank back into his chair. His eyes were blazing with anger, but he forced himself to speak, his voice low and filled with resentment. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry her.”