Chapter 125 - Except?

Just when the question came into her mind, the door creaked open and Grandpa stepped in.

Tiana froze.

Where was Nicklaus?

The guard bowed a little when Grandpa stepped in and he left.

''Gra…andpa? ''

Tiana called as she watched him walk into the room calmly, a small smile on his lips.

''Tiana dear, are you that surprised to see me? Am I that hateful? ''

He asked, laughing halfheartedly;

Tiana felt sweat break out on her back and she gulped;

''No, it's just… I was told I would see Nicklaus… ''

She explained, and Grandpa smiled before sitting on the couch;

''Hmm, sit down. ''

He said and pressed on a bell;

Tiana hesitated a little before she sat down.

Her mind raced through many thoughts and the only thing she could think about was that he had found out about them.

But it wasn't a problem anymore, since they were dating for real now.

She would just tell him, if he asked. But… wasn't it a trivial matter compared to what was going on in the company at that moment?

Couldn't it wait for later?

Tiana asked herself, but her thought was cut short when a maid stepped into the room;

''Get two cups of cappuccino coffee. ''

Grandpa said to the maid nodded and she walked out.

''Has Nicklaus told you about his past? ''

Grandpa asked suddenly and Tiana gulped, shaking her head nervously.

She remembered him feeling tense when she mentioned his parents. Other than that, he had said nothing much, but she knew his father was dead.

''Hmm, so you know nothing about him? ''

Tiana's brows creased,

Did she know anything about him?

Now Tiana thought about it, she really didn't know. She just knew his now, nothing about his past.

But she knew that it was dark and he hadn't been able to talk about it and she didn't want to force him.

She knew he would tell her whenever he was ready.

''His family was assassinated when he was ten. ''

Grandpa said, taking off his glasses and keeping it on the stool beside him. Just then the maid walked in with a tray in her hands. She placed it on the table and served both of them before walking out of the room.

Tiana eyes widened in shock; so that was it…

That was what made him cringe that day. She didn't know he had such a dark past.

Grandpa took his coffee and sipped from it.

''Since then, he had been in a dark place in his life. Nicklaus could not sleep without pills or any drug for years now, I'm sure you know that? ''

Tiana's brows creased; Grandpa made it sound very serious, but for the past weeks he had not been taking any pills and he had been sleeping just fine.

''No, grandpa, he sleeps just fine. ''

She explained with a small smile;

Grandpa didn't understand what she meant. Maybe he didn't tell her this too? But if they slept together, she should know…

''Tiana dear, Nicklaus has had this issue ever since childhood and he had nightmares, which only reduced now he was older but not entirely, I thought you knew this? ''

Tiana's face paled;

She remembered Nicklaus telling her he couldn't sleep without his pills, but lately he slept fine. He had been sleeping fine for weeks now; he had been sleeping fine since… since…

Since he apologized to her!

He had been sleeping fine since the day she hugged him in her sleep…

Tiana raised her hand to rub on her temples, trying to recall the events of that day.

He asked her if she had hugged her while he slept and she nodded and suddenly he was overjoyed.

He had asked her this… 'where have you been all my life?'

He had said 'he hadn't felt this way in a long while…'

Could that mean… could that mean…

Tiana's eyes shot open as she realized something.

She had been helping Nicklaus sleep…

Her heart slammed against her chest, and her breath ceasing.

God, no… please…

Was that why he had apologized to her? He didn't apologize before, he only demanded that she stayed close to him and only when he found out that she could help him sleep, he apologized.

That was why he had insisted they sleep together and didn't even refuse when she told him to change his painting and drawings.

No, this was not happening…

Did he ever love her? Or had she been a pawn all along?

Tiana's face paled so much that she couldn't even breathe;

''Are you okay? ''

Grandpa's voice brought her back to reality and she took in a sharp breath;

''Ye…yes, grandpa. ''

''Okay. Don't you want the coffee? ''

Grandpa asked, and she picked up the cup and downed it on one go.

Her whole body was sweaty; she could hear the loud bangs of her heart in her ears;

Did she fall for the wrong person again?

She didn't want to believe it; she didn't want to believe that he didn't love her. She didn't want to believe that she had been a fool and had trusted him blindly.

Grandpa watched her, his brows creased with worry; he had said nothing yet, and she was already looking scared;

''His Uncle, Douglas has always wanted the company because he managed it until Nicklaus was of age. And there had been a lot of strife in the family because of this. ''

Grandpa sighed heavily;

''Every day that passes the situation of the company, worsens and Douglas had offered to help on the condition that he would be made the CEO of the company. Nicklaus doesn't want this, I don't want this either, but we don't have a choice, except…''

Tiana's eyes widened as she gazed at Grandpa,

Except?

''Except he gets married to the daughter of the president ''

Everywhere silenced like a graveyard. Tiana could hear only echoes, very distant echoes in her head.

''Nicklaus has already agreed to it, I know this must be hard for you take in but he didn't have a choice. Tiana, I hope you understand. ''