Chapter 23：Epilogue: The Decision

Joanna Jones' POV

I was pouring some tea for my parents as we were sitting in the living room. Ben was sitting next to me on the sofa as I was handing out the teacups to my parents.

"Thank you, daughter," my father said as I was taking my seat next to Ben. He squeezed my knee as I turned to look at him before we were looking at my parents.

"So, tell me why are you here? I know that you don't come and do social visits," I said as I was looking at them. My mother was sipping on her tea before my father cleared his throat.

"We have some…issues with our pa…I mean company. The people are getting restless as Wyatt did not have any male heir yet," my father said before I rolled my eyes at him.

"Did you not hear the news?" I asked him.

"About what?"

"Wyatt has another twin. And this time, it was a male. So, I think we can say that it was safe for the throne…I mean our company next CEO," I said as I was conscious that Ben was with us.

"Well, that's a relief, and seeing that you are well as well is another relief on our side," my father said before I scoffed at him. Ben squeezed my knee as if warning me to be nice to my parents.

If they were nice 5 years ago, I would have been,

"Look, I don't think that you want to come here just to say that you are worried about the…next CEO for our company. But rest assured, I know that Wyatt will do anything to keep breeding. I've seen him around his wife. He cannot keep his hands to himself," I said as I was sipping on the tea. It was delicious.

"And what about you, darling? Have you thought about marriage?" My mother chided before I spilled some of the tea.

"Are you okay?" Ben said before he was pulling some tissue and handed it to me. I thanked him before I was glaring at my mum.

"We're just starting. Not to mention the wedding and babies right now. For now, we merely enjoy each other company," I said as I felt Ben tensed beside me. Was I said wrong about our situation.

'Totally,' my cat said before I was pushing her away from my thoughts.

"Well, if you say so, dear. But do not forget what was sacred. Sometimes, it can be taken away," my mother warned me as I did not know that tampering with destiny can be fatal. We need to tie our knots if I wanted Ben all to myself.

Not to mention all those other shifters that I saw around Nicosia.

"Will take that under my consciousness," I said as I was smiling at her. She nodded before Ben was clearing his throat.

"If I may speak bluntly, Mr. And Mrs. Jones," Ben started before I was looking at him. Was he seriously trying to speak with my parents?

Over my dead body.

"What are you doing?" I whispered to him but I know that my parents can hear every word.

"I have been waiting to meet them for the last 5 years ago and I will not let this opportunity go to waste," he said as he was patting my knees. I was about to protest before Ben was smiling at them.

Benedict Smith's POV

"If I was to speak honestly with you, sir, I am intending to make your daughter my wife, with your permission and blessing of course. I have been waiting for 5 years to ask her hands in marriage and I think fate was trying to tell me that the time has come for me to speak to you today," I said as I was aware that Jo's eyes were on me. I looked at her father as he was trying to read me.

"And why is that, young man?" He asked. I took a deep breath before I was taking Joanna's hands into mine.

"I have been in love with your daughter ever since I stepped on this island 5 years ago. I have come to a decision that I will make Joanna my wife this time," I said as Joanna was looking at me before I was staring at her.

"If she has me," I said as I was squeezing her hands. Her eyes were brimming with tears before her parents were clearing their throats.

"Well, that was unexpected. I think we should leave them be then, love," Mrs. Jones said as she was holding her husband's hand. He was unreadable before he nodded.

"I think it was unavoidable. We will see to it that the lawyer will come up with the prenup,"

"No," Joanna said before she was regarding her parents. Her father furrowed his eyebrows.

"No? What do you mean 'NO'? We have to do it so that this human…"

"I will not have my husband sign any prenup if he was the one for me. You cannot make him sign it and I will not allow it. Now if you excuse us, we have things to be done," Joanna said as she was standing up. I followed her pursuit.

"But—"

"No, father. I will not accept that you wanted my mate to sign the prenup. I will never have that and never will. I am exiled and you will treat me as such," she said as I was listening to this new development.

Exile? Joanna was being abandoned by her parents?

"But, dear—"

"No, mother. I will not have it this time. I am sick and tired of waiting and I have done so in the last 5 years.i will not do any of your biddings anymore. Good day," Joanna said as she was pushing her parents out of the house. She closed the door and locked it before she sighed. She was leaning against the door as I was looking at her.

"Well, that was intense," I said as the silence was too much between us. Joanna rubbed her face with her hands.

"Tell me about it," she mumbled. Then I took this opportunity to seduce her before we went to the city hall to seal the deal.

"Since your parents are out now…" I said as I was looking at her. She laughed and I smiled at her.

"You're incorrigible,"

"Only for you, my love," I said before I scooped her up and went to the bedroom to continue what we left in the kitchen but with much more privacy this time.

Joanna Smith's POV

I was looking at the engagement ring and the wedding band that Ben got for me in the United States. I was admiring its sapphire gem that was encrusted around tiny diamonds. My wedding band was having the tiny sapphire on it.

I looked at the wedding band on Ben's hand and it was complimentary to my wedding band. I smiled as we were walking through the Ledras right now.

"Why are you smiling?" Ben asked as I was looking into his eyes. I think this will be the best day of my life.

"Oh, nothing. Just not every day that I will be your wife," I said as I was gripping his hand. He laughed.

"And not every day, I got to marry to the person that I love so much," he said as I was looking at the sky.

"You sure we have some time to dig the Greek restaurant that we first met?" I asked as I was looking at Ben. He smirked.