"Sorry, everyone is bombarding you with questions, we're just so excited!" Valerie exclaimed, her eyes shining with genuine enthusiasm.
"We've been waiting for Mark to settle down for so long, and now that he finally has, we can't help but want to know everything about you!" She leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone.
"You're like a breath of fresh air, Gina. You've brought a new energy to the family, and we're all so grateful."
Gina smiled, her lips curving upwards in a gentle arc. "It's definitely fine," she replied, her voice warm and gracious.
"I understand how much this means to all of you, and I'm happy to be a part of it." She paused, her eyes scanning the faces around her.
"It's just a lot to take in, that's all. I'm still getting used to everything." Valerie nodded empathetically, her expression understanding.
"We know it can't be easy, Gina. But we're all here for you, and we want to support you every step of the way." She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Gina's arm.
"You're one of us now, and we'll make sure you feel loved and welcome every day." Valerie assured as they walked back into the house.
""How many months did you say again, you guys have been dating?" Valerie asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sought confirmation.
"A month now," Gina replied, throwing in yet another lie, hoping to convince her.
Since last night, she had lost track of the lies she had told. It was like a snowball effect, one lie leading to another, and another, until she was buried under a mountain of deception.
Valerie's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"How come then, the media haven't said anything? They're always the first to break news." She trailed off as they walked into the mansion, her gaze flicking around the opulent interior.
"We really wanted to keep it on a low-key till we'd met with your grandfather. Now we don't have any problem with them finding out." Gina smiled.
"We wanted to keep our privacy intact, at least for a little while longer…
The door to Williams' office banged open with a resounding crash, as if the very foundations of the building were being shaken. Williams' head jerked up, his eyes widening in surprise, as he turned to face the intrusion. Gina's grandfather, his face red with rage, stormed into the room, his eyes blazing with fury.
"You son of a bitch!" the older man thundered, his voice like a crack of lightning, as he charged towards Williams with a ferocity that seemed to threaten physical harm. But he stopped midway, his fists clenched, his body trembling with restrained anger.
Williams rose from his seat, his movements calm and deliberate, as he faced the onslaught.
"Ah, Mr….ah… Gina's grandfather," he stuttered, his eyes darting towards the fake newspaper on his desk. "I-I have some terrible news to share with you."
The grandfather's glare was like a dagger, piercing Williams' very soul.
"What did you say happened to my granddaughter? She had obviously left with you when you guys left the city?!" His voice was a low growl, menacing and full of malice.
Williams met the angry stare, his eyes locked on the older man's, as he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I told you, your granddaughter is dead," he said finally, his voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation. He tossed the fake newspaper on the desk, the headlines screaming.
"GINA DEAD IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT!" Williams had paid a hefty sum to have the paper printed, his last card in a desperate bid to convince Gina's grandfather of the lie. He held his breath, hoping against hope that the ruse would work, as he faced the older man's wrath.
Williams' eyes gleamed with a cunning light as he watched Gina's grandfather and Valerie collect the fake newspaper, their faces contorted in anguish. He couldn't help but smirk, a sly and calculating smile that revealed his true nature.
At least they would be off his back now, he thought, and he could focus on his main objective: gaining control over the Hughes' empire.
But Gina's grandfather and Valerie refused to accept the lie, their faces twisted in denial.
"I don't trust you one bit," the older man spat, his voice venomous.
"My granddaughter cannot be dead. She was healthy and happy when she was here." Williams shrugged, his expression callous.
"It's not my fault that your daughter decided to commit suicide and die. She jumped into the river, and for weeks, I've been looking all over for her. So you can't blame me, I have nothing to do with this."
His words were laced with a cold detachment, a deliberate attempt to provoke the grieving family. He knew that his cruel words would only add to their pain, but he didn't care. All that mattered was his own interests, his own gain.
"The grandfather's voice cracked with emotion as he lamented.
"There's no way this can be true? My granddaughter can't be dead!" He looked at Williams with pleading eyes, hoping for a glimmer of hope, but Williams' expression remained unyielding.
Williams walked back to his seat, his movements deliberate and calculated.
"There's nothing I can do here, you guys just have to deal with the truth," he said, his voice devoid of empathy. He didn't bother to hide his indifference, and his words only served to exacerbate the family's grief.
As they stood there, frozen in shock and despair, Williams' mind wandered to Gina and her relationship with Mark Hughes.
He wondered how they met, when they started dating, and how she became entangled with the prestigious family. His thoughts were consumed by curiosity and a hint of jealousy.
The grandfather and grandmother's presence irritated him, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed by their emotional display.
"You can now leave, I'm in the middle of work," he waved them off, his tone dismissive. But Eva, Gina's grandmother, refused to back down. She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger, and pointed a trembling finger at Williams.
"Gina trusted and loved you. This is how you pay her back?" she spat, her voice laced with venom.
Williams' composure snapped, and he lost control. He slammed his fist firmly on the table, the sound echoing through the room.
"Again, I wasn't the one that asked your daughter to go and drown herself without thinking about me or anyone else. She was selfish, and she deserves what happened to her.
"I could remember how poor you were when you stepped into her life and after all she had gone for you! Her grandfather wailed in anger.
You son of a bitch have the right…! His voice trailed off and when Williams looked up he saw him hold his chest in pain then slumped to the floor!
Was he dead?!