Chapter 3

Ava and Dave turned in Gordon's direction.

He approached them, smiling broadly, glad to see Ava and Dave together.

"Oh, splendid. It's wonderful that the two of you are already getting along," Gordon remarked, gesturing for them to follow him into the mansion.

Despite feeling uneasy about the situation, Ava and Dave remained silent, unsure of how to respond to Gordon's assumption.

Ava was eager to enter the mansion to share with her grandfather that Dave wasn't a marriage prospect!

Upon entering, they encountered Greg and Joyce Dexter, Ava's parents, deeply engrossed in laughter and conversation while watching a movie.

"Joyce, we have a special guest. Ask the chef to prepare a nice meal for him," Gordon instructed, prompting Greg and Joyce to look up.

Their gazes landed on Dave, and they exchanged puzzled glances, wondering who he was.

Dave was dressed in a simple T-shirt and trousers, causing them to wonder why Gordon had introduced him as a special guest.

They had expected someone more extravagantly dressed!

"Greg and Joyce, meet Dave Collins, Ava's fiancé, whom I told you about," Gordon said, and then he turned to face Ava and Dave without hesitation.

"I hope you both don't delay in getting your marriage certificate..."

"Dad, is this some kind of joke?" Greg interrupted, giving Dave a disdainful look.

"It's better for Ava to remain unmarried than to marry a low-life and loser like this!" he continued, scanning Dave from head to toe several times to make sure he hadn’t misjudged.

"Yes, Dad, we won't sit back and watch Ava get married to some piece of rag.

I'm sure he has no money or background. Look at his clothes," Joyce said, gesturing at Dave's attire from head to toe.

"The rags he's wearing aren't even worth the price of the tissue paper we use in the restroom, so what does the pauper have to offer this family...?"

Gordon interrupted sternly, “He has just arrived in Nexroh, and can earn a good income to buy himself nice clothes.

Just give him some time to adjust.

And, haven't I taught you not to judge a book by its cover?”

"Well, Grandpa. I can't marry this man. I hardly know him. I don’t think he suits me," Ava couldn’t help but speak for herself.

She couldn’t imagine herself being tied to a random nobody!

"Ava is right. This man is just a shameless gold-digger who wants to marry into this family merely because of our wealth and affluence!

If not, what makes a pauper like this think of marrying into a wealthy and influential family like ours?"

"Well, no matter how the fool tries, he can't marry into this family.

It would only bring us so much shame and disgrace that the Dexter family will become nothing but a laughingstock in the community," Greg added.

However, Gordon wasn’t persuaded; instead, he spoke firmly.

"Ava marries no one but Dave, except I'm no longer her grandfather! It’s decided and I don’t want to hear another ‘No’.

Even though Dave just returned from the Deli mountains, he's an excellent young man.

Many of the men in this city cannot compete with him."

"But, Dad..." Greg tried to say something, but he was interrupted by Gordon.

"Greg, you'll obey me if I'm still your father. Ava marries Dave tomorrow."

Without hesitation, Gordon shifted his gaze to Dave and Ava.

"I expect you both to proceed to the court tomorrow to get your marriage certificate," he spoke sternly.

Greg and Joyce were irritated by the development, but they felt handicapped, not wanting to go against Gordon's instructions.

Ava cursed fate for bringing her and Dave together!

Dave was the last person she ever thought would be her fiancé!

But since Grandpa Gordon had made the final decision, she couldn’t dare disobey.

Nothwithstanding, she planned not to give up!

She would make Dave realize that they belonged to different worlds. She was sure Dave would quit once he found out the huge gap between them.

After all, an ugly duck couldn’t match up with an elegant swan!

And even if they were going to be married tomorrow, she wouldn’t give Dave another chance to touch her.

No way!

The next day, Dave and Ava proceeded to the high court in Nexroh to obtain their marriage certificate.

After reluctantly signing, Ava quickly walked out of the courtroom.

As soon as she spotted Dave walking out of the court, she approached him.

"I warn you, don't you ever try to come near my space or take advantage of this useless marriage certificate, or I'll make sure you regret it!"

"Oh really?" Dave burst into laughter, amused by Ava's threat.

"Of course, the person who would need this certificate is you, not me!

You've just gotten the opportunity many other ladies out there are looking up to.

Don't you even know how lucky you are to marry me? You couldn't have married anyone better than myself, you know?" Dave chuckled.

"Lucky? Are you insane?! Don’t you have any idea of your limit?"

Ava was enraged.

"How could I be lucky to marry a trash can like yourself? Who do you think you are, anyway?"