The substitute husband who has been insulted

Episode 3

Richard dragged his grandfather's confidant outside to the front gate. He flung his arm and stood with his hands on his hips. "What are you doing here, Delon?" snapped Richard, emotional.

"I'm sorry, Sir. It's an emergency. The Boss has had a heart attack. You need to come home right away," Delon explained to his superior.

Richard sighed roughly, running his hands through his sweat-soaked hair. He thought for a moment before finally speaking, "Arrange a flight for tonight. And get a return ticket, before dawn!" commanded the man.

Delon's smile blossomed, he nodded eagerly, "Ready, Sir. I'll take care of it promptly," he responded energetically. At least, Richard was willing to go home and visit his grandfather.

"Get out of here! Call if you want to meet. Don't just come unannounced like this!" Richard dismissed Delon with a flick of his leg.

"Excuse me, Sir!" Delon bowed and then quickly strode away.

Richard closed the gate and went back inside the house with turmoil in his heart. Opening the front door, he was startled to find Velyn standing with her piercing gaze.

"Where have you been?" Velyn asked curtly.

"Eee ... well, there was someone annoyingly ringing the bell. So I scolded them to not dare do it again," he said massaging his tingling neck.

Without another word, Velyn moved to the dining table. It was already dinnertime.

"Have all the dishes for Dad been prepared without salt?" Richard asked the servant responsible for cooking.

"No, Sir. As per your request," replied the middle-aged woman setting the food with his help.

"What are you going to do about Dad's meal?" Velyn probed after sipping her warm tea.

"Umm... Ma'am. The Master's food hasn't been salted. Because he's recovering," clarified the servant again.

"Dad's sick?"

Richard informed her of Rendra's current condition. Velyn just took a deep breath and immediately devoured her dinner without waiting for the other family members.

...====000====...

At precisely eight o'clock in the evening, Richard's phone shrieked. It was undoubtedly from his assistant. The plane would soon be taking off. However, Richard was still busy getting ready.

"Where are you going?" asked Velyn, her forehead wrinkled slightly, her eyes inquisitive.

"I have a quick errand to run. Don't wait up for me, go to sleep first. I'll be back before morning," Richard replied as he hurriedly put on his shoes.

"What errand? To the bar again? Haven't I warned you to stop that job. If Dad finds out what you're up to!" the woman interrogated, folding her arms across her chest.

Richard just gave a faint smile, rose to his feet and slightly bowed, "No. I'm already on my way out. It's important, and I can't explain it right now. I'm leaving," he said, taking his leave.

Without waiting for further protest, Richard moved swiftly out of the house, raising his phone to his ear. "Yes! Yes! Can't you wait?!" he snapped before hanging up the call.

Outside, Delon was waiting in a taxi. They set off for the airport. The weather that night was fairly pleasant. A two-hour flight later, they arrived in Richard's home country. A driver was waiting for their arrival. It took only 20 minutes to reach the Dirgantara residence.

Richard stepped out of the car, surveying the grandiose building before him. Everything was as it had been, unchanged since he left five years ago. Most lights were off, considering it was nearing midnight.

"Please, Sir," Delon extended his arm, gesturing for Richard to enter.

Unexpectedly, his grandfather was already waiting to greet Richard, seated in his wheelchair with a nurse beside him. The two men locked eyes.

Richard stood still, his eyes moistening at the sight of his grandfather, pale and thinner than before.

"Icad! My grandson!" Alex called out with a trembling voice, stretching out his arms.

The endearing nickname Richard had longed to hear finally filled the air. The man knelt and hugged his grandfather tightly. The only family he had left, apart from his wife's.

"How have you been, you scamp! How long have you been sulking!" continued the old man, patting Richard's broad back.

"Didn't you ask me to leave?" Richard replied.

"You rebellious grandson! So you said you didn't want to get married, and now you have a wife!" Grandpa Alex exclaimed, knowing his men had kept him informed.

Richard loosened his embrace, "Grandpa, I don't have much time. Let's go to your room. I'm going to check on you," Richard insisted, disregarding the old man's gruffness.

Alex's brow furrowed slightly, "Since when did you become a doctor? Pretending to check on Grandpa?" the old man sneered.

"Haiss! You always belittle me! Hurry to your room!" Richard took control of the wheelchair and wheeled his grandfather to his room.

With Delon's help, they transferred Alex to the bed. Richard then demonstrated his ability. Massaging his grandfather's acupressure points occasionally made the old man wince in pain.

"Your blood pressure's high, isn't it? That's why you shouldn't get angry!" Richard joked as he continued his massage.

"It's your fault, you rotten grandchild!" Grandpa threw a pillow at his beloved grandson.

"I was just proving to you, Grandpa, that I could stand on my own two feet. Without Dirgantara's name and fortune," Richard said arrogantly.

"Ah, my chest feels lighter. Where did you learn this from? Five years have indeed changed you, Icad! Forgive me. Now come back, the company needs you. See for yourself, I'm not capable anymore," the old man looked hopefully at his sole heir in the Dirgantara family.

"Umm... for the time being, I'll monitor things from there, Grandpa. Let Delon help. There's still a lot I need to take care of in Country A," Richard said, turning to Delon, who had only observed till then. "What time is the flight?"

"One in the morning, Sir!" Delon replied.

Richard checked his watch. There was still an hour left before he had to return to his wife.

"You want to leave Grandpa again?" Alex remarked sharply.

"As I've said, there are things I need to take care of, Grandpa. Be patient, I'll bring your granddaughter-in-law here! She's very beautiful!" the man praised with a wide smile.

"Alright. Bring her, and your grandchild too. Just make sure you're not lying!"

"Deal, Grandpa. Now get some rest! I need to review the company reports before heading back. Don't eat recklessly. Follow the doctor's advice if you want to see your great-grandchild later." Richard stood up, tucking the blanket around his grandfather.

He could see a spark of joy in his grandfather's eyes. It would be a spirit boost, even though he still had a hard time winning over his wife. 'A grandchild! Doing it just once, it couldn't possibly take seed,' he mused with a chuckle.

After saying goodbye, Richard went to his office with Delon. The very limited time required him to bring his laptop and essential documents that needed to be reviewed. With Delon's help, Richard managed to return home on time.

...====000====...

"Why didn't you just come back in the morning?" Velyn, still up at her desk, asked. Though the day was dawning.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Richard asked, concealing his briefcase and setting it down gently.

Velyn was silent. Spectacles perched on her sharp nose, her fingers busily tapping on the keyboard. Her long hair carelessly coiled, she radiated a different aura in the dim light of her laptop.

Taking the initiative, Richard approached her. He massaged the tense shoulders of his wife, weary from the toll of exhaustion.

Gradually, Velyn felt more relaxed. "There's been some trouble at the company," she said wearily. The burden she bore alone was massive. Velyn needed someone to confide in, even if they couldn't offer a solution.

"Let me have a look, maybe I can help," Richard offered as he leaned over to peer at the laptop screen, close enough to Velyn that his breath of cool air after the trip caressed her slender neck.

Velyn responded to Richard's offer with an annoyed click of her tongue, pushing his head away, "What could you do?!" she scoffed. "What would a bar waiter know about a corporate crisis!" she added, sneering.