The CEO Gets What He Wants

Gazing unblinkingly at Cayden, Avery hesitated upon recollecting his words at the Lambert residence. She asked,

“You mentioned earlier at Old Mr. Lambert's house that we are getting married on the first of May. What exactly is

going on?”

Cayden slowed the car down.

He glanced at her and gave her an affectionate smile. “It was supposed to be a surprise which I wasn't planning on

mentioning beforehand. I want to give you a grand wedding on the first of May and announce to the world that you

are the mother of my children and the love of my life.”

“W-We're really getting married on the first of May? I-It's a little sudden, isn't it?” Though the unexpected news

touched Avery, it was too much to take in at once.

Cayden's grip tightened around the steering wheel. “Don't you want to marry me?”

Her reaction caused Cayden to think she was hesitant to marry him.

His heart, a roaring brazier ablaze with unwavering passion a moment before, suddenly felt as if it had been doused

with icy water, filling him with uncertainty.

“That's not what I meant,” Avery explained hastily. “It's just a little out of the blue. Yes, I've been preparing myself to

marry you and even fantasized about our wedding, but I didn't expect it to be brought so far forward.”

Although their relationship had taken root years ago, it lacked the required nurturing, causing it to remain so

stagnant that it almost ended.

Much later, with care and attention, it became exposed to the conditions it needed, and their love bloomed and

thrived.

None were happier than Avery at the prospect of their blossoming love.

Cayden heaved a secret sigh of relief at her clarification. “Don't concern yourself with anything else besides being

my bride.”

Avery changing her mind about marrying him was the least of his concerns.

He knew how much he loved her and how much she loved him, and he wanted more than anything to marry her

and make her his wife.

Avery sighed, her brows creasing. “There's still the matter of your mother refusing to accept me,” she said gently.

“Grandpa and Aunt Alina don't know I'm getting married too.”

Cayden returned her gaze with a smile as he told her his plan. “Don't worry about my mother. I'm not going to seek

her approval for who I plan to marry. Besides, we'll be getting our own place after the wedding, away from her

tyranny. As for your grandfather and aunt, I will pay them a visit and pick a day for the engagement party. Then,

we'll begin preparations for the wedding. By the way, let's take our wedding photos in April. The spring flowers will

be in full bloom then, and the weather will be pleasant. It's also more comfortable for a pregnant lady to move

about.”

Avery's nose twinged. It surprised her that despite his indifferent appearance, he was meticulous and thoughtful of

even the smallest details.

However, she recalled Nicole's warning and vicious glare. For some reason, she felt an intense, ominous sense of

foreboding.

Avery wanted to tell Cayden that Nicole had given her a check for ten million in the restroom in exchange for

leaving him. Yet, as she gazed upon his chiseled features, she could not bring herself to tell him.

Anyway, Cayden has already clarified our relationship, and our wedding on the first of May is set in stone.

Rich and powerful, the Lambert family prized dignity above all else. As much as they wanted Cayden to be their

son-in-law, their pride would not allow Nicole to interfere with somebody else's relationship.

Clad in an apron, Claire was rinsing some vegetables and ribs in the kitchen of the Lambert residence in

preparation for lunch when Nicole slipped in without a sound.

“Let me help you prepare lunch, Mom.” Nicole took the head of lettuce from her mother enthusiastically. Her

grimace went unnoticed by Claire.

She gazed at her diamond-studded manicure done just days ago getting soiled by the vegetable in dismay. Dirt had

even made its way between her nails. Nicole was so disgusted that she wanted to fling it from her hands, but she

forced herself to go through with her mission.

Claire did not see Nicole's look of revulsion.

Instead, her heart ached when she saw her daughter's fair and slender fingers soaking in the runoff from the

lettuce. “Go sit with Grandma, Nickie. How thin you've become from working on set! I need to fatten you up with

some hearty meat. Also, you can't get your hands wet before they are healed! I appreciate your concern for me

but get out of here. The smoke in here will give you a headache.”

“Relax, Mom. My hands are almost as good as new. What's the fuss? Rinsing some lettuce won't take a toll on me.

It's just a shame that my cooking isn't that good. I would cook for you and Dad if I were a better chef,” Nicole said

sweetly as she continued picking at the leaves.

Claire shook her head at the futility of dissuading her daughter. “What a stubborn girl you are. Fine. Stay, but be

careful with your hands. Don't get them swollen again.”

Nicole nodded, then said morosely, “Avery is going to marry Cayden on the first of May, Mom. She's too plain to be

worthy of him. I wonder what he sees in her. Do you think she's better than me?”

Claire scooped the blanching ribs out of the pot of boiling water before mincing the shallots and slicing the ginger

with well-practiced movements.

The austere and dignified woman looked more approachable than usual at that moment with the surrounding

smoke.

“Rubbish. My daughter is always good enough,” Claire chided Nicole as she busied herself. “You are beautiful,

intelligent, ambitious, kind, and you have a promising career. You are the best in my eyes. However, relationships

depend on compatibility. Once something blossoms between two people, a third person cannot interfere. Cayden

doesn't have feelings for you, Nickie. It's not worth wasting away for a man who doesn't love you.”

Having made up her mind to marry Cayden, Nicole could not accept Claire's words.

She kept her misty gaze fixed on Claire. “I do love Cayden, Mom. I cannot lose him. My life will be meaningless if

he's not in it. He's not yet married to Avery, so I still have a chance to fight for him. But once they do, I will never

have him. You love me, Mom. You and Dad will help me, right?”