"What?!" Mr. Anselm was so shocked by what the stranger said that he clutched at his tight chest.
"Dad! What's wrong with you?" Sofia was worried to see her father, who looked like he was in pain as he held his chest.
"Why do you say such a thing? Didn't you see that my father had just recovered from his illness?" Sofia scolded Nicolas, who made it clear who he was.
"What's the problem? Sooner or later your father will find out," Nicolas replied casually.
"I'm fine, Sofia. I'm just surprised that your name is the same as the name of the boss I work for."
"Really? Where do you work?" Nicolas asked curiously.
"At ninety-nine Media. Do you know that company?"
Nicolas smiled brightly. "Of course, I founded the company when I was twenty-five."
"What? So you're really my boss, Mr. Anderson?" asked Mr. Anselm incredulously.
"Yes, and I'm also your future son-in-law, as your daughter and I are getting married soon."
"Stop, Nick! This is not the time to discuss it. Can't you see the situation?" Sofia snapped at the man in front of her.
"Dad, I'm so glad the operation was successful. I hope you can come home soon. Aunt Jessica and I miss you so much." Sofia hugged her father affectionately.
Nicolas, who saw this, was a little jealous. He had never received a hug or a loving embrace from his parents since he was a child. A hug is a simple action, but he can never get it. Nicolas felt that the man in front of him should not know about the fake marriage they were going to have because it would definitely make his heart feel sad.
"Jonathan!" Aunt Jessica came in and hugged her brother.
The three of them hugged each other, making Nicolas feel left out.
"Nick, why are you so quiet? Come here, we have to share our happiness together," Sofia said with a bright smile.
"Me?" Nicolas did not expect Sofia to invite him like that.
"Yes, you! Who else?"
Nicolas finally came to take a seat next to Jonathan Anselm, Sofia's father. It turned out that the woman was praying to God; she was thanking God for giving her family the opportunity to be together again.
"Excuse me, sorry to disturb you. This is a bill for Mr. Anselm. Mr. Anselm will be under observation and if there are no problems, he can go home and continue his outpatient care." A nurse enters and gives Sofia a bill.
The three of them stop smiling when they see how much the bill says. It is a huge amount for those who live a simple life.
"Let me see!" Nicolas asked for the paper and the nurse gave it to him.
"Call this number and send them all the bills. They will take care of it. Just tell them Nicolas told you to!"
"Yes, sir."
After the nurse left, it was up to the three of them to stare at Nicolas. She knew why, but not her father and aunt.
"Mr. Anderson, thank you for your kindness. I will work hard at the office and you can deduct my salary to pay you back. My name is Jonathan Anselm. I am one of your employees."
"There is no need to thank me, your approval of my relationship with Sofia is enough, there is no need to think about such simple things."
"I don't know how you met and dated, but of course I will approve of you two. Her late mother would also be happy that Sofia has found the right partner."
"Sofia, why don't you just go home and I'll wait here for your father. Mr. Anderson, will you take my niece home?" Jessica asked suddenly.
"Auntie! Why are you asking me to go home?" protested Sofia, "I want to wait here for my father.
"It's okay, I think Mr. Anderson wants to talk to you. You can come back in the morning," Jessica said later.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Nick. By the way, I am going to take Sofia to meet my parents tomorrow morning."
"Of course I'll allow that, won't I, Jonathan?" Jessica looked at her brother with one eye.
"Then go, Sofia."
Nicolas smiled as everything went smoothly. Sofia's family would accept him easily, he had guessed. Of course, who would refuse a Nicolas.
Sofia was speechless, she finally opened the door and left the room, although she still wanted to be here.
"Wait, Nicolas!" called Jonathan.
"Jessicaa, please take Sofia downstairs and buy me some bread!" Jonathan said to his sister. Jessica understood and followed Sofia out.
"Nicolas Anderson, may I speak to you as a father?"
"Of course!" Nicolas sat down on the chair Sofia had been sitting on and looked into the man's eyes.
"I don't know what's behind your plan to marry off my daughter, but can you please just call it off? I'm in debt to you, and I'm ready to work all life to pay you back.
Why do you say that?" Nicolas was surprised, there was no way this man could know what they were planning.
"A father's intuition, perhaps? I've never seen Sofia with a man before, so there must have been some reason for her sudden decision in favor of marriage. I know my daughter well, she may like you, but I don't see love in either of your faces. I know plenty of women who would marry you, Nick Anderson. So will you give Sofia back to me?"
"Unfortunately, I can't, Jonathan. Sofia will remain my wife."
Jonathan sighed deeply, he had expected that the man in front of him who wanted to marry his daughter was an ambitious man. Sofia also seemed to have agreed to marry Nicolas. Now he could only hope that his daughter was happy with her choice.
"Well, maybe you have agreed. But can you promise me one thing?"
"What is it?" asked Nicolas curiously. He thought she might ask for a lot of money.
"If you make her cry because of you, I will take her back and make sure that you will never see each other again."
"How dare you threaten me?" Nicolas did not expect this remark at all. He thought that this man would take advantage of his wealth and ask him for a lot of money. He was not wrong, because Sofia and her family lived in poverty.
"No, I'm not. I just want to make sure that my daughter is happy. We already know that we're living in a different kind of life. You are a billionaire and my daughter is a florist.
"It doesn't matter. You have my word, Jonathan."
"What took you so long? I think we're going home, aren't we?" Sofia suddenly asked.
"I'm sorry Jonathan, I asked her to wait, but she didn't listen to me," Jessica said guiltily.