Ashley politely followed Tanaga’s’ grandmother. She let her take her seat as she remained standing, waiting for further instructions. Grandma Hanada looked Ashley over from head to foot again before she spoke.
"What are you waiting for? Are you going to sit down, or do you want my neck to get stiff from looking up at you while we talk?" The older woman said in an intentionally contemptuous tone, secretly smiling to herself on the inside.
Ashley heard the harshness of her words but also felt they were said in a half-joking manner. Her mood lightened. She adjusted her dress to make sure it would cover her legs. She sat down in a chair next to the old woman, keeping her back perfectly straight.
Grandma Hanada examined Ashley in silence. You could’ve heard a pin drop. The atmosphere in the room was made Ashley feel even more nervous. She was barely breathing as she waited for Tanaga’s grandmother to speak.
"I have a simple question, and I expect a simple answer. Do you love my grandson?" Grandma Hanada asked Ashley without blinking.
Ashley did not hesitate to answer honestly, with a response as direct as the question itself had been. "No," she said with determination as she looked straight into the old lady’s eyes.
Grandma Hanada raised her eyebrows when she heard Ashley’s straightforward reply. I like this girl, she thought to herself. She’s not a liar, and she’s pretty too.
"You’re good. I like honest people. So, if you don’t really have any feelings for my grandson, then why did you get married?" She leaned back in her chair as she waited for Ashley to respond.
"I’m not sure if I’m allowed to tell you or not. If you have questions about our marriage, and why I’m here, I think it’s best if you ask your grandson."
Tanaga’s grandmother saw that there wasn’t a hint of fear in Ashley’s eyes as she spoke, but she didn’t bother to press the issue further. "Hmmm, you have a point. We’ll move on to a new subject then," the old woman continued. "So, what’s your story? I’ll have you know that I’ve already seen most of the details about you on paper, but I’d rather hear it from you in your own words. So, start talking."
Grandma Hanada hadn’t been lying. She had papers about Ashley detailing who she is, so she didn’t hesitate to disclose the details of her life. The old woman listened attentively, not interrupting once.
"So, to make a long story short, I didn’t come to Japan looking for a husband. I had a contract to work for a company. Unfortunately, it was a scam. If not for Mr. Jones, who knows what could’ve happened? It could have only been my remains going home to my family." Ashley was on the verge of tears as she finished telling her story.
Grandma Hanada’s harsh initial assessment of Ashley had changed. Now she felt sorry for her. She could have easily cried for Ashley herself but held the feeling back.
"Thank goodness then that Tanaga was there to save you." Then the old woman shouted, "I know you’re listening, Tanaga. So, come in here."
Tanaga walked in, looking serious. She stood like a soldier who was about to go to war (only a war against his grandmother).
He chose not to sit in a chair that was near Ashley or his grandmother. Instead, he chose a seat that was an equal distance from both of them. He knew his grandma well. She had introduced him to many noblewomen in the past, but none of them interested him.
He knew his grandmother was angry. She wasn’t mad because he got married, but because it hadn’t been to one of the women she had personally recommended.
He wanted to convince her to accept Ashley. In his mind, there was no one else but her. She was the only one he could see as the mother of his future heir. He was about to speak, but his grandmother spoke ahead of him.
"I’ll give you one year. Your marriage must bear fruit. Otherwise, you will divorce and marry again, to a woman of my choosing. Agreed?"