Chapter 19 Happy Birthday

• After dinner, Mr Lewis asked Mark Anthony to follow him to his study. He promised his daughter that he was not going to give Mark Anthony a hard time. Victoria stayed in the living room watching television. Mr Lewis pointed at the sofa and asked Mark Anthony to sit. Mark Anthony thanked him and sat down. Mr Lewis looked at Mark Anthony and said, “Victoria told me that she proposed to you.” Mark Anthony smiled, “Yes dad she did, it was the best day of my life. I waited for her for twenty-six years. The first day I saw her I knew that she was my wife.” Mr Lewis was beaming, “I am satisfied with you, son, and I don’t want to hide anything from you. When my company was facing bankruptcy, I tried to commit suicide. Mr Johnson approached me for cooperation provided my daughter Victoria marries his son, James Johnson. Victoria agreed to marry James Johnson for two years. Their marriage was in name only.”
• Mark Anthony smiled brightly, “thank you dad for telling me. The first time I found out that Victoria was married to James Johnson I was so sad and confused at the same time, since I knew how much James Johnson loved Serene Logan. When Victoria told me why she agreed to marry James Johnson, I thought she was brave and kindhearted. I am so glad that she will be my wife and I am proud of her. I love Victoria with my soul, dad. My relationship with my dad is not good but I am willing to forgive him for Victoria’s sake. She wants us to reconcile. I have never had a father figure in my life. I spent my life in boarding schools.” Mark Anthony’s eyes became red, Mr Lewis hugged him and said, “The Lord has blessed you with two fathers, don’t be sad son.” Mark Anthony laughed and hugged him back tightly.
• “Dad, are you available this coming Saturday? I would like to come with my dad for a betrothal gift.” Mr Lewis told him that he would be available, and then they went to the living room. When Victoria saw them laughing, she was relieved. She switched off the television and smiled at her father. “My beautiful daughter, I am satisfied with my son-in-law, I am so happy.” Victoria rushed to her father and hugged her; she was so happy that her father approved of Mark Anthony. Should her father tell her that he was not satisfied with Mark Anthony, she would listen to her father and forget about Mark Anthony. She trusted her father with her life. Her father was smiling from ear to ear. He told her that the Anthony family would be visiting them on Saturday for a betrothal gift. Victoria was over the moon.