My Backup Groom

At three in the morning, the smell of disinfectant crept into my nostrils in the hospital corridor. I gripped the cold railing tightly. The nurse had just come out of the ICU. Her eyes were filled with regret. "Please prepare yourselves mentally." Those words hit my heart like a stone. Grandpa was lying inside. He was the pillar of the Wilson Group and the only warmth I had in this family. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a call from my boyfriend, Kane Watson. "Archer, how's your grandpa doing?" His voice carried a trace of urgency. I sniffled. "He's still in surgery; the doctor says it doesn't look good." After hanging up, I leaned against the wall. Tears finally spilled down uncontrollably. Since I was little, my parents were busy with their own lives. It was my grandpa who raised me. He taught me to read and write, showed me how to read company reports, and told me that Wilson Group would depend on me someday. But now, he's lying in there, and I don't know if he'll pull through. At seven in the morning, the ICU door opened. The doctor took off his mask. "He's out of immediate danger for now, but still needs to be monitored." I let out a sigh of relief and hurried to his bedside. Grandpa's face was pale, an IV line inserted in the back of his hand. He slowly opened his eyes, saw me, and the corner of his mouth twitched. "Archer..." I took his hand. "Grandpa, I'm here." He coughed twice. "The Wilson Group... can't be left unattended." I nodded. "Grandpa, don't worry, I'll hold on." He shook his head. "You're still too young. People outside are watching like hawks." I understood his worries. Some people at the company have been eyeing the chairman's seat. Grandpa went on. "Only by getting married... can you take over legitimately." I froze. Marriage? Although Kane Watson and I have been dating for two years, we've never talked about marriage. "Grandpa, this..." He tightly held my hand. "Listen to me, get the wedding done as soon as possible." His gaze was unwavering. Seeing how weak he was, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. "Alright, Grandpa, I'll do as you say." Only then did he relax and close his eyes to rest. When I stepped out of the ward, Kane Watson was standing in the hallway. He saw me and walked over. "How's your grandpa?" I told him about my grandpa's request. He paused for a moment, then smiled. "Archer, I've actually wanted to marry you for a long time." He held me in his arms. "Let's get the wedding preparations underway quickly, so your grandpa can rest easy." I leaned against him, feeling a small comfort. At least Kane Watson was still by my side. In the days that followed, I cared for my grandpa in the hospital while preparing the wedding with Kane Watson. Picking out the wedding dress, booking the hotel, sending invitations—everything was progressing smoothly. Kane Watson came to the hospital every day, sometimes with flowers, sometimes with porridge that my grandpa loved. Grandpa looked a lot better when he saw us.