I Raised My Husband's Love Child...Then He Shot Me

Chapter 7

Xavier rocked back and forth in his wheelchair, clapping his hands like a child who'd just been given a toy. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he babbled incoherently, his fingers curling and uncurling in a strange rhythm.

I stood frozen, unsure of how to react.

"This is Rachel, your fiancée," Grandfather said, his voice filled with a tone that seemed to beg for some kind of recognition.

Xavier's face remained blank, his lips parting slightly before he let out a soft, almost childlike giggle.

I blinked, trying to process the situation. Was this really happening?

Grandmother gave a tight smile, trying to mask her concern. "Rachel, why don't you spend some time with Xavier? Get to know him."

I wanted to argue, but I knew better. "Alright," I muttered, unwilling to show weakness.

"Good," Grandfather said, patting my shoulder. "We'll leave you two alone for a bit."

The caretaker, who had been gently rubbing Xavier's shoulders, nodded at me. "If you need anything, just call," she said before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

Now, it was just Xavier and me.

I slowly took a seat across from him. He didn't seem to notice. His attention was fixed on the floor as he rocked back and forth, occasionally giggling to himself.

The silence felt heavy, broken only by his odd sounds.

I cleared my throat. "So… Xavier, do you understand what's going on?"

No response.

I sighed, trying again. "I'm supposed to marry you. Did you know that?"

Xavier's eyes flickered toward me for a split second, but then he went back to staring blankly at the wall.

I frowned, growing more frustrated. "Nothing? No thoughts? No opinions?"

Silence.

This was ridiculous.

Leaning back, arms crossed, I muttered, "Well, at least there's one good thing about this marriage."

His fingers stopped moving.

"At least you can't hurt me like Michael did."

I could've sworn his eyes twitched slightly at the mention of Michael's name.

I leaned forward, studying him closely. "Wait… do you understand me?"

Again, his expression didn't change.

I narrowed my eyes. "Xavier," I said, my voice more insistent now. "Michael," I repeated, carefully watching his face for any sign of recognition.

Still nothing.

I exhaled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Great. Now I'm imagining things."

I stood up, brushing invisible dust off my clothes. "Well, this has been... interesting. But I think I've seen enough."

Still, no response.

Annoyed, I turned on my heels and walked out.

The driver was already waiting outside, his face unreadable as he opened the car door for me.

I climbed into the backseat, my mind still reeling from the encounter. The Xavier Crawford I'd heard about in whispers was a far cry from the man I'd just met. The ruthless businessman, the sharp genius—now nothing more than a shell of his former self.

Why did it have to be him?

Back at the mansion, my grandparents waited for me in the study. As soon as I stepped inside, I wasted no time.

"Why him?" I demanded, my voice sharp.

Grandfather sighed, rubbing his temple as if preparing for a difficult conversation. "Sit down, Rachel."

I shook my head. "No, I want answers. Why do I have to marry an invalid?"

Grandmother pressed her lips into a thin line. "It's tradition."

I scoffed. "Tradition?"

Grandfather leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Your mother was supposed to marry Michael's father. But she ran away and eloped with your father instead."

I froze, the words hitting me harder than I expected.

Grandmother nodded. "Your mother broke an important alliance, Rachel. Now, it's your turn to fix it."

I clenched my fists. "By marrying Xavier?"

"Yes," Grandfather said, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision.

"Even though he's no longer the man he once was, his name still holds power. The Crawfords may have abandoned him, but his bloodline remains one of the most influential."

"And he was once great," Grandmother added softly, almost wistfully. "Before the accident, he was a genius in business. A leader."

I hesitated. "Now, he's just… broken."

Grandfather exhaled, a look of resignation on his face. "That may be true. But he is still Xavier Crawford. And you, Rachel, are a Blake. This is bigger than personal feelings. This is about legacy."

The word landed like a ton of bricks in my chest. Legacy.

A few days ago, I had been just another woman scorned. Now, I was being asked to carry the weight of my family's name, to step into a role I hadn't asked for.

I straightened, forcing my shoulders back. "Fine. I'll do it."

Relief washed over their faces, but the tension in the room remained.

"The wedding will be tomorrow," Grandfather said, as if he couldn't bear to waste any more time.

I froze. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Grandmother confirmed, her voice calm but urgent. "It's best to make it official as soon as possible."

My heart hammered in my chest, but I forced a smile, my thoughts spinning in a hundred different directions.

Tomorrow, I would marry a man who didn't even understand what marriage meant. Tomorrow, I would officially become Rachel Blake Crawford.

And there would be no turning back.