The study was quiet, but the grandfather's mind was anything but. After speaking to Jasfer, pieces began to fall into place.
The girl she's talking about… he thought, narrowing his eyes.
It's her. The young surgeon who saved me in the café… the one in the garden… Jay Mariano.
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips. Everything clicked. Her brilliance, her calm, her independence—it was all the same girl. The one who had left an impression on him that day, the one who had reminded him of the rare kind of people who changed everything just by existing.
He leaned back in his chair, voice calm but firm as he picked up the phone again. "Jasfer," he said, "I believe we're talking about the same young woman."
There was a pause on the other end. "Oh?"
"Yes," he continued, urgency creeping into his tone. "The one who helped me… who displayed remarkable composure and skill. That girl."
Jasfer's voice softened, intrigued. "You know her?"
"I do," he said. "And I will ensure she is respected and cared for properly. That is why I'm calling. I am prepared to offer a proposal—my grandson, Mark Keifer Watson, as a match for her."
There was silence on the line, Jasfer clearly processing the sudden shift. "Your… grandson? But he is so young—so… powerful in his own right. Are you certain?"
"I am certain," the grandfather said firmly. "She deserves someone capable, someone who can match her brilliance and independence. And he is the only one I can think of who truly fits that description."
"Then… you're proposing Keifer?" Jasfer asked, hesitation in her voice.
"Yes," he replied without a flicker of doubt. "Immediately. I will not delay this. I want her future secured, and I want it done respectfully. But she must know the offer comes with full regard for her choice and autonomy."
"I… understand," Jasfer said slowly. "I will… consider your offer. Truly, I appreciate your honesty and… decisiveness."
The grandfather smiled faintly, almost to himself. "No one else will decide for her. I will ensure that. And if she accepts, she will have the respect, protection, and consideration she deserves."
As he hung up the phone, he leaned back, hands folded. His mind was already racing with plans—how to approach her, how to ensure she never felt pressured, and how to make sure Keifer and Jay Mariano's paths would finally align.
She saved my life once, he thought, eyes glinting with determination.
Now I will make sure she has everything she deserves—and that my grandson does not lose her either.