"Mobbed by Matrimony" (wlw)

Chapter 2: An Unexpected Friendship

On the outskirts of town, a family of four sits around the dinner table, sharing a meal. The grandfather sits at the far end, with his son and daughter-in-law to his right, and his granddaughter to his left. Despite the warm ambiance and the exquisite spread of food, a heavy silence blankets the room, broken only when—

"Grandpa, please, I beg you to reconsider what you said."

The woman's voice trembles with emotion, her eyes brimming with tears as she pleads with her grandfather.

"Sophia, my dear," the grandfather said gently, wiping the tears from his granddaughter's cheek, "I made a promise to a dear friend. You know that despite our circumstances, we always honor our commitments."

"But don't I have a say in this?"

Sophia's voice broke as she struggled to hold back her sobs.

"This is my life, Grandpa. I should have the right to choose whom I spend it with. It feels so unfair that this decision was made for me even before I was born."

Her heartache was palpable as she expressed her deep sense of injustice, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and sorrow.

"I understand this feels incredibly unfair," the grandfather said, his voice laden with regret.

"But 24 years ago, I incurred a significant debt. Without his help back then, none of us would be here tonight, sharing this meal. I owe him more than I can ever repay, and this is the least I can do to honor that commitment."

***24 years ago***

Heavy rain lashes against the night sky as Henry accelerates, his focus intent on navigating through the storm. In the backseat, his son Lucas is desperately trying to comfort his wife, Jessica, who is wracked with excruciating pain. Jessica, six months pregnant and bleeding, sobs uncontrollably as Lucas does his best to soothe her amidst the chaos.

Despite his worry, Henry remains focused on the slippery road, his grip on the steering wheel growing numb as he battles the treacherous conditions. The heavy rain has turned the road into a perilous slick, and he drives with relentless determination, desperately pushing towards the hospital.

As Henry speeds down the rain-slicked road, the downpour nearly obscures his view, making it difficult to see anything ahead. Suddenly, he spots two goats slowly crossing the road, but it's too late—he's only a few meters away. In a frantic attempt to avoid the animals, Henry swerves sharply to the right. Unbeknownst to him, this maneuver is dangerously to the edge of a cliff.

Half of the vehicle dangles precariously over the cliff's edge, while the other half struggles to remain on solid ground. Inside, the three occupants are frozen in shock, fully aware that even the slightest wrong move could send them plummeting into the abyss below. Henry, gripped by a sense of resigned acceptance, braces himself for the uncertain and potentially dire outcome of their precarious situation.

As the three of them prayed fervently, the vehicle suddenly jolted, causing Jessica to scream in both pain and fear. They soon noticed the car slowly reversing, as if being pulled from behind. Henry, peering out through the window, saw a figure on the edge of the cliff shouting,

"Don't move or the vehicle might fall! Stay calm in there!"

With a mix of relief and urgency, Henry instructed Lucas and Jessica to remain still and calm, assuring them that help had arrived. As the man continued to pull the vehicle back to safety, the tension inside the car began to ease.

Once the vehicle is securely pulled back from the edge, Henry, Lucas, and Jessica cautiously exit the car. They are met by a well-built man with his sleeves rolled up, and standing beside him is a younger man dressed in a sharp black suit. The two strangers, having just saved them, stand ready to offer further assistance as the trio processes their narrow escape from danger.

"Thank you, sir, for saving us," Henry says, kneeling in deep gratitude before the two men. His voice trembles with emotion as he expresses his appreciation. His son and daughter-in-law, both visibly shaken, join him in their thanks, tears streaming down their faces.

"I'm just relieved that you're all safe now," Alfonzo replies with a reassuring tone. "Please, stand up. There's no need for such formalities."

Their brief introduction was abruptly interrupted when Jessica suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed into Lucas's arms. Noticing the blood on her legs, Alfonzo quickly recognized the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, he instructed his driver to assist them in getting back into the vehicle.

"We need to get her to the hospital immediately."

Alfonzo directed firmly, his concern evident as he ensured they were swiftly on their way.

Jessica and her baby were safely admitted to the hospital, arriving just in time to avert a life-threatening crisis.

Henry turned to Alfonzo with profound gratitude.

"I can't thank you enough, sir. Your quick actions saved us and ensured we made it to the hospital in time. You saved my grandchild as well."

"You're welcome," Alfonzo replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm just glad that your grandchild is safe as well."

After the incident, Alfonzo got to know more about the de Jonghs. In gratitude, they invited him to a meal at their modest home, which he graciously accepted.

Henry's eyes widened in surprise when Alfonzo revealed his identity.

"You're a Van Leeuw?!"

"Yes, I am," Alfonzo confirmed with a calm demeanor.

"But please, don't be afraid. I'm here as a friend."

Despite still being in shock, Henry wanted to make Alfonzo feel comfortable during the meal. He broke the silence with an attempt at normalcy.

"You should have brought your wife with you, but I understand she might not feel comfortable here."

"She would have loved it," Alfonzo replied, his tone reflective.

"But my wife passed away some time ago. I was returning from visiting her grave in the mountains when the accident happened."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, sir. I can only imagine how much you must miss her."

Henry responded sympathetically.

"I do," Alfonzo agreed. "But please, call me Alfonzo."

Henry hesitated, glancing at Alonzo's serious expression.

"I'm not sure if that's appropriate, given your family's background compared to ours. And you've done so much for us—I don't know how I could ever repay your kindness, sir."

"Again, Alfonzo," he insisted, this time with a firm tone that surprised everyone. He then softened, adding with a smile.

"And if you're insistent on repaying me, I have a proposition to make."