Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” West choked out, taking in the glassiness of the older man’s eyes. But he had to be wrong. His own eyes were blurry with tears.
“Three,” he repeated. He lifted the mask to cover his nose and mouth. After a few deep breaths, he lowered it again. “We’ve decided that after you and my son marry, we want three grandchildren. Two granddaughters and a grandson. We don’t require that they are born in that order, though.”
A choked, watery laugh jumped from West’s throat. That was not the answer he’d been expecting, but he would take it.
No. He couldn’t agree to that.
“No,” West said as firmly as he could manage, shocking both the emperor and Shen Xiao Dan. “The discussion of grandchildren is off the table until you agree to the heart transplant. My father was never in my life, and my mother was never a positive influence while she was alive. I have no family. My children will know their grandfather. They will not make do with stories about him. Respectfully, Your Majesty, I will agree to grandchildren only if you agree to the surgery.”
The emperor attempted to stare him down, his expression grim, but West would not waver. Jin needed his father. Ming Tao needed his father. And one day, their children would need their grandfather. He was not budging.
With a coughing laugh, the emperor barked out, “Shameless. Fine. Done!” He waved a hand at Shen Xiao Dan. “Tell the annoying doctor that I’ll sign his stupid paperwork. I’ll do the surgery if they find a heart.”
“They will find a heart, Your Majesty,” West said, earning a new glare from his one-day father-in-law.
“You may not help anyone make a timely donation,” the emperor chastised, wagging a finger at him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when the door burst open and the crown prince raced inside, looking as if he’d run straight from the palace. His wide eyes jerked from West, kneeling to his father and back to him.
West shoved to his feet.
Oh, fuck! Shit! Damn! Fuck!
His knees screamed in protest. He was getting way too damn old to be kneeling on a tile floor for any length of time. Wincing and clenching his teeth, he straightened, reaching out to Jin. The crown prince practically leaped to his side, positioning his body between his father and West. He twisted to face West for a moment, wiping away tears that had yet to dry on his cheeks before turning to glare at his father.
“Your Majesty, I protest this meeting. Whatever harsh words you have for him should be directed at me. Westin St. James has done nothing but risk his life for the good of Gaoxing,” Jin argued.
From the corner of his eye, West saw a guard close the door, since Jin had every intention of making this a very loud discussion.
“What has come over you, Long Wei? You were never the impulsive one. You’re spending too much time with your brother. Always one to jump without thinking,” the emperor admonished. The sneaky man had an amazing poker face, acting as if he hadn’t just negotiated his eldest son’s marriage and grandchildren.
West wrapped an arm around Jin’s waist and grinned when Jin stiffened in surprise. He pulled the shorter man into him and pressed his face into the side of his hair, drawing in the soft scent of sandalwood. “Shhh…it’s okay, baby. I was just negotiating with your father.”
“What?” Jin croaked.
“Mn. He knows everything. Knows about both contracts.”
“Oh God,” Jin whispered as he seemed to sink into West’s arms for support.
West tightened his hold on him while glancing over at the emperor. That wily old man had such a fucking smug look on his face. Not even the oxygen mask could hide it.
“But I’ve just completed negotiations for a deal that I think will make us all happy,” West continued.
“Three,” the emperor interrupted, waving three fingers at them as if West was about to forget.
“Yes.” West brushed a kiss to Jin’s temple. “Three. On behalf of both of us, I’ve agreed that we will have three children—preferably two daughters and a son, though I’m sure the emperor will cherish whatever children we have—after we are married, while he has agreed to have the heart transplant when they locate a heart for him.”
Jin pulled away from him enough to meet his gaze. His poor lover seemed torn between laughter and tears.
West hugged him tight again, wanting nothing more than to cradle that fragile heart as it worked through all the chaos West had dumped into his lap.
“Baba?” Jin whispered in a choked voice as he looked at the emperor in the hospital bed.
“Xiao Wei,” the emperor said, his voice rough. He paused and cleared his throat. “We will have a very long talk tomorrow about what you’ve done, but I’m all worn out now. That doctor is bringing the papers. Tell your brother I’ll have the surgery. We’ll work out a way to let our people know that your man has my blessing.”