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Catherine was sitting at the patio with Anitra and Talia. She and Ace came back from their vacation three days ago after his not so cool phone conversation with his mother.

His mother literally commanded him to return the next day. Today she would be visiting the Hamptons mansion to meet Mrs Hampton as her soon to be daughter in law and she has never been more nervous.

"I don't think I can do this, what if she refuses? " she asked Anitra. Anitra pushed a glass of water towards her and scoffed.

"Aunt Veronica will do absolutely anything for Ace. Don't worry, he definitely has something planned already. " Anitra told her. She wanted to understand what Anitra was trying to tell her but her brain just couldn't process it.

Ace called her early that morning to inform her about their meeting with his mother and since then she has been jumpy.

"Stop fidgeting. You can do it. You're getting married to Ace, not his mother." Talia reminded her. Catherine smiled softly and picked up the glass of water in front of her. She gulped down the content of the glass and nodded her head.

She can do it. If not for anything but for her and Ace's future.

*****

Mike opened the car door for Catherine and she thanked him. Waiting for her at the foot of the car was Ace. He was wearing a black plain pants and a black shirt with the first two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbow.

Immediately he saw her he put his hand on her cheek and kissed her slowly. He tasted of tobacco and mint and of course woodsy. Sometimes she forgot that he smokes.

"Hey," He whispered to her and she grinned widely, her eyes slating around the compound.

"Hi." She whispered. He hold her hand and started walking her towards the house.

Catherine could see a Gardener at the far away garden and a lot of bodyguards around the mansion.

As they walked inside the house she saw two maids in uniform rushed towards them and bowed to them. She was surprised about what was going on. The last time she visited the mansion it wasn't like that. The security wasn't this tight. And she never knew that there were about six maids in the mansion. Including the chef and the gardener and probably a chief of servants then it would be over ten employees at the Hamptons mansion.

There are levels to this shit.

"Are you okay?" Ace asked and she nodded her head. He helped her sit down on the golden couch and sighed.

"I'll go and let her know that you're here. Don't panic and relax yourself." Ace whispered to her and she nodded. He straightened his back and walked away.

When Ace was away, a servant brought a glass of orange juice for her.

"Thank you." She muttered as she picked up the glass of juice from the platter.

She sipped on the drink slowly while glacing around the living room.

Footsteps from the staircase caused her to stop sipping on her drink. She turned back to face the stairs and suddenly stood up when she saw Mrs Hampton and Ace following right behind her.

"Good day, Ma." She greeted and Mrs Hampton nodded. Ace came to her side and took her hand his as they sat down.

Veronica Hampton sat down and crossed her legs.

"Ace, my son told me everything. He has tried his best to convince me that you are for him. What make you think that you can be my only son's consort?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Ace squeezed Catherine's hand as she prepared to give her answer.

"I have known Ace since we were young, and at that time I know nothing about the family he came from neither was I interested in knowing. I felled in love with him because of who he was. His personality and not his wealth. Even as we grow up and we met each other again I still loved him. I want to be with Ace because he loves me just as much as I love him. We are happy together. He completes me and that's all that matters." She retorted calmly.

"And what if you leave him again? You ran once, do I have to remind you?" It seems like Mrs Hampton wasn't ready to let go of her animosity towards Catherine and was trying every ways possible to destroy her hope of being with Ace but Catherine was determined on proving her wrong.

"That was then. I don't have the mentality I had then. I left but I suffered the repercussions and I'm ready to stay for good. Ace is everything to me. I would never leave his side again."

It was like Mrs Hampton wasn't her to be so vocal about her feelings. She nodded her head and typed in something on her phone.

"The wedding will take place in two weeks, I'll have everything ready and you and Ace can do whatever you want to do that day. I want you to get married before going back to school. And yes, you have to tell your mother that we will have to work together so that the wedding plans can be successful." She said and stood up from the couch. "Congratulations on your engagement."

After Mrs Hampton left Catherine got up from the couch and straddled Ace.

"Your Mom was cool. What did you say to her before I came?" She queried, even she could tell that Veronica Hampton went easy on her, the woman she knew would have made her feel like a piece of shit and tell her how unworthy she is.

"Nothing much....."

(FLASHBACK......)

The car door was pulled opened and he got out of the car, he walked inside the house ignoring the servants greetings and made his way towards his mother's office.

He pushed the door opened and stepped inside the office then closed it behind him.

"What is going on with you? Why the hell would you take the Meyers girl to my island and why would you engage her?" Veronica Hampton asked calmly, her cold eyes fixed on Ace.

Ace pulled out a chair and sat down "Firstly, that island is mine. It was bought in my name, you gifted it to me. Secondly, you told me to find a wife. I found a girl that I love and proposed to her, I don't see anything wrong with what I did. And until when will you stop monitoring my movements?"

Veronica Hampton dropped her iPad on the huge mahogany desk and placed her hand on the desk.

"You will cancel your engagement with that girl."

"You lie, mother. I'll do no such thing. I'm marrying Catherine or no one." Ace fired back.

Veronica Hampton chuckled softly and slowly stood up from her leather chair and walked towards Ace.

"What did you say?"

"I am not you. I am sorry that I took after you, I took after your attitude, your behavior. I'm sorry for being your only son. I took after everything about you, I let you dictate my life for me but that won't happen anymore. I will do what pleases me henceforth!" Ace bellowed. He has had enough.

"I am doing exactly what Gray would do if he is alive! I am protecting you!" Veronica screamed, for the first time she lost her cool.

"Dad would have supported me!" Ace yelled loudly, "he wouldn't be controlling my life. He would talk to Catherine and give his full support. That is what Dad would have done. That is what any good parent would have done!"

Veronica was speechless. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

She touched her face and closed her eyes to gather herself.

"Do you know how much I have sacrificed for you? Do you know or even appreciate everything that I did? I created an empire for you. I created a generational wealth for you, for your children. I work my ass off to give you a better life. I want you to be a boss. A CEO. A chairman. All I ask for is a partner that can stand beside you and help you, the Meyers girl can't do that. I'm not asking for much, Ace Hampton. The Lord knows that I'm not asking for much."

Ace took in a deep breath, her hands squeezing each other. "I love Catherine, you will have to come to the terms that she is going to be my wife. If you love me, if you support me, if hold me to such a high standard then you have to support my life choices. I will marry Catherine Meyers."

Veronica Hampton shook her head dejectedly and walked back to her seat.

"I want to meet with her. Tomorrow. Bring her to me." She said.

(END OF FLASHBACK)

"That is awesome, you did it boo." Catherine smiled happily and kissed his lips.

"Let's start planning the wedding. We don't have much time." She whispered to his ear.