Thursday, continued …Hou Yi moved to a corner of the sitting room, and James followed him. Hou Yi quietly asked "James, are you certain about this?"
"Yi you know the discussion we had last night. I was certain on sight Alecia was the one for me. My priority is what she wants, her happiness, well-being and safety. That requires her dealing with what Lu Jinhu did to her. You know I was ready to kill him for what he did to Anna, now you can imagine what I want to do to him, let alone his father."
"Alecia needs to be away from here while the police investigation goes on. Using the excuse of going to study in Australia for two terms achieves that without people knowing. But I wanted to make sure that we were not forcing it onto her. It needed to be her choice."
"I came here to ask her about her choice, but we talked and she proposed to me. I knew from the moment I saw her what I wanted, but I was never going to force that choice on Alecia. Her proposal is what I want. It secures her happiness and mine. The worst thing I could do was say not, and there is no way my heart would be in that."
"We have agreed with Mr Yao that we will return from Australia once I have finished my degree, for Alecia to do her degree and work within the family company. My issue is how can I support her? I question whether I deserve her, but she thinks I do."
"James, leave aside the issues about money. If that was not there, would you marry her?"
"As soon as I could Yi."
"Then you have your answer. I knew in my situation I had to let your sister make her decision, as I did not want my wealth tainting the decision. But I did not need to doubt her, as she loves me for me. Looking at Alecia, who by the way is shooting daggers at me for talking to you, do you question how she feels about you?"
"No, that I am certain of."
"James, she will be happy with what you can do. Now I will tell you the one thing that no one else will say. Follow you heart, as regardless of what the future brings neither you or Alecia will regret your decision. Now, when you are in Australia you can live on a house on the property. That is the least I can do for you and my G.o.ddaughter."
James looked at Hou Yi strangely. "Alecia and the boys were not christened until they were five-years-old. Alecia came home from school demanding that Tan made sure she had a G.o.dfather like her friends, so I was his choice for them. Given that, I do not want you to feel dependent on me for accommodation. I am willing to loan you the money to purchase a property in Australia."
"For my wedding gift to the two of you will be an apartment here to live in. The two floors below Anna and my apartment are vacant and have two apartments per floor. As I own the building, I will have builders convert them into a two-floor apartment, and make sure it has access to Anna and my apartment. Alecia is too like her father, that she will not be anything but a canny investor and able to make a profit. Now what can I do to help?"
"I need to get to the capital tomorrow to the Australia Emba.s.sy to try and get the paperwork to marry. I brought all my ID doc.u.ments I believe I will need, but you are meant to make an appointment month in advance, and then get back to marry tomorrow. We do not have an appointment at.."
"The Civil Administration Bureau. James let me help. I"ll make the baby jet available tomorrow morning to take you and Alecia the capital and have a car ready to take you to the emba.s.sy. I can contact the emba.s.sy and try to speed up the process to get the paperwork and will arrange for a late appointment to obtain your marriage certificate."
"I suspect you and Alecia will remain an extraday or two before heading back to Austraila, with her birthday bring on Sat.u.r.day. Send most of Alecia"s luggage on the plane with the family, and I will arrange for tickets back to Australia. The bodyguards that Tan or I will arrange to be there for Alecia can meet you at the airport."
"Thank you, Yi, I do not know what to say."
"Just promise me you will not hurt my G.o.ddaughter, that is all I want."
"That I can do."
Alecia had enough of waiting, and came running over "Uncle Yi I hope you are not..."
"Alecia, you know I would not hurt you. I have told James my wedding present to you two, and he can tell you about it. Plus, if your father has not already put his company jet at your disposal tomorrow to go to the capital to get the paperwork, I will make the baby jet for that purposes, as well as using my contacts at the emba.s.sy to smooth out the process to obtain the necessary paperwork, and work to help arrange the appointment to get your wedding certificate."
Alecia threw herself into Hou YI"s arms, calling out "Uncle Yi, thank you so much."
Before they could continue, Amanda called them over, and with the help of Amanda"s friend on the phone, both James and Alecia agreed to the proposed pre-nuptial agreement and it was signed. Hou Yi, meanwhile made the calls he needed, and put into place the arrangements for James and Alecia tomorrow, working with Yao Tan.