Chapter 2 See You Tomorrow, Handsome!

• Seeing those messages, Ariana felt a pang in her heart, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.
• Are they really so eager to sell their daughter off?
• Ariana turned off the screen, quickly stashing the marriage license in her bag, then pulled out a business card and forcefully shoved it into Simon's palm.
• "Hey, old bone, I have urgent business to attend to. Let's sign the fake marriage contract tomorrow. Here's my business card. It has my WhatsApp on it. If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll help you out," Ariana said.
• At this point, Ariana hesitated for a moment, feeling guilty.
• In reality, she was just bragging, worried that Simon wouldn't cooperate later.
• Simon was the most handsome she had ever seen in the bar, and in a moment of impulse, she had overstated her intentions.
• The more she talked, the lower her head drooped, completely oblivious to the darkening expression on Simon's face.
• "What did you just call me?" Simon asked.
• "Old bone. You called me a kid first. We're even," Ariana said.
• With a smirk of mischievous satisfaction, Ariana was about to say more when a taxi pulled up right beside her.
• Without waiting for Simon to say anything, she quickly jumped into the car and sped off.
• As she left, she leaned out the window and waved at Simon.
• Ariana said, "See you tomorrow, handsome!"
• Upon hearing the word "handsome," Simon wasn't as cold as before.
• He glanced down at the palm Ariana had just touched, his gaze lingering with a hint of something unreadable.
• After a brief moment, Simon pocketed the marriage license and strode across the street toward a luxury, limited-edition Maybach.
• By the car, his assistant Aaron Jackson stared in shock, dumbfounded as he watched Simon approach, still reeling from the surprising scene he had just witnessed.
• His brilliant and formidable boss, the prince of Willon City, the heartthrob of women all over town, was actually marrying a punk girl.
• And that punk girl had even grabbed his hand. Simon hadn't even frowned at her.
• Aaron asked, "Boss, aren't you allergic to women?"
• Simon had been kidnapped as a child, which had left him with a strong aversion to being touched by women, especially unfamiliar ones.
• Just being close to them would make him uncomfortable.
• Aaron was stunned. How has that girl managed to do that?
• "Stop being so surprised," Simon said as he glanced at Aaron casually and handed him the marriage license. "Take this to my grandfather."
• Aaron said, "Boss, even if Martin is pressuring you, you can't marry someone so ugly."
• Aaron couldn't help but voice his thoughts. He had rushed over with the passport after receiving Simon's message, never expecting...
• Aaron said, "If you really need to find a woman to appease your family, it doesn't have to be her! Miss Harris is coming back soon, you could..."
• Simon said, "She's the most suitable choice."
• Simon raised an eyebrow, his deep-set eyes cooling slightly.
• A girl who could interact with him normally without having feelings for him.
• She needed a fake marriage, and so did he.
• "Find out more about her," Simon said.
• "Yes, sir," Aaron replied awkwardly, casually opening the marriage license and inadvertently glancing at the photo.
• In the next second, his eyes widened in shock.
• "No way... Is this really that punk girl?" Aaron asked.
• *****
• Soon, Ariana arrived at the Ransom family.
• As soon as Ariana stepped out of the car, she sneezed heavily.
• It seems even fate is warning me that today is destined to be a disaster.
• She raised her eyes to the familiar yet strange building, her expression darkening.
• A grand performance was waiting for her to take the stage.
• As soon as she approached the door, a harsh voice from inside boomed out. "Jared, I've been waiting for an hour. Why hasn't Ariana returned? Is she having second thoughts?"
• "Of course not. Mr. Walker, I really want to marry my daughter to you. As soon as she arrives, we'll proceed with our plan to make it official."
• Inside, Jared was trying to placate the volatile Benedict Walker while silently cursing Ariana.
• "Mr. Walker, don't worry. Good things are worth waiting for," Elaine Ransom, Ariana's step-sister, quickly chimed in.
• "Yeah, Ariana is your favorite untouched beauty. After everything is settled, don't forget about our partnership," Martha, Ariana's stepmother, echoed.
• Her flattery prompted a laugh from the lecherous old man.
• "Don't worry, as long as she's truly untouched, I'll make sure you all profit," Benedict said.
• Hearing Jared's voice, Ariana felt as if she were plummeting into a bottomless cold abyss, her heart sinking to the depths.
• Last night, she had overheard Martha and Elaine discussing a scheme to marry her off to a creepy old man.
• But Ariana never expected her father would be involved in it too.
• For all these years, she had believed there was at least a shred of familial love from her father, but it turned out she had been naïve.
• A tear slipped from the corner of Ariana's eye, and she hastily wiped it away, the despair in her eyes slowly being replaced by cold resolve.
• She no longer held onto any hopes for this family.
• Like a hedgehog shielding its vulnerable side, Ariana had built up defenses, ready to face the world with a new layer of resilience.
• Ariana composed herself and raised her hand to push open the door.
• "I'm back," she said.