Chapter 2 Marry Me (2)

• Dana was shocked.
• What did he say?
• A billion-dollar fortune?
• Could he be a con artist who plans to dazzle her with promises and then auction her off to the highest bidder at some shady underground event?
• "Are your assets really that impressive?" she asked, skepticism written all over her face.
• "Yes! Just make sure you look after yourself and provide me with some comfort every evening," he replied, setting a condition.
• "You're either lying or insane," Dana concluded.
• This man must be delusional.
• Moreover, if his situation was as great as he claimed and he looked as flawless as he did, women would naturally flock to him like fish to water. Why would he need to force anyone into marriage?
• Edwin ignored her accusations and put his hand firmly on her waist, too exasperated to argue.
• "Wait, where are you taking me?"
• Dana asked anxiously, struggling but unable to escape his strong grip.
• "The registry office," he said as he opened the door.
• "No!" Dana resisted fiercely, clutching the door frame. "I won't marry! I don't want to get married! Please, find someone else to bother. I come from a respectable family."
• D*mn it! Why couldn't this man understand?
• After all, most rushed marriages end in divorce almost all the time.
• Edwin paused for a few seconds.
• Then, he stated very seriously, "You spent last night with me."
• "What?" Dana was baffled, unable to follow his logic.
• "Last night, you were with me, so you have to take responsibility now," Edwin stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
• Dana was shocked, her entire understanding of the situation flipping on its head.
• Was she the one at fault here?
• She was clearly the victim!
• This man was not just delusional, he was downright audacious.
• Dana protested, "You just said you'd take responsibility, which means … you took advantage of me."
• "Alright, I will take responsibility." Edwin cut her off, his expression unreadable yet strangely compelling.
• "No, wait. I didn't ask for you to do anything," Dana interjected, her frustration mounting.
• What in the world was happening?
• "Two options: one, I take responsibility; two, you take responsibility." His voice was flat, his stunning features stoic.
• "I pick a third option!"
• "I'll accuse you of forcing yourself on me."
• Dana was speechless.
• She wanted to curse.
• She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and said through clenched teeth, "Do you really think anyone would believe I could overpower you? It's absurd. If anything, it would be more believable if I accused you of forcing yourself onto me."
• Who would believe that a small woman could take down a man who clearly stands over six feet tall?
• "Let me clarify something—I have a rare condition, hypersensitivity to female contact. Direct skin contact triggers severe allergic reactions in me. No one would believe I'd initiate contact with a woman, risking my health. Who do you think they'd believe if this went to court?" Edwin's confidence was unsettling, his smirk chilling.
• "So, nothing happened between us last night?" Dana suddenly hoped.
• If he can't have direct contact with women, does it mean ...
• "You're the first woman I've had contact with who hasn't triggered my allergies."
• "No, that can't be ... " Dana muttered, feeling like her luck had hit rock bottom.
• "It's either marriage or court. You'll know if it's possible if it goes to court."
• His confident demeanour made Dana's certainty waver, anxiety creeping in.
• Given his sophisticated manner and speech, he clearly came from wealth or power. Facing him in court, her chances looked bleak.
• "I ... My family is deep in debt, and I need to help pay it off. I can't marry now," Dana quickly concocted a story, hoping to deter him.
• "How much?" Edwin asked directly.
• "Seven ... " Dana paused, thinking, Should I say seventy thousand? That seems too little. Seven hundred thousand?
• "My family is 7.5 million in debt, plus some smaller ones not yet tallied."
• That ought to scare him off, right?
• "I'll send someone with a check for 10.5 million later. Is that enough?" he declared boldly.
• ...
• Leeds Residence.
• A black Rolls-Royce pulled up smoothly at the gate, its imposing presence drawing glances from passersby.
• Dana stepped out nervously, hearing his firm voice from inside the car, "Bring your ID within fifteen minutes."
• "Okay."
• Clutching her bag tightly, her voice trembling and tearful, Dana walked into the residential area holding a dubious check for 10.5 million dollars.
• Upon entering her home and opening the door, Dana's mother immediately stood up from the sofa and approached her.
• Angry and concerned, she scolded, "You didn't come home last night and didn't even call. Do you want your father and me to worry to death?"
• "I'm sorry, Mom. I ... " Dana's eyes welled up. To keep her mother from worrying, she quickly fabricated, "I was at a school banquet last night. It got late, and I was scared to take the night bus alone, so I stayed at a hotel. I thought you and Dad would be asleep, so I didn't call ... "
• "Gosh, you cry so easily even though you're already an adult. Please don't let it happen again, okay? Go wash up, and I'll warm some soup for you." Seeing her daughter safe and sound relieved Anna Barrow's concerns that had persisted throughout the night.
• Her daughter was the center of her world. As long as she was okay, everything else was manageable.
• Thinking of the man waiting outside their house, Dana bit her lip and said, "Mom, the school needs some documents to make internship teachers permanent. I came back to get my ID."
• Dana was working as a foreign language intern teacher at a university and had a knack for languages.
• Anna, holding traditional values, took pride in her daughter's teaching role. She believed it was an honorable profession for women—modest pay but many holidays and not too strenuous.
• Even though it was Saturday, Anna did not hesitate when Dana mentioned work. "Hold on, I'll get it for you," she said, quickly heading to the bedroom.
• "Dana watched her mother's retreating figure, her eyes filling with tears.
• She felt guilty. It was the first time she had lied to her mother, and she had done it twice in one day.
• Since her daughter mentioned it was for work, Anna quickly returned with Dana's ID, taking only a couple of minutes.
• "Here you go. Get your things done, and come back soon. I'll keep the soup warm for you."
• Dana hugged her mother tightly. "I have to go now, Mom!"
• "Alright, dear." Anna patted her back, encouraging her to leave.
• Dana knew flash marriages often led to swift divorces. So, she planned to keep this a secret from her parents, telling them she would be moving out temporarily and then return once the divorce was finalized.