Chapter 2: The Deal

[ Smith Mansion: 2:00 am ]

Michael Smith was lying in his bedroom when a loud knock on his door disturbed his peaceful sleep.

Knock! Knock!

He groaned in annoyance as the noise hit his ears. He opened his eyes and blinked for a moment to adjust his vision from the faint light coming from the lampshade.

Picking up a clock on his nightstand, Michael looked at the time. A deep crease appeared on his forehead realizing that it was too early.

Putting his hand to his head which was throbbing, Michael placed the clock back on the surface of the bedside table.

"What is it?" He asked coldly, slowly sitting up.

"M-Master! I'm so sorry to wake you up but it's urgent. Someone wants to see you." The butler anxiously said. He could tell that his master was displeased by his action.

"Seriously?! At this hour? Who wants to see me?" Michael rubbed the space between his brows.

"Master… It's Miss Arabella Quinn, your bride!"

Michael's eyes widened in surprise when Arabella's name was mentioned. His sleepiness vanished in an instant. His expression softened as he thought of the young lady. He wondered what made her visit him at this hour. Did something happen? 

Bam!

Shoosh!

The butler was flabbergasted when Michael suddenly pushed the door in a hurry. "Where is she?"

"In the living room, Mast–" Michael didn't let the butler finish his words as he came dashing down the stairs to meet Arabella. 

The young lady looked troubled and her eyes were red and puffy as if she had just cried.

"Arabella, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?" A hint of concern was evident on his face.

Arabella jumped in her seat and wiped her tears. She still couldn't believe that her feet brought her into this house.  'Damn! What am I thinking? I don't know if this is a good idea. But I have no one to rely on…'

"Mr. Smith…" Her voice broke, a tear threatening to fall. But Arabella tried her best to hold it in, pressing her lips together while clenching her fist. This was not the time to be a crybaby.

Michael traced his steps toward her. He gently held her shoulders, making her sit on the couch while facing him. "What's wrong?"

"Stop this marriage. My family is scheming something against you. They want to acquire your wealth and company! Marrying me is not a good idea!" Arabella warned Michael, revealing the plan of her family.

Michael couldn't help but chuckle when he heard that. "Arabella, so many people want to covet my wealth and power, even my relatives. Do you think I am not capable enough to prevent that from happening? I have my own means. I have so many lawyers. Furthermore, I'm not dumb. Otherwise, I won't be a billionaire."

Arabella fell silent for a moment. She couldn't refute that. She just lowered her head, her fingers clutching the surface of her pants.

Her heart was filled with anxiety as she didn't know how she would convince Michael to stop the wedding.

On the other hand, Michael just stared at her with an unreadable expression. 

"Do you hate marrying an old man like me?" he asked her with a straight face.

Arabella couldn't read his mind. 'If I say yes, will he get offended? But I don't want to lie…' 

She could feel the tension growing every passing second. The awkward atmosphere was making her more uneasy.

"Mr. Smith… I'm not saying this as an excuse just because I don't want to marry you. In fact, I was against this marriage since the start but my parents threatened me using my mother's foundation. It is so precious to me." Arabella tried to explain herself.

"I come here because I don't want you to fall victim to my parents' dirty tricks. They already did this to my mother. They deceived her," Arabella added through her gritted teeth. Michael could see the blazing anger in her eyes.

"Then why can't you go through the wedding and work with me to screw your family? You want revenge… am I right?" Michael suggested, smirking at her.

Arabella: "..."

Arabella was at a loss for words. She didn't know how she would respond to that. Part of her wanted to grab this chance and take the old man's hand just to avenge her mother.

'He has wealth. He is powerful and influential. Is marrying him the only way to achieve my goal?' 

Arabella was still in a dilemma when the old man's laughter bubbled up in the living room. She looked at him in confusion.

"Young Lady… you still have a lot to learn. But I like your gut and your bravery." Michael patted her shoulder. He could feel her hesitation.

"Arabella… in a world where the powerful abuse the weak… and the cunning people take advantage of the good ones… you have to be wiser than them. That's how I have succeeded in my business and became a billionaire." The old man was giving her a word of wisdom.

"Okay. I agree. I will marry you… but, can you do something for me? I want the Quinn Family fortune! I want to destroy them." Arabella was in her desperate moment. She had no other choice left but to gamble on this.

Another peal of laughter escaped the old man's lips. "Arabella, you made the right choice. Don't worry, I got your back. I will help you but in return, I want you to do something for me as well."

Arabella couldn't figure him out. Michael Smith was someone hard to deal with. 

'I think my money-grabbing father made a mistake targeting this old man. He is wiser than him… more capable than him.'

"What do you want me to do, aside from marrying you, Mr. Smith?" Arabella's eyes filled with intrigue.

The old man ordered the butler to get the brown envelope in the drawer of his bedside table. A few seconds later, the butler came back, handing the brown envelope over to Arabella.

"What is this, Mr. Smith?" She took the document out as she could no longer hold back her curiosity. 

"A contract." The old man nonchalantly responded, grinning from ear to ear.

Arabella scanned the document thoroughly, reading the content of the contract. 

She gasped in utter disbelief when certain words in the paper sunk into her mind. She raised her head, shifting her gaze from the paper to the old man's face.

"Keep your secret?" she mumbled.

Michael confirmed it with a meaningful glance.

"Control and discipline your son?"

The smile never left the old man's face as he nodded.

"Contract marriage… with your son?"

Michael chuckled and bobbed his head frantically.

Ashley: "..."

'What?! I'm marrying his son… not him?!'