Chapter 3: I accept betting.

"Axel. Do you dare to bet with me?" Rosa haughtily repeated.

Rosa felt exhilarated as she successfully struck a blow to Axel's pride. Rosa believed that in front of his friends, Axel wouldn't be able to reject her suggestion. If Axel hesitates, Rosa believes that Axel's friends will stand by her side and, when they speak up, they will urge Axel to accept and comply with Rosa's request. Prior to this encounter, Rosa had messaged Axel's friends, seeking their help in persuading Axel. And true to Rosa's calculations, Axel's friends showed immediate interest upon hearing about this betting situation.

"Axel, if you're a true man, then accept the challenge," Dion said, aiming to provoke Axel.

"That's right, Axel. This seems interesting. We'll also participate," Zane added, turning to look at the others. "What do you guys think?"

"Great idea, Zane. Count me in as well. If Axel wins the bet, I'll give him my newly purchased car," Tom declared loudly.

"As for me, I'll cover everything that Axel purchases for a whole year," Dion enthusiastically stated.

"What if Axel loses?" Zane asked everyone.

"There's nothing more to say. Axel will marry Rosa. We don't need to give him any celebratory money. Isn't that right?" Tom put forth his opinion.

"Agreed!" Dion exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm on board too," Zane said.

Everyone looked at Axel, awaiting his decision.

"So, Axel." Rosa asked again, a triumphant smile on her face as she received the support and strong assistance from Axel's friends. "Do you dare or not?"

Seeing that Axel was still hesitant and lacking clarity in his thoughts, Rosa added a few more persuasive words.

"Axel, let me remind you that if I don't stand by your side, you will surely be kicked out of the house with nothing in your pockets."

"If that's the case, why did you propose this bet? Just forget about me. After all, I've been against this marriage from the beginning," Axel said, posing a very wise question. Axel suspected that Rosa had other ulterior motives. Furthermore, Axel had sworn not to engage in any more bets. Because the painful incident from years ago still haunted him, he couldn't forget the heartbreak and guilt he felt towards the woman he had loved.

"I have a reason for proposing this wager," Rosa calmly explained, aware of Axel's doubts, and carefully justified her decision: "So, if you want to cancel the engagement, you have to make me lose."

"What do you mean?" Axel raised an eyebrow and asked.

"If you win, I will request that my parents cancel this engagement," Rosa boldly declared, fearing that Axel would refuse to participate. The condition she presented for the bet truly surprised Axel.

"And if you lose, we will get married," Rosa added hesitantly.

"Come on, Axel, you can do it!" Seeing Axel still contemplating, Zane slapped his back encouragingly. "This game is fun!"

"Fine. I accept this bet. And I will win," Axel arrogantly declared. "That's for sure."

"We'll just have to wait and see," Rosa asserted confidently, her voice unwavering, defying Axel with a touch of arrogance.

"So, what do you want to bet on?" Axel asked, getting to the main point.

Without hesitation, Rosa eagerly replied, "Do you see that girl over there?"

"Who?"

"The server is standing at the bar to collect drinks," Rosa emphasized, pointing her finger towards the counter.

"Just say it straightforwardly." Axel looked on but didn't understand anything, growing irritated by the demand.

"That's right, Rosa. Do you have any brilliant ideas?" Zane unexpectedly asked.

"Yes," Rosa declared loudly, "I want Axel to sleep with that girl."

"Oh!" Axel's friends exclaimed.

"What?" Axel exclaimed in shock.

"And it's not over yet. Axel has to publicly declare her his girlfriend for everyone to know. Axel has to date her for at least two weeks."

It is known that Axel Smith has never truly dated anyone. Axel only goes out with different girls, but never for more than 24 hours. And none of them has captured Axel's love. His heart already belongs to someone else. The noteworthy thing is that Axel only interacts with beautiful girls, models, and famous actresses. What Rosa just proposed goes completely against Axel's personal rules and preferences. This has sparked interest and curiosity among many people.

"Why should I follow your words? Are you crazy?" Axel asked angrily.

"I'm not crazy, nor am I out of my mind," Rosa calmly replied. "I am presenting you with a challenge. To be precise, it's what we will be betting on."

"What?"

"Listen carefully, Axel: If you successfully overcome my challenge, I will help you escape from this arranged marriage. But if you lose, you already know what you have to do." Rosa reaffirmed her determination.

"Do I have the right to withdraw from this case?" Axel asked calmly. Although he had previously agreed to break his vow for the sake of freedom, he truly did not want the bet to involve women.

Seeing Axel hesitate, Rosa cleverly reminded him, "Don't be cowardly like that. You can't do anything differently. You know the significant role I play in determining your future. If you don't listen to me, you will lose everything."

"Is that so?" Axel sarcastically asked, "Are you deluding yourself?"

"Your parents love and cherish me, and they want me to become their daughter-in-law. Not to mention, I am the sole heir of the Taylor family," Rosa arrogantly stated. "But what about you? You constantly oppose your parents, disappointing and alienating them. If you don't comply with your father's demands, you will undoubtedly suffer many consequences."

"According to what you're saying, I'll be kicked out of the house anyway if I oppose the arranged marriage. So why should I participate in your foolish game?"

"Do you really want to lose everything? Do you want all the inheritance from your mother to fall into the hands of your stepmother and her son? Don't you want to seek justice for your biological mother?" Rosa provoked, disregarding the emotional wounds within Axel, all in pursuit of her ultimate goal.

Without any anger in the face of Rosa's deliberately provocative actions, Axel calmly asks again:

"Why can't you help me by requesting your parents cancel this engagement and support me in developing my career normally? Did you say that you loved me? Is that correct? "Why don't you do that?"

Rosa ponders for a moment before responding:

"If I do as you say, what benefits will I gain for myself? I love you more than anyone else, so there's no way I can easily give up marrying you. Not to mention, my parents have high expectations for this marriage. How could I disappoint them? Additionally, I'm giving you an opportunity to escape from me in a way that I can accept. Because if I lose, you will be free."

"What you're saying is true?" Axel wants to confirm.

"Everyone here can testify." Rosa cleverly brings Axel's friends into an alliance with her.

"Axel, don't worry. We will be witnesses," Zane says on behalf of the other two, affirming their support.

"Alright," Axel says without thinking too much, making a decisive decision. "I agree to participate."

Although he knows this goes against his vows, Axel has to resort to a risky move for the sake of future benefits.

"Well done, my friend." Dion enthusiastically supports Axel.

"Listen carefully, Rosa. If I win, you have to persuade your parents to cancel this engagement," Axel declares.

"And if you lose, we will get married," Rosa confidently retorts.

"That's not going to happen. Rosa, stop dreaming," Axel arrogantly says, wanting to undermine Rosa's confidence.

"Let's wait and see. I bet within three days you will give up," Rosa challenges.

"Just wait and see. I will definitely emerge victorious."

 Axel's arrogance and absolute confidence did not deter Rosa. She believed that the odds would tilt in her favor in this game. She was convinced that Axel would give up soon, as the girl chosen by Rosa was not Axel's ideal type at all. Moreover, she had an unattractive appearance and facial features. A person with high standards for women like Axel would not easily diminish their own self-worth by getting close to an unattractive girl, let alone talking about dating or sleeping with her. However, Rosa has forgotten one thing: Axel craves freedom, and he will do his utmost to achieve what he wants.

"Oh, Axel, are you really going to date that ugly girl? I can't even imagine the horror," Dion taunted.

"Shut up!" Axel snapped. "Regardless, I win. You all just wait and see."

"Don't even mention the possibility of him sleeping with her. I will strip naked and jump in front of SH Tower if Axel dares to kiss that girl."

Zane's bold statement made the others laugh uncontrollably, imagining the scene where Axel would feel nauseous trying to get intimate with the girl.

"So when will you start approaching your target, Axel?" Tom asked eagerly.

"Right now," Axel confidently declared, surprising everyone.

"Are you serious or just joking?" Dion asked skeptically.

"Just wait and see; I'll wrap up this bet in the next few minutes," Axel declared, standing up from his seat and moving towards his target.

"Oh my, do you have to be so hasty? You don't even know what the target is like," Tom called after him, wanting to remind Axel.

"Let him be," Zane said. "Who knows, there might be something surprising or interesting."

"Let's just observe and see what Axel plans to do," Dion said.

Afterwards, the three guys, along with Rosa, sat and observed Axel's actions.