Chapter 3

(Emily’s POV).

As soon as I kicked them out, my father was in a dying state because it turned out that he saw everything without being able to move his body.

His situation made me even more frantic and afraid of losing him as my only hope. 

The doctor even said that it would get worse if my father experienced acute stress.

I also thought that my father didn't see at all because I thought he hadn't woken up yet, but in fact, he witnessed everything.

I immediately entrusted my father to Linda when she told me that Jane had called a meeting that Ben would be the temporary chairman while my father was still in critical condition. And me ... I even got kicked out of the company for having a bad reputation that they made seem real, that there were vulgar photos of me spread around that they thought the company would lose if they kept me there.

"They're really sneaky" I said when Linda told me.

"Have you talked to Mr. Mike, Miss?" she asked.

I nodded and swallowed. "I was just about to go back there when you reported this."

"Go on then, I'll let you know how Mr. West is doing if he's in bad shape," she said.

"Thank you, Linda. You're my savior."

I drove back to Mike's office with my pride completely shot in order to ask for his help again. I thought I'd need a few days to figure all this out, but I didn't. Because the sooner the better.

When I got there, Mike didn't even want to see me. Of course, I felt even more anxious than before. He didn't even say anything about why he didn't want to see me, making me wonder where I went wrong.

I told him that I needed time to think and maybe find another way. He even looked as if he was confident that I would come back and that his offer wouldn't change.

But why didn't he want to see me?

But even so, I tried to wait for him even though it took hours. For the sake of my life and my father's return, I would do anything.

Until I finally almost fell asleep from the exhaustion of waiting, I saw him come out with a flat, unreadable look on his face. I immediately stood up and approached him at a distance that wasn't too close.

"Mr. Mike, I—"

"I thought you wouldn't accept my help, so I assumed it had expired."

"What ... No! I–you said yourself that I would come back, Mr. Mike. Please, help me. I really need your help."

He looked at me still coldly, unlike earlier. I didn't know why he was like this, but I tried to get his help again.

"Please, Mr. Mike. I really need your help. I ... I will marry you."

He didn't look surprised but he was still silent as if he was considering my answer to his offer.

Then suddenly my cell phone rang and it was Linda, informing me that my father's condition was getting critical and that further treatment was likely to be costly.

Without thinking, I immediately told Linda to say yes while I would take care of myself here with Mike.

My tears fell as my situation became more difficult but I tried to wipe them away so as not to look so weak in front of Mike.

"What happened?" he asked, still coldly. But I thought he might be starting to want to know.

"My father is critical. Please, I really need you help, Mr. Mike."

"So you really want to be my wife?" he asked. "Do you think I'll take back the words I threw away? You know, waiting for an answer is a waste of my time. And since you chose to think, I no longer want to give you that condition. I’m bored."

I really felt cornered by that. He really was an unusual man and very haughty at a time like this. 

"You know, Miss Emily, you're an ordinary woman who should be grateful and give me an answer right away when I give you the condition to marry me. Instead of acting like you need time to think about it," he said, sounding like he was mocking me.

“Please, I beg you, Mr. Mike. I won’t refuse again or take time again. I want to be your wife,” I begged while I was crying.

“Are you sure? No turning back?” he asked, making sure while looking at my eyes. 

I immediately nodded firmly because I felt there was no other way around it. I thought Mike was there to improve my life. It didn't matter if the price to pay was to marry him.

For now and because my father still could be helped, I would do anything. He had to get well soon and watch her daughter happy.

"Then come with me now. If you came here by car, leave your car," he said, commanding.

I no longer asked where we were going, but I was sure that this might have something to do with the marriage he was offering.

In his car, I was even silent, and occasionally I saw him driving the car, looking so tense. Or was he always like this?

"This is the first time I've recalled what I said was expired, coming into existence again because of you," he opened his voice. “If I have no heart, I will leave you immediately.”

I swallowed and knew that he seemed to be a man of control. I didn't know what my fate would be after marrying him, but I had enough faith that he would help me.

"Thank you for helping me," I told him. "I certainly won't forget this." 

I heard his snort but I ignored the snort. It would probably be fine if I found out in the end that he was a person who could bully his clients if he was being too arbitrary. 

I also shrugged it off so that I could focus on the fact that he would help me as long as I obeyed him.

And when we arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau building, I finally knew what he had brought me for. 

"We're going to do the wedding quickly. I have a lot of connections here so it will be processed quickly too," he said as he unbuckled his seat belt.

"You planned this?" I asked innocently.

Then he looked at me and it lasted a few seconds as if paralyzing me from saying much.

"No. But they can't refuse my orders if I ask them to hurry up."

I got out as soon as he got out of the car. His pace was so fast that I tried to match his pace as well. 

As I was about to go inside, the surprising thing for me was that he opened the door and let me in first, giving me a sign that I thought was very gentle.

We were immediately met by an older-looking gentleman, who took care of the paperwork and I didn't ask any questions. 

But there was one moment that made my heart pound when he said the sacred vows as the marriage took place as proof that he really married me.

Even I said the same thing and then ended by signing the legal marriage certificate.

I didn't know how, but I certainly felt relieved. But on the one hand, I still couldn't believe that I was actually married to a man who was my ex-fiancé’s uncle.

An awkward feeling came over me as we exited the building. He, who had been tense, no longer showed that expression. Did that mean he was relieved?

"This marriage is purely a transaction, Emily," he said, starting to call my name. "You don't have to worry if I have any malicious intentions towards you."

I nodded in understanding and said, "Thank you, Mr. Mike. I trust you."

"Call me Mike. And another thing, I need a wife for reasons I can't explain. You and I don't need to involve each other's feelings because this marriage is only based on the time that I will decide later. My assistant, Chris, will arrange the contract for you to sign by noon."

I didn't know how I could go through with this marriage with him. He didn't even tell me his specific reason why he needed a wife. And the contract he was referring to ... it meant that I was indeed just a wife contracted by him without any feelings involved.

"Contract? I'm your contracted wife? Is that what you mean?" I asked.

Unfortunately, Mike didn't answer anything and I didn't ask any more questions. I was just worried about my future which might affect our marriage.

Even if he was only my contracted husband, I hoped he had a better nature than his stupid nephew.