Chapter 2. Wanna Bet?  

"Jack, you hear me, don't you?" said Susan. She grabbed Jack's arm.

"Don't be silly, Susan," Clarabelle snapped. “You want me to be a destroyer of people's relationships? Jack and Sabina are getting married soon."

"Sorry, I'm just annoyed, but also worried about you." Susan frowned. She let go of Jack's hand in frustration.

Jack's gaze was still on Clarabelle. “Lala… Think about it, please. Marriage is no joke.

People get married because they know each other, if don’t, it can be messy. Especially, people, we've met for the first time. It is ridiculous."

Clarabelle sighed, shaking her head slowly. "This is for my father. He feels that he won't have long to live…” Clear gleamed gathered at the corners of Clarabelle's eyes.

Clarabelle just wanted to make her only parent will be happy to see his daughter live well. She didn't want to regret if she couldn't fulfill his father's wish. Despite the fear, Clarabelle's heart was made up of the decision. The conversation she had with her father was vivid in Clarabelle's memory and continued to torment her heart.

*

"Lala, that's all I want. You have a good companion, who will protect you. Soon I will leave you. If you are alone, I will not be calm in my new world.” The sixty-seven-year-old man looked at his daughter. Clarabelle sat across from him, looking sad. With a low voice and a little trembling, Adriano Johan expressed his last wish. 

"Papa..." Clarabelle, holding her father's cold hand. 

Clarabelle's eyes filled with tears. How could not her heart be troubled and hurt? The doctor said her father had kidney failure, one kidney was not functioning, and the other one was not working properly. Adriano's condition was very bad. All the efforts made for healing were meaningless, only temporarily delaying, waiting for time until both his kidneys stopped working.

“Honey, we live in this country without any other family. If I go, you will be alone. If you have someone beside you, I won't leave feeling guilty and sad." Adriano braced himself. He was upset and very restless.

Due to illness, Adriano definitely couldn't work. So far, he had only been a freelancer with no definite results, since he retired from his job. Clarabelle was already working in a pastry shop, and it was doing pretty well. However, if Clarabelle had to pay for Adriano's treatment, it was quite difficult for her.

Even if there was health assistance from the government, it was not all-encompassing. There were still some costs that must be incurred. The only thing on Adriano’s mind was that Clarabelle found a good, well-established man and married her.

“Our lives are in God's hands, Pa. You will be fine," said Clarabelle sadly. It was really hard for her to deal with Adriano’s ask.

Since Adriano was sick, Clarabelle often felt anxious. If she left Adriano alone while she was working, then something happened to him, what next? Clarabelle planned to pay a nurse to look after her father, but she didn't have any extra money. Her life so far had been mediocre. Then, for the past few days, Adriano had been urging Clarabelle to find a partner to get married.

"Oh my God, what should I do?" whispered Clarabelle's heart.

Truly, Clarabelle's heart had been closed to love. Even if there was sympathy in a man, she tried her best to push it away. Three times in love, three times Clarabelle was hurt, enough for her. The betrayal she experienced was very painful. Even if she could, Clarabelle chose to live her own life, making her single parents happy, who now had to be bedridden.

However, her father, Clarabelle could not ignore him. If it was true that the age of the father was not long, Clarabelle would be very sorry if she did not fulfill Adriano's wishes.

Moreover, when Clarabelle was fourteen years old, her mother died, of uterine cancer, and her father struggled alone to raise Clarabelle. Wasn't she a rebellious child if she didn't want to fulfill her father's wishes?

Therefore, when she accidentally saw the announcement about the opening of the reality show, it was as if an answer came before her eyes. Even though there were doubts, Clarabelle sent her data to apply to be a participant in the event.

*

Jack and Susan, could no longer persuade Clarabelle to abandon her plans. Situations were not like on the side with Clarabelle. They stared sadly at Clarabelle and hoped the decision wasn't a mistake.

*****

On the other side of the great city that never died…

There was loud music in the room. Lights swirled and flickered around the entire room. There were laughers, there were screams, and not to mention shouts of joy. The floor was full of people swaying to the music. The big club in the city never dies. The night was getting busier and livelier.

In the left corner, four young men sat facing the table holding their glasses. Their conversation was fun. The topic they were scrolling was a mate for Jordan Gerald Hayden. A tall, burly young man with brown hair, who was quite popular among them.

 "Waiter! Bring three more bottles here! Wait, no! Four!" Jordan raised his hand to the waiter who passed not far from his table.

"Very well, sir, immediately," said the servant. He turned around and did what was asked.

Jordan's friends admit that Jordan had been the most loved and unbeatable for his prestige as a playboy. His looks were indeed very charming, it was easy to make women fall to their knees under his charm. With a handsome and firm face, a puffy nose, and wide and sharp eyes, it was very easy for Eve to turn to him. Many will know exactly when his last name, Hayden, was mentioned, a family who owned several companies, surely his wallet was never empty.

His friends somehow had a crazy idea to prank Jordan. They made bets for Jordan in a different way. Not only Jordan could get a partner but got a wife.

"Jordan! Are you ready for this?” Ronald, the man with short black hair next to Jordan nudged his arm.

Frankly, the bet was ridiculous according to Jordan. Until that night, Jordan had no thought of getting married. It was so far from the dictionary of his life. He still wanted to enjoy freedom without having to take care of a woman he called his wife. Jordan just smiled, a smirk on the corner of his lips, sipping his drink without saying anything.

“I think Hayden's descendants are brave men and ready for any challenge that lies ahead. Hmm?” From the front, Louie, a young mixed Indian, with curly hair, glared at Jordan. He deliberately provoked Jordan to accept the challenge.

Jordan shook the glass in his hand, glancing at his friends.

"Okay. I just realized it turns out Jordan…”

"Wanna bet?" Before Ronald finished speaking, Jordan opened his mouth. "I'll prove I can have a wife. It's not difficult for me, it's just that I feel reluctant to be tied to anything with women."

“Yuuhuuu!!” Warren, the proud man with his beard, who had been just watching, finally spoke up. "Three months. Do you think, in three months, will Jordan be able to bring before us a woman who wears a ring and we will call her Mrs. Hayden?”

Ronald and Louie raised their hands in the air, and high-fived with happy faces. They agreed with Warren's proposal. And that made Jordan straighten up, almost getting up from his chair, when Louie challenged his two sports cars to be confiscated if Jordan lost the bet.

"Shit!" Jordan cursed in annoyance. "This is blackmail!"