POV LEO
"I'll give you three days if you don't bring my future daughter-in-law soon ...""...""You must accept your arranged marriage. If you still refuse, then I will make sure your name will be removed as my heir."TUTI let out a long sigh as soon as the call ended. Then I massaged my temple, hoping it would ease my headache a little.This demand makes me sick. How can I find the woman who will be my future wife in three days?"Tsk! Damn it!" I cursed.Maybe it's better if I just accept the arranged marriage? But, I don't want my father took control of whom I should marry.DINGI glanced at my phone screen which was on because of the notification. It was a message from a dating app I had recently downloaded to banish my boredom, but I accidentally found a woman who had been on my mind for the last few days."Oh, she finally replied," I muttered as I opened my phone screen.["Hey, good morning. How did you sleep? Sorry, I just opened my phone because the bar was busy last night."] She sent me a message like that.I felt the corners of my lips lift when I read those words. I immediately typed a reply, ["No problem. You must be tired. Get some rest."]The woman was one of the employees in my bar, Jeanne Hart. I was interested in her the first time we met a few days ago and coincidentally she was just like two peas in a pod with my ex-girlfriend who had already deceased 5 years ago. Luckly, I found her on this dating app with the pseudonym "Snow Moon".For the first time we chat, I thought she was a high-class woman. So with my connection, I've searched everything about her and I found what happened to her. Apparently someone made her fall and put her in a difficult situation.They are Adam Moss and Lily Hayes, the same people whom I saw wanted to harm her in my bar, the other day. Even though I've reported them to the police, why does Jeanne want me to withdraw the report? What's really going on? I should find out more about it.Honestly, I'm starting to admire her now. She is still trying to survive by doing manual labor even though I'm sure she never even touched a rag before.DING["No. I think I'll chat with you for a while."] She replied again and somehow I felt happy when I read that simple message.I immediately typed a reply, ["I will accompany you. How about a phone call?"]I hope she will give me her number. But, unfortunately, what I expected did not happen.["Mm, I don't think so. I mean, I'm not ready to have a casual conversation with any guy."] She replied.The reply from her was quite disappointing, but I didn't give up and immediately typed a reply message, ["Then, how about you tell me something about yourself? I would be happy to read it."]DING["That's nothing special about me. I'm just an ordinary woman who works as a barmaid."]I smiled again when I read the message and replied, ["You're lying. I ever see your face was once in a business magazine three years ago."]I saw that she typed — the status under her profile name was written 'typing'. I waited for her for a long time and finally, she replied to me.DING["That's just the past and I don't want to talk about it."]I think she will send me a long message because it took so long. But, it's not a problem for me."Still defensive, huh?" I mumbled while smiling.Then I typed again, ["Okay, if you don't want to discuss it, I won't force you."]A second later I received a reply message again. I frowned when I got a reply that killed the topic.["Thank You."] She replied.I didn't want our conversation to end just like this, so I immediately changed the topic, ["By the way, do you have a boyfriend? Or maybe there's a guy you like?"]["No. I don't think about that. But maybe I can date with my manager, lol."] She replied to me quickly.I frowned when I read the message. My bar manager, he means Jonah Mason? Oh, just look, after this, I will transfer Jonah's assignment to my other business.DING["Just kidding. How could I date my manager."] Not so long ago, she sent me another message.I read it and felt a little relieved, then I typed a reply to the message, ["So you still aren't interest with any guy now?"]While waiting for her reply, I drank a coffee at my desk but didn't take my eyes off my phone screen. Not long after, I received another message from her.DING["Hm, I guess if there's anyone I'm interested in, he's my Boss."]"Cough ... w-what? What does she mean?"I choked when I read the incoming message from her and couldn't hold back my smile. However I can't deny that I feel happy now.With a good feeling I typed, ["What do you like about him?"]I stared at my phone screen and waited for her reply. But, suddenly an incoming call rang from my phone surprising me."Tsk!"I looked at my phone with annoyance when I saw an unknown number coming in. No need to hear the caller's voice, because I already guessed who it was.Then I picked up the call and said, "Hm? What?""Hey, why are you so curt? You should —""Just say, what do you want?" I immediately cut him off."Hahaha, fine, my little brother really can't take any jokes with me," he said and I didn't respond at all."..."And afterward, he said again, "You know the Murray family? They invited our family to have dinner in the next three days. It seems they intend to match their youngest daughter with you because I heard Miss Libby Murray likes you. So, you must attend."I rolled my eyes and said, "I refuse.""Huh? Can't you move on yet?"I just silently cursed him in my thoughts. He makes me remember about that accident and I hate this feeling."Oh come on my brother, it's just the past and anyone can't control death. You should to let her go.""...""Anyway, I heard that Miss Libby Murray is a beautiful woman and has even been in the TOP 10 beauty competitions. There's no reason to refuse her, you know?" He said that from across the phone and it made me sick.I took a deep breath for a moment and then answered, "Then you just need to marry her, right? I already have my future wife. Bye.""W-Wait? How —"TUTI immediately ended the call before he babbled so much and I always blocked his number after I answered his phone call. However, he will come with a new number to call me soon.I then sighed and mumbled, "Tsk, fuck off!"That man is one of my brothers, Owen Morgan. The eldest son of the Morgan family and the person I avoid the most. He is a politician who is currently a member of this regional council."That bastard, rather than telling me to get married, wouldn't it be better for him to take care of his broken marriage?”POV JEANNE"What time is it?" I mumbled while rubbing my eyes. I unconsciously fell asleep because I was exhausted, even though I was still in the middle of a chat with someone I knew from a dating app. Then I grope around and find my smartphone to see what time it was. "W-What the ...."I was surprised to see many messages on my phone screen. Those are all from dating app. I quickly opened the app and read one by one the messages sent by a man that I know from there.["Hey, why aren't you answering me?"] ["I've been waiting for you to reply, but you just read my messages without replying."]["Are you angry?"]["Are you still there?"]For a moment, I smiled as I read the series of messages. Three days passed since I decided to reply to his messages on the dating app and without realizing it, I started to feel comfortable chatting with him even though I don't know him.He introduced himself as "Mr. Lion", while I use the name "Snow Moon" on the dating application.["I'm fine. Sorry
POV JEANNE…"You finally recognize me, Snow Moon — ah, I think I should called you, Ms. Hart."My heart felt like it stopped beating when I heard my boss's confession. What kind of coincidence is this? — I thought. "I'm sorry, but I think your act is too much as a man. This is really disrespectful," I said while glaring at my boss. I saw a faint smirk on his face and then he spoke to me casually, "Disrespectful? What part of my rudeness?" "I already told you that I don't want to see you. But it seems like you don't have the manners to respect other people's decisions," I said while looking at him coldly. "I didn't ask you to meet me as Mr. Lion, but as Leo Morgan. So, what the problem is?" he said and I closed my eyes to control my emotions. "Since you unmasked yourself here as 'Mr. Lion', isn't that the same?" I replied sarcastically.After that, I heard a loud laugh from him. The man in front of me then grinned as he looked at me intensely. "This is why I want to marry you. Y
POV JEANNE…"A contract marriage? What do you mean?" I said with my heart beating faster. Afterward, I saw his face move away from my ear so that I could see a smirk on his face. "You know very well what I mean, Ms. Hart," he said.Hearing his words made me wonder even more about his purpose. Contract marriage was something that had never crossed my mind and even though I was born and raised in a big city like New York City, my family was quite strict about moral and religious values."I refuse," I said firmly while staring into his eyes that seemed to intimidate me. Shortly after, the man in front of me laughed as if mocking me and said, "I knew it. You'll definitely reject it again."I gave him a cynicly smile and said, "I was told you. No matter how many times you persuade me, it would just be in vain. So don't waste your time more, Mr. Morgan."I hoped my answer would make the man in front of me give up. However, what I saw was a faint smile on his face that seemed to say 'I'v
POV JEANNE…"Three conditions? Tell it," he said and his smirk was replaced with a cold stare that made me uncomfortable.I cleared my throat to eliminate my nervousness and then said, "First. I want us to live separately," I said and he nodded slowly."Ok. As long as you can act well as if we are lovely couple," he said briefly.When I heard his words, I furrowed my brow as I looked at him disagree. However, he spoke again. "At least out marriage life should look happy in the public eye. You must also know very well who the Morgan's family is," he said and I snorted as I thought that he is right."Ok, then next. Second, after you fulfill your responsibility to help me, you are not to interfere in my business and I will not interfere in yours either," I said as I looked at him seriously."No problem."I let out a deep breath as I was grateful that he had agreed to it, so far. "Third. I don't want we've any sexual relations," I said and this time I saw his face look a little surpris
POV JEANNE..."Hahh, I'm so tired," I muttered as I laid down on my bed.I stared at the ceiling of my room while thinking about many things, especially the man who had been in my mind since yesterday, Leo Morgan. After our meeting yesterday, somehow I felt like my life was about to have a lot of changes. "Is this the right way?" I asked myself with doubt. Suddenly the sound of my phone seemed to pull me from my thoughts. I snorted in annoyance as I took my phone from my side. "What else does he want?" I grumbled as I stared at my phone screen with the caller contact name 'Leo Morgan'.I immediately received the call and muttered, "Hm?" "I'll pick you up in an hour," he said straightly.I raised one eyebrow and replied, "What for?""Didn't I tell you yesterday after you signed our contract?" Hearing his words, I tried to remember what he said yesterday. And after a few seconds passed, I finally remembered it."Ah, sorry, I just remember it," I said as I got up from my bed."Then
POV LEO..."I told you, don't interfere with any of my business. How many times do I need to tell you that I have my chosen woman!”I sat on the bench in front of Madam Rose's boutique while massaging the bridge of my nose. Not long after, someone from my phone spoke again. "Oh come on, dear. I'm sure, that woman isn’t equal with our family anyway. You shouldn't make a big deal out of this matter, right?""Do you think I'm a fool for choosing a slut to be my wife? I'm not an idiot to fucks a prostitute until she is pregnant and then marries her. What a fool,” I laughed after saying that. I knew my words were starting to anger her. Perhaps if she could die because of her temper, that would be even better."W-What do you really want to say? I’m your mother! I know what’s best for you and everything I did all of this just for —""It's for your own sake. Stop talking as if you were my mother. You know what? It's disgusting to hear you say that you're my mother …”“...”“Watch yourself!
POV JEANNE…"You still remember that?" I said with a chuckle at the end."Of course I do. It was a good memory, how could I forget it?" This man in front of me was my brother's best friend, Samuel Dawn. I heard that he had just finished his medical specialist education in England and was going to lead his family's hospital, considering he was the only son of the Dawn family."By the way, how is William's case progressing? Has there been anything new in the last of 8 years?" Hearing those words, I instantly fell silent and clenched my fists. Honestly, this was something I didn't want to discuss with anyone else anymore. I smiled slightly and said, "I don't want to hope that much anymore. To be honest, I've let him go, but it doesn't mean I don't love him." "Who do you mean you love?" Leo's voice suddenly sounded and I saw Leo walking towards us with his cold expression.I then flashed a smile at Samuel and said, "Ah, let me introduce you, Samuel. He is Leo Morgan, my future husba
POV JEANNE..."I feel uncomfortable." I looked at myself in the mirror with an uncomfortable expression. It's because the long maroon dress I'm wearing is too sexy for me. It exposes my entire back and cleavage."But you look so beautiful, Jeanne," said Leo who was behind me and he looked neat in a dark red shirt and black vest.Just as I was thinking about unrolling my hair, Leo caught my arm and whispered in my ear. "Don't take it off," he says with his breath tickling my ear.I can feel my face heating up, so I closed my eyes and then said, "Can you stay away from me, Mr. Leo?”"Sure, but only after I help you with the necklace," Leo said coldly and I could see he let out something from his pocket.There was a beautiful ruby jeweled necklace around my neck. I was a little mesmerized when I saw how sparkling the jewel was."Isn't it beautiful?" Leo said again and sounded gently.Hearing Leo's words, I smiled wryly and said, "I've never seen a gem like this in any jewelry store. Wh