A Woman He could Date for a Hundred Years

The loud chatters of the people enjoying the birthday party echoed from one table to another. After all, everyone at the party was those who had put their own expensive accessories to boast and get people to kiss their asses. Perhaps, the only person not enjoying the party was the birthday celebrator himself.

Gryphon Pearce sat at their table, only swaying the wine inside his glass. His thick brows furrowed at the messages flashing on his phone, one by one. Those were notifications that he had yet to attend to. Some were from his friends who kept on posting photos and tagging him, while most were from a woman that he was supposed to pick up from her hotel room.

Yes, Gryphon dared not to fetch the woman that he was supposed to marry.

“If you continue frowning, you will get older faster.” The person sitting next to him chuckled as he watched his best friend toss his own phone at the table. “Shouldn’t you go find Roxanne now? Your parents will finish talking to everyone soon.”

“I don’t want her. They kept on telling me that I shouldn’t have someone marry me for my money, but they ended up accepting her dad’s proposal. How ironic is that?” Gryphon grumbled and crumpled the skirted table with his hand. He would have scratched his head in rage, but he spent minutes trying to make his natural brown hair look dapper just for the event.

“Then, you should quickly find someone who fits the bill.” The friend reached for his glass slowly as if it was his normal speed. However, Gryphon reached out and placed his friend’s glass closer to his hand. “Thank you. But, Gryphon, no one marries a billionaire for love… especially without years of dating.”

The friend rolled his eyes and leaned on his seat. He had already given up on getting angry as he pocketed his phone that someone might steal. “Ashley… I only know one girl that I could date for a hundred years, and she’s not even my true love. As for the others, what chance do they even have? Why can’t I just be… happy alone?”

A smile bloomed on Ashley’s face, but he only chuckled as he shook his head. “Being alone is not the issue here. They wanted you to secure your good future. That meant an heir and a life outside excessive hedonism. Your parents only meant well.”

“I really don’t want to marry anyone…”

Gryphon couldn’t say those words out loud as the parents came closer. His mother was already old as well as his father. If Gryphon ever wondered what he would look like when he’s finally old and broken, he should just take a look at his dad. Everyone kept on saying that he was a spitting image of the most powerful man in the state.

The Pearce Empire Tower had stood in the heart of the state, pumping wealth and money along multiple industries and people. With the company standing as the mother company of almost every business in the state, one could only imagine how much money the Pearce family had. 

It’s just that… the pair who had devoted their lives to the state had gone too old. They even had a rather young child compared to their advanced ages. Then again, no one could blame Mrs. Pearce who lost her ability to have children early on in her life. Everyone even congratulated her when she managed to reverse her infertility by having a child at forty-three.

That was why they were also asking Gryphon to get married and have children when he could. Infertility among men was common, especially with Gryphon’s unhealthy lifestyle. Moreover, they knew that their son was dating multiple women through the course of his life, but never had he told them about a child… or a mother to come with it.

“Griff, where’s Roxanne?” Mrs. Pearce looked around and looked for the girl who they knew would be marrying their son. On his birthday, they were hoping to get him engaged to her at this party.

“Mom… I really don’t want to do this.” Gryphon looked away and took a sip of his wine. He knew about the pressure placed on him by his parents, but he didn’t want to do anything against his own will. “I don’t want to marry too early.”

His father frowned in the direction of his son. “Early? Griff, you’re almost thirty. How old do you want to be before you start thinking about your future?”

Gryphon glanced at his father. Wearing a defiant look on his face, the son turned to his parents. “Are you really thinking about my future or of the company? You seem to be getting everything mixed up. Why can’t you let me live the way I want to?”

“You…!” Mr. Pearce was shocked by Gryphon’s choice to defy them at this moment. At this display, Mrs. Pearce only wore an upset face. She sensed that her husband was getting angry, but she only held onto his shoulder as if asking him to let her handle it.

“Griff, you seem to be thinking about these things wrongly. However, if you want to live the way you wanted, you can go ahead. I think it’s good for you to have your own life outside the family as well.” At her words, the husband was shocked, but the mother’s defiant look that rivaled that of Gryphon told them that she was not yet done. “That’s why I’m cutting all your allowance and support.”

“Mom?” Gryphon frowned as he asked his mother to repeat her words. “What do you—?”

The mother smiled, but it was merciless and brutal. “Starting from today, you would have to live your own life without spending a dime from the company. I will also freeze your bank accounts. You don’t want to have anything to do with the company? Then, live without it.”

Gryphon got up from his seat, trying not to look like he was threatening his mother. “This is ridiculous. Are we really doing it this way, Mom?”

Mrs. Pearce only continued to smile at the devil that she raised.

With that soundless answer, Gryphon threw his hands up and left the table. “Fine, fine, I’ll get the damn bitch. You want a daughter-in-law? Fine, fine…”

The son walked out of the room, seemingly admitting his defeat. However, the mother didn’t let up her suspicions. It was Mr. Pearce who massaged his head before taking a look at the friend seated at their table. “That was not something you should have witnessed, Ashley.”

“I’m Gryphon’s friend. I believe I’ve seen that scene a hundred times, Mr. Pearce.” Ashley only laughed, shaking his head as he moved his hand slowly to get his fork. “Give him some time to prepare.”

“I knew he would never bow down to this.” Mrs. Pearce only sighed and patted her cheek. “Dear, have I ever been so much of a devil that our son had ended up becoming like this?”

Mr. Pearce only stayed quiet. At least, he would say it with his own mouth.

…

Instead of picking up Roxanne, Gryphon actually walked out of the hotel. He was trying to get home, but he didn’t want to get driven back and be caught. That was why he braved the white rain outside. He jogged to get to another place, not knowing how dangerous it was… thinking that no cars would be out in the streets that night either.

It’s just that… screech! Gryphon just saw a car’s headlight a meter away from him. If he didn’t pull himself back, he would have collided with it. The brakes activated just in time, letting Gryphon’s nose feel the coldness of the plate. He pulled half of his body from under the car and quickly decided to make the driver take on his anger.

Bang! The woman screamed as he banged against her window. Gryphon then showed his arm that bled from a scrape, caused by his fall. 

“Open up, bitch! You have to compensate me for this!” He banged on the window again, but she was only frozen stiff in her seat. Upon a longer look, he noticed her strange state. She was even crying. 

However, that wasn’t what made him stop completely. Under the rain, he continued to bend outside the car and lean down to get a good look at the crying girl. His heart skipped a beat as he made out the face inside the car. “Andrea? Andrea Archer?”