Unexpected Event

  Lexi's POV

 He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yes. I'm sorry for hitting you with my car” he said. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the huskiness of his voice.

 “It's fine,” I said as I tried to leave the bed, but he pushed me back gently.

 “You can't leave. The doctor said you need to rest,” He said softly, but I shook my head.

 “I can't stay here. I have important things to attend to,” I said firmly, but he shook his head. 

 “You have to rest. You have been through hell already,” He said. I couldn't help but feel that he wanted something from me. 

  “What do you want from me?” I asked as I folded my hands across my chest and he chuckled.

 “You are indeed smart,” he said, as he winked at me. He stood up from where he sat and walked towards the window, with his hands behind his back but he turned to face me. 

 “First things first, we have to introduce ourselves. I am Julian,”

 “Lexi,” I gave a curt reply.

 “I know all about you, Lexi,” he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I know how much you want your mother's properties. I know how much you want to get revenge on your family members for framing you for a crime you didn't commit,”

 I creased my brows in confusion. “How…. How did you know this?” I demanded as I stared at him, my mind reeling with questions and doubts. Who was this man? He doesn't seem ordinary.

 He smiled. “Let's just say I have my ways. I was able to track you down through the contact information you wrote on the piece of paper you left in the hotel room that night. When I went through everything, I saw your plans to take down your family and reclaim your mother's company. And I figured out you needed allies for your plans to work, as you can't do it on your own”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want from me?” 

 Julian leaned forward. “I want to help you, Lexi. I have the resources and connections to help you take down your enemies and get the revenge you deserve. But I need something from you in return,”

So long as he can help me, no matter what he states, I am willing to do it. I am willing to do anything to clear my name. I am willing to do anything to get my mother's company back. 

 I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you want in return?”

 Julian smiled, his eyes still gleaming with amusement. “I want you to marry me,”

 I laughed, astonished. “You want me to marry you?” 

 He nodded and I rolled my eyes. “And why on earth would I do that?”

 He got closer to where I was and leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. As he spoke, I could feel his hot breath on my face. 

“Because, Lexi, I can offer you the one thing you want more than anything else: revenge. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help you get it,”

 I felt a shiver run down my spine as I considered his words. Could I really trust this stranger? He sounded so sincere.

  “I'm not sure,” I said finally, stalling for time. He's old enough to be my father. If he was younger, or a little bit older, it would have been a different case. 

 Julian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I expected as much,” he said. “But let me ask you this, Lexi: what do you have to lose? You are already at rock bottom? What's the worst that could happen?

 I hesitated, weighing my options. He is right! What's the worst that could happen? I need his help after all. And then, with a deep breath, I made my decision. 

 “Okay,” I said finally, my voice firm. “I agree, but mind you, our marriage will be a sexless one,”

  What happened that night at that hotel was a mistake and I don't want it to happen again. 

Julian raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I agree, Miss Lexi,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. But I must warn you, Lexi, I am not an impatient man and I always get what I want.”

 I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I pushed it aside. 

 “Let's go,” He said and I creased my brows in confusion.

 “Where?”

 “Let's go get married,”

 “So soon?” I asked, my brows still constricted into a frown and he nodded.

 “Yes, Lexi. I can't wait any longer and I'm sure you can't wait either”

 “Wait a minute!” I said and he stared at me with raised eyebrows. 

 “Yes, Lexi?”

 “Why do you want to get married to me? Or do you have to get married to me before you can help me?” I asked as I folded my hands across my chest.

 “You are a businesswoman, Lexi. I'm sure you know that nothing comes freely,”

 I rolled my eyes as we walked out of the ward and into his car. We got married in a small, private ceremony, in the presence of the Almighty God, a few friends of Julian and the priest also. 

 Julian's friends were overjoyed as they found out and they all welcomed me with open arms. 

 I found myself wondering why they were happy that such an old man was getting married at this age. Has he been single for too long?

 When the wedding was over, Julian drove straight to his house.  

 “We are not sharing rooms, are we?” I asked when I saw the mischievous glint in his eyes, but he chuckled lightly.

 “Of course, we are. We are married after all. Plus what do you think people would say when they come to realize that I and my wife are sleeping in separate rooms?” 

 “That was not the agreement —” I started, but he cut me off as he placed his index finger on my lips.

 “You should worry about something else, my bride,” he winked and I rolled my eyes.

 “Anyways, I think it's time you meet someone,” he said, his voice dripping with mischief. This man is sure to do no good. 

 “Who is that?” 

 “My son,”

 My brows creased in question. “Son? You have a son?” I didn't realize he had a son. I found myself wondering about his wife.

 “Yeah. A stubborn one at that. He refused to come see his step mother a few days ago when I told him that I was getting married,”

 Such a brute. This means he has long had this all planned out. 

 “You didn't tell me I was gonna be a babysitter,” I hissed, but a rumble escaped his lips.

 “You are not gonna be a babysitter. My son doesn't need one. He's a grownup,” he said and I sighed in relief.

 Thank heavens! The last thing I needed at this point in time was a distraction. I am here because I needed something from Julian, not to babysit his child. 

  I followed Julian to a room on the top floor of the mansion. He opened the door and I stepped inside. I saw a man sitting on the couch with his back to me. I creased my brows in confusion. 

 When he said a grownup, I expected to see a teenager, not a man who seemed to be in his twenties or thereabouts.

 “Son?” Julian called and the man turned around to face us. 

  Ethan ! The man who had betrayed me. He was sitting on the couch with a mixture of surprise and shock. 

 “Lexi? What are you doing here?” He called out.

 I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

 “Ethan?” I whispered, my voice shaking with shock.

 “Is Ethan your son?” I asked as I turned around to face Julian and he nodded. He seemed confused.

 “Yes. Do you two know each other?” He asked, his eyes darting between me and his son.

 “Oh yes, I do. He is my ex boyfriend,”

 “What?”