"Marry me."
What? Fabiola's eyes widened again; she was like taking a roller coaster today. She thought she was going to be sold to some mafia boss as a bargaining chip for his business.
But she never thought that he would ask for this!
A marriage? And with her?!
Was he being serious right now?
She was seeking for a way to let these women know that she wanted nothing to do with him.
She wanted these women off her back and he wants her to be his wife.
She burst out laughing…
He’s just joking and why would he choose her anyway…
“You’re filthy rich…you can choose any woman you want for this joke…why me?”
"I guess that’s because you are cheeky enough. Your determination to fight me in spite of everything convinced me that you are not someone who gives in easily, and as you can see, any woman who has been involved with me has been attacked by other women, and most women can't handle that. But you, as tenacious as a cockroach, will be a perfect candidate taking the position as my wife."
Cockroach? Fabiola fell silent. Was this man complimenting or scolding her?
Although it was true that she would do anything to survive, marriage, in her perception, was only for people who loved each other, not as some sort of deal.
She had imagined countless times that there must be a prince who would see through her scruffy appearance to the purity of her heart, and at that time, all hardships could be offset.
But now the reality ...
Probably seeing her hesitation, Lorenzo changed his face all of a sudden. "Don't you want your bracelet back?"
Fabiola looked up at him. Of course she did! She could give up everything to get the bracelet back!
"Marry me and the bracelet is yours."
What a jerk! Fabiola gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly.
"Are you sure you want to marry me? I’ll put my words first, maybe I'll be a problem for you." Fabiola was used to hiding her inferiority complex with a bluffy attitude, and even though Lorenzo had told her clearly that he was only using her as a shield, she still felt she was not good enough for a rich man.
Not to mention that she only had few days to live. Although she used to like take petty advantages, making such a handsome man a widower at a young age is not her thing...
"Yes, or no? You tell me, and forget about the rest." Lorenzo frowned and said impatiently.
"Then what if I die in a month." Fabiola decided to tell the truth.
The room then fell into silence for a moment. See, which man is willing to marry a dying woman? Even the couple who have been together for most of their lives, if one of them is sick, the other one would get away, let alone this man who only wants to use her as a shield.
"Well, if you mind, I'll leave." Fabiola sensed what he meant by silence. She rubbed her nose and intended to take her bracelet and go out. Just when she turned around she heard the man's voice.
"Then that’s better."
Fabiola widened her eyes. What is he playing at? Lorenzo continued, "I can tell the public that you are the person I love the most, so I don't plan to get married again in this life. Once and for all, all the trouble is solved."
Fabiola soon realized his intention. She even wanted to exclaim, "good for you, bro!"
She didn't expect that by the end of her life, she had done someone a favor.
All her worries were disappeared, so Fabiola decided to accept the man's condition. As if remembering something, she raised her head, "But I have another condition aside getting my bracelet back.”
Hearing her words, Lorenzo gave her a look and nodded, gesturing for her to go on.
"Money. I need money." She announced.
Fabiola knew she was getting ahead of herself, that she was acting like a gold-digger who wanted to marry into a rich family, but she couldn't care less what anyone else thought, she needed better treatment.
She had given up on her cancer treatment since she came to Barcelona…
She had chosen to channel all the money she had left into looking for her parents…
Now that she had the opportunity to get everything she’s ever dreamt of….She would use his money to start her treatment and try to live longer until she’s found her parents.
“How much do you want?”He asked.
She nibbled her bottom lip.
“About a million.”She let out tentatively…
She could use that to get some treatment and more private investigators to hasten the process of finding her parents…
She was expecting him to start negotiating so she would beat down the amount but he turned and brought out a cheque book.
Her jaw dropped to see him write out a cheque for her.
He placed it on her hand as well as her bracelet.
“When should we get our marriage certificate?”He said.
She was still so stunned that she got such amount of money easily….in a twinkle of an eye.
“Anytime you want I guess.”Regaining her sense, she immediately flattered him.
“Let’s get it done today.After that,I would hold a press conference to announced our relationship.You only have to pretend to be my wife in public.”
“Sure.”She replied as she put on her bracelet.
Since she cannot reverse the future things, then accept and face them, which is her rules when she lived in the slums.
It is this motto that has supported her through many difficult moments.
*******************
As she sat with Lorenzo in the City Hall, she began to hesitate again. That was sacred marriage!
In fact, when Lorenzo told her to forget about the rest thing, she was touched and almost cried. It was the first time someone had been that gentle to her. She had been used to relying on herself.
Although her sense told her that it was just a deal.
All right, Fabiola gritted her teeth. Now she got the money, but it wouldn't necessarily cure her, since her life and death were unpredictable, why did she bother herself?
Just as she was about to sign her name, the phone in her hand rang.
She stared at the caller ID.It was her doctor in Madrid.
“Excuse me,I need to take this.”She said to Lorenzo.
“Be fast about it.”He said,impatiently.
She nodded and walked off to a corner to answer the phone.
“Hello…”
“Oh Miss Brosnan…thank God it finally went through…I’ve been trying to reach you for days now.”
She swallowed wondering what the problem is.
“You do not have a brain tumor….you were misdiagnosed.We’re so sorry,Miss Brosnan.”
Fabiola slowly pricked herself to confirm if she wasn’t dreaming right now…
She looked at the 1 million dollar check in her hand and laughed bitterly. God, this is more like a premeditated scam plot. Even those scriptwriters in Hollywood wouldn't make such story ......
“Miss Brosnan?Miss Brosnan?Are you there?”
“You…are…are you being serious right now?”
“We’re so sorry for the pain and agony we had caused you for this misdiagnosis…we are so sorry.”He apologized,remorsefully.
Without waiting for Dr. Madrid's words of apology, she hung up the phone, and just as she was about to go back and continue signing, she stopped.
"I didn’t have cancer, then it meant there's no need for this marriage, not to mention that I had got my bracelet back."
She would sent back the check to the Prestige Group anonymously once she was settled. She wasn't taking ill-gotten gains.
Although she needed money to find her parents, she could make money with her own hands since she was healthy.
Thinking of this, she did not hesitate any longer and walked out of the City Hall ...
"Ouch! You bitch, watch out!"If you hit the baby in my belly, can you afford for it?"As soon as Fabiola headed up and saw who she had collided with, the only word popped into her mind was, bitch.It was her ex-boyfriend...Dante Ramos and beside him was her best friend well...she could say ex-best friend as well...Nadia Gustavo.They hadn't been friends since Fabiola found out Nadia was in Dante Ramos' bed.Fabiola rubbed her nose where it had been bumped and impatiently said, "Move, good dog." After saying that, she didn't even want to look at them.However, when she was just about to go downstairs her hand held. "Fabiola, is that really you?" The man's voice showed how he was surprised at seeing her. But Fabiola only felt disgust at the moment.She glanced at his hand that was still on her arm, resisted the urge to vomit, and withdrew her arm with all her strength.She said expressionlessly, "Please behave yourself, Mr. Ramos. I don't want to get my clothes dirty with trash."A man
After leaving the City Hall, Fabiola was taken by Lorenzo to a luxury store.She had refused, cause she thought everything was just an acting, and it was inappropriate to spend so much money on her. But in the end, being pressed by Lorenzo's powerful aura, she had to give in."You are my wife now, so you should consider my reputation." Lorenzo finished with a cold face and stepped aside to pick up the phone.He seemed to be quite busy. Judged from the fact that he had doubled the market value of the Prestige Group several times in just a few months since he took office as its president, he is certainly not an idle man.Fabiola turned her back on him, making faces and sticking her tongue out. Then she followed the beauty assistant (BA) who came to entertain her to the fitting room.It was Fabiola's first time feeling that being rich was really cool. She didn't even have to think about whether her money was enough, and those BAs were just waiting for her at the fitting room door with th
The launch party was so quiet that everyone's heartbeat could even be heard, and Fabiola felt like her throat was tightly pinched by a large hand.She felt breathless.It hurts! A stinging pain then came from the palm of her hand, and she looked into Lorenzo's encouraging eyes, which signaled that she should continue.It was a past she didn't want to look back on, and she didn't expect Nadia to be vicious enough to really try to destroy her. When they were still good friends, Fabiola opened her heart and told Nadia about the unpleasant past, which was used as a sword to stab her.Lorenzo stared at his assistant and soon there were bodyguards in suits standing next to Nadia, but they were stopped by Fabiola who shook her head.Nadia still underestimated her, and she wasn't the weak little girl she had been.She cleared her throat and said loudly, "That lady is right. I do have a criminal record."With her words, the media exploded again. Not waiting for the media’s questions, she conti
Since Lorenzo has made it known that Fabiola is his wife, she can no longer return to her rented room.She was taken to Lorenzo's luxurious villa.No sooner had the car pulled up in front of the golden gates than Fabiola was stunned by the sight before her, but at the same time she became frightened that she was getting used to it and would find it difficult to return to her previous life."Hello madam, I am the butler here. The young master has instructed me to take you to his bedroom."Fabiola was still in a daze when an older man of about sixty years of age approached.Lorenzo hadn't come back with her, he had told the driver to bring her over after explaining that something had come up at work.Lorenzo's bedroom? But they were faking their marriage, were they really going to sleep together?"Madame?" The butler spoke up again."Oh, yes." Fabiola nodded, presumably because Lorenzo didn't want anyone to find out they were in fake marriage, and she didn't want to cause him any more t
"WHAT?!"But, we're fake couple." Fabiola reminded him with a pouting lip.However, Lorenzo ignored her.Fabiola looked around the room and apart from a bed, there was only a sofa seat. Judging by the current weather, even though the room was warm, she still might catch a cold after a night without a blanket.Gritting her teeth, she decided to go to bed.It wasn't like she hadn't slept with him before, and with Lorenzo's sexy body and handsome face, she didn’t lose anything.Only as soon as she laid down, Lorenzo's whole body pressed up against her."You..." Fabiola exclaimed and subconsciously tried to push him away when he covered her mouth."Don't make a sound unless you don't want to know about the bracelet." Lorenzo threatened her, gesturing for her to look out the door.It took Fabiola a moment to realize that someone was eavesdropping outside."Scream." Lorenzo ordered, and Fabiola, knowing it was for show, went submissive and moaned.Moaning for almost half an hour, Fabiola go
Upon entering the villa, Fabiola, even having seen Lorenzo's previous house, was still amazed by the sight.Fabiola tried to hide how nervous she felt…She had never been in the midst of rich people before.Sergio,an old butler welcomed them in with a smile.“Sir Diego is in his study.”Sergio informed them as they walked into the house."Wait on the ground floor while I see Grandpa in the study." Just entering the living room, Lorenzo left these words and went straight upstairs, leaving Fabiola who was at a loss."Young lady, this way please." The old butler was just about to lead her to the sofa when a middle-aged woman with delicate make-up came over.But she showed a strong look of contempt; she didn’t welcome Fabiola.This must be Lorenzo's calculating stepmother.Lorenzo usually lived in town and it had taken them an hour to come over to the villa. During the trip he had given a brief account of his relationship with his father and his stepmother.After listening to his story, sh
Lorenzo and Fabiola walked up to his father,Luca who was sitting on a rock chair at the courtyard.“Father,this is Fabiola,”Lorenzo introduced.The man lifted up his head and stared at her,expressionlessly.Fabiola swallowed…Lorenzo was the exact replica of his father and his gaze was quite penetrating as if he could see through her.“Hello,Father.”She greeted,politely.Luca nodded.”Due to the pressure from the media and public…Lorenzo had married you in a rush but the Martini do not take marriage as simple as this.You two need to have a grand wedding ceremony.”Fabiola didn't really want to cause such a big deal, but her opinion didn't matter, it was up to Lorenzo to decide if he felt the ceremony was necessary. She looked tenderly at Lorenzo, pretending to be shy, "I'll do whatever Lorenzo says."Lorenzo knew his father's reasons for holding a wedding; he didn't want the public to mistake that the family couldn't even afford a wedding, and parties were a necessary means of maintain
Alicia brought out her cellphone and quickly searched the internet for videos of the press conference.Luca watched,attentively.“Well,she had bravely admitted to it instead of denying it like a coward.I think that is commendable of her.She is married to Lorenzo now.I think it’s best we don’t talk about her past.”Alicia’s jaw dropped.That Fabiola really was a witch…How could someone as strict as Luca be so tolerant?! She will not make it easy for Fabiola!She grew more angry when she saw Fabiola walking down the stairs holding Diego’s arm!She even got the old man to like her as well.They all got seated and Fabiola was really enjoying the meal.Since Diego liked her,she felt as ease talking to him.She answered any question Luca had politely and as for Alicia,she treated her kindly and politely.No one would ever imagine that Fabiola had fired back at Alicia before dinner.Esme did not have a good time at all.It was depressing to watch how Fabiola kept making Diego laugh.It made