His Proposal

ARIELLE

"A marriage contract?" I repeated, making sure I had heard him correctly.

Alexander Blackwood looked at me without showing any emotion. I honestly couldn't understand what was going through his mind. Just a few minutes ago, he had clearly stated that he had no intention of marrying me, yet here he was, suddenly proposing a marriage contract.

Was he seriously considering my mother's ridiculous suggestion?

"Yes, Miss Bennett. A marriage contract," he answered calmly.

I looked at my parents, who were now staring at Alexander as though he had just offered them the solution to all their problems.

"Mr. Blackwood, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I already told you that I don't want to marry you," I explained, trying my best to remain polite.

"And I heard you the first time."

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

"Because I'm offering you a business arrangement, not a romantic relationship."

I stared at him in disbelief. Did this man really think marriage was something that could be discussed like an ordinary business transaction?

"Alexander, perhaps we should discuss this privately," Dad suggested.

Alexander glanced at him before shaking his head.

"I believe your daughter deserves to hear the conditions herself, Mr. Bennett. After all, she's the one who will be entering this arrangement."

For some reason, his response surprised me. At least he understood that I had the right to know what was being discussed.

"Fine. I'm listening," I answered, crossing my arms.

Alexander walked toward the sofa and sat down as though he owned the entire hotel. He gestured toward the empty chair across from him, but I remained standing.

He didn't seem bothered.

"The arrangement will last for one year. During that time, we will appear as a married couple in public, attend necessary family gatherings, and fulfill certain social obligations. However, our personal lives will remain separate."

I frowned.

"Separate?"

"Yes. We will have separate bedrooms, and neither of us will interfere with the other's personal affairs."

"And after one year?"

"We can end the marriage through the appropriate legal process."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You make it sound so simple."

"It's only complicated if we allow emotions to become involved."

I almost laughed at his answer.

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood, but normal people actually have emotions."

For a moment, I thought he would get angry. Instead, he simply leaned back against the sofa and studied me.

"Then I suggest you don't allow yours to interfere with our agreement."

I shook my head.

Unbelievable.

This man was unbelievably arrogant.

"Alexander, I think that's a reasonable arrangement," Mom suddenly interrupted.

I turned toward her.

"Mom, please. I'm the one he's talking to."

She pressed her lips together but remained silent.

Alexander continued explaining the conditions. According to him, our marriage would protect both families from public humiliation while allowing his company to proceed with its investment in my father's business.

He also promised that I would receive financial compensation for agreeing to the arrangement.

That particular condition made me uncomfortable.

"Are you offering to pay me to become your wife?" I asked.

"In a manner of speaking."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"Wow. That's very flattering."

"Miss Bennett, I'm simply being practical."

"Well, maybe you should try being human for once."

My mother gasped.

"Arielle!"

"What? I'm only telling the truth."

Alexander looked at me for a few seconds before standing.

"If you're not interested, then there's no reason to continue this discussion."

He adjusted his coat and prepared to leave.

I should have allowed him to walk away.

That would have been the smartest decision.

Unfortunately, my father suddenly spoke.

"Alexander, please give us a moment."

Alexander stopped and looked at him.

"Five minutes, Mr. Bennett. My patience is already running thin."

He walked toward the balcony, leaving the three of us alone.

As soon as the glass door closed, Mom immediately approached me.

"Arielle, what are you doing? Why are you being so difficult?"

I looked at her in disbelief.

"Me? I'm being difficult? Mom, you're asking me to marry a man I barely know!"

"He's Alexander Blackwood! Do you have any idea how many women would gladly take your place?"

"Then let one of them marry him!"

"Arielle!" Dad warned.

I turned toward him, feeling frustrated.

"Dad, please tell Mom that this isn't right."

He sighed before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I know, sweetheart. Believe me, I know."

"Then why aren't you stopping this?"

He remained silent for a moment before removing his glasses.

"Because I'm afraid of what will happen if this partnership falls apart."

I looked at him.

Dad had always been a hardworking businessman. Ever since I was young, I had watched him leave the house early and return late at night. He built our family business from almost nothing, and I knew how much it meant to him.

Seeing him look so defeated made my chest tighten.

"How bad is it, Dad?" I asked quietly.

He lowered his head.

"We have enough funds to operate for another month, perhaps two. After that, I don't know how we'll pay our employees."

I swallowed.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to worry."

"But you were willing to let Vanessa marry someone because of it?"

Dad looked away.

"Vanessa agreed to the engagement. Alexander's investment was part of a separate business arrangement. I never expected things to end this way."

I didn't know whether to believe him.

All I knew was that my sister had disappeared, my parents were desperate, and a billionaire was waiting outside for my answer.

I rubbed my forehead.

"Can I at least have some time to think?"

Mom shook her head.

"The wedding guests are already waiting downstairs."

"Then let them wait!"

My voice came out louder than I intended.

I immediately took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, but you can't expect me to decide my entire future in five minutes."

Dad approached me and gently placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Arielle, whatever you decide, I won't blame you."

I looked at him.

"Really?"

He nodded.

But the sadness in his eyes made me feel even worse.

I hated this situation.

I hated that Vanessa had left without explaining anything.

And I hated that everyone seemed to expect me to fix a problem I hadn't created.

After a few moments, I quietly walked toward the balcony.

Alexander was standing near the railing, speaking to someone on his phone. He ended the call when he noticed me approaching.

"Have you made your decision?" he asked.

"Not yet."

He glanced at his watch.

"Miss Bennett—"

"Can you stop looking at your watch for one minute? I'm trying to think."

He slowly lowered his hand.

"Very well."

I took a deep breath before facing him.

"Why are you doing this?"

He frowned.

"I believe I've already explained."

"No. You explained the business arrangement. I'm asking why you're willing to marry someone you don't even know."

Alexander remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked toward the city.

"Because canceling this wedding would create problems I don't have time to deal with."

"That's it?"

"That's enough."

I studied his expression.

"Don't you love my sister?"

His jaw tightened slightly.

"That's none of your concern."

"Actually, it is. You're asking me to marry you when you were supposed to marry Vanessa. I think I deserve to know whether you're in love with her."

He turned toward me.

"Our engagement was mutually beneficial. That's all you need to know."

I felt strangely disappointed by his answer.

Not because I expected him to love Vanessa, but because he spoke about marriage as though it meant absolutely nothing.

"You're a very strange man, Mr. Blackwood."

"I've been called worse."

I almost smiled.

Almost.

"Can I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead."

"If I agree, will you promise not to interfere with my career?"

"What do you do?"

"I'm an interior designer. I work for a small design firm downtown."

He nodded.

"You may continue working."

"And I won't have to ask your permission whenever I want to visit my friends?"

"No."

"What about my family?"

"You may visit them whenever you wish."

I hesitated before asking my final question.

"And what if I decide I can't continue with the arrangement?"

Alexander looked at me seriously.

"Then we'll discuss how to end it. I have no intention of keeping someone in a marriage against her will."

For the first time since meeting him, I found myself looking at him differently.

He was still arrogant and intimidating, but at least he wasn't trying to take away my freedom.

I looked through the glass door and saw my father sitting beside my mother.

He looked exhausted.

I closed my eyes.

Maybe I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

But perhaps one year wouldn't be impossible to endure.

After all, Alexander had already made it clear that he wasn't interested in having a real relationship with me.

And I certainly wasn't interested in him.

"Fine," I finally said.

Alexander turned toward me.

"Fine?"

"I'll agree to the arrangement, but I have conditions too."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm listening."

"First, I want everything written in a contract. Second, I won't accept money for marrying you. If you're helping my father's company, that's already enough."

He studied me.

"And third?"

I lifted my chin.

"You don't get to treat me like one of your employees. I may be your wife on paper, but that doesn't mean you can order me around."

For several seconds, he didn't respond.

Then something unexpected happened.

He smiled.

Not a wide smile, but enough to make me realize that the cold billionaire actually knew how.

"Agreed, Miss Bennett."

I extended my hand.

"Then we have a deal."

He looked at my hand before shaking it.

"Indeed."

His hand was warm, and his grip was firm.

I immediately pulled away when I realized how awkward the situation had become.

"One more thing," I added.

"What now?"

I looked directly into his eyes.

"Don't expect me to act like a loving wife when we're alone."

Alexander's expression remained calm.

"Don't worry. I wasn't planning to."

I nodded.

"Good."

"Excellent."

We stared at each other for another moment before I turned toward the door.

I couldn't believe what I had just agreed to.

In less than an hour, I had gone from being my sister's maid of honor to becoming her replacement bride.

And the worst part?

I wasn't even sure whether I was doing the right thing.

 

When we returned to the room, my parents immediately stood up.

"Alexander?" Dad asked hopefully.

Alexander glanced at me before answering.

"Your daughter has agreed to the arrangement."

Mom covered her mouth.

"Oh, thank goodness!"

She rushed toward me and pulled me into an embrace.

"Thank you, sweetheart. You've saved our family."

I didn't know what to say.

I simply stood there while she hugged me.

For the first time that morning, my mother seemed genuinely happy with something I had done.

But instead of feeling proud, I felt strangely empty.

"There's still a problem," I said after pulling away.

Everyone looked at me.

"What problem?" Mom asked.

I gestured toward my dress.

"Unless you're planning to let me walk down the aisle wearing this, I don't have a wedding gown."

Mom immediately looked toward Vanessa's wardrobe.

"Her gown is still here."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Vanessa changed into her traveling clothes before leaving. Her wedding gown is still hanging inside the wardrobe."

I stared at her.

"You want me to wear Vanessa's wedding dress?"

"It's already prepared, sweetheart."

I looked toward the wardrobe.

The same gown Vanessa had spent months choosing.

The same gown she had proudly shown everyone during the final fitting.

And now, I was expected to wear it.

I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous my life had become.

"Of course," I muttered.

Alexander glanced at his watch again.

"I'll have my assistant prepare the necessary documents. The ceremony must also be adjusted to reflect the correct bride, and the officiant will need to confirm the legal requirements."

He looked at my father.

"Don't announce anything until we know the arrangements can proceed."

Dad immediately nodded.

"Of course."

Alexander turned toward me.

"I'll see you downstairs, Miss Bennett."

I nodded awkwardly.

"Okay."

He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped.

"By the way, Arielle."

It was the first time he had called me by my first name.

I looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Try not to run away like your sister."

My mouth fell open.

Before I could respond, he walked out of the room.

I stared at the closed door.

Did he seriously just say that?

"Unbelievable!" I muttered.

Mom looked at me.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

I shook my head before turning toward the wardrobe.

I had just agreed to marry the most arrogant man I had ever met.

And somehow, I had a feeling that surviving one year with Alexander Blackwood would be much harder than I imagined.

But what I didn't know was that my sister's disappearance wasn't the only secret waiting to be uncovered.

Because while I was preparing to wear Vanessa's wedding gown, Alexander received a message from someone whose name he hadn't expected to see.

And that message would eventually change everything...