chapter 5

Oh my, what a wayward son I have, tsk tsk tsk," James muttered, purposefully upsetting Arnold.

Arnold said, "Get to the point, dad. I don't have time for your blabbing." He detested it when people, especially his father, acted theatrically around him.

"All right, then, this elderly grandmother will explain her caller's reason. I would like to notify you that your cousin, together with his wife and child, has returned to the nation, and you are falling behind in your desire to have an heir. I'll give him the business if you carry on in this manner. You get it?" James said something serious and hung up. Arnold scowled, his eyes and face as cold as the North Pole, the phone he was holding.

"I will kill him then, simple"

***** Room*

After a while of struggling in the dark, Alice noticed a brilliant light at the end of the tunnel. She swam towards it and instantly started to pant for oxygen. She closed her eyes to the blinding brightness as soon as it appeared, and then she opened them wide again after a little while. She cast a quick glance around, attempting to piece together how she got there. Before going into unconsciousness, her only memory was jumping into the river and drowning, but that was all she could recall since she felt someone pick her up while she was unconscious.

She gasped as she looked at the enormity of the room. The room surprised me with its excessive size. It resembled the big dwelling in their estate. This was the largest room she had ever seen, with three entrances situated in different parts of the space. The door pushed open, forcing Alice to look up at the enormous door behind it as she attempted to acclimate herself to her new surroundings. The one-night stand man's hands crossed in front of him as he stood at the entrance startled her and caused her eyes to widen.

"You? How did you travel to this location? Are you employed here as a servant? Oh my, this is awful." Alice silently stared at Arnold; she hadn't paid attention to his facial features the night before, but now that she was, she saw he appeared more, more attractive than she had anticipated. He had the appearance of a nobleman with his well-groomed face, perpetually icy gaze, heavy black eyes that seemed to suck everyone into them, and shining brown hair swept backward, yet Alice grimaced in her brain. "Respond to me? Why are you, such a handsome man, working for some rich guy as a thug?" Gazing about the space, Alice questioned.

"When Alice called Arnold a thug and a servant, Arnold's eyes grew icy right away, and the servants outside felt a similar chill run down their spines. Arnold murmured, "Am not a thug or a servant," as he walked unfettered towards her.

"So what? Are you the gatekeeper or the gardener? The home's owner must be quite kind to let his gatekeeper or gardener have such an opulent chamber." Ignoring Arnold's icy stare, Alice shrugged her shoulders in response.

"Are those not also in agreement? This house belongs to me. You see that, don't you? Are you aware of who I am? When Alice persisted in misinterpreting him, Arnold let out a freezing-hot, frustrated scream. His gaze tightened as he clenched his fists and moved toward the bed, causing Alice, who was still astonished, to recoil in terror.

"This large mansion is yours? You are who you are? Kindly provide an explanation. Alice pleaded, wondering if she had fallen into the hands of a vampire prince or perhaps a mafia ruler, as she had read about in books.

"your worst nightmare"

"What?"

"My name is Arnold Hawthorne, and I am the CEO and heir to the Hawthorne corporate empire. I won't say this again, so pay attention. You are going to be my surrogate bride because I am the youngest billionaire in Country B and beyond and nobody can escape my vengeance. You will become the mother of my heir." Arnold murmured inanely and in a detached manner.

seated across from her on the bed.

How come?" Alice was taken aback by his statements and gasped.

~~~~~ The Mansion of Arnold ~~~~~

"What? Am I hearing this incorrectly?" With startled eyes, Alice said, glaring at Arnold for such a strange comment and saying, "Please be serious, I don't like jokes." After pondering for a while, Alice mumbled.

"I'm not kidding; I'm serious. My Heir will have you as his mother." Arnold grumbled as he looked down at her, his face expression stern and unfriendly. "Why? Why? Why do you want the mother of your heir to be me, of all the girls? Why should I pay attention to you since my wedding was just called off?"

Alice asked, giving him a fierce look. For I have spared your life, I have rescued you from You're drowning in the river, Hed. You should follow my instructions without question as if I hadn't saved your ass, you would have been dead meat by now." Arnold clarified without a shred of caution.

"Who requested that you save me? Why did you save me when all I wanted to do was die and end this meaningless life? Since I never asked for it, you should deal with it rather than me." Tears were welling up at the corners of Alice's eyes as she yanked at Arnold, but she held them back.

Do you even know who I am, to talk to me like that? Arnold questioned, his eyes growing as frigid as the North Pole and the Atlantic Ocean. "I refuse to listen to you because, regardless of who you are, you are not God. You strike me as a pervert who is only looking for a woman to plow your c*ck into." Alice firmly responded to him, clenching her fists and displaying a fierce determination in her gaze.

"What did you say, you? A misopportunist? Me? What the devil is wrong with your brain, a pervert?" Arnold gave Alice a retaliatory scream, reaching out to seize her jaws but stopping short of actually hurting a mere girl.