Chapter 6 I’m Doing Fine, Well, I’m Not

**Ophelia’s POV**

“Marry you? Sorry, but I’m not interested.”

I don’t know if Nix is crazy or just the kind of lonely rich guy who’d pick any woman he meets to marry. But a marriage proposal after everything that’s happened? Never crossed my mind at all.

I thought the partnership was a business arrangement—literally—not the ridiculous marriage he was proposing. If it were a business arrangement, I might accept it.

“I know it’s not easy. That’s why I’ll give you time to decide.” He glanced at his watch. “One day should be enough.”

“I don’t need to think about it. I’m rejecting your offer. Right now.”

“I think you should think it over, Ms. Hyacinth.”

“Why are you calling me like that when you know it’s no longer my last name?”

“Because I know you’d prefer I didn’t call you Mrs. Elio.”

Even now, just hearing the name Elio makes me hate him so much. I feel like I wanna get back all the time I’ve wasted on him. Because maybe if I’d used all that time for myself, maybe by now I’d have achieved whatever I wanted.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll take your refusal today as an impulsive response.”

I don’t know if I’ll have a different answer if Nix comes back tomorrow. I’m honestly too scared, even to have a relationship with a man again—even if it’s just a contract.

This is happening too fast. I’m not sure I can handle it.

I don’t know what’s in the contract Nix is offering. But I have a feeling it’s about more than just building the image he has in mind.

Also, I’m absolutely positive there are plenty of women out there who are more perfect than me and would be more willing to be with him. The question is, why did he choose me?

Is it because he knows me? Or does he see me as a pitiful woman who needs his help?

I didn't want to guess. I wanted clarity.

“Get some rest. You’ll be very well taken care of if you stay here.”

“Wait.”

Nix paused with his hand on the doorknob. He then turned around with a faint smile on his lips. “Is there anything I can help you with, Mrs.—”

“Lia. My name is Lia. I don’t want to carry his name behind me anymore.”

“All right, Lia. Is there anything you’d like to say before I go? You might never see me again until the same time tomorrow.”

I clenched my fists behind my back. “Why me?”

“Hmm, good question.” He then turned around, lowering his hand. “Because you fit the criteria.”

“Because I’ve just been through a breakup?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because we need each other. We’ll benefit each other.”

“But you said I’d be the one who benefits more.”

“Of course.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’ll become Mrs. Alioth. The benefits you’ll gain from taking my last name will be significant.”

But I knew it wouldn’t come for free. Just like Elio had said before—and unfortunately, I didn’t realize I’d have to pay for it with my peace of mind and sanity.

“Have you changed your mind, Lia?”

I regretted a little that I’d stopped Nix from leaving. Because I didn’t even know if I was actually gonna accept his offer or if I was just curious about his motives.

“If one day isn’t enough, I can give you more time. Three days at most. How about that?”

The problem wasn’t how long I had to answer, but how confident I felt about accepting it.

Whether my heart would heal or shatter even more, I didn’t know. I had absolutely no idea what would happen if I accepted Nix’s request.

But on the other hand, I also really wanted to teach Elio a lesson. Because if I waited for karma to catch up with him, it would probably take far too long. And I didn’t have that much patience.

I wanted Elio to deeply regret everything he’d done to me. I want him to know just how shattered I am—not because I lost him, but because I lost my child. Elio really needs to feel that too, even if it’s in a different way.

“I’m not forcing you to give an answer right now. Please take some time to rest and think about it carefully.”

“Do you have any other candidates besides me?”

“Why do you want to know—if I may ask?”

“Because I want to know if there is one, what the candidate is like, and why you chose the person.”

“Then the answer is no.”

“So it’s just me?”

“That’s correct. But don’t worry. It’s because I’m particular about who I choose, and I only choose someone I believe I can truly trust.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t know me well, even though you’ve researched me. So how can you be sure I’m trustworthy?”

“At least that’s what the people who’ve interacted with you have said.”

I covered my mouth with one hand. “Did you ask each of them individually?”

“It’s not out of the question.”

“That’s really going too far.”

“You should know that I’m not using this for anything malicious.”

“But you violated my privacy. Imagine if the same thing happened to you. Wouldn’t you be annoyed?”

“Too many people are prying into my life, so I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“You….” I tried to catch my breath. I tried not to lose my temper because, after all, Nix wasn’t Elio, who was clearly in the wrong. Nix was just offering to help.

“I’m sorry if all that bothered you. I’ve stopped doing it.”

“As you should.”

Nix smiled again, but this time it was a calmer smile. “Now since you know, you can go back to your bed and think everything through carefully. I’ll leave you alone so you can recover quickly.”

I should have listened to him. I should have put my feet back up on the bed.

Instead, I stood up and tried to walk toward him. He then ran up to me and quickly caught me before I fell.

“Be careful, Lia. You have to take care of yourself.”

His big, warm hand wrapped around my waist, and the other rested on my upper arm. No shouting, no raised voice—just a caring tone.

I worked up the courage to look up. I studied his eyes carefully, one at a time.

Was he really the one God sent to help me? Was he truly the one who would help me get my revenge?

“Lia? Are you okay?”

My body felt like it had received a low-voltage electric shock when he touched the part of my palm that wasn’t covered by the cloth.

“Yeah, I’m just fine.”

“I’ll help you lie back down.”

“No.” I grabbed his arm. “I want to know what’s in the contract.”