Chapter 03: PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE

"Why, Mr. Ferrer? This is my company’s celebration. My fiancée is allowed to be here for me."

"Fi-Fiancée? What does he mean, Aria?! Is President Castridge your fiancé?!" Dylan was still reeling from shock, his eyes fixed on Aria.

"T-There’s—"

"—Do not presume to speak to my fiancée that way, Mr. Ferrer. You say her name as if you are close to her. And you are not." Damian cut off whatever Aria was about to say.

"President, there’s a misunderstanding here. Aria is my girlfriend." Dylan’s words made Laurice frown sharply where she stood.

"Girlfriend? Is what he claims the truth?" Damian turned to Aria, his gaze shifting from her to Dylan.

Memories of Dylan cheating with her best friend flashed through her mind.

"He’s my ex-boyfriend. I have no ties with him anymore."

"Aria! We never officially broke up! Let me explain what you saw at Paradise Hotel! Laurice was just helping me plan a birthday surprise for you—right, Laurice?" Dylan turned to her, signaling for her to agree.

"That’s righ—"

"—Just wearing a bathrobe? Come on, Dylan. I’m not stupid, and don’t you dare treat me like one." Aria snapped, cutting him off, before she rested a hand on Damian’s arm.

"Now we’re even. You can have my best friend all you want. And I can have mine."

"Don’t tell me you’re cheating on me too behind my back—and worse, with my boss?! Seriously, Aria?!" Dylan roared, only to freeze as he felt cold, piercing eyes fixed on him.

"I will tell you this once more, Mr. Ferrer: never speak my fiancée’s name with that mouth of yours. Be thankful I am generous enough to have let you keep her company for a while. If you value your position in my company, leave my fiancée alone." Damian spoke in a frigid, unyielding tone.

"Mr. Castridge, I know my best friend. If she managed to play Dylan like that, it’s possible she’ll do the same to yo—"

"—I do not need warnings from my fiancée’s so-called best friend. So shut the hell up." Damian cut Laurice off coldly, then took Aria’s hand and led her away from the veranda.

Aria had no choice but to let herself be pulled along. She could barely believe that the man beside her was the legendary business billionaire everyone talked about across the world.

Damian led her all the way to the hotel’s VIP garden. It was empty save for the two of them, where he finally let go of her hand and looked at her with a blank, unreadable expression.

"Why? Why did you preten—"

"—I have a proposal to make, Ms. Loyzaga." Damian interrupted her sharply, making her furrow her brow in confusion.

"Pr-proposal? W-What kind of proposal are you talking about?" Aria stammered, bewildered.

She was still in awe that she stood with the renowned Mr. Damian Castridge, the titan of the business world. She had no idea that the man she shared an elevator with the day she caught Dylan was the most powerful billionaire of his generation. And now, he had just claimed she was his fiancée—with no clue as to why he said it.

"I need a wife." Damian stated plainly, the words still failing to sink into Aria’s mind.

"Wi-wife? You need a wife, Mr. Castridge—but why are you telling me this?" Aria breathed out, prompting Damian to sigh softly before pointing straight at her.

"You. Be my wife."

"What?! Your proposal is for me to become your wife? Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Castridge—but are you out of your mind to offer me something like that?!" Aria snapped, as Damian simply shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I will ruin your ex-boyfriend’s reputation. He will know hell within my own company—so you can get the revenge you deserve. If you accept my offer, I will ensure you are properly compensated. How about signing a merger deal with your father’s business?" Damian stated matter-of-factly. Instantly, Aria thought of her father—desperate for a major investor to save the company he had built from scratch for their family, before it crumbled into bankruptcy.

"In exchange, you will act as my wife for a short period. We will marry legally, then file for an annulment." Damian added.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Castridge. I don’t understand—why do you need a wife on paper if—"

"—I have no interest in romance, Ms. Loyzaga. I do not do love. I am offering you a pretend marriage so my father will stop forcing me to marry his mistress’s daughter." Damian cut in, stepping closer to her until she instinctively took a step back.

"You will get your revenge on your cheating ex. Your father’s company will gain far more than just an investor—I will be your partner in business. As long as you carry my name, you will have access to anything you could ever want. Use me, just as I will use you."

"Wh-why me?" It was the only question that slipped from her lips, drawing Damian’s gaze to her.

"Because a brokenhearted woman will not easily fall in love with another." He answered, then stepped back to keep a respectful distance.

"Is it a deal?" Damian asked seriously, leaving Aria unable to form a coherent reply.

"Gi-give me one week to think about this. I just got out of a breakup—and if I agree to this out of the blue, my parents will be in shoc—"

"—Your father somehow expressed his wish to introduce you to me. I have no doubt he will find it easy to accept me as the man you will marry." Damian interrupted flatly, making Aria’s eyes widen in shock.

"W-What? Did Daddy mention me to you?"

"I will give you the week you asked for. Think carefully. If you want to make those two who betrayed you pay—I will give you full access to my power, my wealth, and my authority to destroy them. And your father’s business will be saved as well." With that, Damian turned his back on her and left her alone in the garden.

Aria placed a hand on her waist and looked up at the sky, where the stars and moon bore witness to the agreement she had just been offered.

"Do I really need revenge just because of the two people who betrayed me?" she wondered silently.

"Aria?"

She turned quickly at the sound of her name, and saw her mother walking toward her.

"What are you doing out here? It’s cold, and your father is overreacting again—he panicked when he couldn’t find you at our table."

"Just getting some fresh air for a moment, Mom."

"I hope you didn’t run into Dylan and Laurice, did you? I saw them leaving the hall holding hands." Her mother asked, to which Aria nodded slowly.

"I’m fine, Mom. I won’t lie and say it doesn’t hurt to see them together—but I’m bearing this pain for myself. Let’s go back to Dad. He might get a heart attack if he doesn’t see me soon." Aria said, earning a soft smile from her mother.

"True. Your father is dramatic and overly sensitive—we can’t let him embarrass us further." Mrs. Loyzaga teased, making Aria laugh softly before they walked back together into the party hall.