Chapter 4: First Assignment

Yesterday's incident they fought just because of a small problem, while now they are invited to get married suddenly. Actually, this killer lecturer is sane or not. Belinda still didn't know what had happened to make Brandon change his mind, but the question made her blood boil. 

“Are you kidding? You want to marry me suddenly? Why?”

Of course, Brandon couldn't answer why he wanted to marry his student suddenly. Moreover, it was impossible to say that he wanted to marry in order to avoid that crazy woman. His right hand continued to grip the steering wheel tightly as he looked down. 

Belinda rolled her eyes while laughing lightly. “You like me, so you want to marry me?”

“Belinda, about that-”

“I didn't expect you to be the type of lecturer who likes to play with his students. Do I need to report to the dean?” Belinda tapped her forehead. “I forgot that you got your job as a lecturer on campus through an insider route.”

Brandon let out a resigned sigh, confidently touching the shoulder of his student's arm. “I want to marry you because I need you, Belinda!”

“For what? You have to answer my question first before I can give you an answer!”

“Because I need you to take care of my mom!”

Hearing Brandon's nonsensical reasoning, Belinda laughed with satisfaction. “Just because of that? I can take care of her every day. Why do we have to get married at all?”

Brandon's eyes reddened slightly. His right hand limply reached for the soft cheek in front of him. “Actually, my mother's life has been in danger for a long time. If no one had taken care of her, I could have lost her. But, knowing that you are the one who saved my mother, I trust you, Belinda. Save my mother.”

Belinda could do nothing but keep her head down. Hearing Brandon's reasoning this time, she was curious. Why was Mrs. Yenny's life in danger when she seemed to be doing so well? What exactly was Brandon's family background? The killer lecturer's soft tone made her heart ache, somehow if she wanted to refuse directly, she felt unable to do so. 

“Give me two days to think. The day after tomorrow morning, I'll give you an answer.”

Brandon nodded slowly while pressing the car door lock button. “All right, think carefully, Belinda. This is my first assignment for you. Even though it's your first assignment, the answers you give will affect your future.”

*****

Belinda couldn't think straight as she entered her adoptive family's luxurious home. She simply walked into the living room, which was filled with members of the foster family busy with themselves. 

The stepmother greeted Belinda with a cold stare. “Where have you been?”

“I went to the library with Yena,” Belinda replied weakly. 

Stepfather immediately got up from the sofa without welcoming Belinda. “Every day you can only play. No thought for the future!”

Belinda clenched her fists tightly. “In fact, I study hard almost every day until I become the top student in my class. You always think I'm useless just because I've never been in a relationship until now. What do you really want?”

The father turned around with an angry look. “You're just an adopted daughter, why must study hard? Do you want to work in my company? Become the boss? You're dreaming!”

Tears began to well up on my eyelids. “How could you say that in front of me! I'm part of your family too!” Belinda shouted in a hoarse voice. 

“Anyway, your job is to stay in this family, you just get married and live with your husband! We're actually tired of taking care of you all these years since the accident!”

She was tired of arguing with her foster family who always made her chest feel tight. Belinda ran up the stairs to her room on the second floor. Then, she entered the room and locked the door tightly. 

Lying on the bed, Belinda vented her cries while hugging a small photo frame containing family photos from back in the day. “Mom... dad... I miss you guys. I'm tired of living with this cruel family.”

Her head felt like it was going to burst thinking about the two big problems she was facing today. First, being proposed to by her most hated lecturer out of the blue. Second, her adoptive parents kept urging her to get married so they could let her go. Should Brandon's previous offer be utilized in order to be free from hell? 

For a moment, she positioned her body sitting on the back of the bed, while opening the contact list looking for the name of the annoying lecturer. When she found the contact name “Killer Lecturer”, her thumbs felt like pressing the button to start a phone call. However, is it possible to immediately answer the offer? Even inner voice is still wavering, because still hate Brandon even though he is Mrs. Yenny's son.

*****

Belinda went to campus looking disheveled from a night of crying and not sleeping well. Today there happened to be no management strategy class, so it was the perfect time to finalize her decision without having to mix it up with the atmosphere of learning in class. 

Throughout the day Belinda continued to show a sullen face, making Yena also sluggish because she was always sensitive whenever her best friend was having problems. Actually, it wasn't just this time that Belinda looked lethargic, she often saw scenes like this, it's just that as her best friend she also didn't want to interfere in family matters either. She could only cheer her up in any way she could to make Belinda shine again. 

“Bel, do you want to read manga at the bookstore?”

Belinda shook her head. “I'm not in the mood to read manga.”

“That's unusual. Usually when you have free time, you always take me to the bookstore to read manga.”

“I'm just bored.”

Yena rolled her eyes, then spread her hands in front of her best friend. “You must have gotten into trouble with your family again. Do you want me to hug you?”

Seeing Yena's behavior was enough to make Belinda smile slightly as she hugged her tightly. “Thank you for always giving me a hug.”

“If Daniel had entered college, he would have given you advice too. He's been on vacation until now.”

“That's okay. Let him take a vacation, he's tired of working at his mother's florist shop. Make it a self reward for her.”

Belinda let go of the hug for a moment, walking excitedly back to the campus gate. “I want to read manga.”

Yena chuckled as she wrapped her arms around her. “I guessed right, you do want to read manga.”

Having just stepped foot at the campus gate, Belinda's footsteps stopped when she saw the figure of her half-sister waiting for her. Yena herself was also afraid to see the face of Belinda's half-sister, which made her want to tighten the grip of her best friend's hand even more. She knew very well that the relationship between Belinda and her sister did not get along. 

“What brings Natasha here?”

Natasha took off her sunglasses as she approached her stepsister. “Yes, I happened to be passing by your campus so I just dropped by.”

Belinda folded her arms across her chest. “What are you doing?”

Natasha looked at the CCTV camera at the campus gate for a moment, then brought her lips to the earlobe in front of her. “I heard your conversation with Dad yesterday. If you dare to mess with my father, I won't forgive you!”

“You should take a look at yourself, aren't you also a troublemaker? You want to file for divorce with your sister-in-law.”

“I'd rather be a widow than an ignorant child. You make my family go to the trouble of taking care of you, while you're the reason your family died.”

Belinda glared at her brother while clenching her fists tightly. “What evidence do you have to accuse me?”

“Let's see. My family hasn't put up with you for a long time. Let's see, if you don't get married this year, whether you'll be kicked out or not.”

Hearing her stepbrother's threat, Belinda finalized her thoughts and wanted to give Brandon an answer to his earlier offer. Tortured for years and slandered, she wanted to be free from the hell that strangled her every moment. 

*****

It didn't feel like today was the deadline to give Brandon the answer to her first assignment. Belinda asked Brandon to meet her in the campus park area which was quite quiet especially since they arrived early, just like on the first day of class. 

With a confident gaze, Belinda stood face to face with this handsome killer lecturer. 

“Are you ready to give me the answer?” Brandon asked. 

“Save me from hell, sir. Be my prince.”