Chapter 7: Negotiation

What kind of question is this? How could a lecturer ask a student about a love affair? Of course, Belinda was surprised to hear it and wanted to protest. 

“Why are you suddenly asking?” asked Belinda, raising her head haughtily. 

“I have to know whether you have a girlfriend or not!” Brandon replied in a bitchy tone. 

Hearing the handsome lecturer's tone as if burning with jealousy, Belinda had a nosy idea. Her fingers stroked the soft cheek in front of her and revealed a spoiled smile. “So what if I already have a boyfriend?”

Brandon gave her a glare. “So you really have a boyfriend?!”

Belinda groaned in annoyance as she pushed her fiancé's body with all her might. “What's wrong with you? Where did you hear the rumor that I have a boyfriend!”

Brandon actually wanted to tell her the truth about what he saw on campus. Obviously peeking in the classroom doorway watching the scene of his fiancée making out with a handsome student. Plus the classmates' gossip was so loud outside of class, Brandon really didn't like hearing that gossip and felt like blowing all those students away. It was as if his heart wouldn't allow him to act as a usurper or not want his fiancée to be taken by another man. 

“Yes, just imagine! If you really already have a boyfriend, then I'm a womanizer! I don't want to be a womanizer, I'll get fired!”

Hearing this killer lecturer's reasoning beyond reason, Belinda laughed contentedly while holding her stomach until her face turned red. Seeing her fiancé's laughing style as if he was mocking her made the handsome lecturer's blood pressure rise. 

“Why are you laughing? What's so funny?”

“I didn't expect a two-door refrigerator lecturer to be jealous.” Belinda vented more laughter as she rolled around on the sofa. 

A blush lit up Brandon's cheeks. “It's good that I'm jealous!”

Belinda positioned herself to sit gracefully while smoothing her beautiful hair a little. “I don't have a boyfriend yet, sir. If I had a boyfriend, there's no way I would marry Mr. Brandon.”

Hearing that answer made Brandon a little relieved. However, on the other hand, he was still curious whether his fiancée was really telling the truth or not. Then, who was the student he saw this afternoon? If they were just friends, why did they seem to have such a close relationship as if they were more than best friends? 

Seeing the killer lecturer's unusually agitated face, Belinda wanted to try to cheer him up, even though she didn't know what was the main factor in the lecturer suddenly showing an agitated side. Showing a sweet smile while extending her right hand that was pinned with a proposal ring. 

“You don't need to be jealous. Relax, I'm not lying. I'm actually looking forward to our marriage.”

Initially wanting to snap again, his heart melted at the sweet smile displayed by his fiancée. Brandon felt his cheeks warm slightly while controlling his fast-paced heartbeat. 

Still, his attitude was like a refrigerator still burning at the way his fiancée had behaved since their first meeting until now. Flashing a sardonic smile while grasping her fiancé's hand. “Since you're already confident and can't wait for our wedding, how about we make a deal?”

Belinda made a sullen face as she folded her arms across her chest. “Didn't you say this morning that you don't want to get married using a contract? What do you want?”

“An agreement doesn't have to be in writing! Verbally enough!”

“How fierce!” Belinda looked away in annoyance. “What's the deal?”

“You can't be alone with another man!”

Belinda twisted the ball while stifling a giggle. “You're jealous again.”

“I'm not jealous, it's for my own good and yours. If you cheat on me and our relationship is discovered on campus, do you want to be rumored to be cheating on your lecturer? Especially since the lecturer who teaches you is the dean's nephew.”

Belinda looked away again. “Relax, I won't be alone with another man.”

“Alright, then the next agreement is that you must take strict care of my mother. Don't let anyone know my mom's identity. Only you and I know.”

Talking about why Brandon wanted to get married in order to protect his mother from threats, Belinda became curious about Brandon's family background. Why would Mrs. Yenny, who had a loving attitude, want to be killed by someone? And why would Brandon desperately hide his biological mother in a remote hospital? What is really going on? Will his own life also be threatened one day in order to become Ms. Yenny's guardian angel? 

“I can keep a secret, just trust me.” Belinda made a show of locking her lips tightly together. 

Brandon chuckled. “Okay, I trust you, Belinda. So, now it's your turn. What do you want from me?”

Belinda smiled slyly as she hugged the small pillow tightly. “I want us to sleep separately after marriage.”

“Who said we're sleeping in the same room? Don't expect it! I will prepare a special bedroom for you.”

“Don't forget a soft bed, study table, dressing table, soft pillows too, oh and a bookshelf and everything is provided anyway.”

Hearing his fiancée's many requests made Brandon want to vent his frustration. His sharp eyes already reflected that he was annoyed with his fiancée for asking so much of him. 

“It's like I'm adopting a kid who wants a lot!”

“You want to marry me. Surely you should have considered that!”

Brandon rolled his eyes. “Yes, I'll get everything ready, Princess.”

Brandon suddenly had a brilliant idea come to his mind. Snapping his fingers, he flashed a witty smile. “Belinda, actually-”

“It's late, sir! Let's talk about it tomorrow!” cut in Belinda as she looked up at the nine o'clock wall clock. 

Brandon didn't want to let his fiancée go home late at night. He took the initiative to take his fiancée home, although he was disappointed to have to postpone an important matter that had not yet been discussed. 

*****

Belinda walked heavily into her stepfamily's luxurious home, after a brief goodbye to her fiancé. Having just stepped into the living room, she was greeted by her stepsister drinking a bottle of wine. 

“You're home at last,” greeted her stepsister in a tone that began to falter, making Belinda flinch. 

“How was the divorce hearing today, Natasha?” replied Belinda dryly, not really wanting to talk to her stepsister. 

Natasha poured herself a glass of wine with an insane smile. “I finally got rid of that asshole.” For a moment her gaze focused on her half-sister. “By the way, you don't usually come home so late these days. What have you been doing?”

Belinda looked away. “You don't need to know about that. I want to rest.”

Natasha's eyes focused on a shining diamond ring on her half-sister's ring finger. Immediately putting down the wine bottle, she ran over and grabbed her half-sister's right hand roughly. 

“What are you doing?!”

“Since when did you wear this expensive ring? Did you steal it?”

Belinda shot a glare. “I'm being proposed to!”

Natasha rounded her eyes while gracefully covering her wine-smelling mouth. “Really? You finally obeyed! What about that family? Did you marry into a rich family?” She snapped her fingers for a moment. “Wait a minute! Considering your bookish character, it's impossible for a rich man to marry a stiff girl like you.”

Belinda flashed a confident smile. She wanted to laugh at Natasha for underestimating her in the first place. If Natasha knew the real facts, she would probably faint, was the image in Belinda's mind. 

“Sister, don't underestimate me. I actually married a rich and mature man.”

Natasha raised her head haughtily. “Tell me his name. If you know him, I know him. I know almost every rich guy.”

“Brandon.”

Hearing the familiar name and feeling like she had just met him moments ago, Natasha squinted. “Wait! What's Brandon's long name?”

“If I tell you his long name, will you recognize him?”

“Just tell me his full name!”

“Brandon Jonathan.”

“Arrghh!”

Hearing Natasha's scream echo throughout the house, her mother and father came out of their room and went straight to their daughter. They still didn't know what had made their daughter go crazy at night. 

“What's wrong with you, Natasha?” asked her mother with a worried look. 

Natasha gave a sharp look as she held out an index finger pointing at her half-sister. “She took Brandon away from me, mom.”

Her mother frowned. “What are you talking about? Speak clearly!”

“Belinda wants to marry Brandon, Mom! The guy I arranged a blind date with a few days ago!”

Xavier's gaze immediately glared at Belinda who started to get scared into a cold sweat. “I want you to get married. But that doesn't mean taking him away from your sister!”

Belinda tried to hold back her tears until her eyes turned red. “I swear I didn't know that Brandon was the man my sister wanted to marry.”

“You ignorant child! We've given you so much over the years, but you're so selfish to take what belongs to your brother!”

“But-”

Without further ado, Natasha pulled her half-sister's right hand up the stairs to the second floor. Dragging her sister roughly into the room while throwing a backpack. 

“You can't leave the room until you admit your mistake!”