Chapter 4

Victoria let out a cold laugh and said nothing more.

Exposing Kelsey was pointless anyway. Maybe Levi simply enjoyed feeling needed.

Muttering that it was impossible, Levi turned and left.

He was going to Kelsey's school to see with his own eyes that she was really hurt and not lying to him.

As for Victoria, he wasn't worried.

With her high standards, she'd never fall for this old guy.

As soon as Levi was gone, Larry, who'd been watching the show from across the table, finally came to his senses.

"Ms. Larsen, that guy was your ex, right? Sounds like he's hooked up with your sister, too? You can't trust a playboy like that. A loyal man like me is a better fit for you..."

After being rejected, Larry had felt a bit humiliated.

But when her trashy, cheating ex popped up, his confidence came right back.

Could a young, handsome man put food on the table? All they did was cheat and fool around!

A mature, steady man like him was far more reliable.

As he spoke, he couldn't help reaching out to stroke the smooth, fair back of her hand...

No wonder men liked young women until the day they died. Such a fresh face, such smooth skin... it was enough to drive a man wild...

At the touch of his greasy hand, a wave of nausea welled up in her. Victoria jerked her hand back, her face going cold.

"Mr. Owen, please keep your hands to yourself. I'm sorry, but this blind date is over. We're not a good fit."

Seeing her stand up to leave, Larry panicked.

How could he let a meal this close to his mouth fly away?

"You're not leaving! Your mom already took a 2,800-dollar deposit from me. You're mine now!"

After seeing Victoria's photo, Larry had been instantly smitten and immediately told Rhonda he could offer a 70,000-dollar bride price.

Afraid he'd back out, Rhonda had said with a smile, "Mr. Owen, my daughter isn't just pretty, she's sensible and capable too. Whoever marries her is a lucky man!

"I've lined up several more blind dates for her. If you don't show some sincerity, I can't guarantee which one she'll end up choosing, now can I?"

Larry thought she had a point, so he transferred her 2,800 dollars on the spot as a deposit.

Rhonda had grinned from ear to ear and promised not to set Victoria up with anyone else.

Hearing that her parents had sold her off for a mere 2,800 dollars, Victoria was so furious she could have spit blood.

"The person who took your deposit is my mom. Go find her!"

She grabbed her purse and turned to leave, but Larry immediately reached out a fat, meaty hand and clamped it on her bare shoulder. "You think you can just walk away? You took my money, so you belong to me..."

His rough, calloused fingers kept rubbing the smooth skin beneath them, and his greedy eyes roamed all over her body.

"Let go of me!" Pinned firmly by the shoulder, Victoria flushed red with anger. His slimy touch and leering eyes made her want to throw up.

She'd never imagined this old pervert would dare grope her in broad daylight in a public place.

The next second, a large hand appeared out of nowhere and violently wrenched back the hand on her shoulder. She heard a sharp crack, the sound of a bone breaking.

Immediately after, Larry let out an agonized howl. "Argh! Who the hell dares lay a hand on me?"

He looked up, and a tall, lean man with a cold, hard face filled his vision.

The man had sharp brow bones and gave off a terrifying, violent aura that swallowed Larry whole.

Larry's voice dropped, trembling a little. "W-who are you?"

Jax's voice wasn't loud, but the pressure behind it was overwhelming. "Get lost!"

This man clearly wasn't someone to mess with. A wise man knows when to retreat, so Larry clutched his broken arm and slunk off, grimacing in pain.

Victoria hadn't yet recovered from the shock. She stood up in a daze and looked at the man who'd come to her rescue. "Thank you."

In an instant, the violent aura vanished from him, replaced by warmth and gentleness.

"I happened to witness your blind date just now, and I'm sorry you met someone so unworthy. As it happens, my family has been pressuring me to get married recently, so I hope you'll consider me."

There wasn't a trace of flippancy or arrogance in his tone, only sincerity and earnestness.

Victoria came back to herself and nodded. "All right."

That morning, her mother had made it clear that if things with Larry didn't work out, she'd keep setting Victoria up on more blind dates.

She didn't want to meet any more of those losers.

And the man in front of her clearly wasn't someone who'd ever be on the dating market.

He was tall and straight-backed, probably close to six foot three, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, chiseled features, and a jawline so perfect it looked sculpted.

He was the polar opposite of that balding, potbellied middle-aged man.

And it wasn't just his looks. Even his character seemed decent.

Just now, when that old man had been groping her, everyone around had just watched the drama unfold. No one had stepped up to help her.

Only this man had swooped in out of nowhere to save her.

The way he'd moved, swift and ruthless, had been so cool that she'd been a little dazzled.

Victoria earnestly launched into the blind-date routine. "Let me introduce myself first. I'm twenty-seven this year. I work at a marketing planning firm and make 4,500 dollars a month.

"My family is pretty ordinary. I have two younger siblings, and my father is paralyzed and in a wheelchair..."

When she finished, she glanced nervously at the man across from her.

Someone in her situation wasn't exactly a hot commodity on the marriage market. Most families would mind her background.

But his expression didn't change in the slightest. He just nodded and began his own introduction. "I'm twenty-nine this year. I work at Titus Group, and I have a car and a house.

"My family is pushing me hard. If you're willing, we can get married right now."

If he had to get married, he'd rather marry a woman who looked like Rose.

Titus Group?

That was the big-name company every young person was clamoring to get into.

If he worked at Titus Group, he must be highly capable, with a stable income.

He was handsome and had a great job. He could have any woman he wanted, so why would he marry her after just one meeting?

Victoria was thinking it, and before she knew it, she'd asked it aloud.

The man said calmly, "Because I feel like I've known you forever."

He said he felt like he'd known her forever, yet his face remained cool and distant.

But that was exactly what put Victoria at ease.

It made her believe he wasn't a bad person, just someone like her, pressured so hard by his family to marry that he urgently needed a marriage partner.

If he'd been all over her like Larry, she would've wanted to get away from him.

Victoria nodded. "All right. Let's get married now."