Chapter 5 The agreement

While I was talking with Xian, he suddenly said something I couldn't believe. I assumed I had misheard him, so I asked him to repeat it. "W-wh-what? Wait, could you please repeat what you just said?"

"I said I like your weirdness, so I am offering to marry you and make you my wife."

I stood there, stunned, as it sank in that I had heard him correctly—this handsome man was actually proposing marriage to me. I pulled my hands away from his grasp and took a step back.

"W-wh-what are you talking about? What marriage? You want me to be your wife?" I asked, flustered.

"I don't think that will be a problem, since I learned just recently that your fiancé broke up with you," he stated.

I felt immediate shame that he knew about something like that, but I insisted to him that it wasn't that simple. "Even if my boyfriend and I have broken up, you can't just ask me to marry you."

"Why not?" he asked.

I couldn't believe I had to explain such things to him. I didn't know what kind of traditions vampires followed, but for me, our relationship needed to progress before he could ask me to marry him.

"Everything starts with friendship, then becoming a couple, and only when everything is okay can you ask a woman to marry you," I said.

He just sighed while listening to me. "I know about that, but that takes too long."

"Because that’s how it should be!" I replied.

"Look, I understand what you’re saying, but I can't wait another few years."

He mentioned that in just six months, he is due to marry his own arranged fiancé, and he could only stop it if he were married to someone else.

His family is one of the twelve vampire clans ruled by Dracula. Once he marries into an influential family, he will gain the title of "Dracula" and become the leader of the organization.

"Personally, I don't want to be the leader of the vampires or follow those traditions, so I need to find someone else to marry."

I was shocked by what I learned and asked if he was only asking me to marry him to escape his engagement.

"So, you’re just doing this to run away from your responsibilities? Tch."

He smiled, noticing my disappointment. "Are you disappointed? You're not even that pretty, you’re poor, and your boyfriend dumped you. I don't think there are any good qualities in you other than being a weirdo."

I was stunned, my cheeks flushing red as he called me a weirdo again. I felt irritated that he had the nerve to insult me.

"You have no right to insult me. Do you really think I’ll agree?"

"I think you will," he answered quickly.

"Ha! I’m truly amazed by your arrogance. Who do you even think you are? Just because you're handsome doesn't mean you can act like you own the world," I retorted.

He just smiled and took out his wallet to show me his ID. It displayed his name and his position.

"I am Colonel Xian Vladimir, 25 years old, owner of 60% of the shares in the Vladimir Company, and known as the youngest person to hold such a high rank in the military."

He showed me his calling card as the CEO of the Vladimir Company.

"My family runs the company, but I still hold the highest shares. I don't know much about business, but I am still a billionaire."

My hands trembled while holding his IDs. I realized that the man in front of me wasn't just handsome—he was a high-ranking military official and incredibly wealthy.

I looked at him, thinking that if I accepted his offer, I would never have to worry about money again.

"Wait, no, hold on. Why am I even thinking about that? It’s as if I’d agree to marry him just for his money," I whispered to myself.

I suddenly pushed his hand away and returned his IDs. "No. So what if you're rich? Does that mean because you have money, you can just ask any woman to marry you?"

I put on a brave face, boasting that I have dignity and pride, and that I couldn't be bought by anyone.

He sighed and clarified that he wasn't buying me. "Who said I was buying you? I'm trying to convince you to marry me," he replied coldly.

"It’s the same thing!" I shouted.

I explained that marriage isn't a simple matter; it requires two people to live together for the rest of their lives, bound to one another.

Marriage is important to women; they expect to be with someone they cherish—the man to whom they will dedicate their heart, mind, and soul.

"That’s why it’s important to know who you’re marrying. You can't just ask anyone to be your wife."

He sighed again and admitted that was exactly his problem. Even though he knew he had to find a wife, he was having a hard time because he didn't have any other female friends or even acquaintances.

I was surprised by his confession. "With how handsome you are, you don't have any other female friends? Is your personality really that bad?"

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he complained, "It's not my fault if I don't like them. The women around me are daughters from wealthy clans. I know all they want from me is my status as the eldest son of the Vladimir family."

He bragged that he didn't need friends because he could live perfectly fine without them.

I shook my head, seeing how proud he seemed to be about being anti-social, and told him he was just too suspicious of others, which was why he had no friends.

Xian looked ashamed after I scolded him. "You know, this is the first time I've ever said that to anyone, and you’re just going to lecture me?"

He pulled me toward his door, but before he could close it, I stopped him. "Wait a minute! Why are you kicking me out?"

"I already helped you twice, so I think that's enough. If you don't want to marry me, we have nothing left to talk about," he said coldly.

I blocked the door again and tried to force my way back in. "I'm not letting you in!" he said. "I can sue you for trespassing."

"Trespassing? My clothes are still in your bathroom, and are you seriously going to kick me out wearing nothing but a bathrobe?" I complained angrily.

He took his wallet and gave me a thousand pesos to buy clothes. I immediately refused, telling him I couldn't go to the mall in a bathrobe.

"And besides, aren't you a billionaire? Why are you only giving me a thousand? You claim you helped me, but this is all you’re going to give?" I added.

"No. If you want my help, agree to marry me."

He pulled my hand, pushed me against the wall, and slammed his palms against it on either side of me. As I leaned against the wall, he held my chin and spoke to me seriously.

"I don't care who you are or what the cost will be. I am ready to provide for all your needs if you agree to marry me."

My cheeks flushed as I stared at his incredibly handsome face. I couldn't help but be drawn into the beauty of his eyes. I knew it might be vampire magic, but he was just too captivating to watch.

"Oh my, I don't care if it's magic or not; my heart races whenever I look into his eyes."

I felt a thrill run through my entire body when he touched my cheek. I didn't understand it, but I felt an urge to kiss his lips.

"I found out that the Bolt family has lost their wealth and your boyfriend has turned his back on you. I am ready to take on the responsibility and give you a new life."

I suddenly looked down, clutching my chest when I heard that. It pained me to remember that I had lost everything, and in truth, I was in desperate need.

"You know, I'm struggling so much and I need help to start my life over. Perhaps my life really would change if I agreed to your offer, but for me, this feels wrong..." I said.

But while I was speaking, he suddenly kissed me on the lips, which left me completely shocked. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I immediately pushed him away. "W-wh-why did you kiss me?"

He immediately grabbed my hand and brought his face close to mine. He stared into my eyes while holding my cheeks. "There is nothing wrong with what we are going to do. I need you, and you need me. We will be together because we need each other."

"You need me?"

"You think we can't do this because we don't know each other, but we can get to know one another starting tomorrow, the next day, and so on, until we learn to love each other," he said tenderly.

Every movement of his hands made my skin crawl. I couldn't understand it, but his touch was incredibly electrifying.

A few moments later, he kissed my lips again. I tried to push him away, but I lacked the strength.

I felt an intense, pleasurable sensation. My body grew hot, and I could no longer bring myself to resist him.

He picked me up, carried me into his bedroom, and laid me on the bed.

Even though I knew what was happening, it felt as though I had no intention of stopping it.

As he climbed over me while I lay there, he kissed me again, over and over, as if he were enticing me.

He kissed my neck and slowly moved up toward my ear to whisper to me.

"Give yourself to me, and I will give you everything you need," he said, as he began to kiss me again, slowly.