Chapter 6. The proposal

Betty's POV

Sitting across from each other, I couldn’t bring myself to smile at him. He looked dead serious.

Who would like to smile at that facial expression? Not me.

He introduced himself earlier as Drake Lucas Del Fiore. Is he the Drake my mother mentioned the other day? If so, what does he want from me?

I cleared my throat, eyes still focused on him.

His deep blue eyes are captivating, matching the sky. His chiseled jaw, shapely lips, and long nose suit him well. A scar on his right eyebrow is real. His eyebrows met slightly, but it did not worry me.

My eyes were drawn to his arms, covered in tribal tattoos. He wore a dark rolled-up polo that showcased his muscles, which contrasted beautifully with his suntanned skin.

He cleared his throat, stopping me. I was about to look at him more when an old lady came in, holding snacks and placed them in front of us. I smiled at her, but she avoided eye contact, not even with Drake. Then she stepped back inside.

I inhaled nervously, biting my lower lip as I looked at all the delicious snacks in front of me.

"Drake?" I swallowed hard.

Hmm? He takes a sip of his warm drink. I didn't touch mine.

"Have you met my parents?"

"Yes…" He looks at my warm drink.

I look at it briefly, thinking they might have added some drug to it. I don’t want to drink it.

"Did you pay my father's hospital bills and everything?" My heart pounds as we look at each other. I'm frightened, but I try not to let him see it.

"Uh-huh…" He nods, slowly setting his cup down.

"And why are you doing this? I didn't know you. We haven't met before. Why introduce yourself as my pen pal to my parents?"

A slight smile drew into his lips.

"I just want it that way. You don't want to scare your parents, right... love?"

Love? What the. . .

My eyes widened a little, and my heartbeat climbed into my throat.

He smirked, rested his back on the seat, and looked at me intently.

The air was getting thick above us that I could no longer breathe. What is wrong with him? With these people? What do they want from me, and why me?

"What do you want from me, Drake?" Chin up, I look at him without fear.

He chuckles a little.

"You're so cute, my love. I like it when you feel the danger in me."

"W-What danger? I don't feel it." I shrug, and my eyes immediately flick to my warm drink. My throat is dry, and I want to drink, but I can't.

"Drink it while it's warm, Betty. There's no poison. I wouldn’t do that to you, my love."

My love? Heck. What's wrong with him? He's increasing my anxiety, and honestly, I drink it to cope. I no longer think about the danger because there's too much happening inside me that I can't explain.

Good God, that made me feel better now...

"Feeling better?" his voice sounds soft now.

"Yes, thank you."

I composed myself again and looked at him firmly.

"I know nothing comes for free, Drake. What do you want?"

Drake seems suspicious to me. He probably has some hidden agenda. He might not reveal his main objective now, but I will uncover it soon.

"Let's get down to business. I will provide everything you and your parents need. They will be looked after starting the day I met them."

"What do you mean by that?"

I can't tell what he wants. I know that he already paid my parents' debt and the hospital bills. What else is there to do?

"Be my wife. Let's get married. That's my proposal."

My jaw slightly parted, and everything around me froze.

Be his. . . What? Wife!?

I could no longer respond.

"We'll marry soon after your graduation. I will provide for you and your parents. Jet is finalizing a 10-hectare property near your parents' place, with a rice field, coconut plantation, and a decent-sized house they might like. Tomorrow, Jet will accompany them there. What do you think?"

What the. . . Are you kidding me?

I blink in disbelief. Is he for real?

"This is for real, Betty. I am real… we are real, my love." He sweetly smiles as he sips his drink again.

My hiccups strike, making my chest ache a little.

Darn it. Why?

"I need a drink," I say, drinking the whole tea. I can see him smiling. I inhale deeply and face him squarely.

"Are you in love with me?"

This is out of the blue. Drake is dangerously handsome. I mean, he's striking hot, and believe me, not a girl like me would be his type. I'm just. . . a nobody.

"Do a man and a woman need to be in love to get married, Betty?" His brow slightly raised.

"No. Of course, not!" I laugh slightly, finding the question silly. I look around and see Diego in the distance, watching us. When our eyes meet, he looks away and walks off.

"Are you interested in someone?" I swallow hard again. 

"Why do you ask? I'm interested in you. That's why I'm proposing marriage, Betty." 

"But you're not in love with me, right?" 

"Not." 

"Then, why?" 

"Because I want to. Don't ask me again why. So, what do you think?" His fingers tap on the table like a countdown. 

This can't be real. Am I dreaming? Oh, hell. 

.

cm louden