Novel & Cerita Predatory Marriage Chapter 22

“You didn’t jail me because I’m still useful, right? What’s next—my heart? Maybe my eyes?” He flinched like I’d spit venom. “As if anyone wants anything from your half-dead body.” He slammed a bowl of steaming ginseng soup onto the table beside me. “Mom and Dad found someone who’ll marry you. The Alpha of Golden Claw Pack’s on his way. Drink up. Try not to look like you’ve been dragged through a graveyard—we don’t need another scandal.” Marry? I looked down at myself—skin stretched over bones, scars crisscrossing everything. This wasn’t a marriage. It was a transaction.

And… A fellow she used to know. Elira stiffened. His voice was relaxed. "Elira. Haven't seen you in a while.". Her lips opened, but she remained silent. He drew nearer. "I need a favor." Her legs nearly buckled. "What… what kind of favor?" His eyes drilled into her. "A marriage. To me. One year. No strings. In return, I'll settle your debts, pay for your brother's treatment, and provide you with enough to begin anew." She blinked.

] [Objective: Prevent the marriage alliance. [Reward: Affection +10, Survival Points +5.] [Failure: Early removal from the story.] I wanted to scream. Of course. Of course the system would pick now to drag me into a billionaire marriage plot. Why couldn’t I just be an intern fetching coffee? Why did it always have to be “stop a corporate wedding or die trying”? I started inching toward the door, but before I could escape, I felt it — that sharp gaze. Dream was looking straight at me.

He touched his pudgy belly, and I wanted nothing to punch the living daylight out of him. “Mom! I have to meet a friend. I am going there, and she is in an emergency, so I will not be back for a few hours,” I said and turned on my heels like my feet were on fire. I have already sensed their intentions, and when that f*cker doubles the dowry price, I felt like they would do anything to trap me in this marriage, so for now, I have only left with one visible option. I know, It won’t be easy to survive with a cursed beast, but it would be way better than this predatory monster.

“You didn’t jail me because I’m still useful, right? What’s next—my heart? Maybe my eyes?” He flinched like I’d spit venom. “As if anyone wants anything from your half-dead body.” He slammed a bowl of steaming ginseng soup onto the table beside me. “Mom and Dad found someone who’ll marry you. The Alpha of Golden Claw Pack’s on his way. Drink up. Try not to look like you’ve been dragged through a graveyard—we don’t need another scandal.” Marry? I looked down at myself—skin stretched over bones, scars crisscrossing everything. This wasn’t a marriage. It was a transaction.

There were reasons why they were letting me marry this interesting man in front of me. "We can divorce once your father's project becomes successful." He said again. Then, he looked at the car that stopped behind his car. When Nikki went out, he looked once again at me before he entered his car and left. “Nikki,” I said when I felt Nikki standing behind me. “I think my life will be interesting now.” “What do you mean, Ma’am?” “I just got myself into an arranged marriage,” I said before I looked at him. “I guess I will be needing your help multiple times because of this.” I gave him a small smile before I started to walk toward the car.

The shape of my lips became a thin line from what he said and was afraid of what might happen next. "Do what you want to do! I don't care anymore!" I told him as I look directly into his eyes, I had enough so I am giving up. If I can't get him by hook or by crook then fine! I give up! My ultimate plan is to kidnap him and make him sign the marriage contract but I didn't expect him to know my plan as soon as possible and make a backup plan against me. Then Travis suddenly holds my jaw forcibly so I got no choice but to look at him in his face again.

In fact, I find myself smiling nervously, completely absorbed. "I've already thought about everything" she turns to me, still smiling like a child in a playground, and this is like a cold water bath in my trembling smile. "As soon as you are married, your parents will realize that your husband has no power over you, as they expect. And do you know why? Because your husband is someone you will be able to shape, precisely because that is his job. We saved this guy's life, now it's our turn to ask for help. It's a matter of agreement. As long as both in this deposit know their limits and motivations, there is no mistake. You, Suzy, and Hunter are getting married!” I want to throw myself out of

“This marriage was never a marriage of equals.” Aurora's heart skipped. "What do you mean?" Alexander's expression turned deadly serious. I believe that someone has been planning this," I thought. "...for years." **End of Chapter 6**

"You will be in it for the money. See him as a bank and the money he'd give you as a loan. He needs you for his own personal reasons and you need him. You're both using each other Lila, nothing is wrong with that." Lila shook her head at that. "Everything is wrong with it Ema." She said as he sat down on the couch. "I have dreamt of my marriage since I was a little girl. My husband would be madly in love with me and he'd be willing to worship the floor I walked on. And my children? I dreamt of having a lot of them. And some pets, a few dogs and a cat that would be the Queen of our house. A contract marriage is the complete opposite of that dream. Ema, I just can't."