Time was already running out, and I needed to meet up before the commencement of the wedding.
"I wouldn't let fear get the best of me; I will meet with him, and that is final."
I thought to myself.
I got up from my bed, went to take a shower, and then walked straight to my closet.
I picked my straw-stapled dress.
It was the dress my mom crocheted when she was still alive.
I had already called Marya and told her where I was going.
I headed straight to my dad's room.
I didn't even understand his condition any longer,
But I knew he would get better after I got married.
I went to him, held his hands, and requested to meet with my husband before the wedding.
He approved my request by nodding and was about to give me his phone to get his contact,
But I told him I had already gotten his contact and was going to meet him.
I stared at him for a long time before stepping out of the house.
I drove my car to the location that that man sent to me.
"At least, I would meet him, understand him, and learn more about him."
I thought to myself.
I asked him why he wanted to marry me, and finally, I set some rules.
Since I wasn't getting married out of my own free will.
I was rehearsing what I was going to say when I got there,
Despite having a little bit of fear within.
I finally got to the destination after minutes of driving.
I alighted from the car and let out a sigh.
Finally, I was here.
I was more desperate than ever to see who my so-called husband was.
I sent a message through the same number he used to tell him I was there already.
Immediately, a bodyguard of his came to get him.
When I saw the bodyguard with a lot of workers from the restaurant, I greeted him.
That was when I realized I was dealing with a serious billionaire.
I began to pick the dots and arrange them.
"So was that why he said he would get married to me to help my dad's business?"
"So, he could use me as his slave or what?"
I grew so furious.
I went inside the restaurant alongside the bodyguard in anger.
When I went in, his appearance surprised me.
I never imagined or expected him to look so handsome.
His looks captivated me.
My anger faded a bit when I saw his.
"At least, he was handsome," I said to myself.
Although he looked handsome, there was something off about his appearance.
There was something weird and off about him, which unsettled me.
I was still trying to observe why he looked strange,
That was when I noticed his long stare.
He introduced himself as Jackson Mark.
I also introduced myself as Flora Wilson, the daughter of Mr. Wilson.
He requested me to sit, ordered a few things, and asked for my order.
But I refused to order a thing.
He told the waiter to get me a bottle of water and a drink.
"I already told you I was fine, so you didn't need to order anything for me." I said with a cutting tone!
"I know you might not need it now, but you would need it later," he said, a smirk spreading across his face.
"What an arrogant man." I said in a low voice.
"What was that?" He asked.
"Oh! It was nothing, actually. How nice you are.
So, I said, "Such a nice man."
He smiled and thanked me.
I could sense he was blushing.
"Such a fool," I thought.
"So let us get to the business of the day. You know today is the wedding, so we need to be fast in our discussion." He said.
He paused for a while and continued,
"As you know, I want to help your dad, and in the process, I wanted to get married to you.
I didn't want to get married to you because I love you or anything.
It would be a contract marriage.
I know you also didn't want the marriage,
so I assure you there wouldn't be any form of love between us.
The contract would last for three years.
If you have anything to say, you could say it.
I sat there, devastated and in shock.
"Who the hell is this man?" I thought to myself.
I lost myself in my thoughts for a while before I could finally say something.
I cleared my throat and spoke with confidence.
"Can we change the contract duration from 2 years to 3 years?"
I didn't want to live with that man for long,
I thought to myself.
I told him about myself and my parlor.
I gave him quite a few rules and said things I would and wouldn't do.
I asked him a very deep question,
"Why did you want to marry me?"
I was expecting a very deep and different reason from the one he gave earlier,
But it seemed to be the same thing instead.
He said he wanted to get married to me because he wanted to save Mr. Wilson's business, which was my dad's.
He said the marriage served obvious business purposes.
He also made it clear that it wasn't his intention to get married to me in the first place.
"What has my dad's business got to do with me?"
I thought.
He said a lot of things and gave a lot of rules about the contract.
I grew so furious that I couldn't look him in the face anymore.
I got up and said to him.
"The wedding would begin or start in an hour's time, and I needed to prep for it.
"It would be best for us to go home now".
As I was about to leave the restaurant, a lady walked in.
I recognized the lady at once and felt surprised when she appeared.
She glared at me and Jackson.
"Who was this woman exactly?"
I lost myself in my thoughts.
I couldn't help but look at her while she stared at
us with intense focus.
In my shocked state, I turned to Jackson and found out he was always staring at her with shock on his face.