Chapter 3

Rhiannon was shocked to hear the words that came from the man's mouth.

"What makes you think that I would get married? To you especially?" she asked as she tried her best to stay calm.

Amused by her cute angry face, the man said with a wicked smile on his face," Why won't you? Aren't I your greatest benefactor? I saved your life. If it weren't for me, you would have been dead by now."

"Yes, you are but I will pay you instead. How can I get married to a stranger just because he saved my life?" she asked since to her the man was not been reasonable.

"I saved your life, can't that be enough reason to want you to also save my life?"

"But you aren't dying, are you?" she asked curiously since she could tell that the man was so fit and couldn't be suffering from any terminal disease.

"How would you know if you won't accept my offer?" he asked as he wondered why the woman was still refusing his offer.

He looked at himself through his phone's screen wondering whether he wasn't good-looking anymore. Even if his asking her to marry him was just a joke, he thought that any woman would have thrived to hear such a proposal from him since he neither lacked the physical appearance nor money. Seeing the woman still refusing, something ignited in him making him doubt himself and want to do anything to tie the woman with him since he could tell that she wasn't materialistic even if she just lost everything she had. No one would understand the power struggle between people in rich families more than him.

"My answer is still no," she answered firmly, making the atmosphere between them become suddenly cold.

They stared at each other's eyes as if they were competing who would be able to maintain the stare even after a while longer.

"Why?" he asked in a whisper and even though Rhiannon was far, she still heard him as the room was so silent and they were the only ones present.

"Cause I don't even know you. What if you have bad intentions?" she asked him.

The world had just taught her a lesson and there was no way she was going to make the same mistake twice. Falling in love was currently out of the question to her. All she wanted was to make those who tried to kill her face the music.

"I have no bad intentions. Do you think that if I wanted to hurt or kill you, I would have saved you yesterday?" he asked her. 

"Who knows? Maybe you were watching me from a distance as you waited for me to approach you so that you would have the best opportunities to harm me," she said coldly since to her nothing is impossible and people weren't trustworthy.

He looked at her in disbelief and his face turned into seriousness since he couldn't blame her. Anyone would be like her after facing whatever she just faced.

"Do you think I am that stupid? Following you? Where would I get that time? And if I was. They had locked you in the house and set it on fire, if I wanted to harm you, I would have done everything possible to avoid you from running away if I was observing you," he said angrily cause the woman was getting on his words.

Hearing his explanations, Rhiannon had to admit that what he said was true but that did not mean that she was still convinced that they should get married.

"Can't you just say yes? Did you say that you will do anything I ask for just to repay the kindness?" he asked as he stared at her.

"I don't even know your name. How can I say yes to your request?" she asked but inside, she was trembling cause she knew that the man had a point. If I don't repay the kindness then what will happen if one day I am in danger and he is the only one present to help me? Will he help me? Even she could never help such a person who never returns kindness and keeps her promises.

"Have you ever heard of something called, marriage first, love later?" he asked with no emotion since he felt that if he fell in love with the woman, he might be crazy. He didn't even have time for relationships since he was always busy.

"Why are you asking for this in return? It's a very difficult thing to do, why can't you ask for any other thing apart from that?" she asked curiously.

"Cause I need a wife," he said with no room for negotiation.

Gritting her teeth, she asked angrily, " Do I have another choice?"

"No," he said coldly. There was no way that he was going to let her go when he needed a wife urgently.

"Fine," she said as she turned around.

"Good, first get rest so that you may recover then we will go to the courthouse tomorrow and you will bring all your documents," he said as he closed his laptop and later put it in a bag that was beside him.

"Uhm, about that, can you please arrange a new phone for me? I will pay you back. I just need to call back home to get my stuff," she explained since she didn't want to be misunderstood.

"My secretary will bring it later. I will be leaving for now I will be back to check on you as I will you some dinner," he said softly.

"Okay," she replied immediately since she couldn't wait for him to leave her alone.

"And don't think of running away as you will regret it if you do," he said in a serious tone as his eyes were looking at her coldly.

Rolling her eyes, she couldn't believe the man but she couldn't deny the fact that that thought had appeared in her mind. After all, who ever wants to get married to a total stranger? Not knowing his family, occupation, however, or even a name?

"I heard you well, sir," she said sarcastically, making the man raise his eyebrows at her.

When the guy left, Rhiannon took the remote and started searching for favorable shows to watch as she waited for the phone. Getting bored of the shows since they weren't interesting to her, she soon fell asleep.

"Ma'am," she heard someone calling out and she forced herself to open her eyes.

"What?" she asked as she recognized the man as the person who had previously left with the doctor.

"This is for you. It is a new cellphone with a new line for now maybe you will replace your line when you get your ID later," he said as he handed her the branded white paper bag.

"Thank you but there is no need for that now. You may leave," she told him as she looked at the things which were bought for her.

Taking the phone and switching it on, she didn't install various apps first but dialed the number that she had memorized since she was a child.

After a couple of rings, the phone was picked up.

"Hello," a cracking voice said on the other side.

"It's me," she said.