5. Contract Marriage Agreement

"Tell me. What kind of crazy fate am I walking into right now?" Aslena muttered before the mirror in the private room. His face looked frustrated, a faint black color formed under his eyes, and his hair was messy.

This was something crazy—correctly, this driving Aslena crazy.

What really happened? Aslena tried to guess what had happened since the first time she met Benny: an accident which resulted in the death of both of her parents and it turned out that the CEO of the Henderson Group was responsible for the accident.

Then his father, who turns out to be hiding his identity as the owner of the Hudge Group, asks him to seize control of the Henderson Group company by marrying the CEO of that company, then last night... Aslena's second meeting with Benny which ends them kissing!

Everything that happened in just one week was completely beyond Aslena's expectations. As a result, as now, Aslena often looked at herself in the mirror with her temples propped up.

"I ... have to marry her?" Aslena returned to muttering under her breath. He shook his head in amusement and frustration. "How... how could I marry someone who killed both my parents?"

All right, Aslena knows that Benny wasn't the one who hit her parents' delivery car. But still. The car that crashed was the Anderson Group car and was under the control of the company's employees. But the worst thing is that Benny doesn't want to fully admit his guilt in the accident.

Aslena let out a rough breath. Can't imagine what it would be like if she had a relationship, let alone marriage, with Benny.

"Aissh!" Aslena ruffled her hair. "I haven't had time to accept that mom and dad died. Why did dad have to ask me something like that?"

Knock! Knock!

The bedroom door suddenly opened, revealing Halmey's figure peeking slightly. Halmey saw Aslena stop ruffling her hair and look at her with a frustrated expression on her face.

"Aslena," Halmey called, then stepped inside and paid a brief look. "What's wrong with you?"

"Ah..."

Feeling awkward, Aslena quickly fixed her hair again. Aslena immediately chuckled as if she didn't mind anything.

"Nothing," Aslena replied, pretending to brush her hair. "Just looking in the mirror. Why did auntie come suddenly?"

Halmey was amazed at Aslena's ridiculous sounding answer. However, not wanting to extend the topic, Halmey finally prepared to say something.

"Hey, like your father said about you having to get married..." Halmey broke off when he saw Aslena not seeming to listen. Then, Halmey took a deep breath. "Why does your face look so gloomy? Aren't you happy?"

Aslena didn't really want to say that planning to marry Benny was the worst idea. Because it was her father's idea, and Aslena would sound very rude if she thought her father was being ridiculous.

On the other hand Aslena also couldn't agree, even just nodding her head felt reluctant.

"Aslena. This is a request from your father. You know, his request is very important for the safety of your family, right?" asked Halmey who sounded like he was trying to persuade Aslena.

"Yes, Auntie. I know there's no reason for me to refuse the marriage, but..."

When Aslena couldn't continue, Halmey grabbed one of her nephew's shoulders. Halmey's shady gaze stared straight into Aslena's beady eyes that radiated worry.

"You feel doubt because you don't know him?" Halmey said slightly softly, as if trying to guess how Aslena was feeling.

Finally Aslena nodded her head. She couldn't give any argue.

"Indeed... he is a foreigner, but not someone bad in my opinion." Halmey then walked to Aslena's right side and sat on the edge of the bed. "He is the CEO of the biggest property company in New York. You won't be miserable with him."

"I wouldn't be miserable if I didn't marry him, Auntie," Aslena said.

Being confused for a moment, Halmey didn't take long to understand what Aslena meant.

"Yes, your father owns a real estate company. But your father's company is under threat, Aslena. You need someone like—"

"Auntie, why should I marry someone I don't love?" Unable to contain herself, Aslena cut Halmey off. Her tone sounded irritated.

Halmey was slightly taken aback when Aslena cut him off in an irritated tone. Instantly, the look on Halmey's face, which was originally calm, became irritated. The lines of irritation from holding back the irritation on her face Aslena was well aware of.

After exhaling slowly, Halmey then said, "Aslena, you've grown up. Why are you still selfish?"

Asleena was silent.

"It's not a matter of whether you marry someone you love or not. However, you are in charge of your father's company. Won't you do what he asks?"

However Aslena refused, she knew that in the end Halmey would still insist. After all, as an only child, it is appropriate to be the owner of the company after the father.

"Aslena, you have to listen to what I have to say..." then Halmey leaned her seat toward Aslena. "You must be responsible as your father's successor. Do you want your father's big company to go bankrupt?"

***

"So... you've also heard about our arranged marriage?"

Aslena ended up sitting across from Benny in a private room at a restaurant. To be honest, Aslena didn't know how to deal with a situation like this. Several hours ago, Halmey had urged him to meet Benny at a famous restaurant.

"Yes, and I can't agree on that at all," Aslena replied, ending with a rough sigh.

Benny was cutting his food steak. "Then, do you want to refuse? Or do something?"

"Enough. But I still end up here, in front of you." Aslena deliberately shows her annoyance to Benny. Even though Benny actually only responded by nodding his head while continuing to cut the steak.

"I will not refuse."

Asleena rolled her eyes. "How come? You're okay with it?" he asked, then laughed sarcastically. "My, was this bad idea from your grandpa to deliberately frame—"

Before Aslena finished her sentence, Benny suddenly put down the cutlery roughly. So that a sound like a slam instantly silenced Aslena.

"Don't just blame my grandfather. Your father also agrees," said Benny, making Aslena gulp down her saliva. "If you don't want to, don't continue with this. But you will definitely have to take the risk."

For a split second Aslena was silent. The sharp gaze that was highlighted from Benny's eyes had made his body as if locked. Why is Benny's aura so intimidating?

"You mean?" asked Aslena, just wanting to make sure whether Benny knew her intentions or not.

Wiping the corners of his lips on the right and left, Benny said, "I know you followed our arranged marriage for a reason. I don't know whatever it is. What is certain is that the reason is important and if you refuse this match, you are taking a big risk."

What is this? Why is Benny acting as if he knows everything?

Aslena burst out laughing. Just short. Before the look on his face changed to satirize Benny implicitly.

"How can you say that? Hey, you're a psychic?" sneered Aslena.

Benny frowned. He clearly knew Aslena trying to mocking him.

"No. You're ... too easy to read," replied Benny.

Aslena immediately stopped laughing, while Benny secretly smiled crookedly.

"Fine. Since we both don't really want this match, I'll give you a letter of agreement." Benny then held out an envelope of documents to Aslena, placed it in the middle of them, and held out the envelope of documents.

Aslena watched for a moment, doubtful and suspicious as to what the deal Benny had made had been. On the other hand Aslena was also curious. Is anything in this envelope a lucrative deal?

"Don't worry, nothing set you up," said Benny as if he understood Aslena's thoughts.

In the end Aslena was forced to remove the contents of the document envelope. Aslena took out a piece of paper and immediately read the caption at the top. Written in capital letters and bold.

'CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT'

Aslena was of course shocked. What does contract marriage mean?!