Marry To My Arch-nemesis

Chapter2

Marriage?!

Cough——

Isabella was almost choked by her own saliva.

She had considered that Dominic might want to retaliate against her, humiliate her.

Perhaps even demand that she become his lover, his bedmate.

But she never expected that the condition Dominic proposed would be like this.

“But…”

“You don’t want to?”

“No, it’s just… if we get married, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”

He’s the renowned Wall Street tycoon, Dominic.

Not to mention the Kingsley family, his own assets are already quite substantial.

In marriages of wealth and luxury, the first consideration is always mutual benefit.

Even in the prime of the Isabella family, they couldn’t compare to the Kingsley family.

Moreover, she is now penniless and burdened with debt.

Isabella wouldn’t be so conceited to think that he would marry her for her looks.

And even if it were just about looks.

With Dominic’s level of attractiveness, if he wanted to get married, willing girls would probably line up to the hotel door.

"Only through marriage can we be a mutually beneficial entity. Only then can I believe this is not a trap set by you, and…"

Dominic lifted his right hand, gently wiping off the lipstick on the corner of his lips with his thumb.

His lips curved slightly, a smile both roguish and mischievous.

“I like the color of your lipstick!”

Isabella’s heart raced urgently.

How does this man seamlessly switch between ruffian and gentleman?

Buzz——

The phone vibrated.

Isabella snapped back to reality, picked up her fallen purse, and retrieved her phone.

On the screen, a call from driver James was displayed.

“Miss Hartwell, please come back quickly.”

“What happened?”

“The bank people are here; they want to seal the house.”

“I’ll be back right away.”

After hanging up, Isabella looked into Dominic’s eyes.

“I need to think about it.”

Dominic walked over, picked up her fallen coat from the floor, and draped it over her shoulders.

He helped her fasten the coat, covering the exposed chest where he had loosened her sweater.

Two fingers held a business card, slipping it into her coat pocket.

Dominic stepped back two paces, lazily leaning on the office desk with his long legs.

“I’ll give you twenty-four hours.”

Isabella hurriedly left the guest room and returned to the old mansion of the Hartwell family.

Entering the living room, she indeed found several bank employees.

The leader, whom she recognized, was Manager Johnason from Pinnacle National Bank.

Previously, he was a frequent visitor to the house, bringing gifts on special occasions.

Each time he saw her before, Manager Johnason would smile like a flower.

Now, he wore a stern expression, adopting a superior attitude.

"Miss Hartwell, we are just doing our duty."

"According to the court's judgment, there are still three days until the final repayment deadline. Even if you're here to repossess the house, please come back in three days."

"Miss Hartwell!" Manager Johnason sneered, "Even if I give you another thirty days, there's no way you can come up with fifty million. Why bother?"

Smack—

Isabella delivered a resounding slap to Manager Johnason's chubby face.

"Get out of my house!"

"Do you dare to hit me?"

Manager Johnson, holding his bleeding lip, was about to retaliate.

Driver James rushed over, shielding Isabella.

"Who dares to touch Miss Hartwell?!"

"Wanna fight?"

"I'll teach you a lesson!"

...

Several bank employees gathered in a semicircle.

Isabella grabbed James' arm, trying to pull him behind her.

"Hold it!"

At the door, a stern voice rang out.

Hearing the familiar voice, Isabella frowned in disgust.

Without turning around, she knew who it was.

Gray suit, golden-rimmed glasses...

Entering the living room, Maximilian Ryder still maintained his usual refined demeanor.

He walked over, his handsome face showing a slight displeasure.

"Manager Johnason, won't you even give me a face?"

Seeing Maximilian, Manager Johnason dropped his arrogant demeanor and put on a smiling face.

"Mr. Ryder, we are just doing our duty. Well, for Mr. Ryder's sake, we'll give you a few more days. If the money is not repaid in three days, don't blame us for taking action."

The group left, slamming the door behind them.

Maximilian turned to Isabella, reaching out to support her arm.

"Isabella, are you okay?"

Isabella took a step back, avoiding his hand.

"Get out!"

"Isabella, I know you're still angry with me. I also have my difficulties..."

Difficulties?

"Blaming all the mistakes on my brother, is that your difficulty?"

"Isabella, these things were originally done by your brother. I can't lie to the police, can I? Isabella, I'm serious about you. As long as you hand over the Unity Holdings shares, I can help you plead with my parents and the board of directors..."

Being serious about her meant causing her family's ruin?

"That's enough!" Isabella coldly interrupted him. "Maximilian, even if I die, I won't let Unity Holdings Group fall into your hands."

"Isabella..."

Isabella grabbed an ashtray and threw it at him.

"Go away!"

Maximilian stepped back, and the ashtray grazed his forehead, landing heavily on the floor.

"I know you're angry right now. Whatever I say, you won't listen. When you calm down, we can talk again."

Maximilian raised his hand, wiped the cut on his forehead, and placed the paper bag he was holding on the coffee table.

"I brought you some food; eat while it's hot."

Putting the paper bag on the tea table, he turned and left. Isabella sneered, "Take your garbage with you!"

Maximilian glanced at her and walked out the door.

"Miss Hartwell, don't mind those scoundrels. Come...sit down first."

Driver James supported Isabella's arm, helping her sit on the sofa, his eyes full of concern. In just a month, her cheekbones had become thinner. An originally slender person seemed to be on the verge of collapsing with a slight breeze.

"Are you hungry? I'll make something for you."

Isabella shook her head, "No need, James."

At this moment, she has no mood to eat.

"Preserving the green mountains is crucial, no fear of no firewood." James consoled softly, "No matter what, you still need to eat. At this time, you can't afford to collapse. I'll make you a cup of hot milk."

Sighing, James turned and walked into the kitchen.

Isabella stood up from the sofa, took off her coat, and walked into the bathroom, splashing her face with cold water. The bank wouldn't come to repossess the house in the middle of the night.

Coincidentally, Maximilian happened to show up.

Such a coincidence is undeniably too obvious. Maximilian's motive in doing this is nothing more than to force her to surrender the shares of Unity Holdings Group in her possession.

Isabella grabbed a towel, vigorously wiped her face, and in the mirror, her face was revealed, adorned with numerous rose-colored hickeys on her neck.

Thinking about the ambiguous entanglement with Dominic in the guest room just now, Isabella's pale face unconsciously blushed. During their time in Meadowbrook High School, all three of them attended.

At that time, Isabella was in junior high, while Dominic and Maximilian were in senior high.

Back then, Dominic and Maximilian were arch-enemies.

On the eve of the college entrance examination, the two once had a fight on the playground. Due to that fight, Maximilian suffered two broken ribs and was hospitalized for three months. Dominic was expelled from school, missed the college entrance examination, and went abroad for further studies and development.

Considering the past, he had sufficient reasons for revenge against Maximilian.

The enemy of my enemy is at least a temporary ally.

With the Hartwell family in decline, everyone would stand on Maximilian's side.

With her alone, she had no way to confront Maximilian.

Now, she needed an ally— a powerful one.

With determination, Isabella walked out of the bathroom. From the coat pocket, she took out Dominic's business card. Isabella stared at the string of numbers for a moment, then input them one by one into her phone.

"I agree, but... with a deadline of one year."

At the other end of the call, Dominic's tone remained calm, revealing no hint of emotion.

"See you tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. at the entrance of the Marriage License Bureau."