Chapter 4
1083 Words
Barbara spun around at the sound of his voice.
Nathaniel stood only a few meters away, his commanding presence filling the room. Everything about him radiated authority, making it seem impossible to refuse him.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, completely bewildered.
"I said we're going to discuss our marriage." His answer was straightforward.
Barbara's eyes widened.
Marriage?
Had this man lost his mind?
Why would he want to marry her?
For heaven's sake, she was his nephew's ex-wife!
Nathaniel walked toward her with slow, confident strides. Only then did Barbara realize how intimidating he truly was.
Luke had always been considered tall, but Nathaniel towered over him. His shoulders were broader, his build stronger, and despite being Luke's uncle, there weren't many years between them.
"Shall we?" He asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Wait!" She quickly raised both hands. "You know who I am, don't you? Why would you ask me to marry you? If you're worried about what happened last night, you already said it yourself—we're both adults. I don't regret it, and I don't expect anything from you. Let's just pretend it never happened."
A faint smile curved Nathaniel's lips. "I don't care about last night." His tone remained calm. "What I need is a wife. My inheritance depends on it, and time is running out. You happened to be the woman I met. So I'm asking you."
Barbara fell silent.
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
After everything Luke had put her through, the last thing she wanted was to become involved with another member of the Stavros family.
"I'm sorry." She met his gaze steadily. “But I can't accept your proposal. You should ask someone else."
Nathaniel didn't seem surprised in the slightest. In fact, he looked as though he'd expected her answer. He simply nodded before reaching into his pocket. Taking her hand, he placed a sleek black business card in her palm.
"In case you change your mind… My number is on the card."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.
Barbara stared at the elegant gold lettering engraved across the card.
Nathaniel Stavros.
She was certain she'd never marry him.
Yet, for reasons she couldn't explain...
She slipped the card into her purse instead of throwing it away.
---
"Where have you been?!"
The moment Barbara stepped inside her apartment, Rhea rushed toward her.
"I've been worried sick! If you hadn't come home today, I was ready to report you missing!"
Barbara forced a tired smile. "I'm sorry. Something... happened."
She walked past her friend without another explanation.
Rhea frowned.
Barbara looked exhausted.
Her clothes were different from the ones she'd worn the night before. Something had definitely happened. But seeing the sadness in Barbara's eyes, Rhea decided not to ask.
---
After taking a quick shower, Barbara left the apartment again. Today, she was meeting the owner of a shipping company who had once been one of her late mother's closest friends.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ferrer." The company president sighed apologetically. "I'm afraid I can't accept your application."
Barbara's heart sank.
Two months.
She had spent two months applying to countless companies.
Every single one had rejected her.
This time...
She wanted an honest answer.
"May I ask why?"
The older man hesitated before letting out a heavy sigh. "To be honest, if the decision were mine alone, I'd hire you immediately. I know how talented you are. And I have no doubt you'd be a tremendous asset to my company."
Barbara frowned. "Then why refuse me?"
The man lowered his voice. "Because your ex-husband is far too powerful. I can't afford to have him target my business simply because I hired you. My employees depend on this company."
Barbara slowly clenched her fists.
So that was it.
Luke had been sabotaging her from the very beginning. No wonder every application ended in rejection.
Without wasting another second, Barbara headed straight for Oceana Shipping Lines. But before she could even enter the building, two security guards blocked her path.
"We're sorry, Ma'am Barbara," one of them said apologetically. "Mr. Luke instructed us not to allow you inside."
"I need to speak with Luke." Frustration crept into her voice. "This is my company!"
The guards lowered their heads.
"Please don't make this difficult for us. If you insist, we'll have no choice but to escort you away."
Barbara stared at them in disbelief. These were the same men who used to greet her respectfully every morning.
Now...
They wouldn't even let her through the front door. Just as she turned to leave, a luxurious black sedan pulled up in front of the building.
The rear door opened.
Luke stepped out.
Celine followed beside him.
Barbara watched as Luke gently helped Celine out of the car. The tenderness in his eyes had once belonged to her.
The moment he noticed Barbara, however, his expression turned icy. He strode toward her.
"What are you doing here?"
Barbara met his gaze without backing down. "Why did you do it?"
Luke stared at her for a moment before letting out a sarcastic laugh. "You mean your job applications?"
"Yes."
"I interfered."
Barbara's voice trembled. "Why, Luke?"
He smiled arrogantly. "Plain and simple. I wanted everyone to see that the great Barbara Ferrer—the woman everyone admired—was nothing more than a fool who fell into my trap."
He leaned closer. "And if you still don't understand… I never loved you. I used you to get your company. Now that you're no longer useful, you'll spend the rest of your life crawling in the dirt. You'll never climb back to the top again."
Before Barbara could react...
Luke shoved her.
She lost her balance and fell hard onto the concrete.
Celine immediately wrapped her arm around Luke's, looking down at Barbara with a smug smile before the two of them walked into the building together.
Barbara remained seated on the ground, her fists trembling with rage. She lifted her eyes toward the towering Oceana headquarters.
A Stavros had destroyed her life.
Perhaps...
Only another Stavros could help her rebuild it.
Slowly, she reached into her purse and pulled out the business card she had sworn she'd never use. Her thumb hovered over the number for only a second before she pressed the call button.
The line connected almost immediately.
"This is Barbara Ferrer." She took a deep breath. "I've changed my mind. I'm accepting your marriage proposal.”
- Writer
