Not the Wife He Wants

Chapter 4. Angela

Angela's POV

Life is indeed full of surprises. Who would have thought that my cousin's boyfriend is now chasing after me to become his wife? If his intentions were sincere because he loved me, I might feel flattered because, in my opinion, Rick is not bad-looking, even though he's a bit old. He looks okay, and most importantly, he always smells good, and I like men who smell nice.

Unfortunately, behind his intention to marry me, there is a very evil motive. Even thinking about it makes my heart ache. I feel like a worthless woman whose status is being manipulated for personal gain.

This afternoon, I finally gave in and got into Rick's car because my head was spinning. My body also had a slight fever. It seems like I haven't been getting enough sleep and have been studying too much lately. Besides, I have a lot on my mind, one of which is this annoying marriage.

"You haven't eaten?" Rick asked, and I didn't intend to answer. "You cheeky girl, if you don't answer, I can assure you that I will be very annoying." He threatened.

"Not yet, Uncle," I replied curtly.

"In that case, let's eat first." He decided on his own without asking. But I was too dizzy to argue, so I just stayed silent and closed my eyes to endure the headache.

"We're here, come on, get out!" He said when I felt the car he was driving stop. I opened my eyes heavily and then followed him into a fancy restaurant where there were private rooms that could be booked. "What do you want to eat? We should eat first before talking much." Rick said again. My head really hurt, and my eyes felt a bit heavy.

"Anything as long as it's not spicy, Uncle." I replied weakly, and it seemed he noticed my sickly change, so he approached and placed his palm on my forehead, surprising me.

"Are you sick, Angela?" He said with a slightly harsh tone. "Come on, get up, let's go to the doctor first, you need treatment." He continued.

"Just a slight fever from lack of sleep, it'll get better after I take some medicine." I said weakly.

"But—"

"Hurry up and eat, finish the conversation quickly so I can go home, Uncle! My head hurts, and I have no intention of going to the doctor, okay!" I replied firmly, and I saw Rick sigh. Whether it was just my feeling or true, there was a slight expression of concern on his face.

"Okay," he said hesitantly. Not long after, our food arrived, and we ate in silence. It felt a bit awkward eating together with my cousin's boyfriend whom I didn't really know. Like eating with a stranger.

"Let me start by saying, no matter what your offer is, I still don't want to be your fake wife. There are plenty of girls out there who would do it if paid. You have a lot of money, right? Go ahead and hire another girl, don't ruin my future with your damn marriage." I said, indifferent to everything. Unexpectedly, Rick remained silent, listening to me rant until I was satisfied. After that, he drank his drink and sighed.

"I know that you are very uncomfortable in that house because everyone is against you, I will guarantee your freedom if you want to marry me. You don't have to face your family's hateful expressions, and it will reduce your mental stress. I will not demand marital rights, so I will ensure that after our marriage is over, you will still be intact. If you don't want our marriage to be known by anyone, I can consider keeping it a secret. And of course, I will guarantee that you will finish your studies until you have a specialist degree or if you want to become a professor, I will grant it." Rick said at length after I stopped talking. This time, it was his words that made me sigh.

"I'm not interested in getting involved in your business, so please stop bothering me, Uncle. Go find another girl." I refused for the umpteenth time. Does he think I'm a cheap woman who can be bought with a degree and free education?

"Angela, please don't be stubborn." He said, frustrated.

"Uncle, you also need to stop being stubborn because I don't want to. Go find another girl!" I replied flatly. Rick seemed to hold back his frustration, and I didn't care.

"I can't use another girl." He said again in a forceful tone.

"Why can't you?"

"Because you're the one I want." He replied, increasingly annoying. I felt like pulling his black hair, but my head was hurting, so I refrained.

"Yeah, go ahead and try, and you'll end up marrying my corpse." I said, making him sound frustrated.

"Do you really think death is that easy, huh? You talk about suicide and death like you're talking about candy. There are so many people out there hoping for a long life, and you keep saying you want to die as if life has no meaning. Are you seriously a future doctor? Shouldn't a doctor be the one who values life the most?" His lecture went on. But his words hit my heart so hard. It made me question my reason for becoming a doctor again. Silently, I admitted that Rick was right that I was very selfish. Because if I became a doctor for a better life for others who are sick, why don't I value my own life? For some reason, hearing this lecture made me want to cry. Because for the first time, someone gave me advice, corrected my actions, and taught me about life.

"Maybe my life really won't mean anything anymore if I marry you, Uncle." I replied weakly without turning. Lying to myself that I was honestly ashamed to admit that I was an egoistic person.

"Anga, listen! Try to think again, this will benefit both of us, not just me," he said, still persuading. But I could no longer contain the turmoil in my chest. I wanted to cry, so I got up from my seat. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"Toilet," I replied briefly. Half running, I headed to the toilet and cried. Feeling ashamed of myself for not appreciating life. Rick's words really hit me hard. Like waking me up from a big mistake.

After my tears subsided, I left the bathroom and returned to Rick's room. He was busy with his phone and looked up as soon as I entered. "Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor? You look really pale." He said.

"No need, I just want to go home and sleep." I replied, which he then nodded to. After paying for the meal, Rick turned to me to follow him home. I stood up with difficulty because I felt very dizzy. It seemed my body was overwhelmed by the burden of my thoughts lately.

"Let's stop by the pharmacy first, what medicine do you usually take? Angela? Angela!" He said loudly at the end of the sentence, calling my name because after that everything went dark and I lost consciousness.

***

When I woke up, I found myself in a gray-themed room with a masculine scent. All the furniture looked expensive with dim lighting because it seemed to be late afternoon. I massaged my head, which felt painfully throbbing. At that moment, I finally realized there was an IV line attached to my hand.

"Awake already? The doctor just left," Rick said, suddenly beside me, though I hadn't noticed when he arrived. He was wearing a casual white t-shirt that clearly outlined his well-built body. Besides, a masculine scent wafted from him. If he wasn't so annoying, he could've made it onto my list of acceptable guys. "Here, take your medicine first, don't go home yet, wait until the IV drip is done, then I'll take you home." He continued. I complied, accepting the medicine he handed me and taking it. I really needed rest and vitamins because my body was acting up. I noticed my IV fluid was pink, which made me sigh in relief because that's what I needed right now.

"Can I sleep again until my IV drip is done? I need it." I asked.

"Yes, of course, just sleep. I'll be outside getting some work done, if you need anything, just call me." He said unexpectedly. His attention was something I hadn't anticipated at all. It slightly improved my view of Rick, whom I previously thought of as a walking fridge—stiff, not talkative, and annoying.

I fell back asleep comfortably, not sure why it was so comfortable, probably because I was sleep-deprived and the room was indeed very comfortable, I must admit. And how shocked I was when I woke up to find it was already morning, with the IV removed from my hand, and I didn't see Rick anywhere. My body felt more refreshed than yesterday, but that's not the main issue. If I woke up here this morning, it means I didn't go home last night, and this is a disaster. My father would be angry and even more so because of Zia and Aunt Diana's instigations. That would spell disaster for me.

I quickly got up and was about to dash out but stopped because my head throbbed. I sat back on the bed, massaging my head. Just then, I heard footsteps approaching.

"You're still not well, don't get up." He said, and when I turned, I saw Rick's worried face.

"Why didn't you wake me up? Why didn't you take me home yesterday afternoon?" I almost shouted.

"You were sleeping so soundly and still looked sick, so I let you sleep. I already told your father that you're here and sick, so you don't need to worry about being scolded." He explained, making me feel a bit relieved.

"I want to go home now." I said.

"Have breakfast first, take your medicine, then I'll take you home." He ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. I followed him out of the room, and that's when I realized that Rick's house was very luxurious. Whether it was a house or an apartment, it was definitely very beautiful.

"The doctor said your stomach is troubled because you often skip meals, so I made porridge, and until your medicine runs out, you can only eat porridge, understand?" He said, and I nodded absentmindedly. I ate the porridge he made and was surprised because it tasted good. I started to feel a bit embarrassed admitting that this older guy was actually quite appealing.

Almost at the last spoonful, I heard Rick's door being opened forcefully, and shortly after, Zia appeared with an angry face heading toward me. Rick immediately stood in front of me and blocked Zia, who was about to attack me.

"Honey, listen first! Yesterday Angela fainted while talking to me, so I brought her to the apartment to get medical care. Just look, she's so pale, right?" Rick said when Zia started yelling angrily at me and began hurling insults.

"You faked being sick just to flirt with my boyfriend, didn't you?" Zia shouted angrily, and I just stayed silent. It was too exhausting to deal with her.

"Zia, Zia, stop attacking her, she's still sick. Besides, how could I be tempted by her even if she did try to seduce me?" Rick replied.

"I absolutely disagree with your plan to marry her." Zia said in frustration.

"Then cancel your modeling contract, and we'll get married." Rick replied, making Zia fall silent.

"Rick, you know how hard I worked to get this job, I can't just leave it for marriage." Zia replied.

"Just for marriage? So your job is more important than everything, including me and my affairs, isn't it?" Rick retorted angrily. Their argument really made my head hurt even more.

"Rick! From the beginning, we agreed that my job is important to me, so why are you bringing this up now?"

"My company and inheritance are also important, Zia! Wouldn't you not want to be with me if I didn't have money? So what should I do? Reject my grandfather's request and become poor?" Rick replied, irritated. "Whether you agree or not, Angela is still going to marry me because I already have her father's and brother's approval." Rick added, causing me to choke on my drink and turn to him with wide eyes.

"Who said I'm willing to marry you?" I finally protested.

"I'll kill her and you if you develop feelings for her!" Zia shouted angrily.

"Why am I always the one losing and sacrificing something while you just want to receive? It's frustrating, Zia, because you're so selfish." Rick said with an angry tone, and no one paid attention to my protest earlier.

"Ahh, now you're daring to judge me, Rick? Because of her? Yes? Are you starting to have feelings for this cheap, unlucky girl?" Zia also shouted angrily, and my head felt like it was spinning.

"You should go home, Zia, before I really get angry and things get even more complicated." Rick gently dismissed her. Zia shouted at Rick and hit him once with her expensive bag, then glared at me threateningly and stormed out of Rick's apartment, slamming the door.

"Arghhh, so annoying!" Rick shouted angrily, entering his study and slamming the door as well. My luck seems to be really bad. Already sick, and now having to listen to an annoying couple's argument too. It just makes my head spin even more.

***