The Billionaire’s Contracted Bride

Chapter 4

"Grandfather, she is Belle, the woman I will marry."

Samuel nodded his head, sipping his tea. When he first saw this girl enter, Samuel felt that she was a bit familiar, then after a while, he remembered that he had seen her on television; she was an actress who was currently on the rise.

"So, Dimitri, Belle, where did you two meet?" he asked as he placed his glass on the table.

Belle exchanged a glance with Dimitri, then she smiled before answering. “We met at the Seraphim Art auction in Florence five months ago, grandfather."

Samuel seemed to nod. "Seraphim Art Auction? I've heard of it. It's quite famous for its exclusive collections. What brings you two there?"

"We have the same interest in art, and we happen to be attracted to the same paintings."

Dimitri glanced at the woman beside him with a smile before continuing. "Moreover, we became close and fell in love with each other, didn't we, darling?"

Belle smiled broadly and nodded when she felt Dimitri's gentle stroke on her head, while her eyes stared at the man in embarrassment.

Samuel nodded again, and from the smile on his face, he seemed satisfied with their response. "Your meeting was very romantic, hahaha... Very good Dimitri, I'm glad you found the right partner for you."

"Thank you for accepting Belle, Grandpa; in the future, I will take good care of her." The man calmly answered.

"I didn't expect him to be so good at acting and making up such big lies," thought Belle, who was secretly amazed by Dimitri's acting. Why doesn't he just become an actor? With his good looks, Belle is sure that this man will be very successful.

"You know, Belle, you remind me of someone from Dimitri's past that he brought here," Samuel commented, a meaningful smile on his lips. “Ullie, Dimitri's ex-girlfriend.”

Belle slightly raised her eyebrows when she heard Ullie's name, while Dimitri, who was intending to reach for the tea glass in front of him, suddenly froze.

"But," Samuel added with a sharp nod, "you have a sincerity that Ullie lacks. I must admit, Dimitri, you have chosen well this time."

Dimitri silently clutched the glass in his hand. His jaw tensed as the image of Ullie flashed through his mind.

Belle sensing Dimitri's discomfort gently interjected, "Thank you, Grandfather. I appreciate your kind words.

"You must have learned from your past, Dimitri," continued Samuel, looking straight at Dimitri, who was in a bowed position.

Dimitri raised his head, a tremor visible in his usually calm eyes. Until finally, he spoke in a cold tone. "Grandfather, please don't discuss the past."

---

For almost three minutes, Belle stood looking at the black two-leaf door in front of her, before her hand moved to open the door. Since deciding to return home, he had prepared himself for the anger over the incident of his running away from the wedding. Even now, his father's J&H company is really in decline after Liam's father's company canceled their collaboration this morning.

Just one step into the room, Belle felt a gaze as sharp as a knife piercing her. At the work desk filled with piles of documents, his father's face was wrinkled as he looked at him.

"Father..."

“You bastard!” Arthur pointed at his daughter with a shaking hand. “You still dare set foot in this house after causing trouble!” Arthur's angry voice boomed across the room making Belle flinch.

Belle stepped forward into the room. "Dad, I..."

Belle's words were cut off when her father got up from his chair. "Do you know what you've done? Liam's family is our savior. Dad needs that family for the company."

Belle clenched her fists tightly before speaking again. "I can't marry him, Dad. He cheated on me. I can't live a lie!"

Master Arthur paced back and forth behind his desk. The man took a deep breath before continuing. "You think love has a place in business? Do you think love is more important than a company? Don't be stupid Belle!"

Belle, swallowing her emotions, met her father's gaze with disappointment. Compared to him, his father was more concerned with the company. He doesn't even care if his daughter lives in the hands of a bastard. "I can't marry a man who betrayed me, Dad."

Mr Arthur glared at Belle's words, which he thought sounded like nonsense. “Go to Liam’s family and get down on one knee, ask him to marry you!” he demanded, raising he voice.

"No, Dad! I would rather die than do that!" Belle replied full of rejection. Kneel to Liam's family and beg for marriage? He would rather just die! Belle thought, holding back the anger in his heart that was about to explode.

Hearing that, Arthur's anger became even more intense, he growled and raised his hand to give a hard slap, but before it could land, someone's voice made him stop his movements.

"Stop!"

"Dimitri?" Belle widened her eyes in surprise at Dimitri. He had warned the man some time ago to wait for him in the car and not to show up when his father was angry like this.

"Who are you? This is none of your business!" Arthur looked at the strange man standing at the door

sarcastically. Then he looked back at the princess who was looking down.

"Is he the one who helped you escape, Belle? That's great!" Accused Mr. Arthur pointing at Dimitri.

Dimitri was unfazed by the anger. He stepped forward, then gently pulled Belle to his side.

"This is my business because soon Belle will be my wife." Dimitri's calm voice made the room suddenly quiet, before Arthur's anger exploded again.

"What!" Arthur clutched his suddenly tight chest. His face darkened. He raised his index finger in front of Dimitri's face.

"You! Where do you have the courage to say that! Belle will marry the son of the Owner of LuxCorp Holdings, not some unknown man like you!" Disgust was etched on his face as he looked Dimitri up and down.

"Sorry, I haven't had time to introduce myself." Dimitri took a step in front of Arthur. He reached into his pocket and handed over his business card.

Arthur accepted the card with disgust. Just as he was about to throw the card onto the floor, a flash of surprise suddenly appeared in his eyes. He read the name on the card several times, hoping that his eyes were wrong, but in fact, he wasn't wrong at all.

"Impossible... This...." Arthur's hands shook, and he held the card tightly.

Arthur almost choked on his own saliva when the business card with the world-famous PrestigeGlobal Enterprises logo was now in his hand; then, the name of President Dimitri Alexander Vanderbilt was the longest there which made his eyeballs almost jump.

PrestigeGlobal Enterprises, a large company that has branches throughout the world in various fields, real estate, hospitality, fashion, technology, entertainment to finance, and it is said that the family's wealth is countless. Arthur even really admired Samuel Vanderbilt, who succeeded in bringing the company to the highest level.

Now Arthur hesitantly raised his head to look at the man in a gray suit in front of him. Sweat dripped down his forehead and Arthur's face paled slightly when he realized he had behaved impolitely towards someone in a very important position, even the president had so much respect for this person.

"You are... Dimitri Alexander Vanderbilt? Samuel Vanderbilt's grandson?" Arthur held his breath before continuing. "How is this possible..."

Now not only Arthur was surprised by the man's background, Belle was currently looking at the man with surprise in her eyes. Dimitri, this man is better known as Alexander in the business world, his name is well known everywhere, but unfortunately he never shows his face in the media so Belle doesn't even recognize such an important person.

“That's right… Nice to meet you, Father-in-law, please let me marry your precious daughter.”