Arrange Marriage To A Billionaire

Ian's Past

Ian's P.O.V

I watched Landon move around Evelyn's orphanage as if he was the owner of it. He was scrutinizing every bits of structure of the building like a jeweler analyzing an ancient piece of jewelry. Although I acknowledged that the man was a fantastic builder and an even better architect, I despised him with all my gut. He made my father's life a living hell. Landon Mckendrick was the reason behind my family being on the verge of bankruptcy some years back and the health condition of my father. My father never really recovered from the consequences of all the stress caused by Landon.

When he turned around, he looked right through me and walked past. I huffed.

"I heard that you're planning to marry Evelyn," I said. I remembered reading the news on the tabloids along with of me winning at the auction this morning.

He stopped in his tracks and turned. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Don't play with her, Mckendrick. You'll regret it," I threatened. Landon's eyes became dark with interest. He smirked and made a few strides toward me.

"And who will make me 'regret it', Graham ? You ? " He queried mockingly.

"Yes. I will," I continued. "Remember how you lost the auction to me yesterday ? Just like that, I will make you regret it if you hurt her in any shape or form." My tone heightened and I was furious even at the thought of Landon hurting Evelyn.

"You have just won a battle, Graham. There's absolutely no need to be this happy. You haven't reach my position yet and you won't ever reach it if you keep poking your nose into my business, do you understand Graham ? " He sneered. "As for my marriage with Evelyn, that is my private life and you are very well not welcomed in it. So keep your opinions and threats to yourself, I'm sure you better things to look after. Like your senile father. In fact, haven't your father tell you to not cross my road like he did ? " He asked. "How is he doing by the way ? Huh."

"Keep my father out of this Mckendrick ---"

"I tried to but your old man was so adamant and look what has become of him now." Landon deliberately took the conversation to another angle. "If only he followed my orders and didn't try to make his shrinking brain work, he wouldn't have been on the verge of bankruptcy some years ago. It's his fault and his loss, Graham. Now stop being such a pain in the ass or else you'll end up like him," He threw a glance at me before turning to go somewhere.

I reminisced the day I came home after my final exams at the university.

Flashback:

"Dad !Dad ! Mom ! Where are you guys ?" I shouted at the top of my lungs. I was so happy to be home with my parents finally. I missed them so much. We only communicated through phone calls while I was studying. I couldn't wait to see them in flesh. I turned around in a circle in search of them but in vain.

"Ian ? Is that you ?" I saw a man in his mid-fifties dressed in a suit emerging from a room. I did not recognized him.

"Yes I am Ian. Ian Graham," I came forward to shake his hands.

"Hello Mr Graham. Welcome back. I am Nicholas Keller, an agent and a friend of your father," he said. I was confused as to what was he doing here and why parents were not present. "Your parents are not here, Ian. In fact, they do not live here anymore," he said with sympathy. Color instantly drained from my face. I dropped my large backpack on the floor and approached him with concern.

"Why ? Where are they ? Are they alright ? Has something happened when I was not here ?" I tried to steady my breath and calm myself before I start panicking. I won't be able to live without my parents. I silently prayed that they are in a safe place. Fear was taking over my whole being.

"A lot has happened behind your back Ian. Your parents did not want you to know anything so you could concentrate on your studies without worrying about them." He paused. "They are selling the house. That is why they are not here." My heart froze. They were selling the house. A fresh wave of questions washed over my mind.

"Where are they ? I need to see them now !" My voice trembled and nothing could have prepared me for the next shock.

"Both your parents are at the Cardiac Clinic. Recently your father has suffered from a mild heart attack. Your mom is staying with him there." I stood there for a moment and closed my eyes. I did not understand what I was really feeling. So many emotions clouded my mind. To say that I was confused would be an understatement.

I picked my backpack up and ran outside. My mind was still in a haze. I did not remember much about the journey from my home to the clinic but I did remember getting into a taxi.

I vaguely remembered saying the name of my father at the receptionist counter and running to his room. Room 16. There it was. I opened the door and saw my father sleeping peacefully on the bed and I was facing an old woman's back. I did not recognized her. She had grey hair and was very slim and looked weak too. She turned around to face me. It was mom ! My own mother ! Tears filled her eyes and mine as well. The mother that I left and the one standing in front of me were like two different persons. This one looked a lot weaker, fragile and old. My heart broke instantly. How did all of this happened ? Or rather, what really took place ?

I couldn't dare to go to her. I did not want to believe that this was reality and not a nightmare. Tears continuously rolled on her cheeks as she slowly walked to me. She didn't say anything and neither could I. I did not even know what to say to her. When she was close enough, she wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my chest. She cried profusely on my chest and I did not hold my tears back. I let them flowed. I was terrified of embracing her back. She was much weaker now and I did not want to hurt her. Nevertheless, I held her as she cried. I stroked her hair. "Why did you not tell me anything Maa ? Why ? How could you guys hide all of this from me ?" I asked her.

"We thought that we could handle everything but it--- it just got out of control suddenly and we lost almost everything. Your father was so stressed out and he became sick. He was later diagnosed with brain tumor," she announced before she choked on a cry. "The heart attack happened a fortnight ago. He --- he made me promise not to tell you anything." She paused and released her arms around me. "Oh god ! What kind of mother I am ! I forgot to ask how you are doing !" She put a hand on my cheek. "Have you eaten yet ? Come and sit here honey." She took my hand and directed me to a sofa, where I assumed she must be sleeping at night. I sat on it. It was not so comfortable but it was okay to sit on rather than sleep on.

''That doesn't matter right now, Maa. Why are you and dad selling the house ? Is business going that bad ?" I inquired. "Tell me everything. I want to everything from the beginning."

"Do you remember Martin Mckendrick ? The owner of the Mckendrick Empire." I nodded. I remembered meeting him a few times at parties. He was not part of dad's friend circle though. Mom continued. "Well, he has a ruthless son who has joined his business. His name is Landon. Landon Mckendrick." Mom said that person's name with utter disgust. "He is the reason behind all of this--- behind us being on the verge of bankruptcy." Tears welled up in her eyes again.

"What did he do ?"

"He and your father were fighting for a construction contract from the government. That contract, according to your father was a blessing from God. Your father was working so hard to get that contract. But one day when he came home, he didn't talk to me. He was acting strange. After several failed attempts of trying to speak to him, he finally spoke. He said that he had a meeting with his young competitor named Landon Mckendrick. He then said that he was not an honest man. He wanted to buy our company and wanted your father to cancel his tender for the contract with the government. When your father declined both of his offers, Landon Mckendrick got very manipulative. He even offered your father more money than what was the worth of our company. Your father declined his offer again and Landon decided that he would give your father two days to think over his offer even though your father had sternly rejected his offer." Maa stopped and sighed. "That was the two last days of peace that we had. We started getting threatening calls from the mafia almost every single day. We lived in fear. Although we knew that the Mckendricks were powerful people, we were not prepared for this."

"That was why you didn't want me to know." I was enraged. How could a person fall so lowly ? I clenched my fists really hard.

"Yes. It was too dangerous. That was not the end of it. Some days after, accidents on the construction sites started to happen. Our workers were badly injured and your father was accused of buying cheap material for the construction. Our company suffered big losses because we kept on losing contracts. One after the other. Your father was really stressed. We knew exactly who was behind all of this but we didn't have any proof. Even if we had, nobody would believe us because Landon was too powerful. Your father had to sell every single property that we own to cover our losses and keep the company on track. But all his efforts went in vain." We looked at my dad. He was still resting on his bed. "We stopped getting the threats now. Landon Mckendrick has found another company like ours to torture. But we still have to deal with the aftermath. We're selling the house to pay our suppliers and maybe buy a small house somewhere around."

"Stop worrying Maa. I'll make the company go back on track and we will get everything back, I promise."

On that day. I made two promises. One to my Maa and one to myself--- I will snatch one precious thing of Landon Mckendrick, that will make him regret torturing my parents..

End of flashback------------