Chapter 5 Will You Be My Bride?
1183 Words
"What did you just say?"
Nelia's face was a mix of confusion and surprise. She'd never expected such a response.
For as long as she could remember, no one in the Buper family had ever treated her like one of their own. She'd always thought they didn't like her personality.
But now, it seemed they'd never seen her as anything more than a pawn.
"Why me?" she asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.
If they were after her parents' inheritance, they had plenty of time and resources to claim it.
There was no reason to take her in, let alone force Buper to marry her.
But instead of a direct answer, Buper just shot her a mysterious look.
"Your ride will be here soon. You'll find out then," he said cryptically.
"No, I think they'll never come," Calaen interrupted suddenly.
His voice was cold, his eyes dark with anger.
Buper cursed under his breath and raised his gun, aiming it at Calaen again.
"I told you to shut up, you bastard. If you want to die, I'll be happy to oblige."
Nelia felt the weight of the moment crash down on her and anxiously pinched Calaen's arm.
She had painstakingly bought them time by pretending to be a damsel in distress, gathering information and setting up for a rescue. Now Calaen had ruined everything with his impulsive outburst.
"Hey! Didn't I say I'd handle this? My people are on their way. Stop messing things up."
Calaen gave her a soft smile, an almost serene calm radiating from him.
His amber eyes, darkened by the night, had lost their earlier playful edge. His tousled hair had somehow become neat and composed.
His playful arrogance was gone, replaced by a reassuring steadiness.
He leaned in slightly and whispered something, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Don't worry, because... my men are already here."
A low rumble broke through the air.
Then, everyone saw something round rolling toward them.
"Grenade! Hit the ground!"
Someone shouted, and immediately, the group scattered, fleeing in all directions.
The explosion they'd expected never came; instead, a thick cloud of smoke enveloped the room.
"Damn! It's a smoke bomb. We've been played!" Buper cursed, trying to see through the haze.
"Where are they?"
He panicked, but he couldn't see a thing.
Then came the sound of bodies falling to the ground, the whoosh of wind as something flew past.
"We need to go!" someone shouted.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed from the ridge above, followed by Buper's agonized scream.
"Ahhh! My leg! Nelia, I'll kill you and that damn singer! Just you wait!" Buper howled in pain, but his threats were futile as his voice faded into the distance.
*****
When Linda woke up, she found herself staring at Nelia and Calaen, both sitting in silence before her.
"Did I miss something?" she asked, still dazed from the alcohol.
Nelia tried to explain, but Calaen beat her to it, his tone casual as he spoke, "Nothing much. Just dealt with a few troublemakers."
His attitude only deepened Nelia's suspicion about him.
"Linda, do you have any idea who this guy really is?" Nelia asked, glancing at Calaen.
Linda called Calaen over with a wave and made an introduction.
"Meet Calaen Kardiem, the heir to the Kardiem family, one of the biggest international brands. He's a rebellious soul, just like me, running away from his family to carve his own path."
Noticing Nelia's gaze, Calaen smiled at her and walked over calmly as if the previous chaos had never happened.
"Hello, boss. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Calaen, just an ordinary band lead singer," he said with a wink.
An ordinary band lead singer who could summon Interpol in no time?
Nelia couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
"Nice to meet you, Calaen. You can call me Nelia. I'm just an ordinary bartender."
"Wait... Are you sure I didn't miss anything?"
Linda looked between them, sensing something off in the air.
Nelia shook her head gently and patted her shoulder. Then she turned to Calaen, her expression softening.
"Look, I owe you a favor. If there's anything I can do for you, just ask."
Despite Calaen's mysterious background, Nelia was more focused on the fact that, for now, there was no conflict of interest between them.
She was never one to get involved with people from powerful families; experience had taught her that those types always came with baggage.
But for the moment, she didn't mind extending a little courtesy.
Calaen's handsome face broke into a broad smile. "Funny you should mention that, because I do need your help."
"What do you need?" Nelia asked, already wary but intrigued.
"Will you be my bride?"
Linda shot up, her face red with anger, grabbing Calaen by the collar. "You bastard! You're like a family to me, and I treat you with nothing but kindness. And now you want to sleep with my best friend?"
Nelia was stunned. Was this how rich young men acted these days?
She thought they usually had no trouble getting women.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Calaen waved his hands frantically, trying to loosen Linda's grip.
"It's not a real marriage, okay? It's a fake one. Just for show."
He sighed deeply, a touch of sadness creeping into his voice. "My grandmother's health is failing, and she's been asking for me to get married for years. I just want to fulfill her last wish so she can pass on peacefully."
"Why me, though?" she asked.
Nelia was curious. Apart from being a well-known hacker, she was just a bartender with a decent education and a few skills.
That didn't exactly make her a perfect candidate to marry into a wealthy family, and his family probably wouldn't even like her.
Dealing with Buper's family was already exhausting. She didn't want to make herself suffer once more.
Calaen smiled gently, his expression warm. "Because I think you'd be exactly what my family needs. You're calm, smart, brave, and decisive."
"Stop!" Nelia interrupted, her voice firm.
There was no way he could charm her with these sweet words. She was not some naive girl.
"If you want to make your grandmother happy, hire an actress to play the part. You don't need to drag me into this."
Calaen's smile turned slightly mischievous. "Well, it's not just that," he admitted. "You're actually quite to my taste."
Nelia blinked, a bit bewildered. They'd only just met. Was he really saying this to her?
"Do you say that to every woman you meet?"
He chuckled softly. "No, no, you're the first."
Noticing her hesitation, Calaen stepped closer, looking into her eyes with earnestness.
"And besides, my grandma will be thrilled if she meets you. After all, your mother was her most beloved student."
The mention of her mother caught Nelia off guard. What a coincidence.
She had always been curious about her mother's past, and the idea that Calaen's grandmother knew her mother made the whole situation feel oddly fated.
"Alright," Nelia finally said, her decision made. "I'll do it. I'll marry you."
- Writer
