Contracted Hearts

Replacement

"Sorry, sir, I'm canceling borrowing your money."

Ella smiled uncomfortably upon hearing Edward's response over the phone after she had said that.

Tonight, she seemed certain about her decision to cancel borrowing money from her boss and chose to accept Frans's offer instead. Ella's plan for tomorrow was to visit Frans's company as per Frans's message yesterday.

"Yes, sir, I've already got the money for my brother's treatment," Ella replied with a little lie.

"In that case, I'll hang up, sir. Good night."

After the call ended, Ella sighed softly. "Am I really sure about my decision?" she murmured to herself.

"Vico needs surgery tomorrow, and in the morning, I have to meet Mr. Frans," Ella continued, staring at the ceiling of her room with a troubled look.

Deep down, Ella was still unsure about the decision she made hastily, but she couldn't keep postponing her brother's treatment to think through a more thoughtful decision.

"Huffhh! I can definitely get through all of this!" Ella encouraged herself before getting ready to return to the hospital. Ella couldn't rest easy leaving her brother alone in the hospital, even though Vico had already regained consciousness from his coma.

As Ella was about to start her motorcycle, she remembered something. "Aish! Why did I forget earlier to ask Mr. Edward for permission to leave tomorrow afternoon," she grumbled, gently tapping her forehead.

She promptly sent a message to her boss, not wanting to call Edward again and disturb his time.

"I hope I'll be allowed," Ella murmured before revving the engine and leaving her modest home.

***

At the Alexander family residence, the family members had just finished dinner.

"Frans, don't go straight to your room; we want to talk to you in the living room," said the head of the family, Theodor, firmly.

Frans sighed softly and nodded. 'They must be discussing marriage again,' he thought with annoyance.

"Are you curious about what Dad is going to talk about or not?" whispered the youngest, Reynald, to his older brother Ernest.

Ernest nodded briefly without speaking, just glancing briefly at his younger brother.

"What if we join them in the living room?" Reynald asked again in a very quiet voice.

Ernest shook his head. "You go ahead. Let me know later. I'm feeling lazy and want to sleep," he replied calmly and very casually.

That annoyed Reynald. "Ugh! You're no fun!"

Ernest shrugged indifferently and left the dining room to go to his room first. Meanwhile, Reynald remained there waiting for his parents and his eldest brother to go to the living room.

"Can I join in the living room, Mom?" Reynald asked his mother, who had a serious expression. Reynald was growing more curious.

It seemed Frans's younger siblings still didn't know what their parents were going to discuss with Frans.

"Hm, it's up to you," Julianna replied indifferently. Reynald could only sigh patiently.

Afterward, the teenager was left alone as his father and eldest brother went to the dining room first, while Julianna cleared the dirty dishes without saying anything at all, leaving Reynald grumbling in annoyance.

"Ugh! They're so annoying! I feel like I don't even exist!"

In short, all four family members gathered in the living room. Reynald pretended to play a game but listened intently.

"Do you want to discuss marriage again?" Frans asked straight to the point.

Julianna nodded in response to her eldest son's question. "Yes, Frans, you haven't forgotten Daddy's agreement, have you?"

Frans sighed softly. Who could forget the agreement, or rather the threat, from his father about the company reverting to his father's hands if Frans didn't marry soon? Frans knew it was at his mother's request.

"No, Mom, I remember very well," Frans replied lazily.

'Agreement? What agreement?' Reynald wondered in his mind.

"Good, then when are you getting married?" It wasn't Julianna who asked but Theodor, the middle-aged man, who glanced at his wife awaiting Frans's answer.

"Huh? Getting married?" Reynald thought, surprised enough to reflexively drop his phone. He immediately focused his attention on Frans.

"I'm discussing it with my future wife, Mom," Frans replied, lying, though he was actually waiting for Ella's answer.

"Who? Your model girlfriend?" Julianna interjected disapprovingly.

Frans looked at his mother, trying to remain patient and not be provoked. "No, Mom," he replied shortly.

"Then who, Frans? Why not your girlfriend?" Julianna pressed on. Theodor and Reynald remained silent, just listening.

"It's not Harley, Mom. Wouldn't you be happy if it's not Harley who becomes my wife?" Frans said this because his mother openly disliked his girlfriend.

Julianna nodded thoughtfully, crossing her arms. "Yes, I would, but what's the reason it's not your girlfriend?"

"Mom doesn't need to know. The point is, I'll get married soon, and Mom and Dad don't need to threaten anymore."

"That's enough. I'm going to my room," Frans continued, getting up from the living room and leaving the three behind.

Julianna remained silent for a moment before speaking again before Frans completely disappeared from her sight. "If you're not lying, bring your future wife here soon!"

"Yeah," Frans replied somewhat loudly.

"Will this threat not be a problem for the future? I mean, for Frans's marriage that might be coerced," Theodor spoke up after silently listening earlier.

Meanwhile, Reynald remained silent, still listening to his parents' conversation.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I can't wait to hold grandchildren," Julianna replied, smiling happily at the thought of holding grandchildren from Frans's marriage.

"Is Kak Frans really going to get married, Mom? Dad?" Reynald's question made Julianna turn directly to her youngest son.

"Just pray, Rey."

*****

"Ugh! Damn it! Why wouldn't Frans pick up my call!" cursed a woman dressed in a sexy outfit, who was none other than Frans's girlfriend, Harley.

The woman had just finished a photoshoot and intended to ask Frans to pick her up because she hadn't brought her own car and had taken a taxi instead. Unfortunately, despite calling Frans several times, there was no response as his phone was off.

"Ugh, forget it! He's so unreliable!" Harley muttered in frustration while staring at her phone screen before she tucked the flat object into her sling bag.

"Hey! Why do you look upset, Harley?"

The woman turned instantly at the interrupting voice.

"Jack, haha, yeah, I'm a little annoyed," Harley said with a bitter laugh.

The person questioning Harley was a man named Jack, who also worked as a model in the same agency as Harley.

"Why are you upset?"

"My boyfriend can't be reached, although I wanted him to pick me up," Harley replied.

"You didn't bring your own vehicle?" Jack asked again. Harley shook her head with a smile.

"How about you just come with me? Our houses are on the way, right?" Jack offered.

Without much thought, Harley nodded with a smile. "Sure, that's fine. Instead of waiting for my driver to come pick me up, that would definitely take a long time."