(Chapter 49) Benefits

Astrid didn't look at the man who was now looking at her with a burning gaze. She calmly took another piece of shortbread from the trays supplied by Francesca, and took a bite.

"Nothing, you made him run away." Astrid responded with her mouth full.

Lewis then took a piece of shortbread from the platter and also took a bite, thinking it was too sweet, he frowned subtly.

"Give it to me if you won't eat it." Astrid spoke as she took another piece. 'Is she planning to eat herself to death?' Lewis couldn't help but look at her stomach in wonder of where that food goes.

Lewis put down the half-eaten shortbread on the platter. The action was incredibly rude in this type of party. But Astrid had quickly picked it up and finished it off.

Lewis was stuck in his thoughts about where Astrid put her food he didn't realize the fiery gazes that were looking at him. He then proceeded to smile dumbly when he couldn't find the shortbread he put down.

"You have been watching me the entire time." Astrid spoke in a calm voice, as she finally turned to face Lewis.

Since the last time he saw her, she had undoubtedly matured, she had gained a little bit of weight but also trimmed the baby fat off her face. She was breathtaking.

As Lewis continued to stare at Astrid's face she frowned. 'Has this man's IQ gone down the bin since becoming head of the Guilliano house? What is he doing?' Astrid couldn't understand what he was going, he was an enigma to her right now.

Seeing Astrid frown took Lewis out of his thoughts. "You are quite talented, but I must ask why you decided to hack into my computer?" Lewis was quite relaxed about the ordeal, Astrid was impressed with how he seemed to be interested instead of angry.

"Oh, I was making sure you weren't my enemy." Astrid's cold, detached words made Lewis become stunned.

Astrid spoke those words so casually it made him think. He now knew that her family definitely had some hidden enemies. But seeing how calm a 15 girl was saying that... Made him think.

"So what were the results?" He asked with a slight smile on his face, in a teasing manner.

"You're a possible ally, not only would I benefit from working with you but you would as well. Since my father has some connections that you can't surpass." Astrid spoke extremely bluntly, she knew that Lewis had enough to power to investigate her if he wished. So why hide it from someone she found to be beneficial?

Lewis then noticed that he was forced into talking about work. Damn! He wanted to try to get closer to her, but here he was talking about business instead...

Lewis gave a light sigh. "I have a better idea." He then grinned thinking about his great idea.

"Hey Astrid! I was thinking that..." Leone couldn't keep watching this exchange, his brother was talking to Astrid with such emotion! He wondered if he truly had fallen for someone still in school...

"A marriage alliance." Lewis then made Leone's mouth drop in astonishment.

Astrid raised her eyebrow at Lewis. "Between me and you?" She asked in confirmation.

'Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Did his brother seriously just propose to his friend like that! And she seemed to be interested! Was he on Mars!?' Leone's mouth could fit a goose egg inside. He was stunned to his very core.

The fiery gaze on Lewis then turned flaming. As Mr. Tuhs's eyes was spitting flames at the man!

Lewis nodded. Who else was Astrid going to marry in his family?

"Mm, that sounds good." Astrid replied plainly, she didn't show any glee or happiness. She showed... Nothing.

Lewis then narrowed his eyes at Astrid. This wasn't the result he was going for. She didn't seem to care at all! She only was looking at the benefits of the marriage, not the fact she would be marrying him!

"But I'll have to decline. Unfortunately, my father is looking like he will be torturing you himself if I did accept. I guess just being business partnerships would give me the same results." Astrid's words then cut Lewis's heart in half.

'Results' Lewis could hear that word in his head over and over. All she cared about were the results! He was inwardly bubbling with fury.

While Mr. Tuhs was incredibly smug. Some people looked at him wondering if he was going crazy or not? Not knowing that he was listening to a distinct conversation.

By this time Leone was already turning into stone. He stifly walked away, he would need to report this to his mother...

Seeing Lewis wasn't going to respond, Astrid then took her drink from the side and took a sip. Lewis was stuck watching her lips invite themselves. They were moist, she had a small amount of lipstick on. But it made her look all that enticing.

Seeing her lick her lips he was practically going nuts! 'What is going on?' He couldn't understand his thoughts right now. This was more than mere interest.

"If there isn't anything else. I'll be going to the bathroom." Astrid put down her drink and left Lewis to his own thoughts.

Astrid reached the bathroom and did her business. Feeling a very familiar stomach pain she sighed. She was trained to be able to withstand mental and physical torture, she had dealt with being beaten with various methods from a young age. But this pain was excruciating, even for her!

The pain seemed to double every time. She could keep her emotions in check. But it really did affect her physically...

If Lewis was paying attention he would have noticed her hand suddenly curl when we pain appeared. She then returned to normal as she went to control herself.

While Astrid was dealing with her stomach pains. Leone had dragged Francesca and Winoa to a corner to tell them what happened...

Upon hearing the story Francesca was stunned. "She didn't decline?" This was something she didn't understand. Why would Astrid be happy in marrying someone she didn't know?

But Winoa stayed quiet. As she learned more about Astrid's true self, she learned that Astrid would do anything for her benefit. If she wanted to put herself in a contract marriage for something, she would.

But she also wasn't that worried. Astrid was no normal teenage girl. Nor was she now, she had seen Astrid end the life of a woman who had attempted to seduce her father. She can be heartless beyond understanding, and she felt no emotions to those who she didn't care for.

"There is no point thinking about it. We can't influence her decision." Winoa spoke as if this wasn't their problem.

Leone felt his mouth twitch. He could imagine it now! Two emotionless geniuses at the top of the Guilliano family? Wouldn't the house be incredibly cold? Didn't his brother like Astrid? So why did he ask for a contract marriage?

He didn't know that his brother only thought about one thing. How to get Astrid. A contract marriage was a surefire way, and it was what he had thought of in the first place to get closer to her.

But he had miscalculated greatly, he thought Astrid would show... Emotion, a response, a blush. Anything! But she instead looked at him as a bank and connections!

So Lewis then decided to finally listen to his mother, she had tried to give many tips to him in hopes of Lewis at least glancing at a woman. Now it was time to listen to her...

Astrid finished her business and looked at herself in the mirror. Seeing the distant and cold eyes reflecting back at her. She suddenly felt like she was back in her previous life.

She did anything her parents ordered her to do. Kill the CEO of a business that was in their way? No problem. Annex a medical company trying to ban their experiments? Easy work. Give her blood for experiments on other humans? Whatever, it was their loss.

At least this time, she felt loved by her family. They never ordered her to do anything. They only hoped for her to live the best she could. She was so capable, so killing a few of their enemies was no problem for her...

Astrid gave a chilling smile to herself. A marriage alliance? Never. She wouldn't involve herself in such pathetic things. Love? That word wasn't in her dictionary. She only repaid back her parent's love. Love with someone that could become her enemy as easy as a snap of a finger was suicidal.

Astrid walked out of the bathroom and went back into the hall. She spotted her friends talking together, so she decided to join them.