CHAPTER 14

Brian looked straight at Lucia, his breath slightly tight as if he had been running at high speed. As for Lucia, she just couldn't believe hearing Brian's invitation to marry.

"So how?" he asked again.

"W-what? I want to hear it again."

Brian was annoyed at Lucia's reaction which he found annoying. Even though she had repeated the invitation before but Lucia asked again.

"Are you deaf, huh?"

Lucia chuckled, she never imagined the man in front of her was now asking her to marry. Let alone ask her to marry, Brian never even wanted to greet her properly when she met him before.

"Are you unwell, Bri?" she mocked.

"Damn it! You think I want to do it, huh?"

Lucia didn't know why he had asked her to marry him, but it was to her advantage that she didn't have to ask him first.

However, seeing Brian who was so annoyed made Lucia think of trolling her enemy a bit.

"Then, if you really don't want to do it, why are you even asking me to marry you? You idiot!"

"You won't understand if I explain, but it's just a lucrative contract marriage, that's all."

Olivia remembered a big Project related to their two companies, so she thought maybe he asked her to marry because of that. Indeed, forming the most solid coalition is through marriage and this was actually discussed by both their parents when they were still alive.

However, because the two never really got along, especially when each got to know their current partner, their relationship got even worse.

"Is it really like that? I doubt it… just admit it if you really like me."

Brian sighed heavily, the woman in front of him was still the same as little Lucia who always irritated him. "Stop joking."

"Aren't you the one joking?"

Brian, who had intended to be patient, started to get annoyed. He glared at Lucia. "You're annoying! I'll just go then."

However, before he had time to go far, Lucia chased after him. "Wait!"

"What else do you want, huh?!"

"Why just leave? Aren't we done talking yet?"

Brian snorted in annoyance, he didn't want his anger to peak if he continued to face the annoying Lucia. "Didn't you say this was just a joke, huh?!"

Lucia had her hands on her hips, she didn't know Brian was a man who was easily provoked. No wonder he was so stupid in his previous life, deceived by his own uncle – Rudolf who managed to snatch all his wealth to nothing. She remembers well how Brian fell into poverty at that time, making him have to work hard to survive until the end of his life.

But, looking back at her fate in the past, she and Brian were actually the same, they were both stupid. Realizing that, Lucia chuckled in amusement, laughing at their foolishness in her previous life.

Seeing that, Brian was getting irritated and decided to leave. His move had nearly knocked Lucia down had he not been quick to block it.

"Oh my… stand up properly!"

"You're the one who nudged my body, why are you blaming me?!" she grumbled.

Brian helped the woman back to her feet, though inside he was grumbling in annoyance. "Because you were wrong. Who told you to stand in front of me?"

"Don't be so serious, Sir. You can get old quickly if you get emotional like that."

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Sit down, let's talk calmly again. Take it easy, sir," she coaxed.

Brian was actually reluctant, but thanks to Lucia's persuasion, he was finally willing to sit down with her again. "So how?"

"You're so impatient, Bri. Have a drink first." Lucia poured the tea back into the new cup, then handed it to Brian. "Please."

He grabbed his teacup and took a sip. At least this way managed to make him feel a little calm. "Thank you."

They were silent for a moment while enjoying their tea. They are lost in each other's thoughts, despite the fact that they have the same goal; survive.

"I agree," said Lucia breaking the silence, causing Brian who was sipping his tea to turn his head and stare at her intently.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"I'm grateful-"

"But, of course we have to talk about the terms of this contract marriage."

Brian must have expected this, he even prepared a blank sheet of files that they were ready to fill together even though when he left for Lucia's mansion he wasn't sure she would accept his invitation. "Then we should start writing," he said as he took out the paper and a pen.