The Little Lamb Threatened

Knock, knock, knock...

The door suddenly echoed with knocking.

Alex released Mark's hand. "Sit still."

He walked to the door and opened it. The bride's parents stood there, heads bowed in anxiety.

Alex didn't lose his temper but gestured towards the room. "Come in."

The bride's parents hesitated, perhaps thinking they had misheard.

"If you don't want the reporters to catch you, get in quickly."

With such a scandal, and him marrying Mark, the reporters would undoubtedly swarm.

"Sorry to intrude," they stammered, stepping in cautiously.

Alex closed the door, coldly following them to the sofa, where he sat with his legs crossed, watching them, then turned his gaze to Mark, who was frozen on the bed.

"What's going on?" Mark was utterly confused.

Without a word, the bride's parents knelt before Mark, tears streaming down their faces.

"What are you doing?" Mark was startled, instinctively retreating to the head of the bed.

The bride's parents, weeping, pleaded with Mark, "Mark, for the sake of family, could you marry Mr. Alex in place of our daughter?"

"Are you crazy?" Mark snapped, though they were relatives, he barely knew them.

The bride's mother cried even harder, "I know it's a lot to ask, but our daughter ran away with the five million dowry. What are we to do? Our small business has been losing money lately."

"That's no reason to make me marry in her place!" Mark fumed, then pointed angrily at Alex, seated opposite, "We're both men. Do you understand, men?"

"We know, but Mr. Alex doesn't mind, do you, Mr. Alex?"

"I mind!" Mark cursed, his anger boiling over.

Alex looked at them coldly. "My time is precious. If you can't settle this in half an hour, I'll call the police."

He pulled out his phone and set a timer, clearly not bluffing.

"Go ahead and call!" Mark thought, hoping he would.

"No, please, you can't call the police. Mr. Alex, if you do, our company will be ruined."

The bride's father crawled to Alex, kowtowing, tears falling.

Alex squinted at them in displeasure.

Suddenly, Alex turned to Mark with a smile. "If he cooperates and pretends to be my wife for a while, I'll forget about the five million."

After all, the kid could be useful. Keeping him around could benefit me. Let those who want to see me fail get their fill.

"Really?" The bride's parents exchanged tearful glances, seeking confirmation.

"Of course."

Alex rested his chin on his hand, smiling broadly at Mark.

Mark ground his teeth in frustration. What does he mean? Has the shock driven him mad?

"You, you're not gay, are you?"

Mark hugged himself, eyeing Alex warily.

Alex's smile widened at Mark's words, finding his shock and anger amusing. At least he was less angry now.

What the... is he implying that silence means agreement?

"I'm telling you, I'm straight. I'm not interested in men." Mark declared emphatically.

"Then it seems I have to call the police." Alex smiled, picking up his phone.

The bride's parents panicked, clutching Mark like a lifeline, crying and begging, "Please, Mark, we can't go to jail! We have an elderly mother to care for and a son to raise! Please, Mark."

Mark wanted to push them away, to refuse, but seeing the elderly couple's heartfelt tears, he couldn't bring himself to be that cruel.

Ah, this is driving me crazy! What kind of mess is this?

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Alex watched the changing expressions on Mark's face with growing amusement. Mark was like a little wildcat, ready to lash out at any moment. Apart from being a bit noisy, he wasn't so bad. The Dupont family needed someone who could stir things up.

The Dupont family was a tangled web of relationships. Alex's uncle and father were half-brothers; his current mother was a stepmother with two children of her own. Including the uncle's children, there were five in total. As the primary heir, Alex had many envious eyes on him. Their underhanded schemes were relentless, especially on a day like today, aimed at disgracing him.

Alex's good mood gradually surfaced because he had long suspected there was something off about the wedding and wanted to see what his enemies had planned.

Annoyed and troubled by the bride's parents, Mark noticed Alex on the sofa watching him with a smile. His anger flared, making his hair almost stand on end.

Damn it! What does this wretched man want? I'm a man; shouldn't they find a girl to take the bride's place? But if I don't help, what happens if the bride's parents get arrested?

Mark, feeling desperate, scratched his head and let out a sigh of despair. Finally, seeing the pleading look in the bride's parents' eyes, he softened.

"You win. I surrender."

Mark raised his hands in defeat, his energy drained.

"Really, Mark, you agree?"

The bride's parents shook Mark excitedly, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

"Stop shaking me, or I'll puke."

Annoyed, Mark pushed them away.

He said coldly, "Leave us. I need to talk to him."

Referring to Alex.

"Alright, alright, we'll leave. You two talk."

The bride's parents wiped their tears and left hastily without looking back.

Now alone with Alex, the room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Mark picked up a pillow and hurled it at Alex, who was still lounging on the sofa. "Satisfied now?"

"Quite satisfied," Alex replied, leisurely shifting his position, smiling at Mark.

Mark clenched his fists, wishing he could twist Alex's head off and use it as a soccer ball. No, calm down. Murder is illegal. Stay composed.

Mark took a deep breath, walked up to Alex, placed his hands on his hips, and glared down at him. "Spill it. What do you want?"

Alex patted the spot beside him, indicating Mark should sit.

"I don't have the patience to sit and chat. Spit it out."

Mark yelled, giving Alex no face.

Alex chuckled softly. So impatient. He got to the point. "You just need to pretend to be my wife for six months. I'll pay you. Name your price."

Alex pulled out a checkbook, ready for Mark to fill in any amount.

Mark was furious enough to tear up Alex's mouth. Did this man think money could solve everything?

"How about a billion?"

As Mark scoffed, Alex offered an astronomical sum.

Mark choked on his saliva, coughing violently. "A billion?"

Holy crap, does he mean it?

"If that's not enough, how about 1.2 billion?"

Alex calmly increased the amount, as if giving Mark pocket money.

Mark was stunned. Do rich people see money as dirt?

"You can refuse, of course. I can always find someone else."

Alex reached to take back the check.

"Wait." Mark grabbed Alex's wrist in a panic. "You're really giving me that much?"

Alex, amused by the adorable face so close to his, answered with a smile, "As long as you agree, I'll pay you a ten million advance immediately."

He didn't seem to be lying. If I take this deal, my parents won't have to struggle so hard, and they'll have more time to spend with me.

Mark wavered. His parents had been working small jobs away from home for years, earning little and rarely seeing him.