Chapter 2 Marriage Contract

(Lilian's POV)

There I was on the cold floor as silence followed his absence. His presence that felt overwhelming was suddenly gone, but I could still smell the manly cologne of he's that seemed to linger in my living room, causing me to remember everything that he said just a while ago. He sounded so determined, and his eyes were evidence of it.

Moments after he left me shocked and frozen, I found it difficult to stand on my feet, and slowly I slumped to the ground, helplessly.

What should I do? I knew very well who this man was, and could still remember how he always played everything to his favor. Would he really go to the extremity just to get me?

I sighed as I closed my eyes, questions swirling around in my head. For the past 5 years, I had been saying to myself that I would be free from his stronghold and now... Now all those words flew from my head.

Why was he back? What was he aiming for? Frederick never did anything without gaining in return.

With my eyes still closed, slowly I remembered how we first met, everything seemed to have been planned out by him. Somehow, but I was still unsure. However, I remembered how I got into the bar and got drunk right after being fired from my job for a crime I didn't commit.

Suddenly, I felt a strong defining presence beside me, but I was reluctant to take a look as I was pretty occupied in my world. A drink got pushed on the counter and I effortlessly rushed to grip it. And once I did, I drank all the content in one gulp but winced when the strong, but rich taste of the liquor burned down through my throat.

It was so much different from the drink I ordered, but I didn't bother to think of it as I continued to drown in my sorrow, and suddenly, I could feel an intense glare that burnt my skin with its slightest graze.

Turning to the source, my eyes met with a pair of blue eyes, the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen, and it was as if I were drowning in it. The eyes were blank and held no emotion but as soon as the gaze left mine and fell on my parted lips, I witnessed a slight display of emotion for just a split second...

"Here's a refill, sorry for the last one." A voice from nearby snapped me back to reality as the bartender spoke. However, I kept looking into those sets of blue eyes, finding it difficult to look away even for a moment. It felt like a black hole pulling me in.

A glass of drink was pushed on the counter again and the man slowly reached for it before he slowly opened his mouth to speak as he stared back at me as if he was also finding it difficult to look away but strangely, I could feel like he wasn't as caught up as I was but rather curious.

"Don't worry, I'm sure the lady would pay for it." His voice was deep, rich, and masculine, causing goosebumps to cover my skin. I wondered who he was referring to. Out of curiosity, my eyes finally broke free from his hold and quickly averted around the place searching for the lady he was referring to, but there was no one around except the both of us. The bar was about to close. Thus, we were the only ones still present.

Moving my gaze back to his, I could see a smirk spreaded on his lips as he stared amusingly at me. Paying close attention to his face, I realized how strikingly handsome this man was. My gaze moved across his face, taking note of his blue eyes, thin lips, pencil nose, flawless skin, chiseled jaw and dark silk hair that was gelled back, making his symmetrical face obvious.

I bit my lips as my eyes went further down to his body. He was dressed to attract, his suit well tailored and expensive. He looked exquisite and rich. My gaze went back up, and I bit on my lower lip even hard as I noticed his dark shaped brow raised.

"Or what do you say?" He asked, studying me with those mesmerizing eyes of his.

"I don't understand," I muttered inaudibly, but surprisingly, he heard me.

"The drink you took was actually not for you, but you can pay for that, or can't you?" He asked as his gaze swept over my body as if confirming I had the money to pay. My cheeks burned red in embarrassment, knowing fully well that I was dressed more like a beggar, plus my sorry state made me look nothing less than a jobless, worthless, and lonely lady hanging around a bar, hoping to find solace in a cheap bottle of alcohol.

Looking over at the glass on the table, my eyes widened as I stared at the world's most expensive drink. There was no way I could be paying for that. I barely had enough to pay for my drinks. I had taken quite a number and lost count. I had already mentally prepared myself to work here for a few days to clear off the debt, and here he was, adding to my bills.

Maybe I should just run now that I have the chance. Shifting my gaze back to his face, I noticed his brows creasing as a frown etched on his face as if he could read my thoughts.

"I hope you're not planning on escaping. Just so you know, no one can escape me," he relayed calmly, and I was a fool for not taking his words seriously at that moment.

Darting my eyes around, I struggled to speak. "But I don't have anything on me, I can't possibly pay for it... Is there something else I can do to pay you back? Anything at all, I'll willingly do without hesitation." I offered, trying to find an easy way out of my predicament, but if only I knew better that I was making a deal with the devil.

I watched as the corner of his lips rose, his hand reached for the glass of drink, and he slowly lifted it up to his lips while maintaining the smirk as he took a sip slowly from the cup, his eyes locked on mine.

Dropping the cup down, he nodded slightly. His eyes swept over me again, and this time I could see a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Alright then. I have a marriage contract for you." His voice stern and clear, as if telling me there was no turning back.