Black Pearl in Raging Fire

"Mr. Halsey, I can lend you as much money as you want."

Collin Halsey furrowed his brows where the wrinkles on his aged face deepened with confusion. He was old, for suddenly the arrival of a handsome and brave young male guest came to his door, he could not guess any hidden intentions.

Even though Collin didn't know much about young talent in the business world, but he wasn't completely blind. His business was indeed at stake at the moment, which he didn't even have time to blink to see anything else, it was just that he knew very well who the young man in front of him was. One powerful piece of information that flashed through his head as soon as he saw this young man was the news of a talented young CEO whose name had been skyrocketing recently. Even in national and international news broadcasts, newspapers and business people's discussions, the name of this one man once crossed his mind; Adriel Kingston.

So when this young man said he was going to lend him the money out of the blue, Collin knew that he was indirectly offering cooperation.

"Mr. Kingston, do you know how much money you might spend helping the Hale Group?" Collin asked at a straight point.

He didn't expect that Adriel would actually be able to fill the void that his company nearly crashed into. In his heart he was grateful for this young man's willingness to offer help, but on the other hand he also didn't want to dream. The Hale Group was an international company engaged in industry. For nearly thirty years this company has been a business empire that has brought the Halseys up to this point and was well known to everyone. With a net income that reaches 300 million per year, it was able to make the name of the Hale Group known to everyone and expand its business to foreign countries.

However, big companies always have competitors who want their destruction at every crack. Almost three years ago the Hale Group developed a large project in a neighboring country which took up a lot of operating costs. Due to the country's sudden policy of restricting foreign trade and investment, 'someone' took the opportunity to drop his company's market selling price and made investments that were already running lose value at heavy losses. Its shares fell violently, the company's capital was destroyed and banks continued to collect debts at increasing interest rates. It was on this day that the company nearly declared the Hale Group headed for bankruptcy.

"I had made some planning before coming here." Adriel raised his hand and took the file his assistant had brought. "Please Mr. Halsey to take a look."

Collin was still breathing coldly and nonchalantly, ignoring the document in the young man's hand. "The Hale Group's corporate deficit requires 50 million to get back on its feet. It's only possible to start from scratch without predicting success. You can't voluntarily lend money to a company in crisis, can you?"

Young people are always on fire. They are used to seeing profits in the first place and putting aside risks. Unfortunately, although in a state of urgency, Collin didn't want to take this innocent kid to drown in the mud with him.

Unexpectedly, Adriel calmly replied, "The Hale Group has always been a very profitable company in the past. I believe as long as you are willing to give this opportunity a try, the Hale Group will return."

"Are you just lending me money for free? With your abilities, you can even hold this company in your fists without bothering to do all this." Collin's old voice was full of doubts.

"I really don't lend money for free." Adriel confirmed.

Collin almost sneered because his guess was right, that there must be a shrimp behind the rock from this favor. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me as collateral?"

"I have a request."

"Say."

Before answering, Adriel's blue eyes looked to the second floor, catching someone who overheard this conversation. The lights on the second floor were dim, so he could only see some of the person's features. Yet even in the darkness, he could see how delicate and handsome the other party's face was.

The next second Adriel lowered his eyes again with a slight smile. "I need a wife."

Collin looked at him in confusion. "Did you get the information wrong? I only have one child and that is a man."

When he saw Adriel's smile deepened, Collin gasped. "You ...!"

"I want to marry your son."

"You're crazy! Get out of here! Do you think it makes sense to marry my son when you are a man too? I, Collin Halsey, would rather be poor than having to beg on you for something like this. I'd rather be useless and no money, but I won't sell my son!" Collin stood up and shouted angrily, he took the paper from Adriel's hand and threw it in his face.

Adriel's expression didn't even change in the slightest, as if he had expected this. He sat still. "Mr. Halsey, you'd better think it over."

"I don't have to think about it! Get out of here! Get out!"

"Mr. Halsey, if your company goes bankrupt, tens of thousands of employees will be unemployed."

"Get the hell out!"

"Mr. Halsey, you may not mind living poor without money, but what about your wife and son?"

"You ..." Collin was speechless after being touched by his weak point. "What do you really want?"

"I need a partner."

Collin's heart felt squeezed so tightly that he felt pain. The day he brought his own son to marry, it was the day he had been waiting for someday, but not for this kind of marriage. Even when his son had to be called a wife when he was a man, his breath grew cold.

"Why do you want to marry my son?" Collin obviously put a lot of energy into saying this because his hands were clenched into fists.

"I'll treat Liam well," Adriel replied without hesitation.

Collin contracted for a moment, even this young man immediately called out his own son's first name.

"No! Even if I had to beg for my life on the streets, I wouldn't want to sell my son! Go! Get out of here!"

This time Adriel didn't try to persuade again, but he didn't move an inch from the couch. He calmly collected the fallen papers, then placed them on the table. This gesture was not provocative.

Collin trembled with anger and pointed at him. "You ..."

"Dad."

His words stopped hearing this voice. Two heads immediately turned to the end of the stairs where a tall and slender man was standing there, in a soft light green sweater and white undershirt, making his skin look like it was transparent. The cold and expressionless face stared indifferently, immediately Adriel's heart jumped slightly.

"I agree." Liam gripped the banister without exertion, facing a smiling Adriel. His voice was calm as he said, "I agree to marry you."

"Liam, this ..." Collin was worried.

"Hale Group won't last long. If it wasn't for me at least you should think about the tens of thousands of employees who would lose their jobs." Although these words sound kind, Liam's face was clearly conflicted, because he was cold, lifeless.

Collin didn't know what to do.

Liam said, "If Mr. Kingston doesn't mind, please make arrangements for the wedding to take place as soon as possible."

Adriel's eyes flashed for a moment. "Alright."

After a while, Adriel and his assistant politely said goodbye and promised that marriage matters would be none of their business. Adriel's departure was smooth and fast, and Liam didn't even have time to have a special conversation with him. Liam never dreamed of what kind of partner he would marry in the future, who knew it would be a young man who took him as collateral for a debt.

A smart, calm and successful businessman, who even though he married him not because he loved him, promised to be nice to him. In his heart, Liam didn't want anything, if what he did could help his family, marrying anyone was not a problem.

"Liam, I don't think this is right. If you want, you can still undo this," said Collin persuaded him.

Liam stared at his father for a moment, placing the spoon he was holding onto the plate. He didn't expect his father to bring this up again when they were at the dinner table.

"Dad, it's my decision. It doesn't matter if I get married now or later," Liam replied.

He was currently twenty-one. With his good-looking face, there were many women lined up to get his attention, but none could ever get close to him. His demeanor was cold and indifferent, he was also a loner, not having many friends around him. Even though some of those who approached him only used him to gain advantage, in this case because he was a wealthy second generation, in the end these people backed down due to his cold refusal through his demeanor.

Mrs. Halsey, Elsa Halsey, saw her son insist and suddenly became anxious too. "Son, you are too young and Mr. Kingston is a man. Are you sure, dear?"

"No problem, Mom. Same-sex marriage is popular now."

His parents were silent.

"Besides, it makes sense to guarantee the loan money from the young entrepreneur. Thinking of today, companies need money to pay their employees' salaries, right?" Liam said flatly, then looked at his father. "And Dad, think that we still need money for Mom's treatment."

This words silenced Collin on the spot.

Liam took a napkin to wipe his mouth. "I'm done. I'm going to my room."

Without waiting for the answer of the two remaining people, Liam went to his room, leaving a stiff atmosphere at the dining table.

"This young man, he is so brave to ask for my son as collateral! Will he later ask for my heart too?!" Collin was furious.

"Honey, can this man be trusted? Can he take care of our son?" Mrs. Halsey's eyes reddened from crying. "Is there still time to refuse it? My son ... my son will ..."

Collin grabbed his wife and hugged her. She ended up crying in his arms until she coughed every now and then.

"Elsa, honey, calm down. Listen to me, don't cry. Don't be depressed. Remember your condition, ok? I ... I'll find another solution ASAP."

... to be continued ...

Liam was getting out of the luxury car when the door opened for him. He stood still looking at the large house with a high white fence, but still saw the multi-storied buildings inside.

"This is the house we will live in after marriage. Come in and have a look."

Adriel looked at Liam after saying that, his expression didn't change, but Liam somehow saw the pleading in his blue eyes.

He walked in with Adriel into the gate. A man in a black suit opened the double doors of the house, ushering them in. He remembered the man, at that time he came with Adriel to his house.

Not only did it look huge from the outside, once he entered, it was even more spacious inside. There was still a faint smell of paint, as well as the smell of new furniture, all expensive furniture. Liam looked around and felt the atmosphere inside was familiar to his eyes.

"Do you like the concept of this house?" Adriel opened the window blinds that ran from ceiling to floor. The light from outside immediately spilled inside.

Liam turned to look at the painting on the wall. Even that looked familiar. "Why should I not like it? Do I have a choice not to like it?"

His hand traced a dark wilderness landscape painting, there was a lone house and a family sitting in the yard lighting a fire. Felt a bit complicated. He didn't care about anything, didn't care about a new house or anything like that. But the familiar feeling tickled his heart even more.

Right. Wasn't this the exact same painting in his house?

Liam didn't notice the bitter look on Adriel's face, but heard him say, "If you don't like it, we can change the design of this house again."

Liam turned his head. "Why should it be changed?"

"If you don't like it then it should be changed to something you like," Adriel replied.

Liam found this both funny and ironic, he said, "Whether I like it or not, doesn't it have anything to do with you?"

Adriel, "..."

Liam, "If I could just say what I don't like, I wouldn't be here now, would I?"

The tone he used wasn't harsh or demanding, but Adriel felt like his words were like thorns stabbed straight into the heart. He had heard that the young master of the Halsey family was an aloof and cold man-always saying what was on his mind no matter whether those words would become deadly poison to others.

However, behind his cold demeanor, Liam was a very generous and soft-hearted young man, at the age of fifteen he opened a charity foundation with his own money. The foundation, which has been established for five years, has been able to build several schools for orphans and children from underprivileged families. Every year the foundation will send clothes and stationery for the children and provide the best teachers in each of the schools it establishes. Maybe because of his secretive attitude, not many people know about this.

It was just that Adriel knows everything.

Liam wasn't like most young masters from the second generation either. He didn't like parties and crowds, didn't like spending time and money just having fun with other people.

This was one of the reasons that made Adriel fall in love with him.

"We're getting married in three days. Whether you like it or not, you can't regret it now," said Adriel.

Liam didn't answer, his hands stop moving from the painting, nothing changed from his expression.

"I'll show you to your room. This way please." Adriel pointed at the stairs in the corner of the room. Liam walked first up the stairs.

As before, the room he saw felt familiar and it really was like his own room at home; from the contents of the room, paint and even matching curtains. Liam felt a little strange.

"We won't be in the same room. I'll be sleeping in the guest room on the first floor."

"Why?" Liam looked at the man. "Why don't we share a room?"

He thought, 'Isn't that your goal in marrying me? Why did you marry me if we end up in separate rooms?'

Not that Liam wanted to be in the same room as Adriel, but he felt like he couldn't read this man's true intentions.

Unexpectedly, Adriel calmly replied, "There was a time when we were in the same room. That's when you started to love me."

***

"Just let me know if there's anything you'd like to change. I don't want you to be uncomfortable in the house later." Adriel stopped the car right in front of Halsey's residence.

Liam unbuckled his seatbelt without answering.

As he was about to go out, Adriel held him back. "Can I have your contact number?"

"I think you already have it seeing how you copied my room design, Mr. Kingston." Liam answered sharply.

Adriel smirked. "I could have gotten it effortlessly, but I wanted to ask you directly."

'How is it different from that?' Liam thought, this guy was so weird.

"So are you going to give it or not?" Adriel waved his phone.

Liam sighed. He took it and dialed his own number. Then he left without further ado. Before he could even close the door, Adriel held him back-again.

"Tonight ... have dinner with me."

Liam stared at him expressionlessly, then closed the door without answering.

Adriel grinned in satisfaction.

Outside, Liam didn't look back at all, he went straight into his house. Never mind that Adriel's car was still waiting for him to actually get in. In the living room, his father was having guests. It seemed they were discussing something important until they didn't even notice his presence. Liam glanced at them briefly and headed up to his room.

His mother called him. "You just arrived? Do you want something to eat?"

Liam saw his mother's weak appearance, even coughing occasionally and her hands shaking slightly. "Mom, why did you come out of the room?"

"I'm bored in the room and want to have a look." Elsa smiled weakly.

Liam guided her into the room even though she keeps refusing. After making sure his mother was sitting properly, he started to think about his mother's health which had been deteriorating recently.

"Mom, let's go to the hospital tomorrow," he said.

"Eh? I'm fine really ..." she stopped to cough and continued, "Don't you have to do a wedding suit fitting tomorrow? After all ... we can't waste money, right?"

Elsa looked down sadly.

Liam took some water from the table and gave it to her. "Fittings can wait. Your health is more important."

"But ..."

"Also ... I still have some money. Getting you to the hospital is no problem."

Elsa reached for the glass, but did not drink it. She looked hesitant as she said, "Are you really going to do this? Son, if you don't want to, you can-"

"It's fine." Liam cut her off again. He instinctively knew what his mother means. "Mr. Kingston is not a bad man."

What he said was according to what he saw. For him Adriel was not a bad person. Although his actions were very strange and arbitrary, but he knew that the help he gave his family was really effective and went well. This small sacrifice meant nothing, even with this small sacrifice he felt he couldn't afford what Adriel did.

Did he have nothing to lose just asking Liam as collateral?

Liam sighed, smoothing down his mother's blanket quietly. "You don't have to think about anything, Mom. Trust me, I'm fine."

Elsa wanted to interrupt him again, but she saw the conviction in his eyes and held it back. She had persuaded her son hundreds of times, even he didn't falter in the slightest with that decision. Liam was a quiet person and rarely said what was in his heart, Elsa was afraid that this marriage will hurt him.

"Tonight I'm going to have dinner with Mr. Kingston. I'm going to say that I can't do the fitting tomorrow because I'll take you to the hospital. Mom ... don't worry, ok?"

... to be continued ...

It turned out that the person who came to his house that afternoon was someone sent by Adriel. They reviewed the specialization and departmentalization plans as the building blocks of the new organizational structure. Everything has to be rearranged starting from zero and debt payments in various parties, especially banks, must be repaid. Liam heard Adriel's company loaned his father almost as much as the debt itself.

The man was very loaded, but also very reckless.

Why did he trust so much to lend that kind of money? Had his father in his past life ever sacrificed his life for him?

A car horn sounded from outside his house, broke his mind for a moment. Liam was silent for a while, reluctant to get up, until finally he still had to go out to finish that dinner.

Adriel was waiting outside the car when he saw Liam walking towards him. Liam wore a white shirt which doubles as a soft cream knit vest, as well as baggy cargo pants. His slightly long hair was blowing in the wind, his eyes were as cold as ever. Adriel silently gulped his saliva without averting his eyes in the slightest.

After calming himself down, Adriel asked with a smile, "Don't your clothes look a bit thin?"

Liam glanced at Adriel's clothes and said, "Are you just going to comment on mine? Should I say that you are dressed formally enough for a casual dinner?"

Or was this really not a normal dinner?

"Who says this is just a casual dinner, hm?" Adriel smirked.

The clothes he used were semi-formal attire. He wore a white shirt combined with a cream-colored suit, all of which were famous brand clothes. Even the watch was a brand new, needless to mention how expensive the shoes look too.

Liam didn't really like branded clothing, so he thought it didn't appeal to his eyes.

But he admited that this man was quite attractive. Surely many women would fall from head to toe if they saw this man's appearance.

Unfortunately many handsome men are gay.

"Come in."

As if that wasn't unusual, Adriel opened the passenger door and waited for Liam to enter.

Liam certainly didn't want to argue and went along with the guy's game.

In the end Adriel took him to a restaurant in the middle of downtown. The restaurant was ordered personally by Adriel, he ordered the entire building and visitors were not allowed to enter. Only the two of them filled the place.

Liam clicked his tongue.

"Don't you like this place?" Adriel realized his discomfort.

"Yes."

To be honest Liam didn't like anything that wastes money.

Adriel laughed and knew what Liam was thinking by his expression. "I really like your honesty."

Liam, "???"

The waiter came with expensive red wine and poured it into their glasses. Liam watched the blood-red wine trickle down his glass without interest.

Then he looked at the restaurant's decorations with a straight face. He had never been inside this restaurant, even though he had the money to eat in it. For him, eating at a fancy place like this is just a waste of money, let alone having to rent the entire building.

"Toast with me?"

Adriel's voice caught his attention. Liam has already admitted that Adriel was handsome, but this kind of handsomeness was quite arrogant. A man who clearly displays luxury items on his body is usually an outspoken person. Whereas Liam didn't like people like that.

Liam raised the glass in front of him, shaking it slightly.

"Why? Don't you drink wine? Or your tolerance for alcohol is low?"

Liam was not interested in answering.

"Relax. It has a low alcohol content. It's not intoxicating," Adriel continued.

Liam still ignored Adriel's words. He shook the glass again, so that the wine in it rippled like waves. After feeling satisfied, he drank all of its contents.

Adriel was stunned. Then covered his mouth slightly to smile.

'This man is interesting,' he thought

Four people with violins came closer, playing romantic music in a seductive tone. A waiter brought a trolley with one large dish covered tightly. Seeing this whole scene Liam's forehead twitched.

"Tell me the truth, Mr. Kingston. What is your purpose in bringing me here?" Liam asked flatly.

Adriel smiled, showing dimples in both cheeks. "Just call me Adriel. And don't rush into it. I'm just doing the formalities."

What formalities?

Adriel saw the confusion on Liam's face and snapped his fingers.

The waiter saw the hint and placed the dish in front of Liam. He didn't open the lid and just left.

"Come on. Open it."

"What's this?" Liam didn't move.

"Do you want me to open it?"

Liam sat still.

Realizing Liam won't open it no matter what, Adriel patiently opened the lid of the dish for him.

"You can see it, if you want to know."

When the lid was opened, there was no fragrant food smell, or warm fumes from cooked food. But what was in front of him was a dark blue velvet box.

Liam looked up at Adriel who smiled.

"Can you open that one yourself?"

Liam knew what box that was. But he still didn't take it even though he had to.

"Well, I'm looking for the best materials to make this. So it's custom made. You can see if you like it, otherwise ..."

"Otherwise ... what?" Liam finally said.

Adriel shrugged. "Of course we can find what you like."

This type of guy, who liked to flaunt his power was what Liam hates the most. "Did you think I would like these kinds of things like women?"

Adriel was stunned. "Can't men like this kind of thing?"

With rare patience, Adriel wasn't angry. He took the box on his own and opened it right in front of Liam's face. Of course, it was a ring as Liam had expected.

Adriel responded to Liam's cold demeanor with a charming smile, saying, "I didn't propose to you with formalities back then, so I wanted to do it today."

Liam, "..."

What the ...?

"If you don't like this model, stick with it for at least a little while." Adriel took the ring and looked at Liam.

He asked calmly but firmly, "So, Liam Halsey, will you marry me?"

"..."

"Well. I don't think this is a request though, so ... let's get married."

... to be continued ...