Bab 14: Marry Me
It was evening. Elena came out of the convenience store after finishing her job for the day. She took a deep breath and then exhaled tiredly after a busy day at work.
From the end of the road, Elena saw two black cars approaching her and sure enough, one by one the cars stopped beside Elena. She still didn't understand what it meant. The sound of a car window being lowered caught her attention. From inside, Elleard was watching her.
"Oh… Mr. Flowershop Customer." Elena pointed at Elleard.
"Come in, I'll take you to the flower shop," said Elleard.
Elena was silent.
"I don't come there anymore, sir. If you want to buy flowers, you can go straight there. Someone will arrange them for you," she said then.
"Then how about we have some coffee?" Elleard offered.
For a moment, Elena was deep in thought. There's nothing wrong with accepting this man's offer for coffee. He had always been nice to her, buying the flowers she sold and even giving a very large tip, even though Aunt Ursula took the money.
"Okay, sir." Finally, Elena nodded. She was surprised to see Elleard's car window winded back up. Elena thought she would get into the same car as Elleard. Turned out she was wrong.
A man in black came out and opened the car door in front of Elena.
Ah, it turned out she was indeed not to ride in the same car with Elleard. Elena was invited to board the car in front of Elleard's vehicle. For a moment, Elena felt that it was strange. But then she dismissed the thought. Perhaps Elleard felt uncomfortable sharing a vehicle with strangers.
Oh, that was none of her business. After Elena entered and the door was closed, the car again drove leisurely towards a cafe.
Elena's car door opened. She then went down carefully because the treatment of Elleard's guards was so respectful. She felt like a young miss from a wealthy family.
Elleard in his wheelchair was already wheeling toward Elena. As they faced each other, Elena and Elleard smiled back at each other. They then entered the cafe which had been reserved just for the two of them earlier.
Elena was stunned to see that there was no one in this cafe. There was a big CLOSED sign on the window. Was this cafe really closed or… did this man purposely close it so the two of them could enjoy a cup of coffee together in privacy?
"You can order what you want, Elena."
Elleard's words surprised Elena. The two of them weren't acquainted yet, right? How did this man know her name?
"Sorry, I've been looking into you," said Elleard again. "I know your name is Elena."
"What do you mean?"
Elleard smiled faintly. "Never mind, you haven't eaten, have you? Choose whatever dish you like."
Elena bit her lip. She was hungry. Ah.. why did she think about how did this man know her name? If he had bad intentions, he would have done it easily when Elena got into his car. He could have kidnapped Elena and taken her to a secluded place, but he didn't.
Elena decided to trust this man. Finally, she nodded and smiled. She said, "Thank you."
Elena complied with Elleard's request. She ordered several types of dishes while Elleard only drank a cup of espresso. When the food was served, the hungry Elena immediately munched on the dishes that were served. It had been a long time since she had eaten delicious food like this.
Elleard continued to watch the girl eat while sipping his espresso. Elena only occasionally looked at Elleard until all the food had been devoured.
Elleard smiled in amusement until his row of perfect teeth were seen when he saw Elena finish the three types of dishes she ordered earlier.
"Where did all the food go? You have such a small body, yet it can hold a lot of food."
Elena smiled awkwardly. "I… haven't eaten well in a long time."
"Good thing you like all of them. What food do you dislike?" asked Elleard. Behind him, two bodyguards immediately prepared to memorize all the important information they would hear from this conversation.
Elleard wanted to know everything about Elena, including what foods she liked and didn't like. He had just received information about the background of Elena and her family. He didn't know what kind of food this girl liked.
"I love all food, sir," said Elena shyly. "I'm not picky."
"Call me Elleard, Elena." Elleard took a napkin and held it out to Elena. He said, "Come closer!"
Elena got up and slowly stepped closer to Elleard. Because the man was crippled, Elena knelt beside Elleard's wheelchair.
She was surprised when Elleard wiped her lips gently with the napkin. Elleard's eyes seemed to trace every line of Elena's face as he did so.
"Alright, you can sit back!" Elleard's orders were like hypnotic sentences. Elena obediently got up and sat back down in her chair.
"Good girl," said Elleard. He put the napkin on the table and then looked at Elena deeply. His voice was soft but firm as he spoke. "Elena."
"Yes, Sir?" asked Elena.
"Marry me!"
Cough!
Elena's throat suddenly felt dry. She immediately drank a glass of water and coughed. "Please don't joke around, sir."
Elleard shook his head with a cold smile as if everything he said was an indisputable command.
"So, this is serious?" asked Elena with her round eyes widened. She was really surprised.
Elleard reached into his coat pocket and took out a small blue velvet box. He then put it on the table. Elena really couldn't hide her surprise as Elleard pushed the velvet box towards her,
Elena dared not look at the box. She chose to get up from her seat.
Crash!
Panicked, Elena accidentally kicked her chair, making it fall and causing a loud noise.
"S-sorry… Sir. Not that I don't respect you, but it looks like you got the wrong person or saw the wrong thing or… I don't know what's wrong, but this is very wrong."
"Calm down, Elena," said Elleard firmly. "Sit down!"
A man in black from behind Elleard stepped forward to adjust Elena's chair. After her shock subsided, Elena slowly sat back down.
"You have to breathe properly first." Elleard's smile returned.
"Sir, you should stop smiling like that," said Elena. Elleard's smile felt like some mysterious magic for her.
"Why? Are you afraid of my smile? I won't hurt you, Elena. I will treat you well and make sure all your needs are met from all sides."
Elena couldn't think straight at the moment. She shook her head to herself. It all seemed impossible. How could a man so handsome, rich, and seemingly powerful, ask Elena to marry him?
Ah, she must be dreaming. Had she still not woken up from the soft bed in the hilltop house?
"You can continue your studies, I will not lock you in a cage," continued Elleard again.
"Study?" Elena's voice was sad. Elleard mentioned her study and Elena immediately remembered that her savings were gone and she had to put off her desire to go to university again.
"I can pay for your tuition," said Elleard. "You don't have to worry."
Elena believed that if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is.
"Sorry… I… I can't accept it," said Elena in a weak voice. She was not ready to get married. And she didn't even know the man in front of her.
How could she spend her whole life being Elleard's wife just because he helped her go to college? After all, it seemed like they were from completely different worlds.
What if Elleard had other intentions? If he was bored with Elena and felt this marriage was a mistake, what could Elena do?
"Thanks for the offer, but I can't accept it…" said Elena nervously. "I can save to pay for my college."
"What about your parents' graves? I can give you everything you need without exception," Elleard didn't seem used to taking no for an answer. He looked deeply at Elena. "Are you really that prideful?"
"You proposed to me as if marriage was a very easy thing, sir," said Elena. She got up and walked towards the cafe door, preparing to leave.
One of Elleard's bodyguards immediately stopped Elena at the door.
"The Master is talking. You must not go," said the man in a firm voice.
Elena turned to Elleard and looked at him pleadingly. Seeing Elena insist on leaving, Elleard clenched his jaw.
"Let her go!" Elleard ordered. His bodyguard nodded respectfully then shifted to let Elena go.
***
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