Chapter 359 Marriage

Chapter 359 Marriage

Oliver had a pleasant scent of aftershave on him.

Daniela usually hung around with men, mostly rough guys, and she was used to their sweaty smell. But now, Oliver's gentle aftershave made her sensitive nerves tense up.

Then her thin, frail body also stiffened.

"Mr. Oliver..."

Daniela's head was buzzing.

When she dealt with men, it was mostly with fists. This was the first time in her life that a man had held her so gently.

Oliver was half a head taller than her. When he wrapped his arms around her, her head fit perfectly against his shoulder.

"Take my heart with you."

Oliver murmured. He closed his eyelids slightly. This scene had appeared countless times in his dreams, and at this moment, his dream had finally come true.

Daniela had wanted to push him away, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

On the second floor, Quinley had just stepped onto the balcony when she unexpectedly caught sight of the scene downstairs.

She took half a step back. Looking at the harmonious and warm scene under the lights, the corners of her mouth curved up into a smile.

Even the hardest glacier can't withstand the long scorching heat of the sun. Daniela was that glacier, and Oliver's devotion was that blazing sun.

She turned around and went back to the bedroom.

Zachary, the doting father, had just finished his shower. A large bath towel was wrapped around his waist, and water droplets slid down his muscular body.

"What time is it? Why hasn't Oliver brought Riley back yet?"

As he spoke, he walked toward the bed and grabbed his phone to call Oliver.

Quinley quickly stopped him. "Don't worry. Riley loves him the most. Just let them play a bit longer."

Zachary looked at Quinley with confusion, his deep eyes taking on a knowing look.

"How about we play for a bit too?"

He smiled mischievously and pulled Quinley into his arms.

"It's still early. Don't rush. What if they come back?"

Quinley laughed and tried to push Zachary away, but he had finally caught his chance and wasn't about to let the lamb at his lips escape.

"Then let's make it quick. I'll race against time and guarantee quality."

He scooped Quinley up and tumbled onto the bed behind them.

"Did you lock the door? The curtains aren't closed!"

Quinley reminded him.

Zachary let go and quickly jumped to the window. His eyes happened to look through the glass and see the couple embracing downstairs.

Now, his heart that was ready for a quick battle completely relaxed.

Downstairs.

Oliver greedily wanted to hold her a bit longer, but Riley in Daniela's arms woke up at that moment.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

Oliver was hugging too tight, and she couldn't breathe in Daniela's arms.

Daniela felt embarrassed and immediately pushed Oliver away.

"Riley, are you okay?"

Daniela asked nervously and immediately checked on Riley.

"Daniela, I'm fine. Is my uncle bullying you again? I'm going to tell my dad right now."

As she spoke, she broke free from Daniela's embrace.

Before Daniela could stop her, Riley was already running toward the house on her short little legs.

"I... I'll go inside first."

Daniela's face turned bright red. She left Oliver behind and jogged into the house.

Her heart was pounding non-stop, as if it wanted to jump right out of her chest.

In the yard, Oliver just stood there. He looked up at the sky. There was no moon and no stars, but that night, the sky seemed especially bright.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

In the bedroom, Zachary and Quinley were in the middle of their "heated play" when Riley's voice came from downstairs.

"Riley's here."

Quinley immediately came to her senses and reached out to push Zachary away.

He was savoring this tender moment and didn't want to stop.

"Shh, focus. I locked the door."

Zachary wanted to continue.

However, Riley's loud voice drilled through the door crack.

She raised her little fists and banged on the door.

When Zachary didn't open it, she kept going, knocking and calling out, "Daddy, I know you're in there. Open the door!"

The little bit of passion Zachary had finally worked up disappeared bit by bit under Riley's fists.

"Ah, why did I have such a daughter?"

He let out a sigh, then rolled over, got up, and immediately put on his clothes.

Quinley smiled with her lips pressed together.

In the Jennings family, Riley was Zachary's weakness.

She had Zachary wrapped around her finger with ease.

Fully dressed, Zachary walked to the door and reluctantly pulled it open.

"What's wrong?"

Though he had a stern face, his tone was indulgent.

Riley pouted, looking like she was there to settle a score.

Her chubby little face was puffing in and out because she was angry, looking absolutely adorable.

"Uncle bullied Daniela."

She loudly tattled.

Quinley leaned against the headboard, unable to help covering her mouth and laughing.

It seemed that not only had she seen the scene downstairs, but Riley had seen it too.

However, she really couldn't think of how to explain this kind of thing to a two-year-old child.

Of course, this difficult problem should naturally be handled by Zachary, the good father.

"That's not bullying."

Zachary bent down and scooped Riley into his arms.

"It is bullying."

Riley frowned seriously, emphasizing her point.

"Okay, it's bullying, it is bullying. Daddy will find time to teach him a lesson."

Riley's eyes rolled, and she immediately noticed a red mark on Quinley's neck.

"Mommy, what happened to your neck?"

It was a mark Zachary had just left.

Quinley didn't know, but Zachary did. He quickly tossed Riley onto the bed and explained, "Mommy wasn't feeling well there, so she just scratched it."

Riley looked thoughtful. "Mommy, did Daddy bully you too?"

She asked seriously.

Zachary got nervous.

"No, how could Daddy bully Mommy?"

He quickly defended himself.

"Mommy, if Daddy bullies you, you have to tell me." Riley bravely offered to be Quinley's protector.

"Okay, no problem."

Quinley smiled mischievously and secretly kicked Zachary's leg when he wasn't paying attention.

The next day on the way to work, Zachary thought about the unfinished business from the night before.

The real culprit should be Oliver.

"Tell Oliver to come see me."

Zachary said to Lucas.

"Is there work to arrange with the Davis Group?" Lucas asked one more question.

Zachary closed his eyes. "No, just have him come over. No one else needs to come."

Lucas immediately complied.

Not long after they arrived at the company, Oliver came.

He had shed his usual dejection and looked radiant.

"Zach, what did you need?"

He was wearing a striped casual outfit and plopped down on the sofa in the reception area.

He casually grabbed a bunch of grapes from the fruit plate and popped them into his mouth one by one.

"So happy?"

Zachary rolled his eyes at him.

Oliver didn't know that last night's happiness wasn't his alone.

Of course, he had no idea that last night he had ruined Zachary's plans.

"Yeah."

Oliver answered honestly.

When he said "yeah," Oliver's mind couldn't help but replay last night's scene.

The soft woman in his arms, gentle as water.

"When are you going to marry Daniela?"

Zachary asked straight to the point.

This question stumped Oliver. He hadn't expected Zachary to be so direct.

"How can it be that fast? I'm planning to win her over first, enjoy a few years of dating with her, and when the time is right, then marry her."

He was lost in his own world.

Zachary couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I'm warning you, if you dare to be a jerk, I'll be the first to take you down. Don't date for years. Daniela is twenty-five this year. A girl's youth is limited, she can't afford to waste it. If you really like her, start preparing to marry her sooner."

Oliver's head was a bit foggy. He had never been in a relationship.

"Won't that make me seem too goal-oriented?"

"If you want to enjoy the beauty of romance, you can still enjoy it slowly after getting married."

The advice one person with little dating experience could share with another dating novice was actually quite limited.

Oliver looked thoughtful.

He had always seen Zachary as his role model. What Zachary said was right.

So now that Zachary had given this advice, he immediately agreed with it in his heart.

"Should I start preparing a proposal ring now?"

"What do you think?" This time, Zachary didn't give a clear answer.

Oliver slapped his forehead, smiling so hard his eyes narrowed into lines.

"Thanks for the reminder. I'll go do that right now."

So he immediately left Apex Global Group and headed straight to the central mall.

The first floor of the mall was full of jewelry.

When Oliver showed up there, he discovered that choosing a proposal ring was also quite a skill.

For example, when the counter lady asked him about the woman's ring size, he was stumped.

He had never thought that wedding rings had to be chosen according to each person's ring size.

And he had no idea what Daniela's size was.

Many things can't be done based on careful consideration—they require a bit of impulse.

That morning, Oliver was driven by some magical force. He made the most impulsive decision of his life.

He drove from the mall back to Maple Estate.

Martha had just finished making breakfast, and everyone was sitting around the dining table eating.

Oliver appeared, out of breath.

Riley had just said something, and Quinley and Daniela were laughing.

"Uncle, what are you doing here?"

Riley asked mercilessly.

Oliver didn't turn around. His heartbeat had drowned out everything else.

He strode forward, walking straight toward Daniela. In front of everyone, he reached out and grabbed Daniela's hand.

"Daniela, come outside with me for a moment."

Daniela still hadn't recovered from what happened last night.

Oliver was great, but she hadn't made up her mind to accept him.

"Mr. Oliver, let go."

Daniela resisted. She reached out to push Oliver away.

"Riley, come with Mommy to the back garden to see if that lily from yesterday has bloomed."

Quinley smiled slightly, got up, picked up Riley, and headed to the back garden.

"Mommy, I don't want to go. Daniela just said she would take me out to play."

Riley protested.

But Quinley held her even tighter. "No, you want to go."

She quickened her pace and carried Riley away.

Martha, who was busy in the kitchen, also heard the commotion outside.

A mother knows her daughter best. Martha knew that the reason Daniela was resisting Oliver wasn't because she didn't like him, but because she was afraid.

So she quietly retreated back to the kitchen and closed the kitchen door behind her.

"Daniela, will you come with me somewhere?"

Oliver was somewhat impatient.

Daniela felt awkward. She looked back and saw that the dining room was already empty.

"Where?"

She didn't dare look up at Oliver. For some reason, after last night's embrace, things between her and Oliver had become a bit awkward.

"You'll know when we get there."

Oliver pulled Daniela's wrist and quickened his pace.

The car drove straight to the mall.

When they arrived, Daniela felt uncomfortable.

Although she was a girl, she didn't know much about jewelry, and besides, she didn't like these shiny things.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Daniela stood at the entrance of the jewelry store, refusing to go in.

"I want to give a friend a gift and don't know how to choose. Help me out."

He made up an excuse.

Daniela looked at Oliver warily, refusing to go inside.

Oliver had to resort to being shameless. "Just consider it you paying me back for the favor of accompanying you to the hospital before, okay?"

He knew that Daniela hated owing people favors the most, so he deliberately said this. Sure enough, Daniela stopped refusing.

"Fine."

After the two went in, Oliver pretended to look at bracelets and such for a while, then deliberately had the clerk take out several rings to try on.

"Try this one. This one looks so small, it should be for a woman."

He picked up a platinum ring and handed it to Daniela.

Daniela looked at it with distaste. "I don't wear this kind of stuff."

"Just try it. I'm not buying it for you. Just consider it paying back the favor."

He was always trying every way to dispel Daniela's doubts.

Daniela was slow to warm up. Going too fast would only scare her away.

Daniela was reluctant, but she still did as Oliver said.

However, what she didn't know was that Oliver secretly noted down Daniela's size.

To avoid arousing Daniela's suspicion, Oliver bought two rings.

"Wow, those diamond rings over there are really beautiful. Which one do you like?"

Oliver led Daniela to the diamond rings.

It was the first time Daniela had seen so many shiny things up close.

However, although these diamonds were beautiful, they were worthless in her heart.

She just glanced at them indifferently. "I don't like any of them."

She was very guarded, and Oliver sensed it.

"You know what? The other day Riley actually asked me to buy her a diamond ring. Kids these days really mature too early. She said her mom has one, so why doesn't she. I didn't know how to explain to her that a diamond ring should be given to her by her other half when she grows up."

His deliberate explanation seemed a bit exaggerated.

"She can also buy one for herself. Modern women don't need men to please them. I believe when Riley grows up, she'll be the same."

Daniela unexpectedly shared her different view.

Oliver nodded, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

"That's true. She'll definitely be even more amazing when she grows up."

He laughed it off.