Chapter 8

“Squid! You, greedy kitty,” Nova muttered when one of her cats moved to another feeding bowl, stealing its brother’s food. She picked up the cat to bring it upstairs only to lose her grip on her pet when she saw the man that she saved limping towards her. Her hand immediately grabbed the frying pan from the sink and held its handle with two hands. She looked like someone who was ready to smash the ball on a tennis court.

“W-water…” His voice was almost a whisper; his tone sounded like a plead.

She lowered her guard and suddenly felt guilty by the way she acted. Once again, she abandoned her frying fan on the sink and strode towards the fridge to get him water.

“Here.” Nova handed him bottled water that she already opened just in case he was weak to do so. “I’m sorry about my reaction earlier. I’m used to living alone and…” She scanned him from head to toe, and that was when she noticed that he covered his nakedness with the blanket that she covered him a while ago. He was a decent man, after all. “What’s your name, anyway?”

Nova pulled a chair and sat there. She then propped a hand on her chin as she watched him chug down the water and waited for his response. It only took him a minute or two to empty the five hundred milliliters of bottled water that she gave him.

“Aldous.”

Her brow arched. “Aldous what? Aldous Dumbledore?”

Nova hoped he could ride with her humor. But he remained serious as he met her gaze. Well, maybe he was not that type to jest around. And how could he do that in his current state?

“It’s Aldous Santiago.”

“Oh, I see.” She folded her arms and cleared her throat. “Care to tell me what happened to you?”

She saw his eyes darkened. Instead of fearing what she saw, Nova’s sympathy towards him grew bigger.

“It’s…” Aldous let out a long sigh. “a long story.”

“I’m all ears,” she told him and smiled. “I love listening to—”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you everything about me. We’re not even close—”

“Waaah!” Nova breathed exasperatedly. The audacity of this Aldous not Dumbledore to say that right in front of her face when he was a stranger himself, yet she let him inside her apartment out of pity. “Yes, we’re not even close. I don’t even know you, but I helped you out. I let you in. We’re total strangers, yet I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I think it is my right to know who you are and what brought you in front of my place in that state. I must assess the situation before—”

“You may call the police if you want,” he said in a low tone.

Her mouth dropped open. She could not believe that she helped someone with that kind of attitude.

“Fine.” She pressed her lips together and fished her phone. “I’ll report you to the police.”

Just when she was about to call the police, Aldous snatched her phone.

“I changed my mind,” he told her.

Nova’s brows drew together.

“Spill the tea then.”

He pulled the chair across her seat and sat there.

“I came here to get my money back because I badly need it for my mother’s medical expenses. Unfortunately, I learned today that my trusted friend scammed me…” There was bitterness in his voice. And she could not blame him. Who would be happy to lose his money? His friend betrayed him too. “I met him to confront him. I need my money back. But I didn’t know he was a member of this certain gang. They beat me up. I escaped and run for my life.”

“And you end up in front of my apartment?”

Aldous nodded in response.

Nova could not believe everything that was happening in her life now. The turn of events was making her crazy. They were complicated, a mess she did not know how to cover up, yet there was this funny thing on the side. Was it a mere coincidence, or was it God’s answer to her prayer? Who would have thought someone desperate to get some money just like her would appear in front of her apartment? Of all places, in front of her apartment! An idea popped into her mind in that instant. There was no way she would hesitate to make a move now.

“You said you needed money for your mother’s medical expenses?”

“Yes.” He looked at her intently.

“What if I tell you that I could help you get the money you need?” Nova wagged her brows.

She did not know if she would burst out laughing when Aldous suddenly stood up. It looked like he was shocked.

“Y-you’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“And if I’m not?” She cocked her head to the side.

His eyes narrowed. Perhaps he already realized that she was up to something.

“I doubt you will give me a huge sum of money out of goodwill.” There, he said it.

“Right.” Nova tapped her fingers above the table. “I need you to do something in return.”

Aldous wrapped his arms around his bare chest as his eyes grew wider. This time, she could no longer suppress her laughter.

“It’s not what you think it is.”

“Then what do you want in return?” he asked. Curiosity clouded his eyes.

“Be my husband. Marry me,” she said without hesitation.

Aldous seemed to lose his balance and fell on the chair. “W-what?”

“You heard it loud and clear. Do I really have to repeat—”

“My mind failed to comprehend.”

Nova shut her eyes and opened them again. “Marry me.”

***

He thought the woman who saved him was an angel in disguise. But now, Aldous thought she was a devil hiding behind that pretty-innocent face. They were both strangers. She did not even introduce herself to him, and now she was ordering him to marry her. Yes, ordering because what she said was clearly a statement, not a question. Marry her for money. Sounds convenient, wasn’t it? There was no need to go home with a broken heart and empty pocket. Easy if Aldous did not have any principles in life. However, it was his only way to get the money he needed for his mother’s medical expenses. Ah, why does it feel like he was having a deal with a devil? Perhaps money was indeed evil…

“Y-your name…” He swallowed hard. “I want to know your name.”

“Nova. Call me Nova for now, and you’ll know the rest if you accept my offer.” She beamed at him. It would have made her look cute if not for the impression that her offer gave him.

“Tell me your story first.” Aldous needs to know what kind of deal he was about to enter.

She slouched on her seat and groan.

“I need money too. And to be able to get that, I need to get myself a man.”

His forehead creased. “I can’t follow.”

Nova raised her forefinger. “There’s this inheritance that my beloved aunt left me. But my aunt included this clause on her will that I must be married before my thirtieth birthday to be able to claim it.”

“That explains why I have to marry you.”

“Mmm-hmm…I’m willing to give you twenty-five percent of it if you agree to marry me.”

“How much will you get?”

“A rough estimate a hundred million if I’m going to liquidate all of the assets.”

Twenty-five percent was so tempting. It could cover his mother’s operation, and there would be plenty left to start a business.

“But marriage is not easy, you know.” He looked at Nova, trying to read what was going on in her mind through her eyes. But he failed to read her. This woman’s eyes were like a two-way mirror at that moment.

“You don’t have to worry about it. The setup can be arranged depends on our convenience. And the marriage will be annulled a year after.”

Aldous’s hands clenched under the table.

“Could you please give me time to think about your offer?”

He needed some time to think about it. Aldous was afraid that if he decides impulsively, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

“Sure. Take time to think. It is the source of power.” Nova winked at her and rose from her seat. “Let’s talk about it again tomorrow.”