Chapter 104 Business Marriage

Chapter 104 Business Marriage

Isabella turned her head and met his deep gaze through the rearview mirror.

She looked away and picked up the water bottle from the passenger seat, taking a sip.

"Have you ever thought about what to do in the future?" He asked, his tone calm but with a hint of barely noticeable probing. "Taking care of Oliver and Amelia alone while managing the Mellon Group and your medical work will be really hard."

Isabella's heart skipped a beat.

"I'll do my best," She replied, her tone distant and polite.

Glenn's fingers tightened on the steering wheel, and the atmosphere in the car seemed to grow even heavier.

He was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something, then spoke slowly in an extremely flat tone, as if discussing a business deal.

"The Mellon family's current situation isn't looking good. Henry has stabilized things, but the foundation is shaken. To recover, you'll need strong external support."

"Glenn, we've known each other for so long. Just say what you want to say directly." Isabella's heart sank. She had a bad feeling about this.

Glenn pulled the car over on a quiet street. Under the cover of night, he turned his head, his eyes locked on her in the dim light.

"Marry me."

These words came from Glenn's thin lips calmly and steadily, without any emotional fluctuation, as if he were saying the most ordinary thing.

But to Isabella's ears, it felt particularly uncomfortable.

She had never considered this possibility.

As the words fell, she froze slightly, turning her head to look at him with some disbelief, wondering if she was hearing things.

"Glenn, what did you say?"

"Marry me," Glenn repeated, his tone still calm as ever. "This is the best choice for you, for Oliver and Amelia, and even for the Mellon Group."

He began to analyze clearly and logically, "First, Oliver and Amelia need a complete family, and Vincent needs a mother, too. The fact that the two children get along well is the foundation."

"Second, given the Mellon Group's current difficulties, it's not something Henry can easily solve alone. If our two families unite through marriage, I can legitimately invest and use all of the Woods family's connections and resources to help the Mellon Group get through this crisis, and even reach new heights. This is the fastest and most secure way."

"Finally," He paused, his gaze falling on her slightly pale face, "As a single mother in the business world, you'll face a lot of trouble and unwanted attention. Becoming my wife will be your strongest armor, and no one will dare to mess with you easily."

His analysis was objective and calm, perfectly logical, flawless like an impeccable business plan.

Every single word was full of temptation.

Glenn was right, marrying him would indeed bring nothing but benefits.

He had planned everything for her, cleared all obstacles.

All she had to do was nod, and she could have everything a woman could dream of.

A distinguished status, endless wealth, and an unshakeable support.

Isabella's heart sank bit by bit, growing completely cold.

She looked at this man before her, handsome as a god, looked into those deep, bottomless eyes, but couldn't find even a trace of emotion in them.

No love.

He talked about their marriage like discussing a business deal, full of weighing interests and exchanging value.

She had been guarded against him, knew he was a businessman, but hearing these words from his mouth still caught her off guard and made her uncomfortable.

So those affectionate looks at Disneyland during the day that made her heart flutter were all just her imagination.

What he wanted was never Isabella the person, but a suitable marriage partner who could maximize benefits.

And she, carrying the valuable dowry of the Mellon Group, with children who happened to get along with his son, became the most suitable candidate in his eyes.

A complete and utter business marriage.

A wave of disappointment and humiliation surged up.

When had she fallen to the point of needing to trade her marriage for her family's stability?

She slowly straightened her back, and the pride that belonged to the Mellon family instantly returned to her.

She looked at Glenn and pulled her lips into a light but distant smile.

"Glenn, thank you for your kind offer." She said.

"But I think I haven't reached the point where I need to save the Mellon Group through a marriage alliance."

As the words fell, Glenn's eyes suddenly darkened, his knuckles gripping the steering wheel turning white from the force.

"I'm not making a deal with you," His voice turned cold.

"Really?" Isabella laughed self-mockingly. "But to me, every word you just said was full of equal exchange."

She paused, wiped all expression from her face, and her voice became somewhat cold, too.

"I can take care of my two children myself. I can handle the Mellon family's affairs, too. No need for Glenn to worry. Right now, I just want to take good care of Oliver and Amelia and work hard. I have no interest and no energy to consider other things, especially a business marriage based on value exchange."

Her words struck Glenn's heart one by one.

He had thought everything through for her, thinking this was the best protection for her, the only way he could think of to keep her by his side forever.

He was even willing to trade half of the Woods family fortune for her consideration.

But in the end, in her eyes, this was just a cold transaction.

Was she really this guarded against him?

At this thought, the light in his eyes dimmed bit by bit, replaced by a bottomless loneliness.

He opened his mouth, seeming to want to explain something. But in the end, the words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say a single word.

Finally, he only squeezed out one sentence from his throat.

"I understand."

His voice was terribly hoarse.

He restarted the car. The cabin returned to a deathly silence, the atmosphere so oppressive it was suffocating.

Isabella turned to look out the window. The city's neon lights streaked past her eyes like flowing light, but couldn't illuminate the barren wasteland in her heart.

She knew her words might have hurt him.

But she had no other choice right now.

She had already been through one failed relationship and didn't want to jump into another loveless grave.

The rest of the ride was silent.

The car slowly stopped at the hospital entrance.

Glenn helped her carry the sleeping Oliver and Amelia back to the ward. From beginning to end, they didn't say another word to each other, not even an exchange of glances.