Chapter 124 A Proposal Rejected
Chapter One Hundred and Twnety Four
Valenticia’s POV
I woke up feeling heavy and annoyed. Lucas’s words replayed in my head the moment I opened my eyes. A contract marriage.
He said it like he was offering me a new position in a company. He didn’t even blink. He acted like he expected me to accept it without thinking.
I pushed myself out of bed and sighed. “What is wrong with him,” I whispered while getting ready for work.
When I reached my office, the first thing I saw on my phone were three missed calls from Lucas. My chest tightened with irritation.
“No. I am not doing this today,” I said and dropped my phone on the desk.
I tried to focus on work, but I kept thinking about the way he had talked the day before — calm, emotionless, sure of himself. I hated the fact that he believed I needed him.
I was typing an email when I heard a knock.
Before I could answer, the door opened.
Lucas walked in like he owned the place.
I rolled my eyes. “Lucas, you can’t just walk into my office.”
He closed the door behind him and said in a calm voice, “Have you thought about my offer?”
I stared at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” he said. “You didn’t answer my calls.”
“Because I didn’t want to,” I snapped. “Lucas, I’m not marrying you. And your offer was rude.”
He didn’t look angry. He didn’t even frown. He just nodded a little. “It is still the best solution.”
I felt my irritation rise fast. “You act like I’m some project you want to fix. I am not an object you can trade for business stability.”
“I know,” he said. “This is why I chose you. You think clearly. But you are surrounded by men who think emotionally. It is dangerous.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t need you to protect me.”
He stepped closer, but not in a threatening way. “You will need protection soon, Valenticia. Think before you reject everything.”
I let out a long breath and pointed toward the door. “Please leave.”
He studied my face for a moment, then nodded once and walked out. The moment the door closed, I dropped into my chair and covered my face with my hands.
“What kind of life is this?” I whispered.
Before I could even take a break, my phone started buzzing again.
Stefan was calling. I ignored it. Then Dimitri sent a message.
Good morning. Did you sleep well?
I stared at the message for a few seconds. It was polite, gentle, nothing like the drama around me. But answering him felt complicated, so I put the phone away again.
My head hurt. Everyone wanted something from me. Everyone was pulling me in different directions. I felt myself shaking a little from the pressure.
When work finally ended, I drove home with a tired mind. I wanted comfort, so I went straight to my grandmother’s room.
She was awake, sitting up in bed with a blanket wrapped around her. “You look tired, child,” she said softly.
“I am tired,” I admitted. I sat beside her and rested my head on her shoulder. “There’s too much happening around me.”
“What happened?” she asked.
I told her everything, about Lucas’s contract marriage idea, Stefan acting tense, Dimitri trying to act gentle again, the pressure from the board, everything. She listened quietly without interrupting me.
When I finished talking, she held my hand. “You are trying to be strong for too many people at once.”
“I don’t know how to stop,” I said.
“You stop,” she said, “by choosing peace.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. Her voice always made me feel calmer. “I’m trying.”
“Come,” she said, patting the bed. “Let’s watch something. Your head needs rest.”
I smiled a little. “Okay.”
We picked a light movie, something simple and funny and lay side by side. Halfway through it, she laughed at a joke, and I felt myself relax for the first time that day.
My phone buzzed again on the table.
I ignored it.
The movie ended, and I helped her get ready for sleep. She squeezed my hand gently before closing her eyes. “You are stronger than all of this,” she said.
I kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, Nona.”
When I walked back to my room, I felt a little lighter, but not enough. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucas’s confidence, Stefan’s messages, and Dimitri’s gentle tone.
I stood in front of my mirror and whispered, “No more talk about marriage. None. Not real, not a contract.”
I tried to convince myself, but the truth sat deep inside me.
My heart didn’t feel calm and my heart felt unsettled. That was the worst part of it all. And as I turned off my light, I couldn’t stop thinking that Lucas’s warning might come true sooner than I wanted.