Chapter 108 - The Deal Proposal
"What do you want in return?" Rose asked unable to calm her heart which seemed to beat faster against its protection.
"I want you to marry me as soon as you get into college," Liam asked standing up and walked to the window with his hands in the pockets of his black pair of trousers.
Time stopped for Rose. What sort of assurance was this? There was no way in the world he had feelings for her. That was far from what she expected. She expected him to tell her about some safe that she alone has the password and tell her he wanted half of what was in it.
"You can give me your answer when you want," he told her calmly his voice without emotions.
"Why will I do that?" she asked baffled. This was far from a reasonable deal.
"I want to marry you," he said slowly turning to face her. He had made up his mind as he stared at the world below from the window. He tried to be selfless repeatedly but it seems like she only disapproved everything he did with every new trial he made.
"I don't understand," Rose told him truthfully shaking her head in disbelief. This was too unbelievable.
"You will have to be my wife in order for me to help you get the throne," he said looking at her searching for a hint of happiness. He have waited for this moment for decades. This moment and the ones he hoped will come next was the reason he held unto life.
Now, it seemed like she was the Queen or princess making a deal with a soldier or a big boss making a deal with a mercenary rather she was a poor girl who the world was after, a girl who had no one to lean on, no to trust who was desperately in need of help.
"I have never thought of that," she said looking down at her fingers totally uncomfortable under the gaze of those grey eyes. She have never thought of marriage in both of her lives.
"Now, you can think of it. I will give you two days to think of it. You have so many people hunting down your life that it is best you accept my offer or you might not survive a fire next time," he advised surprisingly feeling good about it.
He had thought of it continually but then it always seemed so distant. He wanted be close to her when he proposes but that was not happening. The dream he had of a very happy extravagant proposal was crushed by her lack of trust and the fear he saw in her eyes.
Those above reasons were important triggers that led to him proposing to her but what his doctor told him was the major trigger. If taking things slowly will only make her more suspicious, he might as well go straight to the point and live the dream he always wanted to live before it gets too late.
A thick blanket of awkward quietness fell over the large VIP room of the hospital. Rose was unable to understand what was going on. She have never thought of getting married but this was far from what she wanted.
She saw nothing but emotionlessness in his eyes as he looked at her from where he stood behind the window with the light from the window surrounding him and forming a glow around him.
"That was not the type of assurance I wanted," Rose told him. She scoffed as she made an attempt to get down from her bed. "I must really seem like a joke," she told him letting her anger sound clearly in her voice.
"No, you are not joke. It is a fair deal. I will help you avenge your mother's death. I will restore your mother's former glory. I will get you the throne. In return for everything, you will get married to me," Liam explained to her when he felt this was not getting anywhere and this was a very important opportunity for him.
Mr. Hale have never found himself in a situation where he could not make the right decision properly, this was the first. This was the first time, he tried so hard without making obvious progress. His genius brain knew about the matters of the heart and he blamed himself for suddenly talking about marriage without making proper plans.
"If I get married to you, I will get to be the Queen soon. You must be missing something out," she told him slowly walking to the sofa at the other end of the room in the living area.
"There are many things I am working towards achieving for you. I will get to marry you as a one of the rewards but that will definitely lead to the other part of reward where I get to be next king," Liam informed her now making himself comfortable on another sofa in the living area.
Rose chuckled softly when she heard him. Now, this was better. She finally got the real reason behind all the drama. She scoffed. "You are doing this to become the next king right?" she asked.
"Yes, you win and I win. We both win, don't you think so?" He asked now wearing a smirk.
"Well, it all makes sense now. I wondered why you were so interested in me. Now, I understand it all. You want to become king. You will get me the throne and sit on it with me.
"I think I like the sound of it. That gives me full assurance that you won't turn against me because the moment you do, you lose the opportunity to become King. I can easily leave my back unwatched in your presence," she vocalized her analysis.
"I will then watch my back as soon as I become Queen so I don't die like my mother," She murmured under her breath so softly it was almost impossible for anyone to hear her.
"What did you say?" Liam asked as though he did not hear what she said with his above normal hearing ability.
"Nothing. I don't think there is anything to think about. I agree with you. Prepare a contract. I prefer to have a signed contract between us. That is more assuring. Whenever you want to get married, I am ready but it is best we keep it quiet for a while," she agreed.
She had a deadly plan she was not sure she will be able to make come through. She might end Liam's life if she is brave enough when she becomes Queen because she could not trust that he was not going to kill like her mother was murdered.
With those dark bloody thoughts, she watched him and found herself unable to make the picture on her mind of her killing Liam. He was just too handsome for her to hold a knife to his throat and certainly too powerful to let her do that to him.
"I am hungry," she said looking away. It was not bad, right? 'Mum please tell me I did well. After all I will marry the most perfect bachelor in the kingdom. I will protect myself to prevent a déjà vu. I won't disappoint you,' she promised her mother hoping she doesn't die that moment when she thinks she have gotten everything.
"The earlier we get married, the earlier I will give you a wedding gift," Liam said giving a cheeky smile.
"What will the gift be?" she asked curiously.
"I have the woman who tried to kill you. She was caught this afternoon. Soon, I will get the name of the person who made her do it. I will give you the all the assets owned by that person after our wedding," Liam said rubbing his hands together in excitement but stubbornly maintained an emotionless appearance.
"I want to meet her. I want to confirm her identity," Rose told him refusing to believe. She did not care about the asset of the person who paid that psychopath. All she wanted was an assurance that she will never hurt her or any other girl.
"I am sorry your highness but you are not leaving this hospital until you have fully recovered," Liam said firmly despite the smile he wore.
Rose did not bother to argue since she knew no amount of argument will let him allow her to leave. "I don't believe you," she told him plainly with a blank expression.
"I know you don't. I will show you a picture then," Liam said with a confident smile. He tapped on the screen of his phone for a few minutes and gave the phone to her afterwards.
Rose looked at the picture of the lady on the screen. The woman had a slight cut on her lips but that was all. She expected the woman to be in a very sorry horrible state considering all the rumors she heard about Liam's ruthlessness.
The woman wore the same creepy smile she gave her in the restroom but she could see the tiredness and fear in the woman's eyes.
"If you don't believe, I can get you a video," Liam said when Rose returned his phone to him.