***********
CHAPTER 8
"Hi. I heard you had an accident. How are you?"
'What… what did he just say?' Aria thought.
"I'm fine," she voiced out reluctantly.
"Good. Anyways, I see you are better. Be good and avoid troubles."
"Huh?"
"I do not want my image being ruined."
Without saying much, he turned around swiftly, not sparing her a glance and headed fr the door.
Just when his hand touched the doorknob, she spoke. "Nice meeting you."
"We've met before." He looked up at the door and sighed. "Good day."
With that, he turned the doorknob and exited the room leaving her alone to wonder what kind of meeting that was.
0_0
She had her lips apart as she stared at where he once stood in wonder. Although she had met so many cold guys before, never once did she meet someone as rude and annoyingly cold as he was.
'The what? Is that who they want me to spend the rest of my life with? Hell no. I did not get a second chance at life only to have it be wrecked by the likes of him. No way. For now, I would delay this thing with my ailment until I can figure out a way out of this marriage.']
Looking back up again, Jade sneered at the door again and crossed her arms under her boobs.
"What an aloof soul."
***
Stepping out the door, Jake quickly made his way away. The last thing he wanted was for her parents to come back and meet him leaving.
It was better he left now before he got bored with their discussion.
'Sigh! I wouldn't have to go through this mess if not for the shares. Arrgh! Just you wait father.'
*Flashback*
"And what about my happiness?" Jake asked out of the blue.
"You would learn to love her, son. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal? Your shares or your happiness?"
It took him some time to finalize his thoughts but after a while, he did.
"Fine."
"Fine, what?" Jeremy asked.
"Fine, you have a deal. I would marry her."
"That's my boy. It would be so much spectacular and when you are enjoying in the future, you would be thanking me. Hahhaa…"
He let out loud laughter and turned towards his wife as he met her smiling back at him.
"I believe we have ourselves a daughter-in-law!"
**Flashback Ends**
He scoffed, dropping his eyelid down and raising them up again.
'Father, you said to marry her and then I get my shares, you never said, stay in the marriage right? Hmm, just one year and I would divorce her. Then I have fulfilled your wish and gotten my inheritance.'
With his thoughts settled, a mischievous side smile formed at the corners of his lips before disappearing and his usual cold exterior returned.
***
~Hospital~
*Days ago*
At the time the accident had occurred, the Flames were informed about Aria's death and they, being who they were, pretended as though they were affected by her death.
"Oh my! Noooo… why did she die! Why did Aria die? Who did that to her?" Tanya wailed when the doctor informed them.
"I am sorry for your loss madam, please take heart."
"Nooooo…. Doctor no. Bring back, my daughter. No… not her, anyone but her!!"
"Hmm, would you have preferred it was my own child?" Mira hissed.
She had her face straight, looking at the doctor as though the news just being said did not affect her one bit.
Well, technically, it did not.
Turning to her side where Mira sat down with legs crossed and hands intertwined on her knee. One look at her and Tanya knew she was a lady of class and wealth.
Most definitely not one to be reckoned with but being who she was, the obvious trouble maker who wanted the world to revolve around her, she spoke up in anger.
"And why can't it be your child, huh? Wasn't she the one who pushed Ari into the road?"
"So? Wasn't your daughter, STEP daughter, might I add," she emphasized on the step so much, not hiding the sarcasm in her voice, silently telling Tanya she knew all these cries were fake and that only annoyed Tanya who felt her act was superb.
"It was your own stepdaughter," she resumed again, "Who spilt the coffee on Jade. She deserved to die."
"Why you!"
"Please, please, please. Ladies. Please, we are still at the hospital. Calm down." He looked at Tanya, "Ma, I know this must hurt."
"So much. I can't believe I won't see her again.
"Hmmph," Mira snickered but remained silent.
Seeing that the lady was bent on being the world troublemaker that day, Tanya ignored her but not before glaring at her.
"Doctor…"
"I am sorry ma. But please necessary compensation would be made I believe," he looked over at Mira.
"And why should that be?"
"Because she lost a child and you did not."
"Last I recall, her daughter is still alive."
"Okay, stepdaughter. No matter what she was her family and whether you like it or not, you have to settle this amicably. Be considerate of their loss or…"
"Or what? She takes it to court? She can if she wanted. Then I would just sue her family for almost killing my child. According to witnesses, her daughter slapped Jade first."
"How dare you!"
"If that would be all, doctor, I would be leaving, my DAUGHTER, needs me."
Tanya's lips fell from what Mira said. No one said anything and just watched as Mira exited the office.
She had been hoping that since the family involved was rich, she could get some money out of Aria's death in form of compensation.
At times, wealthy families such as Mira's offered monetary payment to the family of the deceased in order for them not to take it public and ruin their image.
Especially, as the press would stop at nothing to ruin a famous person. Unfortunately, this time around, it didn't go so well for Tanya and Mira saw through her act.