The Unmatched Beauty

Chapter 14

Cheated into accepting the arrangement

"M-M-Marry?! What the—!" Adira sputtered. Her brain suddenly went haywire as she stared at this gorgeous specimen currently on bent knees while glowing— is he actually?— and couldn't help but turn to her father for help.

The patriarch, obviously overjoyed with this proposal, immediately washed the grin off his face as soon as he saw Adira turn to him. Well, if things went according to what he wanted, he would, of course, be more than willing to marry Adira off to the Marcatto. They are, after all, a superpower in their own right. Very much like the Costello of the East.

"Umm.. This... Isn't this a bit too fast?" Adira tried to find suitable words to reject the proposal. She didn't want to be tied down. Not to another mafia family, of all things!

"Mm." Archard nodded without the slightest bit of hesitation that Adira wondered whether he was serious about it or not? He couldn't have agreed to let me off that easily, right?

"We can just be engaged in the meantime then. You'll get to know me and I'll get to know you." Archard added with an innocent beam as he looked like he was wagging his tail happily.

Ugh! Do not look at me with those innocent eyes!!

Adira averted her gaze and once again turned to her father. But instead of remaining silent this time, he actually took Archard's side.

"That's actually a good suggestion." He said as he nodded his head solemnly. Like he 'carefully' considered the man's words in just a 'few' seconds.

Adira paused for a while and thought about it. It's actually a lot better to be engaged rather than marry immediately into the other family, right? After all, if worse comes to worst, she could just break the engagement and be done with him!

"Mm... Okay then." Adira finally said her concession in a small whisper that escaped everyone's ears but not Archard, who's countenance brightened like the sun.

He hopped up and immediately engulfed Adira in an embrace that left the latter thinking. Why do I feel as if I've been cheated into accepting this arrangement?

Well, Archard knew she'd be hell bent on rejecting their original engagement. So what better way to make her agree to it by presenting an even harder to accept arrangement? Then being engaged to him would seem more accepting than a shotgun marriage, right?

Smirking at his victory of securing his place by her side, he kept his claws— emmm— his hold on her. One way or another, by hook or by crook, he was gonna tie her to his side— and only his side. No one elses.

Adira watched the man cling onto her like a leech. No wait. He was more like a big clingy dog latching himself onto his owner after seeing his owner holding a piece of meat.

"Now that that's settled, I shall trouble you to inform your father of it, Archard." Frank said after clearing his throat to snatch the man's attention away from his daughter.

Really, what's in this child that scared that old man so much? Isn't he a pure love sick child? Look at him fawning all over my daughter like that! Sheesh! Now that I think about it...

"Hey! There's a limit to touching my dear precious jewel!!! As long as you aren't married yet— no! Even after you've married!!!— you need to ask my permission when touching her!!!" Frank suddenly blew up and tried peeling the nasty leech off his daughter.

Oh now you react like this?

Adira could only roll her eyes at her father's antics.

Boss! You should've said that a little earlier! Our goddess!! Nooo!

While his men mentally swiped the sweat and tears off their faces from watching the patriarch's unreasonable actions.

Archard, on the other hand, decided to retreat for a while so he could advance later. He also needed to go home for a while to inform his father of this great news.

"Very well, I shall excuse myself, Sir Frank." Archard bowed perfectly, immediately wearing his noble persona before turning to Adira and stared through her eyes lovingly that the latter couldn't help but wonder if he really does feel for her.

"I shall see you in a few days, my little dove." He once again went on his knees and planted a ghostly kiss on Adira's hand that although his lips barely touched her skin, it made her skin burn so hot it travelled all the way up to her face.

Adira wasn't immune to flirting and romantic gestures as she was the caged princess of the Costello. Also, no one ever dared to pursue her openly. So seeing Adira blush from her fingertips to her face, Archard couldn't help the devilish smirk on his face.

Damn it! How can someone be as cute as this woman?

Archard finally let Adira go, berudgingly, as the patriarch shot off his mouth again and started another tirade of nonsense.

"Anyway, I shall go now. The earlier I leave, the earlier I return to you." He bid a final farewell to the frozen yet burning Adira with a wink and left, but not before adding "Miss me, my little dove."

Oooh! This young master is definitely shameless! It's really frustrating how he can be shameless and cool at the same time!

A few of Costello men thought the same as they watched Archard's back walking outside the room and outside the manor. While the poor Adira could only stand there, unmoving, still staring at the closed door Archard's figure just disappeared to.

The palpitating organ inside her ribs refused to settle down as she clutched the cloth above it. Mentally scolding it over and over again not to beat for someone like Archard.

"Adira? Baby?"

"Sir, young master Archard might've broken our young mistress."

"Shut your mouth!" Frank growled that oddly finally snapped Adira out.

"Daddy~~~" she whined as she dove for the comfort of her father's embrace— not really, just wanting to hide her embarrassing face.