Betrothed to a Billionaire

Chapter 8: A marriages Proposal

The question from Jesse Ren remained suspended between them as a deadly weapon.

"What do you intend to do with me?"

Ariana pressed her fingernails into her palm while she studied the man across from her by resting her fingers under the table. His expression showed no emotion while his face remained still but something menacing seemed hidden below his facade.

The meaningless question was not something Jesse ever posed to other people.

He was testing her. Measuring her reaction.

She met his gaze head-on. "I should be the one asking such question, shouldn't it?"

His brow lifted slightly,His expression started to show the faintest traces of amusement around his unchanging face.

"You were aware of this planned marriage from the beginning even as I remained in ignorance. I don't, so tell me jesse Ren" She kept her chin tilted slightly because she wouldn't allow his intimidation tactics to work. "What do you want from me?"

Silence.

Ariana faced him directly keeping the space between them heavy without stepping back.

The edge of the table seemed to fascinate Jesse as he rested his body while tapping his fingers and examining her with intense thought. He released a deep breath which appeared to certify his satisfaction with how she answered him.

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"You are my wife, Ariana."

His words descended with intentional force as he spoke in a smooth deliberate manner.

"I can either acknowledge you as such… or let you remain in the dark, as before."

Ariana's pulse quickened. His message was straightforward because he planned to stay at a distance in her earlier existence. But this time, He extended the new option to her by giving her two choices.

His eyes fixed on Ariana as he kept his hands in their resting position before his body. "Two options."

"Option one—" He tilted his head slightly. "Stay out ofy life and I won't interfere with yours"

Ariana's breath hitched. A clean break. No ties. No obligations.

"But" jesse continue his voice dropping slightly. "The protection you need against Antony Raymond will not come from your initial plan" jesse said

The air seem to shift as the room suddenly become much smaller. 

She sensed the upcoming words from his mouth without any need for him to speak.

"Option two—play the role of my wife." Jesse took some time to let his words fill the space before continuing. "But on my terms."

Ariana's heart pounded. On his terms.

She knew exactly what he implied with his words. This wasn't about love. It was about power. Control. Alliances.

And Jesse Ren played to win.

"If you choose the second," Jesse murmured, watching her with quiet intensity, "then you are mine, Ariana."

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Mine.

A shock ran through Ariana as she read the word because she sensed something powerful but did not grasp its meaning.

Ariana swallowed, her mind racing.

Through her past life she had lost her ability to see while being used and then abandoned by others. Walking away at this time would let Antony pursue her because she lacked any defense mechanisms.

But Jesse Ren was an enigma. Powerful, calculating… and unpredictable.

Was this a trap? A warning? He provided the guidelines for her participation in this new struggle in which she found herself.

Ariana recovered her breath and pushed away the anxiety that threatened to drown her.

She did have a choice.

The choice seemed impossible to achieve but she chose to make it nonetheless.

She raised her head in a composed manner without initially responding to his question.

"If I choose to be your wife," she asked carefully, "what does that mean for me?"

The darkness appeared in Jesse's eyes while he maintained his relaxed position. "It means I protect what is mine."

Ariana's breath caught.

Mine. Again.

He put a unique possessiveness into his statement that solidified his declaration in an irreversible manner.

Ariana could detect the invisible boundary that he was tracing.

Ariana rejected any attempt to keep her confined.

"Fine," she said, voice steady. "You should know that I will not accept marriage terms which reduce me to a mere puppet."

A brief expression passed over Jesse's features which could have been either surprise or perhaps amusement with respect. Amusement? Respect?

She couldn't tell.

But he didn't argue.

He looked into her eyes without speaking because he was determining her substance for a new time.

And then—

The faintest tilt of his lips.

Jesse stood.

The way he moved was slow and controlled as if his height towering over her made his commanding nature even stronger.

She stayed in her seat because she would not allow herself to appear vulnerable.

The color of his eyes drew her attention while he stared down at her face.

"Very well."

The calmness of his tone possessed unmatched power.

"You should prove your qualifications to become my wife Ariana."

He completed his sentence before departing into the dim light leaving Ariana completely by herself in the room.

With more questions than answers.

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