Chapter 1 Pretty Boy, I’m Proposing We Get Married, Shall We?

“Pretty boy, wanna get married? I’m proposing to you!” William Sandler turned around to see an unkept girl covered in blood. He frowned slightly. “Are you talking to me?” Plenty of women had tried to get married to him, but this was the first time a woman was employing such a tactic... He discreetly took a look at the girl from head to toe. When he noticed her knees that were bleeding, his gaze sunk and a flash of darkness swept past his black eyes. Cecelia Shayne who seemed nervous immediately nodded. “Yes. If you’re willing to, we can get married right away.” To be honest, Cecelia did not have much hope in her heart. Even if the stranger in front of her had just been dumped by his girlfriend a moment ago, it was unlikely he would agree with her. “Ok!” “... What did you say?” Cecelia thought that she had misheard him. William grabbed her hand and walked forward with large strides. ‘You’re the one that proposed to me.” Looking at the marriage certificate in her hands, Cecelia was dumbfounded as she blinked her eyes. ‘I’m going to get married already? ‘Just because I was betrayed by my ex-boyfriend of three years, I ended up randomly pulling a stranger from the streets. And now I’m going to get married?’ When the marriage certificate was snatched from her hands by one that was larger, she was brought back to the present and realized that it was truly happening. She had spent 9 bucks, and she was going to become a married woman. However, she noticed the man frowning at the marriage certificate and could not stop herself from pouting. “Pretty boy, are... are you regretting your decision?” If he regretted it, was she going to get a divorce right away? William raised his eyes and glanced at her. Just as he had done moments ago, he grabbed her hands and strode off. Cecelia noticed that he had placed both certs into his pocket, and she wanted to ask for one of them from him. The words reached the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back. Other than his name which was William Sandler, and the fact that he was 28 years old, she had no knowledge or understanding of this man. Additionally, she only knew those things because she had caught a glimpse of one of the marriage certificates. ‘Wait a minute, there’s one more thing I know. He seems to be a man of few words.’ She was pulled along by William to the exit. Like how they had arrived, he hailed a cab. Cecelia was shoved into the cab, and when she saw that he intended to get in as well, she quickly waved her hand. “Pretty boy, you don’t have to escort me, I can go...” Before she could complete her sentence, she was carried by William and shuffled further into the cab before the latter entered the vehicle himself and closed the door. He asked her, “Address?” Cecelia was flabbergasted for a moment before she told him her address. Throughout the journey, William did not say another word, and Cecelia kept silent as well. Firstly, she did not know what to say. Secondly... It was a reason that would make her look like a fool; she felt rather intoxicated by his handsome looks. She stole another peek at him. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen throughout her life. His bold eyebrows, fan-like eyelashes, deep and dark eyes, lovely lips... “Are you pleased with what you see?” The man who had been looking straight suddenly turned to look at her. Cecelia had been caught red-handed, and her cheeks flushed red. Like an errant child, she lowered her head and played with her fingers. Cecelia could feel that the man’s gaze was still upon her. She unknowingly swallowed her saliva, feeling even more uneasy than before. Fortunately, he said nothing more and they arrived at their destination shortly after. Having exited the car, Cecelia spoke once again, “Pretty boy, we’ve arrived. Thanks for sending me home. Have a safe trip back.” Cecelia turned around and began to run away immediately. “Stop right there!” “... Ah!” Cecelia nearly fell. She steadied herself and turned around to ask, “Is there anything else?” “Cab fee.” The man was a scrooge with his words. “Oh, oh, oh!” Cecelia realized. She quickly dug her purse for some money and passed it to the driver. “Uncle, you don’t have to give me the change. Please send this pretty boy home.” She not only paid for her own fee but for the man’s as well. Since she had paid, was she now free to leave? Once again, she said, “Goodbye.” Unexpectedly, the man followed her. At first, Cecelia did not say anything as she thought that there was a chance he lived around the area as well. After all, her residential community was quite large, and she did not know every single resident. Until... The tall and lanky man began to follow her more closely. When they exited the elevator, Cecelia turned sideways to look at the man. She pursed her lips and was preparing to say something when a bellowing voice interrupted her, “Cecelia Shayne, look at what you’ve done!” She looked at the direction of the voice only to see Hawick Leeds, the person she had dated for the past three years; the person she had just caught in bed with another woman about two hours ago! Hawick was fuming as he marched toward Cecelia. Without any warning, he raised his hand with the intention of slapping her. “Do you know that you’ve caused many grievances to me.” Cecelia had not expected Hawick to try and slap her. It was the first time such a thing was happening to her, and she was so stunned by it that she forgot to duck away. It was only when Hawick’s hand was firmly caught by someone that she was brought back to the present. Cecelia felt embarrassed seeing that William had grabbed Hawick’s wrist. She said in a hoarse tone, “Thanks.” One was a stranger she had just met, while the other was her ex-boyfriend that she had known since young... Hawick was like a burning ball of anger. He had tried to call her multiple times, but she never answered the phone. He had been waiting for her to return for the past 2 hours. Seeing that she was finally back, he planned to settle the score with her. Nevertheless, he was met with a busybody. Hawick took a good look at William from head to toe. William was dressed in a business suit, emitting a powerful aura that could not be belittled. Hawick was taken aback for a moment. However, on second thought, Hawick felt that William had to be someone insignificant, otherwise, he would not be there. The people who lived in that residential community were commoners who earned average salaries. Thus, it was impossible for Hawick to have rubbed shoulders with someone rich. With that thought, Hawick puffed up his chest. “This is between me and my woman. Don’t try to be a busybody here.” Before William could say anything, Cecilia spoke first, “You’re not allowed to scold him!” Hawick had never spoken vulgarly in the past. When Hawick heard her words, he became angrier. “Cecelia Shayne, how brazen of you to speak for an outsider.” He assumed that William and Cecelia did not know each other. After all, he was very familiar with Cecelia’s circle of friends. Other than him, she did not have any other friends. “Forget it. We’ll settle this in the future. Now follow me to meet Mr. Mason.” Hawick was infuriated with the thought that Cecelia had injured Mr. Mason’s son, reducing Mr. Mason’s chances of having grandchildren in the future. Hawick was holding back the urge to strangle her to death. He glared at her before pulling her along as he made his way, reprimanding as he went, “I only requested you to sleep with that blockhead for a night. Then, both of us would have struck gold. Yet, you just had to cause him such a severe injury. You damned b*tch, that blockhead is Mr. Mason’s only son. Since you’ve injured his manhood, you can expect to rot in jail!” Hawick planned to push all the blame on Cecelia once they met Mr. Mason. Cecelia nearly fainted in anger when she heard Hawick’s words. ”Was it not enough that you slept with a cougar just to climb up the social ladder. Thus, you sold me to that blockhead? Y... you... you’re worse than an animal.” It was Cecelia’s first time scolding someone ever since she was born! Both of them had grown up in an orphanage together. Other than the five years when he was adopted, they studied in the same university and entered the same company after graduating. Subsequently, he became her boyfriend three years ago. To Cecelia, they might not have been blood-related, but Hawick was closer than family. Cecelia had never imagined that one day, Hawick would become a jerk often described on the internet. He would go as far as to use her to climb up the social ladder. Cecelia may have been an easy-going person and occasionally seemed thoughtless. However, even a rabbit would bite when cornered. It described her very well! Otherwise, she would not have done something as crazy as to ask a random stranger in the streets if he wanted to marry her out of the blue. She smacked away Hawick’s hand that was holding hers and kicked his butt. “Go to hell!” “Oof...” Hawick was caught by surprise. Cecelia’s kick caused him to land on the floor. “Cecelia Shayne, how bold of you to kick me...” Hawick’s gaze looked like he could gobble her any minute as he got up from the ground. However, before he could stand up, a large foot suddenly landed on his back. “Ouch...” William looked as if he had not used much strength, but Hawick could not bring himself to stand up with the force pressing down against him. Hawick began yelling like a pig that was being slaughtered. Cecelia’s little brows furrowed when she realized the kind of person Hawick was. She was once again affirmed that she had been blind before this. She was about to say something when William said, “You can’t afford to offend her.” His tone was calm, but it had a certain coldness to it that could not be ignored. William only released his foot when he saw that Hawick had stopped acting like a mad man. “Scram!” Hawick got up from the ground and ran away as if he was escaping from William’s grasp. Only when he had reached a safe distance did he threaten, “Cecelia, you’re bold. At first, I felt sorry toward you. Nevertheless, since you’re so heartless, don’t blame me for being unrighteous. I’d like to see how you fight Mr. Mason.” William thought that Cecelia would break out crying, but she did not. Instead, she seemed as if nothing had happened. At the very least, he could not see any trace of sadness in her expression. She smiled brightly at him and said, “Pretty boy, thank goodness you’re here. Otherwise, I might not have been able to beat that person.” She noticed that William merely stared at her without saying a word; his gaze was deep and dark. Cecelia shifted her gaze slightly and dashed to open her door. Before entering, she once again expressed her gratitude, “Pretty boy, I’m home. Thanks so much for today.” With that being said, she was about to open the door and enter the house but someone beat her to it. The lanky man walked in uninvited as he threw a simple sentence at the shocked woman, “I’ll stay at your place from now onward.”