Married To The Heartless Billionaire

Chapter 3

Dana fixed her long hair before entering the restaurant. As soon as she stepped inside, a staff member approached her and asked if she had a reservation. She confirmed and provided the reserved name.

"This way, Ma'am," the staff said, leading her to her reserved table. She was asked if she wanted to order something while waiting for her appointment. She requested water at the moment, planning to order later when her appointment arrived. The staff left to fetch her water, returning shortly with her request.

Checking the time in her wristwatch, Dana found herself ten minutes early for her appointment. She had received a call from Franco's secretary yesterday, informing her that he wanted to speak with her personally. The secretary had provided the time and location for their meeting.

Dana took a sip of water, feeling her mouth parched with nervousness as the time drew closer. She didn't know what to expect from their conversation. She silently prayed for a positive outcome. She had practiced last night what to say once she faced him, but now her mind went blank, unable to recall what she had rehearsed.

For the second time, she took another sip of water. Shortly after, she looked up and noticed a figure stopped in front of her. The man seemed familiar.

"Nice meeting you again," the man said to her.

"Attorney Enriquez," she mentioned his name, recalling the man who had introduced himself as 'Attorney Enriquez' when he visited their home. "Nice meeting you too, sir."

He smiled before taking a seat across from her. "Mr. David won't be able to make it, he's busy. He sent me to talk to you instead," he informed her. Dana felt disappointed. It would have been better if she could speak directly with Franco to convey everything she wanted to say. "I won't beat around the bush. Mr. David has given a condition to spare your parents from the consequences of your sister's actions." This statement lifted Dana's spirits. If she could meet the condition, she wouldn't have to worry anymore.

She cleared her throat. "What condition did Mr. David gave?" she asked.

There was a pause before he spoke. "You need to marry him," he answered.

Her mouth fell open, her eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe what she heard. "What?" she asked, needing confirmation.

"You need to marry Franco. That's the condition he gave," he repeated.

She opened and closed her mouth. After a moment, she let out a soft chuckle. "Are you kidding me?" she couldn't help but ask, hoping it was just a prank.

"I'm serious, Miss Dana. And Mr. David is serious about his condition," he replied, his expression still the same.

At that moment, Dana stopped laughing as she noticed the seriousness in the Attorney. Darn, he isn’t joking. Her own expression mirrored his seriousness.

"W-why... does he want to marry me? He doesn't even know me," she couldn't help but ask.

Attorney Enriquez shrugged. "I don't know, Miss Dana. I just followed orders," he replied.

She fell silent. She didn't know what to say. Before she could speak, he continued, "Mr. David has given you two days to think about his condition." He then placed his calling card in front of her. "Call me if you have a decision. The sooner, the better."

Dana bit her lower lip. It seemed like her problems had grown bigger.

---

Entering the restroom at her workplace, Dana closed the door behind her and walked to an empty cubicle, locking it. She sat down, she let the tears she had been holding back since her conversation with the HR manager earlier flow freely.

She had been summoned by the HR manager earlier, without knowing what they would discuss. Even her best friend, Nadine, was surprised to learn that she had been called. Dana didn't expect what the HR manager told her, she has been terminated from her job. She was given her final paycheck and separation pay. When she asked the HR manager if she had done something wrong to be fired, she was simply told that it was an order from a higher position. There was nothing she could do, as she was merely following orders.

The truth was, she could easily fight for her rights, especially since she hadn't done anything wrong to be fired just like that. It was against the law. However, she didn't want to add to her problems if she fought back. Dana felt a deep sadness as she left the hospital where she had worked. She had grown attached to the place, and leaving was painful for her.

"After a while, Dana stopped crying when she heard a knock from the door of the nearby cubicle. “Dana, are you there?” It was Nadine's voice.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks. She composed herself. Then she stepped out of the cubicle, greeted by her friend's concerned face.

“Is it true?” her friend asked. It seemed like news of her dismissal from work had spread throughout the hospital.

She bit her lower lip and nodded. “Why?” her friend asked.

“It's... supposedly from higher-ups,” she replied.

She noticed a slight furrow in her friend's brow. “What will you do now?”

“I can't do anything if that's their decision. I'll just have to look for another job,” she told her friend. Dana felt heavy-hearted because she had grown fond of the hospital where she worked. It was painful for her to leave.

Dana and Nadine remained in the restroom for a few minutes until Dana decided to go home.

When Dana arrived home, she couldn't help but feel anxious upon seeing an ambulance parked in front of their house. She quickly ran inside, but before she could fully enter, a staff member from the ambulance emerged, pushing her father's wheelchair. Following closely behind was her weeping mother.

Dana quickly approached her mother. "What happened, Mom?" she asked, unable to hold back her tears upon seeing her father's condition and her mother's crying.

"Your father…" her mother replied, and Dana glanced at her father, grateful that he was conscious.

"Just follow us, Mom. I'll go with them," she said, gesturing towards the ambulance. As her father was entered into the ambulance, she climbed in as well.

Dana grasped her father's hand tightly. "Dad, you can do this. Don't close your eyes," she said, gently caressing his hand and praying for his safety.

Dana thanked God when she learned that her father was safe. Fortunately, he was brought to the hospital immediately. She wouldn't have been able to bear it if anything had happened to him.

Approaching her mother, who was silent and tearful, Dana sat beside her. "What happened, Mom?"

Her mother turned to her. "A lawyer came to our house," she said, and Dana felt a sense of foreboding. "He spoke to your father. He told us about what your sister did at her workplace. Not only that, but they also want to take our home as p*****t for what she did."

Dana couldn't help but clench her fists. She also couldn't help but feel angry towards Franco. She knew he was behind all of this. She was sure he was involved in her termination from her job.

Dana had refused Franco's condition. She can’t accept his demands, she couldn't marry him. She didn't want to marry a man she didn't love or know. She couldn't marry a man three times her age, especially since she knew he had been in a relationship with her sister. Marriage was sacred to her, and she wanted to marry a man she loved and who loved her. She had conveyed this decision to Attorney Enriquez when she called the number on his business card. Dana remembered the last thing Attorney Enriquez said about her decision.

"If that's your decision, but prepare for the consequences of your decision."

It seemed like these were the consequences he meant. Damn you, Franco. You heartless beast! she cursed silently. He truly had no heart, he didn't even consider her father's health. It seemed like he didn't care if her father was harmed.

Soon, her mother spoke, her voice trembling. "T-tell me, Dana. Haven't I been a good mother to you and Doreen? Haven't we been good parents, which is why your sister Doreen did that?" she asked in a choked voice.

Tears welled up in Dana's eyes. "No, Mom. You and Dad are the best parents in the world. It's just that we can't control what Doreen thinks," she said. "So please don't blame yourselves."

Her mother cried even more. Dana bit her lower lip as she hugged her mother. "What are we going to do, Dana?" her mother asked.

Dana closed her eyes. It seemed like she had no choice. It seemed like she needed to revoke her decision.