Revenge of the Billionaire’s Ex-Lover

11. An Offer

“IF YOU DON’T MIND ME asking, how did you build DTC Group?”

Dad curiously asked with his eyes focusing on Don this time alone. It is probably what has been bothering him for days now since he found out about the real person behind that successful company. I couldn’t blame my father for it either. After all, the Don he met back then was just a simple guy who came from a middle class family yet dress presentably became a most sought billionaire now.

I remember back when Dad accidentally caught me with Don back then in our university, he immediately set his eyes on him and I knew then that he was completely evaluating him. Dad used to put on a smile back then after he evaluated Don before, but it disappeared after he heard about his family background, in which father used to work as a chef abroad only and his mother being a housewife. Compared to the guy that Dad wants me to be with, Don’s status back then will never meet his criteria. That is why I understand why my own father has his own questions now.

“There’s really no big drama behind building up my company actually. I opened it up just like every businessman out there who strives hard to achieve what they want and successfully run it afterwards. It’s completely just a sweat of hard work. After all, it is not easy to open and run such a company that you build from ashes.” Don professionally answered before drinking his wine.

Since the dinner started, I didn’t dare to talk nor even do something that would put me in the center of attention. As much as possible, I want to silently observe as my father and Don talk with each other about personal and business matters. I wanna make sure that nothing will go wrong tonight and Dad won't reach his peak. If he does, then I will have to face the consequences earlier.

“Really? But it’s hard to turn such a small company created from hard work into a massive global one that is highly sought these days.” My father’s meaningful words and tone immediately made Don smirk, putting down his utensils then wiping his lips with a napkin gently. “How did you manage to expand your business globally?”

“Mr. Moreno,” Don suddenly called in a cold tone, making me almost freeze on my spot. I gulped down and literally felt the chills down my spine as my heart suddenly beat fast with the sudden call. “Are you that curious to know things about me?”

“Well, you can’t blame me for it, Mr. Casis. After all, you have successfully hidden your real identity for years. You also fooled almost everyone in the industry with the whole appointing an acting CEO. if I were to see things right, I wouldn’t even hesitate doubting you at this moment.” Dad explained his eyes, sarcastically pointing out each fault that Don did.

“If you doubt me that much then… Why did you still invite me for dinner? Isn’t it your main goal tonight is to make me agree with the partnership? If that is still your goal, I highly suggest you choose your words wisely, sir. Acting like a nosy person won’t make that partnership possible.” I closed my eyes as a sigh escaped my lips as soon as Don bluntly argued back to my father.

It really is not a good idea to put them in one private room. I already had a hunch that my father would try his best to embarrass Don and put him in his place indirectly no matter how much he wants a partnership with him. I was also already expecting that the man in front of me wouldn’t back down easily while hearing my father’s embarrassing comments about his life. However, now that I am in such a situation, I just want to pull Don out of this room and separate them apart without any means of trying to put them in one room again.

“Hon,” My mother placed a hand on top of my father’s hand placed on the table. She gave him a knowing look which made Dad back off. I immediately let out a sigh in relief. At least Mom can stop this whole ridiculous situation. She turned to Don with an apologetic smile before speaking. “I am sorry for my husband’s choice of words, Mr. Casis. He is probably just curious about you, especially that we have met you already back then.”

Unlike showing a strong aura and mischievous smirk to my father, Don puts on a sweet smile while looking at my mother. “It is okay, Mrs. Moreno. I understand the curiosity as well anyway. And please! You don’t have to be so formal. You can still call me by my name like before.” Don encourage in a soft tone.

If he met Dad accidentally back then, he met my mother purposely then. It was during Mom’s private dinner with just Dianna and I since Dad was out of the country and will only return the next day. Since I asked Don to accompany me with buying Mom’s gift, I decided to ask him if he wants to come with me as well for dinner, which he didn’t reject anyway. I remember how much they got along back then since Mom has a soft, kind heart for everyone else. That is why she was so angry back then when she heard Dad’s comment about Don.

“I’m sorry, dear. I am not used to seeing you like this! After all, it has been years since the last time I saw you. Who would have thought that you will be coming back here all successful now?” I can see how happy my mother is as she speaks. She is obviously delighted by Don’s success now.

“Hon, if success cannot be found after years, then it only means they are not worth it. Don’t flatter him too much.” Dad sarcastically says, making me look at him in disbelief. I look at Don as I notice how obviously pissed he is already. When our gazes met, I only gave him an apologetic smile and shook my head a little in response, making him sigh and just surrender for now. “But look at our daughter’s soon-to-be fiance, a soon-to-be successful surgeon.”

“Dad,” I called, giving him a look. He raised a brow at me, giving a cold look. “Please stop calling him my soon-to-be fiance. I am still not accepting that deal.”

“And I don’t really require you to accept anything, my dear daughter. We already talked about this, didn’t we?” He firmly questioned, teeth almost clenching as he forced a smile.

“That is a family matter, Dad. We don’t need to talk about that in front of a guest.” Dianna simply reminded our father, glancing at Don, who almost like he is not listening and is in his own world when I know well how active his ears are right now.

If there is one conversation he probably wants to hear, I am pretty sure that it is about my marriage. He knows that I have a supposed fiance, but he didn’t really know how against I am with the idea of it even if I already complained to him when I was drunk. I doubt he even caught up with the idea that I agreed on his deal because it can possibly help to fasten the progress of the partnership, and thus getting me out of such a planned marriage.

“I am not discussing it, Dianna Aubrey. I was just pointing out the fact.” Dad pointed out again, not even backing down this time. He looks at Darryl now, who is obviously uncomfortable with the situation. “Tell me, Darryl! Have you and my daughter been spending so much time together these days? Has she been good to you to pass your wife's standards?”

All I could do was put down my utensils and lean back to the chair as Dad demanded to push through this topic. He is obviously just rubbing it on Don’s face that I am with someone, even if I am not, so that he would step back and wouldn’t even bother doing anything that would try to get me. For the first time in my life, I can call my father as stupid. He already lost if his goal is pushing Don away and creating a wall between us because that man already made his path and trap me in becoming his woman in return for the partnership.

“W-Well, uncle, Kaylie is a great woman that I spent almost my whole life with since we have been friends since back then. So I doubt that she would even turn out to be an unfitted wife to me if ever. But, the two of us haven’t been spending time with one another these past few days as I have been busy with my work in the hospital. She has also been busy with her own work.” Darryl honestly answered, making me relieved that he is not really giving Dad some false hope.

I could tell by the way that Dad looked at him that he wasn’t satisfied by the answer. On the other hand, I felt satisfied by it because I really thought my own childhood friend would create a story that would make it look like we are having fun with each other’s company even if we barely even spend time. Besides, he hasn't been that kind of person since the very beginning. It was just a thought that comes to my mind since he just wants to make his father proud of him like I want my own to me.

“Really? That’s too bad then.” Dad could only answer before he looked at me with a piercing gaze yet the forceful smile on his lips contradicted it. “How about you visit him in the hospital every now and then, Kaylie? You can easily get off work without any problem. Much better if you just stay in his place as well if Darryl would allow it.”

My eyes widened as I could feel my blood boiling with how my father thinks. Dianna looked at me worriedly while Don kept himself busy, eating his food in silence. I look at my father with hatred but he only gazes back at me with nothing but a simple innocent look.

“Uncle, I think that’s—”

“That’s enough, Dad!” I raised my voice at him, standing up. “I had enough from all of this, okay? I never agreed with anything that you planned for me, but did I ever say a thing? I didn’t, right? I could take whatever you tell me or make me do, but you can never force me to marry the person I don’t even like!”

“Kaylie—”

I yeeted Dianna’s hand from mine when she tried to stop me. “For so many years, I listened to every single thing you wanted me to do. For so many years, I let you decide on things that I don’t even want to do in my life. For so many years, I let you call me useless despite all of my hard work! And now? You still want to control my decision when it comes to marrying? How can you be so cruel, Dad?” I said, letting out my whole feelings.

“Kaylie, that’s enough.” Mom firmly said this time, looking up to me with a piercing gaze.

“No, Mom! He needed to hear all of this. It might make some sense how much of a control freak he has been for years now.” I told her without even any hesitation. “I’m sorry, Dad, but this marriage? I won’t let it happen.”

“And who said you have the decision to stop it?” Dad only responded, only making me scoff in disbelief. “If you won’t marry Darryl, then who will you marry then?”

I always knew how much of an asshole my father is, but I never realized that he could be this worse. Just when I was to argue back, a voice interrupted the whole argument and turned attention to that direction. His words only made my eyes wide a bit and my lips parted in shock.

“How about me?” Don suddenly said without even any hesitation. He looks up and meets my gaze before he looks at my father. “How about you set her up for marriage with me?”

This is ridiculous!

“Are you insane?!” I shouted to him with wide eyes in anger.

Much to my anticipation, Don didn’t even spare me a glance to at least give me a gesture that it is all for a joke. I knew that he wanted to take revenge on me, but I never imagined that he would have gone far ruining the future that I want for myself. A future where I have all of my freedom within me alone. How can he even take that away as well?

“You want to marry my daughter?” Dad unexpectedly questioned back with disbelief in his tone.

“If I say yes, would you consider it?” Don retaliated with a serious face on. I could feel my blood boiling and my heart beating so fast in anger. “If you are thinking that I am probably taking advantage of the situation, then I would honestly say that I am partly.”

“Don—“

“You see, the reason I haven’t agreed with the partnership is because I do doubt that I can trust your company given the history behind us. So, in order to compensate for that, I suggest that you have her marry off to me instead then I will agree to the partnership right away.” For a moment, I felt my heart break. I feel like a toy being played by these two men who don't even deserve any of my attention. “It is a win-win situation. Take it as something similar to a business marriage too.”

A part of me thinks that maybe this really is my punishment for what I did in the past and in the present. It is the punishment I have to take because of the pain I have caused Don back then when I was also just forced to do it. It is the punishment I have to take for all those men that I played with using my life behind the one that keeps trying to convince my father that I could be perfect in his life. But if this to be a punishment, why is it that I feel like there is no way to escape anymore?

I muster my courage and gazes at each of them before speaking up in a firm tone. “I won’t agree to this.”

When my gaze met my father’s, he only let out a scoff. “You are not the one who has a say about this, Kaylie.” He says with nothing but seriousness in his tone. He breaks his gaze from me then looks at Don once again. “How can I make sure that you will keep your word?”

Upon hearing my father’s words, it made me realize one thing. He really is willing to trade everything just to get what he wants even if it means trading his daughter’s life and future to the man he used to dislike for his social status. I should have expected that already yet it still feels like I was scattering into pieces as I come to realize more how he is ready to just give me away without even consulting me. It was like the opportunity to throw me away came to him and he just found the perfect timing to do it.

“You can’t… unless you give it a try and you will know it.” Don only told him.

As they exchange looks, I already know that a deal is being made through their mind. A deal that comes with trading my life without them caring if it will even pain me. They are already thinking things through without trying to consider my own pain. After all, why would they when none of them truly cares about what I really feel anyway.

For the rest of the night, I remained silent and so was Darryl. I wasn’t sure what was running through his mind now after hearing my opinion about our arranged marriage and Don’s offer of making me his wife in return for a business partnership. None of the two of us even spared a glance to one another, which is not a big deal because we turned into an air with my father and Don being the ones occupied while talking with one another until we walked out of the restaurant.

“Are you insane?!” I immediately raised my voice upon seeing my parent’s car as well as Darryl’s and Dianna’s car out of my sight. I looked at Don with hatred but he only remained composed as if he already expected my outburst. “You knew well how much I wanted to get out of that f*****g arranged marriage yet you suggested to have me married to you instead?!”

“What do you want me to do, Kaye, when you and your father were rudely raising your voices to one another in front of the table?” He only pointed out then started walking to the parking lot.

I followed him, trying to catch up with his long legs. “I was fighting for my freedom earlier, in case you haven’t noticed, yet you suggested such a f**k up idea?!” I exclaimed, anger filling my tone. “Have you really gone insane during these years that you are gone that you suddenly want me to be your wife after what I did?”

“That’s exactly the point, Kaye. I want you to be my wife because of what happened back then.” He confesses without any hesitation while keeping his eyes in front of him. “You must have been so used to the fact that I have been nice to you during the past few weeks. But you must have forgotten about my goal.”

Dianna was right about her warning earlier. She said to be careful… and I wasn’t careful enough to actually fall for his trap. Now, I have to face my consequences.

Before he could even turn to the side of his car to reach the door, I pulled him back through his wrist, forcing him to face me. “Do you even realize that marrying me means having an in-law who once belittled you? Can your pride even take it?” I reminded him desperately.

He looked at me for a while before a deep sigh escaped his lips. “I think you really are not getting the point in here, Kaylie. Having you as my wife means I successfully took you even if your father says that I won’t be able to have you ever. So, in that thought, wouldn’t that make me much happier?” He confidently says without even a single stutter. “I got revenge on taking you from your Dad, and I also got what I want to have. What my pride couldn’t take in those?”

In my eyes now, he became so different to the point that it is confusing me. The way he looks at me right now feels like he's out here, ready to bring me down anytime without even anything to hold him back. It was as if his only goal was to see me suffer for a long time for a mistake I made back then. Yet, sometimes, he feels so soft and like who he was back then that it makes me forget his main purpose. However, right now, he only proved to me that it was all fake and I was just assuming that he still can be that soft Donovan I knew back then.

I step forward, gazing up at him with hatred in my eyes. “What really is your plan?” I asked firmly with my hold to his wrist tightening a bit.

“Easy. To take revenge.” He simply answered without even bothering to think twice. His gaze lowered to my hold in his wrist before simply removing it with his other hand. He placed both of his hands inside his pocket before looking down at me. “You see, as I listened to you and your father arguing earlier, I figured out that you will never have a chance to escape from that arranged marriage. It seems like your father already has his mind fixed on having you marrying someone you probably don’t like. That is the reason why I suggested on having you marry me instead.”

“You won’t even get anything good from it or something worth to be called your revenge.” I pointed out with a smirk plastered on his lips.

“Oh trust me! I will. The moment your father agreed to have you marry me, I will sign that partnership if I had to. Just that, I already have my first revenge and that is trapping you in a lifetime with me. However, the second revenge will only come if your father messes things up that will lead me to deciding to end the partnership. Killing two birds with one stone, Kaylie. I had you trapped with me and I had your father wrap around my fingers.” He explained, overly convinced that his plan will be in action.

“You are insane.” I firmly said.

“Whatever you say won’t stop your father from reconsidering my offer. So, you only have two choices now. It’s either you will marry your childhood friend and be forever in your father’s control, or you will marry me… but you will forever suffer in my own hands.” He gave me a knowing look as I try to control my emotion now. “But before you make your choices, you should consider what you will get from your choices.”

My brows furrowed upon what he meant, but only to realize it afterwards. “I don’t need your wealth, Don.”

“Really?” He raised a brow with his side lips raised a bit. “Come to think of it, if you choose me, you will be able to please your father as you own half of my properties the moment we get married. One of those properties is DTC Group which your father is going after. Wouldn’t that option be much better?”

The more he points things out, the clearer his words become. He is right that choosing him will only bring me more benefits than bringing me much pain. But how can I make sure that it will remain just as that if I choose him? How will I know whether I will suffer less if I choose him when he has so much hatred against me?

“I won’t wait here all night for your answer. But you better make your choice properly, Kaylie.” He leaned down, enough for his face to be just at the same height as mine before a deadly smirk formed his lips. “You just need to know that, whatever your choice will be, you will surely suffer in both options.”