Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

What exactly attracted him to her? If she continued to deny his feelings for her, she'd be deceiving herself.

He smoothed her messy ponytail and then simply pulled off her hair tie, letting her hair fall loose.

"Hansen Ruiz," Rachel Bailey pushed him away, snatched back the hair tie, and glared at him. "What's the meaning of this? I've told you we're not a match. It's best if we go our separate ways."

The sheer radiance of his status would be enough to overwhelm and extinguish her.

He looked deeply into her eyes, his voice hoarse as he said, "How will you know we're not meant to travel the same path if you never walk it with me?"

"You're so high above me that my neck aches from looking up. I don't like having to crane my neck for anyone." Unable to push him away, Rachel Bailey bravely bargained with him, indirectly telling him that she, Rachel Bailey, couldn't possibly reach his lofty status as Valence Group's top assistant.

If he announced to the world that she was his girlfriend, she was certain she'd be hacked to death by other women. She had no money, no status, and no outstanding looks. She was so ordinary that the streets were full of people like her; she really had no desire to aim higher. Even if ordinary people could find extraordinary love, in her mind, that was nothing more than a plotline from a romance novel. In real life, she truly didn't believe in such love.

"I can lower my head, I can bend down, I can even crouch. I absolutely won't let your neck ache from looking up," Hansen Ruiz said indulgently, though a touch of melancholy tinged his heart. If she knew his true identity, would she run away at the very sight of him?

"What… what exactly is it about me that you like?" Rachel Bailey, usually quick-witted, found herself almost at a loss for words in the face of Hansen's indulgence and asked a question many girls might pose.

"Loving someone isn't about 'liking' specific things about them. Rachel, that would defile the sanctity of love. Love is simply love; it doesn't need reasons, it doesn't need to 'like' something specific. True love embraces your strengths and your flaws. It doesn't matter if you're beautiful or how many flaws you have; if there is love, it can encompass everything."

Hansen Ruiz moved his face closer, stubbornly nuzzling his cheek against Rachel's. Her cheek was smooth and free of makeup, revealing a natural beauty and a complexion better than most women's.

He was confessing, not in the most direct words, but with sincerity.

She was refusing him. Though not in the most direct words, she had no intention of agreeing; her rejection was absolute.

"Rachel, no matter what you think, my feelings for you are genuine."

Rachel Bailey didn't speak. Hansen's actions had left her somewhat unsure how to respond.

Picking up the few bills, he stuffed them back into her waist pack, then handed her the bouquet of roses. Hansen Ruiz smiled warmly, "This is the very last bouquet of roses in T City, exceptionally precious."

Rachel Bailey blinked. Was he treating her like an idiot? With so many flower shops in T City, how could this possibly be the last bouquet of roses? If he wanted to trick her into accepting them, he should have come up with a better excuse.

He saw her disbelief but didn't explain further. He re-fastened her seatbelt and, of course, placed the flowers in her arms—he never took back gifts he'd given.

He started the engine and drove Rachel Bailey towards the Emperor hotel.

Glades Horne and Julia Bluen's candlelit dinner hadn't ended yet, and the Flower Sea in front of the Emperor hotel was still there. When Rachel Bailey saw the vast sea of flowers, she was stunned. Listening to Hansen Ruiz's explanation, her heart filled with blessings for her friend, who was marrying such a wonderful, romantic, and truly exceptional man.

Her friend had a wealthy background and exceptional looks; she and Glades Horne were a perfect match—a talented man and a beautiful woman, well-suited in social standing. And her, with this guy beside her…

Shaking her head, Rachel Bailey refused to think further. Even if the truth was right before her eyes, she had various ways to face it. She wouldn't run from it, but she wouldn't believe it either.

"If you also like this kind of romantic expression, I can prepare it just for you," Hansen Ruiz said earnestly.

The dynamic between any two people always has its unique qualities, setting it apart from others.

"Thanks, but no need. I don't like it," Rachel Bailey glanced at him, responding coolly, though it was contrary to her true feelings. Any woman would appreciate such a unique and romantic form of expression.

"Little liar," Hansen Ruiz chuckled softly, earning a glare from Rachel Bailey. He paid it no mind and drove off towards the Golden Phoenix Inn. Given what happened at her stall tonight, she probably hadn't eaten yet. He couldn't let her go hungry. When they arrived in front of the Emperor hotel, he didn't take her inside. It wasn't that he was being stingy; he simply knew she wasn't accustomed to such upscale places. The Golden Phoenix Inn wasn't as high-end, so she'd adapt more easily. After all, having been a white-collar worker for three years, she had frequented some mid-range establishments.

At the Golden Phoenix Inn, he ordered many dishes she liked, which somewhat surprised her.

Facing her surprised expression, Hansen Ruiz just smiled. After he had taken an interest in her, he had thoroughly learned all her preferences and her family situation. He knew she came from a rural area. Her parents were farmers, and she had no older siblings, only a younger brother still in university. She often had to contribute to her brother's education. Fortunately, her family wasn't exceptionally poor; at least they didn't lack food or clothing.

Of course, if his family found out about her situation, they would definitely oppose him being with her. But he didn't care, nor was he worried. He wasn't a typical rich second-generation who relied on his family's legacy. He had his own capabilities. That was one of the reasons he was reluctant to take over the family business.

Born into a family of wealth comparable to the Horne Family, he was all too familiar with marriages of convenience and alliances based on mutual benefit. He'd seen many men forced by their parents to marry women they didn't love because, without their families, these men struggled to survive, relying on ancestral wealth. Therefore, he wanted to break free from his family's control and establish himself through his own abilities. This way, he wouldn't be controlled by family members. Even if he chose to marry a woman his family disliked, no one could threaten him financially. In his current role as the top assistant at Valence Group, he had wielded considerable influence in T City for years and had long since established a firm foothold there. And with the strength of Valence Group, as well as his friendship with Glades Horne, the Ruiz Family wouldn't dare to undermine him. Therefore, his love, his marriage—he would be the one to decide!