NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Two to tangle.
The moment of truth was here and she could admit the truth and say what it was that she truly wanted. Or perhaps, she could lay everything on the table just as Jin Kang had advised her to do. Marriage was one of those it takes two to tangle situations after all.
"I want to be your wife." she declared.
Caishen had just lifted the glass juice and when she said that he placed it back down. She was already his wife, perhaps she misunderstood him.
"Miss Lin, did you not understand me when I said that I have investigated your background. There is no single point where our live intersected so I don't believe you when you say that you have always liked me or want to be my wife."
Alix folded her arms, leaned back against the chair and said confidently, "Your investigation did not cover my personal feelings, did it? How did you investigate my heart?"
Caishen chuckled and looked down, he suddenly thought that what he needed was glass of wine and not juice.
"I have seen you on television, I have seen your pictures in newspapers or financial magazines and I have always kept in mind that you were engaged to me before Billi came along. You used the document yourself to prove it so that the public would stop referring to me as a mistress.
It's concrete evidence that you are my man. Am I wrong?" She faced him boldly, daring him with her gaze to prove her wrong.
Caishen shook his head, and leaned back in his wheel chair.
"Fine, we were once engaged." he admitted. "But.."
"I want us to give the marriage the chance, no divorce, marriage of convenience, or sexless marriage crap." She further declared boldly, cutting him off.
Surprised, Caishen tilted his head and gave her an amused look , chuckling again.
Alix was determined and she pushed her chin out and looked at him almost defiantly even though he had not replied.
I am going to make you a man that every woman desires, a man that Billi will want but never get. I am going to make her eat her heart out in regret as I take your hand and show you off.
"I don't think you understand what you are saying." Caishen told her. He looked at the glass of juice from which she had taken one sip. Is there alcohol in there? he asked himself. "I am already aware that your father threatened you.."
"No, I could have run away if I wanted." she cut him off. "Whatever road led us here, the deal is done. You can only reject me if I am not your type physically but do not push me away because of your physical condition."
She saw him clench his jaw when she mentioned his physical condition.
"I will make you stand again, or I will contribute and the rest will be on you and a physical therapist."
Annoyed, Caishen stared with her with rage and he sneered. Then he asked her through gritted teeth, "Are you mocking me?"
He had been to the best and most expensive doctors, he had seen every expert in the country and outside. His mother had hired every miracle worker, been to every temple, church and mosque. She had visited every known practitioner of Chinese traditional medicine.
The diagnosis did not change, he could not walk again. If this was the trick she had up her sleeve than he might as well kick her out immediately.
Alix took off the glove and showed him her hand, her fingers. "You are not the only one here with a physical disability. When my fingers were broken, I looked for every way to get them fixed.
When I was old enough, I sold some of my mothers jewels and raised money which I used to go from one expert to another. Most of them told me the same thing and I almost gave up but I met the right one by chance.
I could not even move these fingers but look at them now, they can move. They are not healed but I am making progress. That mysterious man told me that his medicine can fix every broken bone in the body, no matter how bad the situation is.
I will share all of my medicines with you but if you think that I am going to poison you we can even drink from the same bottle. All I want in return is you, your name, your power and your influence.
That is the deal on the table on my end. So, what about you, what do you want out of this marriage?"
Caishen grabbed her hand slightly roughly so that he could take a closer look at her fingers. He already knew that they were broken, it's why she gave up on playing the piano.
According to the information that had been dug up on her, these fingers were useless, and it was also true that she had searched high and low for a cure, her financial statements proved it.
"I don't see it." he said and threw her hand to the side.
Alix, put the glove back on her hand as told him, "You will, very soon. I am not in a hurry to prove myself to you so you can watch patiently and wait. Take your time deciding what you want, marriage involves two people after all.
Think about it carefully and then you can share what you think is best for us moving forward."
He had been expecting her to push the subject or find another way of convincing him but she backed down.
Is that it? he asked himself.
His eyes strayed to her gloved hand, and a myriad questions bounced around in his mind but he was too afraid to ask and too afraid to hope. It was better to keep her close and observe.
If her mysterious medicine could save him from the plight of the wheelchair, he would take it.
His original plan was to initiate a divorce after a year in which he would pay her a sizeable fee and they could go their separate ways quietly. Now, he changed his mind on a whim. It would be better if she remained his wife for a while, he would bring up the divorce later.
Meow, the kitten cried.
Caishen raised his hand and soothed it, beaming with confidence in the new plan which he had made. If she wanted a real marriage he would play along with her for a while.
How hard could it be?