Chapter 46: Chapter 46 A contract marriage proposal.
Daniel’s mind felt at rest. Here he was, finally free. He had actually gotten away from Adrian Valez, and the contract had been terminated.
It wasn’t such a big issue, but it was worth celebrating. At least he hadn’t been exposed or killed while staying there—that alone was something.
He heaved a sigh and leaned his head back, ready to catch some sleep, when his eyes fell on the back of a person seated in the front seat of the Ferrari.
The figure was big—not massive, but the muscles were enough to stand out—and the dark suit he wore fit perfectly. From behind, Daniel could see he was a brunette.
"Hmm, not bad..." Daniel nodded, but his thoughts halted completely when the figure, noticing Daniel’s gaze through the mirror, turned to look back.
Daniel’s expression froze. His mind blanked, and he couldn’t actively control his brain—or his pheromones. Oh heavens, that scent was fresh, enticing, so good that he kept inhaling it. Unfortunately, it couldn’t pull him down despite the raging alpha pheromones.
"Is that... lemons and mint? Oh no, not another attractive one again," Daniel muttered, still stunned.
His eyes—it was unfair how pretty they were. The eyelashes were smooth, and those hazel eyes... how could a man have hazel eyes? Who even does that?
It wasn’t just the eyes. The angular features, the shape of his face, everything only made him appear more godlike.
"It isn’t about the looks. He might look breathtaking, but he could have a disgusting attitude. Calm down," Daniel whispered to himself, though he knew it was a lie.
Someone like Adrian wouldn’t just rescue him from his captors. Instead, Adrian would have made it worse, or made him beg before granting him a ride. But this man... he had just done it.
"Haven’t seen me before, Daniel?" the breathtaking man asked, still observing him from the front.
Daniel blinked, lost. Was he supposed to know him? To his knowledge, this was a stranger—a man against Adrian’s organization, someone who was supposed to help him get revenge. So how was he connected to Daniel knowing him?
But he had to say something. Who knew—this man might leave him stranded in the middle of nowhere if he thought he had carried the wrong person.
"Yeah, of course I know you. That billionaire—like who doesn’t?" Daniel laughed nervously.
The man didn’t laugh with him as planned. He only kept staring, his sharp jawline and pink lips pressing into a faint smile.
"Right. Then what’s my name?" the man asked.
Daniel’s heart dropped. Of course, he would ask for a name. Why had he been so stupid to claim that? Now he’d be seen as a liar.
Awkward silence filled the car. Beside him, the bodyguard—the same one who had opened the door for him—sat armed with a deadly rifle. The sight made Daniel gulp.
Oh jeez. Chill, bro. This is just a road trip. Who carries a gun everywhere they go?
Back to the question—how was he going to escape this?
"I just... It’s just hard to pronounce," Daniel blurted, playing that card. God help him if the man’s name turned out to be an easy one.
The man smiled and nodded.
"As expected. Good to see Alexander not only filled you in with details about me but that you also know me. Wonderful." The man in the suit praised him.
Daniel gulped again, shaking his head like an agama lizard.
"Yes, of course I do. Now, could you pronounce it again?" Daniel asked carefully.
The man held his hands, and the driver in front—also in a suit—suddenly stopped the car.
Daniel frowned, confused. Why did he pause the car? Did something happen?
"Anything wrong, sir?" Daniel asked. They had barely just met, and here he was, already speaking to him like he knew him so well. Classic Dan.
The man shook his head.
"Nothing, Daniel. I just want to brief you on a few things that will happen." He stepped out, the bodyguard hurrying to open the door for him.
When he got down, Daniel finally admired the man properly. And all he could say was—oh, fuck.
What a billionaire baddie.
He was insanely good-looking. Why were all the men he encountered this devilishly handsome?
Okay, I guess I should come down too.
Daniel stepped out, but before his feet hit the ground, the bodyguard rushed forward to open the door for him.
"Wow, so I’m being treated nicely. Special treatment, huh." Daniel smiled—the first genuine smile he had worn since getting entangled with Adrian and his dark, traumatizing words.
Let him go. This night shouldn’t be about him. Focus.
Daniel reminded himself, walking out with a touch of flair. But then he noticed his own outfit—and God, it was horrifying.
"Haaaaaaa!" Daniel screamed so loud it was deafening, making the man rush to him in a flash.
The night was still, the moonlight illuminating everything clearly.
"What happened? Are you alright?" the man asked, holding Daniel’s hands delicately, like a fragile vase.
Daniel kept breathing heavily. This was horrible—a disaster.
Both the bodyguard and the driver immediately drew their rifles, ready to attack, only for Daniel to finally blurt out his so-called problem.
"I’m wearing rags! I’m freaking wearing rags—the whole me!" Daniel cried, tugging at his clothes and twisting around as if trying to claw them off.
Ewww. Who wears skinny jeans like this? Oh, Alexander—I’ll pay you back for this. How could you put me in this horrendous sight?
"It’s a fashion disaster, bro. A freaking fashion disaster!" Daniel wailed.
The man raised his hand, cupping his face with it.
Daniel’s brain froze again. Why did he keep losing control of his senses around this man?
He instinctively stepped back, not used to this kind of sickening affection—it wasn’t his cup of tea.
"Don’t worry about your outfit. You have a line of them waiting—three closets full, more to come. That’s if you agree to my terms and marry me," the man declared.
Daniel’s eyes widened like oranges.
"Marriage? With a stranger? I didn’t escape a murderous psychopath just to be bound again to another man. I won’t let that happen." He said firmly.
The man tucked his hands into his pockets, looking so confident and majestic that Daniel felt like a mere fly before him. It made him frown.
"I am not just any man. I, Xylander Wolfe—the number one richest man in New York City—will take over your problems," he stated.
Xylander continued, gesturing with his hands. "Your worries will be mine. Your revenge will be mine. Your enemies will be vanquished one by one until they die screaming."
"After we carry out our desires, you can simply divorce me. By then, you’ll already be a rich man."
Daniel’s jaw dropped. His mouth struggled to close before a fly flew in. How could Xylander offer such a binding contract so easily?
What if he turned out to be manipulative—or worse, a gold digger? This wasn’t smart. Daniel could feel it in his bones that someone was playing him in the shadows—either Xylander himself, or Alexander McQueen, that suspicious being.
"A contract marriage? What do you even want with me? What could I possibly offer you?" Daniel asked.
Xylander laughed.
He laughed so hard that the bodyguards stiffened, frightened.
What had this young man done to make their boss laugh? To laugh continuously? Someone who had never once shown such a side—always serious, work-minded, straightforward—now laughing at something that wasn’t even funny? It was baffling.
"You’re more than enough, Daniel. And don’t ask how I know your name—Alexander told me everything I needed to know." Xylander smirked.
Daniel scoffed. So they had been gossiping about him? What exactly did they say? What kind of conversations were those?
"Okay, if you only want me to target your enemy, I’m not doing it. I won’t let myself become another pawn. I’ve had enough men drama. I want to move on," Daniel said firmly.
Xylander nodded in understanding. Then, walking stylishly forward, he cupped Daniel’s chin.
"I’m not using you to get to Adrian Valez. I’ve already dug a pit for him, and he’s definitely going to fall through it," Xylander said.
"Just help me. It’s very important that I achieve my dream—and my parents’ dream. And it can only work out if I marry. Who better than you? Someone who knows my enemy so well, someone who’s experienced in issues like this." His voice softened into a drawl.
"We’ll be fire together. Our enemies will bow to us. Even those who wronged you so deeply will die crying."
Daniel couldn’t believe it. A whole billionaire was this deep in his matter. Unbelievable.
"But first, I need clarification," Xylander added, eyes narrowing. "I can’t perceive a scent on you. So what rank are you, Dan? Alpha or Beta?"