Chapter 9
The room went completely silent.
A single chocolate chip rolled slowly across the table.
Daniel stared at Lucas blankly.
Lucas stared back calmly.
Outside the windows, snow continued falling peacefully over Bayleaf City as if the Alpha King had not just casually proposed marriage after one business meeting and two muffins.
Daniel finally spoke.
“…What?”
Lucas folded his hands neatly.
“I want you to marry me.”
“No, I heard that part.”
Daniel blinked rapidly.
His brain felt slow suddenly.
Very slow.
Maybe the muffin was poisoned.
That seemed more reasonable than this conversation.
Lucas watched him carefully.
His mate looked adorable while confused.
Daniel pointed weakly toward himself.
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
“But… why?”
Lucas paused.
Because you are my mate.
Because I searched six months for you.
Because you left me money and disappeared after ruining my entire existence.
Instead he answered carefully.
“You interest me.”
Daniel looked deeply suspicious.
“That sounds fake.”
Lucas almost smiled.
Fair.
Daniel leaned farther into the sofa dramatically.
“Wait. Is this because of the deal?”
“No.”
“Then are you secretly dying?”
“…No.”
“Are you being blackmailed?”
Lucas stared.
“…Why are those your first guesses?”
“Because a handsome billionaire suddenly asking me to marry him sounds medically concerning.”
Lucas let out another quiet laugh.
Dangerous.
His mate was dangerously endearing.
Daniel watched him carefully.
There it was again.
That strange warmth in Lucas’s eyes whenever he looked at him.
Like Daniel was something soft and precious.
It made his chest feel oddly tight.
Lucas spoke again calmly.
“It would be a contractual marriage.”
Daniel relaxed slightly.
“Oh.”
That sounded less terrifying.
Lucas continued smoothly.
“You would become my public spouse for one year.”
“One year?”
“Yes.”
“In exchange for?”
Lucas looked directly into his eyes.
“I’ll secure your position permanently inside Reed Group.”
Daniel blinked.
“…That’s it?”
“You’ll never have to fight the board again.”
Daniel froze slightly.
That was…
Actually tempting.
Very tempting.
Lucas’s voice lowered gently.
“You dislike conflict.”
Daniel stared at him.
How did he know that?
Lucas continued.
“You dislike pressure. You dislike exhausting yourself trying to meet expectations that make you unhappy.”
Daniel’s heartbeat slowed strangely.
No one-
No one ever understood that.
Everyone called him lazy.
Worthless.
Spoiled.
But this man looked at him like he understood completely.
Like he didn’t think Daniel was broken for wanting a quiet peaceful life.
Lucas leaned slightly closer.
“I can give you freedom.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Daniel looked away quickly.
Dangerous.
This man was dangerous in a completely different way.
Not cruel.
Not cold.
Worse.
Kind.
Daniel grabbed another muffin nervously.
“Why me though?”
Lucas answered instantly.
“Because I like you.”
Simple.
Honest.
Daniel’s ears became warm.
This conversation was becoming increasingly unfair.
He took a huge bite of muffin to avoid responding.
Lucas watched him fondly.
Cute.
Everything about him was cute.
The way he held the muffin with both hands.
The way his brows furrowed while thinking.
The way crumbs gathered near his lips.
Lucas’s wolf wanted to lick them off immediately.
Control yourself.
Daniel swallowed slowly.
“So basically…” he muttered, “you want a fake wife.”
Lucas’s eyes softened slightly.
“If that title bothers you, no.”
Daniel shrugged.
“I don’t really care.”
He paused thoughtfully.
“Do fake wives get allowances?”
Ethan, who had just entered quietly with paperwork, nearly dropped everything.
Lucas didn’t even hesitate.
“Yes.”
Daniel immediately looked interested.
“How much?”
Lucas named a number calmly.
Silence.
Then-
Daniel almost inhaled muffin into his lungs.
“THAT’S A CRIMINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.”
Lucas looked entirely serious.
“You’d also receive a penthouse, unlimited personal expenses, and full authority over my household.”
Daniel stared at him in horror.
“Are you trying to buy me?”
“Yes.”
The honesty stunned him silent.
Lucas tilted his head slightly.
“Is it working?”
Daniel opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
“…Maybe.”
Lucas’s wolf looked smug.
Ethan looked like he needed spiritual guidance.
Daniel suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Wait.”
Lucas remained calm.
“What?”
“You’re not secretly in love with me already, right?”
Lucas paused.
A dangerous pause.
Daniel pointed accusingly.
“THAT PAUSE WAS SUSPICIOUS.”
Lucas calmly picked up his coffee.
“You’re imagining things.”
Meanwhile his wolf was screaming: YES WE ARE.
Daniel slumped back dramatically.
“This feels like the start of a murder documentary.”
Lucas actually smiled fully this time.
Beautiful.
Daniel’s breath caught slightly.
Oh no.
That smile should genuinely be illegal.
Lucas looked unfairly attractive already, but smiling made him devastating.
Daniel quickly shoved half a muffin into his mouth to emotionally recover.
Lucas watched him with quiet amusement.
For six months he had imagined countless reunions.
Angry confrontations.
Emotional confessions.
Dramatic fate.
Instead he was bribing his oblivious mate into marriage using pastries and financial stability.
Honestly?
Lucas preferred this version.
Daniel looked up again suddenly.
“Wait. If we marry, do I have to attend business events?”
“Occasionally.”
“…Disgusting.”
“You can sleep through most of them.”
“That’s reasonable.”
“You’ll also be allowed to reject unnecessary social appearances.”
Daniel looked genuinely touched.
“You’d let me skip parties?”
Lucas nodded once.
“I’d rather you stay comfortable.”
The warmth in Daniel’s chest returned stronger this time.
Weird.
Very weird.
No one had ever prioritized his comfort before.
Especially not like this.
Lucas’s voice became softer.
“You’d be safe with me.”
Daniel froze slightly.
Something about those words stirred another blurry memory.
Rain against windows.
Warm arms around him.
A deep voice saying: I want more than one night.
Daniel frowned faintly.
Why did Lucas feel familiar?
Before he could think deeper, a sharp knock interrupted them.
The office doors opened.
Serene entered elegantly.
Then immediately froze seeing Daniel comfortably curled on Lucas’s private sofa while eating muffins.
Her expression darkened.
Lucas’s eyes turned cold instantly.
“You entered without permission.”
Serene forced a smile.
“My apologies, my king. The northern delegates require your attention.”
Daniel blinked.
There it was again.
My king.
Not Mr. King.
Not sir.
My king.
Strange.
Very strange.
But before Daniel could ask, Serene’s gaze landed on him sharply.
Then she smiled faintly.
“You must be Mr. Reed.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Mhm.”
Serene looked him up and down once.
Dismissive.
Cold.
Then softly said-
“You’re not what I expected.”
Daniel stared back lazily.
“…Okay?”
Lucas nearly smiled again.
Serene’s eye twitched slightly.
The human wasn’t even trying to defend himself.
And somehow that made him more irritating.
Lucas stood slowly.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Terrifying Alpha pressure filled the office so subtly that even the air felt heavier.
Serene immediately lowered her gaze.
Lucas’s voice became icy.
“Do not speak to him that way again.”
Daniel blinked.
Wait.
Was Lucas defending him right now?
Serene’s face paled slightly.
“…Understood.”
Lucas looked toward Daniel afterward.
And immediately his expression softened again.
The contrast felt unreal.
“I’ll give you time to consider my proposal.”
Daniel stared at him silently.
Lucas walked closer.
Then gently brushed a muffin crumb from the corner of Daniel’s mouth with his thumb.
The touch was warm.
Careful.
Intimate enough to make Daniel’s heart stutter unexpectedly.
Lucas’s eyes darkened slightly while looking at him.
“Think about it properly, Danny.”
Danny froze.
That nickname.
Warm hands.
Rain.
Moonlight.
A hotel room.
For one brief second-
A blurry memory flashed through his mind.
And suddenly…
Lucas felt heartbreakingly familiar.
