My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

He chuckled and said, "Sounds like a good deal. But I'm not in a hurry to get it. The Milton family is not that desperate too. All I want now is you."

I got up to leave. I reckoned it would not be a fruitful meeting.

He stopped me. "Hold on. I'm not done talking. How could we have a nice relationship in the future if you're always so impatient?" His words sounded loving, but in truth were cold to behold.

I remained tight-lipped as I looked at him.

He finally came to his senses that I would never reciprocate his feelings. "Forget about it," he said. "I guess our attempt to strike a deal would go futile. Let me put it this way. Do me a favor. Then, HI tell you how to safely get what your daughter needs. Deal?"

"What's the catch?"

Striking a deal with a devil like him meant that I would likely be short-changed.

stared at me and did not say anything. Just as I was about to lose my cool, he said, "Accompany us for dinner later. Be sure to

furrowed my brow and asked, "What

mean 'us'?"

the door. A middle-aged lady walked in. Though she was elegant and beautiful, there was a tinge of haggardness about her complexion, suggesting that she suffered some long-term ailment. Her current state resembled

told me that you have a guest," the

walked towards

of warm kindness in her look. "I need to know whenever you bring guests here so I can help entertain them. What's more, this is the first time you brought a girl here." Then, she walked towards me. She said smilingly, "Are you hungry? What do

I could not help but say, "Oh, I'm not picky when it

hold of my arm to exchange pleasantries. Before she

face darkened. He looked at me and said, "Play along well

my lips and asked,