Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Alix stared at the papers so unblinkingly before her that her eyes started to sting. She wanted to think of this as a dream but the word marriage printed on it would snap her out.

"I have read about contract marriage in only novels."

Jin only stared at her and kept his silence.

Her hands trembled as the pages were almost crushing I'm between her fingers.

"So this is the answer you found for me not considering your proposal?"

"You left me with no choice."

Alix banged the file on the table that resounded a harsh, cutting sound across the room.

"You basically want me to sell myself."

"A contract has terms that benefit both parties. Selling is very different. One party doesn't have much choice in the matter. Don't equate the two."

"Why can I not when you are clearly using the situation for your favor?"

"Have you not done that before?"

She had nothing to say to that. She was aware that he wasn't particularly talking about Zhan Yahui but her overall personality of molding the situation to her favor.

"The game you played with Wang Xia at the fashion show was a display of your resourcefulness only. Why is it wrong if I am doing it now?"

She sneered. "Because you are underestimating me. You think I cannot solve this crisis? Do you not know who you are talking to?"

Jin stared at her. "You can only try to solve the crisis if you are not in jail."

She scoffed. "You think Wang Xia's teensy complaint can defeat me?"

"Sure you would have bribed your way to erase your entry from the CCTV footage but how many mouths can you shut? If even one staff member or guest comes forward and says that they remember seeing you in passing, you are done for. You should have chosen a more isolated place."

I was tempted to hang her from the twentieth floor window though.

"Now let's come to your second problem. If you still manage to wriggle your way out of a formal case, how will you handle your financial crisis? The debt is simply too large and your family, even combined with your company, don't have that much assets to pay back. How will you get out of this unless you plan to rob a bank?"

Alix had no answer so kept her quiet.

"Now, I know you will say that once the misgivings with that model are resolved, things would automatically work out for you. Your stocks would bounce back and it would reduce your burden. But is she even giving you the time of her day? Plus, she is based in Paris. Do you have any international presence for any leverage?"

The bitter truth bombs were hard to swallow.

Jin leaned in at that point and closed his palms together.

"Now if you think about it calmly, who do you think can make all your problems go away? I am Liu Jin. Money is never the problem and neither will be the police case - not when Wang Xia is already exposed. As for that model, I am acquainted with Alicia Faucher's agency."

She blinked twice.

"I have spent six years in Paris. I have made many useful European connections. Plus, my grandpa from my mom's side is there too. She might not look at your face but she sure as hell will give Liu Jin the time of her day. Probably the whole day in fact."

Her expression twisted.

"I should kill you for flaunting your status."

"It will be yours too."

Aka it would be hers if she married him.

She slightly gritted her teeth. "Thank you for the offer but no matter how tempting it is, I will find a way out. Villainous ways have no end," she sneered.

Jin held her gaze for a long moment and got out of his chair. He slowly walked to her side and leaned his frame over her until it occupied her fully. His left hand was on the table while his right on her chair.

He then gradually lifted his hand closer to her face, his fingers hovering over her bruise on her temple. The wound that had formed when the protestor hit her with an egg was beginning to close up and heal, yet it still brought forth a sense of a cold doom in his eyes.

"I heard Mrs. Ren had fainted upon seeing this form of violent retaliation against you."

Her eyes squinted. "Your point?"

Jin lightly tapped at her temple beside the bruise that wouldn't hurt her. His palm slowly enveloped her cheek and his voice turned into a whisper.

"I believe she wouldn't be able to bear her daughter landing in jail next. As is, they are struggling to get their company back on its feet. They wouldn't be able to help you out of jail. Do you think they could handle this? Would you want them to handle this knowing how they feel about you?"

Her gaze darkened.

Knowing that their real daughter, Alix, had already passed away, they were already extremely sensitive about losing the present Alix. They wanted to love and cherish her. Even seeing a minor injury on her felt like a death sentence to them.

Alix tightly pressed her lips and parted them a moment later. "Heh. You want me to be in despair and hopelessness just because you want me to believe there is no other option. But it won't come to that. I will crush Wang Xia's complaint in no time. And I will save my company by myself."

Jin said nothing. He simply closed the black file with the cheque and the contract papers in it and placed it back in her hands.

"I don't see a point but you can try. I think I will meet you again soon."

Alix pushed him away and got up. "I promise it won't come to that, Liu Jin. You can play all the tricks you want but me becoming your wife? That day will never come."