~ Her mother's legacy

Miriam seemed to have a warm smile on her face, but Roxanne could see through her façade that Miriam just didn't want her daughter to marry a disabled man.

What an excuse.

Internally rolling her eyes, Roxanne was about to say something but Miriam continued, "My dear daughter, since your mother passed away, your father and I have worked hard to raise you and your sister. We all hope that you can marry the best man, and now, Henry is a good choice.

Moreover, if we break the agreement, the reputation of the Smith family will be ruined. Likewise, the friendship between your father and the Ford family will cease to exist. As the best-behaved daughter of the Smith family, this must not be what you want, right? Kenneth?"

Miriam threw the ball into Kenneth's hands. Indirectly urging him to convince Roxanne. Having mentioned the Smith family's reputation, Miriam knew Kenneth would not change his mind.

Kenneth cleared his throat and looked at his daughter, saying, “I think there’s no problem. Both of you are engaged to rich and powerful men. You’ve merely just exchanged grooms. Roxanne, Henry is a good man and I believe he will make you happy.”

Roxanne sighed. Her father always cared about the reputation of the Smith family and her stepmother also knew what her father cared about most. This was why Miriam used the family's reputation as a weapon to thrust her into another arranged marriage.

To be honest, Roxanne didn’t really care who she would marry knowing she had no choice in that matter. Marrying for love was a luxury and this was a fact she had accepted a long time ago.

Maya suddenly approached her and placed her hand on Roxanne’s shoulder, saying, “Congratulations, sis. I’m sorry I fell in love with Victor and he chose me too. Henry is not so bad… he might be a cripple but he’s rich.”

Roxanne could feel how fake Maya’s words were and they made her stomach churn.

How dare she pretend to congratulate her when she deliberately changed grooms to avoid marrying Henry?! She created all this mess just because she didn't want to get married to a disabled man.

Just thinking about it made Roxanne's blood boil. The mother and daughter always did this. Acting kind and sweet in front of Kenneth and when he wasn't looking, they showed their true colours.

Despite knowing what her stepsister and stepmother were doing, Roxanne couldn’t reject the marriage. She would still end up in another arranged marriage with someone else so there was no point in fighting it.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Maya’s gloating smile and anger flared through her. She didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.

Roxanne smiled brightly and replied, “Although Henry Ford is a “cripple”, he’s the richest man in Brentwood City. And so much better than my Ex-fiancé.”

She glanced at Maya and then at her stepmother before adding as a smirk curved the side of her lips, “Thank you for making me the most powerful woman in the City.”

Maya and Miriam’s smiles instantly dropped at those words.

“I’ll marry Henry Ford but only on one condition,” Roxanne declared after taking in a sharp breath.

There was no point in refusing the marriage as it was inevitable. However, that didn’t mean she would accept it blindly without fighting for something else.

She had to benefit from this arrangement and her eyes were only on one thing.

The legacy that her mother left for her.

Looking at her father, she proposed, “I’ll marry Henry in place of Maya if you put me in charge of the shopping mall. The one my mother left for me.”

Anger surged within Miriam when she heard Roxanne’s condition. A vicious look flashed through her eyes but she quickly hid it before saying, “My dear, why are you mentioning the shopping mall? You don't even know how to run a shopping mall. Don’t be childish, it has nothing to do with your agreement to get married."

She glanced at Kenneth and said sweetly, "Honey, Roxanne is too young. She's still acting like when she was a child, every time she encounters something she is not satisfied with, she becomes vexatious."

Miriam didn't miss the opportunity to discredit Roxanne.

There was a smile on her face but her blood was boiling with hatred.

How dare this little bitch try to steal the most profitable shopping mall?

Miriam had other plans. Only her daughter deserved to inherit the shopping mall and all the businesses that Kenneth owned. She had no intentions of giving anything to Roxanne, never!

She didn’t marry a rich man for her and her daughter to end up empty-handed.

Kenneth sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and remarked, “Your mother’s right, Roxanne. With no skills or the right qualifications, how would you run a shopping mall? Besides, unlike your sister, you’re an introvert and have no connections. How will you improve the shopping mall if you can’t bring in big clients?”

Roxanne scoffed internally at his words. Whose fault was it that she wasn’t known among the socialites? Whose fault was it that she didn’t have a proper degree?

When Kenneth married Miriam, it was at a time when Roxanne had poor health.

Miriam took advantage of that fact and made her stay home while her daughter got the best education and nurtured her talent.

If Roxanne didn’t have an online business course secretly, she would still have no qualifications to her name to that day.

‘I have to get my mother’s shopping mall back at all costs! I’ll never let Maya and her mother have it, ever!’ Roxanne promised herself.

For years, she had watched Miriam take over almost everything that her mother had contributed to until all traces of her disappeared. The RG shopping mall was different since it belonged to Roxanne as per her mother's will.

She would never forgive herself if it landed in the wrong hands.

~ Managing Director

"Father, I don't want to destroy this shopping mall, it was left to me by my mother, wasn't it? And this shopping center is very profitable. Also, Henry is an extraordinary man. He is so rich and so outstanding, I'm afraid he will not see me as a good partner if I have nothing to my name.

What if he annuls the marriage? After I marry Henry, I believe that he will help me run this shopping center. This is a great opportunity for the Smith family,” Roxanne reasoned with Kenneth and tried to persuade him.

She was not going to give up without a fight!

The area fell into silence as Roxanne waited with bated breath. Her future lay in what her father’s decision would be that day and he did not disappoint.

When Kenneth sighed again, Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and asked him, “Honey, you’re not thinking of putting her in charge of the mall, are you?”

“I am… she’s right. The Fords won’t accept a wife with no proper qualities. Roxanne, you will be the managing director from now on-”

“What? She’s not qualified!” Miriam squeaked, dropping her façade.

Managing director? Roxanne didn't deserve such a high position. Only her daughter did!

When Kenneth glanced at Miriam with a questioning gaze, she quickly changed her demeanour and spoke gently, “I mean… don’t make such a rash decision, honey. This is a shopping complex we are talking about. We might lose clients and revenue if not managed well-”

“Don’t worry. Henry is a great businessman. I’m sure he will be able to help Roxanne run the shopping mall. He might even pump in more money and help us expand,” Kenneth said in a tone that hinted that the discussion was over.

Hatred flashed through Miriam’s eyes. She was pissed but she couldn’t do anything. There was a limit to what extent she could control Kenneth. Besides, she didn’t want him to suspect her if she continued to persist.

She would just look for a way to oust Roxanne in the future.

At the same time, Roxanne released a sigh of relief. Finally, she got the mall that was rightfully hers. Now she just had to make sure she took full control so that it didn’t end up in her stepmother’s hands.

…

A few days later…

Roxanne had settled into her new job as the shopping mall’s managing director.

One section of the mall had an RG department store which was divided into several stores selling products such as clothing, electronics, furnishings, footwear, toys, cosmetics and groceries.

The other section was for partnerships. Some stores were put on rent for the purpose of selling goods, others were for fancy restaurants. Others rented the stores for office space. This meant they would get revenue from the rentals and from the department store too.

Roxanne was patrolling the mall, inspecting it to make sure everything was running smoothly. She also wanted to see what she could work on and how she would increase the profits of the mall. After all, she wasn’t here to play.

Making large profits would make the board members favour her in the future.

She frowned as she looked around the place, “How come no one thought of adding a kid’s section in this mall? If we have restaurants or cafes with a kid’s area, we would attract a lot of families. Families spend a lot of money… what do you think, Sarah?”

“That’s a good idea, Miss Smith,” Sarah Stevens replied, pushing her glasses up her nose.

She was Roxanne’s assistant and so far, they were getting to know each other.

As they were patrolling the department clothing store, Roxanne happened to see Maya and Victor walk into the clothing store.

She cussed and muttered under her breath, “Great. Just the two people I wanted to see while at work.”

Roxanne didn’t have anything against the couple but she would rather not bump into them at all.

She was about to walk out and avoid them but Maya’s words stopped her.

“Hey, you!” Maya pointed at a sales lady and ordered, “Pack this for me. And this… and this lingerie…”

She picked about twenty branded clothes and wanted to get them for free.

Roxanne furrowed her eyebrows when she witnessed this. She thought Maya had no shame at all. Didn’t she know such actions were bad for business?

Approaching the couple, she folded her arms across her chest. She glanced at them and said, “You have to pay for those clothes. We don’t offer freebies in my mall.”

Maya frowned when she was embarrassed in front of so many people. She glowered at Roxanne and screamed, “What right do you have to stop me? I’ve always gotten free things from this mall!”

“That was then, dear sis. Under my management, no one gets anything for free. Do you want the mall to go bankrupt?” Roxanne glanced at Victor and sneered, “Brother-in-law, if you want anything in my mall, you gotta pay for it. However, since you’re about to become family, I’ll give you a discount.”

After being addressed by his “useless” ex-fiancée, Victor’s eyes narrowed. ‘I never thought she could be this fierce. How dare she embarrass me like this?’

He looked around and saw that many people were staring at them. If news got out that he failed to pay for clothes, his reputation would be ruined. In the world of business, reputation is very important.

Victor Morgan was the CEO of the Morgan transport and logistics Company. He was arranged to marry Roxanne but after learning how she wasn’t favored at home, he decided to choose the woman who would bring value to him and that was her sister, Maya Smith.

He glared at Roxanne and scoffed, "When did you take over the mall? How can you be so rude to your sister? Or are you jealous of her? Stop dreaming, I would still not marry you even without Maya's presence."

Roxanne tried not to roll her eyes. What a couple they were. She ignored his words and stretched out her hand, “Pay up, please. Or do you want me to call the police?"

~ Henry Ford

Victor Morgan raised an eyebrow. The confident manner in which Roxanne confronted them caught him off-guard.

Wasn't she a pushover? Where did she get the courage to stand up to them and humiliate them this way?

"You want to call the police?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

"I will if you don't pay. We have a word for people who get stuff without paying," Roxanne paused for a dramatic effect. "They are called THIEVES."

The temperature around them reduced to a negative. Victor narrowed his eyes at Roxanne dangerously but she wasn't intimidated by him.

Although he was handsome, tall with sandy brown hair and a rough beard, Roxanne looked down on him for having a poor sense of judgement.

Who in their right mind would love Maya? She had a rotten personality. Her fakeness was evident in the way she carried herself.

Was he blind?

Regardless, his choice was none of Roxanne’s concern. She was there to make money.

“Mr Morgan… if you and your fiancée are not buying anything, please leave my department store,” Roxanne said firmly.

She looked serious and professional in a white loose suit. The pants were high-waisted and wide while she wore a black tight top underneath the loose white statement-making jacket. Her hair was curled and left to cascade down her shoulders like a flowing waterfall.

“You bitch! This mall will belong to me, you have no right to stop me-”

Victor wrapped a hand around Maya's waist and soothingly said, “Baby, don’t worry. I’ll pay for your dresses. Let her have her fun. We all know you’re the heiress to Starlight Inc., so this mall will automatically belong to you.”

It was as if he was trying to show how affectionate he was with Maya but Roxanne’s attitude was indifferent. She rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah yeah… the money, please. Stop wasting my time. If it’s too expensive for you, the door is open. There's a thrift store down the hallway.”

Victor hissed. He had never been insulted like this. 'How dare this woman think I can’t pay for mere clothes?! I’m a CEO!'

He angrily took out his card and paid for the branded clothes that Maya had gotten while she batted her eyes at him and gave him a sweet smile. “You spoil me too much, baby.”

Maya was trying her best to show Roxanne that she had gotten the better guy. Alas, Roxanne appeared bored and disinterested.

She didn't like Victor. If anything, she was glad she didn't have to marry someone like him.

Roxanne smiled and handed over the receipt after the sales lady processed the payment. She glanced at the couple and taunted, “Thank you for shopping with us. Please call again.”

…

A little while later, Roxanne was about to head out of the store when a man in a wheelchair blocked her way.

When she glanced at him, her heart involuntarily missed several beats and her breath hitched.

"So, you're my bride..." Henry's deep velvety voice reached her ears and snapped her back to reality.

Her eyes rounded as she took him in and it dawned on her. So, this was Henry Ford! The rumours about him didn’t do him any justice. The man was smouldering.

Damn!

Despite being bound in a wheelchair, the man was oozing a powerful domineering aura. He was sprawled out on the chair, his arms resting on the armrests and his back resting against the chair.

Roxanne swore she had never seen a man as handsome as him before. Although he had a frown on his face and looked grumpy, she thought he was the hottest man she had ever laid her eyes on.

‘Wow! He looks like a Greek god!’ She exclaimed inwardly.

He was in a slim-fit black suit and although he was seated, Roxanne could tell that he was quite tall. His long legs were positioned awkwardly on one side, looking like he was having a hard time being restricted to the wheelchair, yet, he still looked imposing. The type to be the center of attention in a crowd.

It was like he came out of nowhere. Her heart was pounding violently but she maintained a poker face while looking at him.

For a few seconds, the duo stared at each other, neither dropping their gaze. Henry’s electric blue eyes bored into Roxanne’s dazzling green eyes.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, his husky voice finally reached her ears.

“I’m your hubby-to-be. That is if you don’t mind marrying a cripple.”

As Henry said those words, there was a mocking smirk on the side of his lips.

Roxanne’s heart clenched for some reason. This man was at the top of the world but he still had insecurities about his body.

Most times, life never goes the way we planned. Being disabled wasn’t the end of the world and she didn’t like the way he was talking down about himself.

She smiled politely and introduced herself, “Hi, Mr. Ford. My name is Roxanne Smith and yes, I’m your new bride. That is if you don’t mind marrying the useless sister.”

She emulated his words and saw him furrow his eyebrows.

“From what I just witnessed, you don’t look useless to me,” Henry said, appraising her with his eyes.

Silence befell them as they continued to stare at each other. Roxanne's heart was pounding loudly in her chest but her face did nothing to betray her emotions.

“Can we talk? I heard my bride is in charge of this mall so I came to take a look,” Henry suggested as he looked around the area, breaking the silence between them.

Although Roxanne was nervous, she agreed, “Sure. Let’s go to my office.”

Roxanne began to lead Henry to her office on the second floor while secretly wondering what he wanted to talk about. Perhaps he was here to ask her about the bride switch. Would he reject the new arrangement?