The sound of knocking on the door successfully disrupted Rhea's concentration as she was focused on reviewing the revenue reports of all her retail businesses displayed on her computer screen. A clicking sound escaped from the lips of the 30-year-old woman, expressing her annoyance.

"Come in!"

Monica appeared from behind the door, flashing a polite smile at her superior. "Miss, Mr. Benjamin has admitted that he was indeed the one working with Watson Industries. He was paid to leak our company's product designs."

Rhea, who had initially been leaning forward, focused on her computer screen, now changed her posture, reclining against the back of her chair with her arms crossed and one leg arrogantly resting over the other.

"Is that so? So that scoundrel has confessed? A criminal who earns a living in my company but dares to stab me in the back."

Monica nodded. "Yes, Miss. All the evidence points to him, and when we questioned him earlier, he finally admitted it."

"Good. I like how quickly and decisively your team works."

Monica smiled widely, pleased that the team she had assembled to investigate this case had just received praise from the president.

"In that case, bring him to my office. I want to see the face of the person who dared to mess with me and became a traitor in my company."

"Understood, Miss." Monica then stepped out.

Not long after, precisely fifteen minutes later, she returned to Rhea's office with the perpetrator who had leaked their company's product designs to a competitor.

Benjamin... The 46-year-old man immediately fell to his knees upon seeing the imposing figure sitting arrogantly in her executive chair-the highest authority in the company where he worked. His body trembled, as the president's ruthlessness was infamous throughout the office.

"Forgive me, Miss. Please, have mercy on me," the man pleaded, tears streaming down his face, hoping Rhea would feel sympathy for him.

However, Rhea was not one to be swayed by such cheap theatrics. Rising from her seat, she approached Benjamin, who was still kneeling on the floor. She then perched herself on the edge of her desk, her arms still folded across her chest, her gaze sharp and piercing.

"If a mere apology could solve all problems, then I wouldn't have had to go through that trial yesterday and suffer such massive losses."

Benjamin's body trembled even more just from hearing Rhea's firm voice, laced with biting sarcasm, filling the room that suddenly felt tense.

"I want to ask you something now. How long have you been working at this company?"

"Twenty-five years, Miss," Benjamin replied, still bowing his head, too afraid to look at the president.

"Twenty-five years? Wow, that's a long time. In other words, you've been an employee here since my father was still around."

"Yes, Miss. I have worked at this company since your father was still in charge. I am a senior employee here, so please forgive me. I deeply regret my foolish actions, and I promise never to repeat them."

Rhea scoffed, curling her lips into a sneer. "The fact that you are a long-time employee of this company makes me even more disappointed. You know how hard my father worked to build this company, yet you had the heart to betray him. My late father must be furious and deeply disappointed in you right now."

Benjamin now pressed his forehead to the floor, desperately begging for forgiveness and a second chance. "I truly regret my actions. Please forgive me, Miss. I had no choice."

"Can you explain to me why you did this? Maybe if your reason is reasonable, I might consider forgiving you."

Benjamin lifted his head again, his face brightening with a glimmer of hope, believing he had a chance to be forgiven. "Because I needed a large sum of money for my family. My eldest child suffered a terrible accident and had to undergo surgery."

"Oh, so you betrayed the company and accepted a bribe from Watson Industries to cover your child's medical expenses?"

"I'm sorry, Miss. I was truly desperate and in dire need of money."

"Then what is the point of your status as an employee in this company if you end up seeking assistance from another company instead?"

Benjamin blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, Miss?"

"I am still here in this company. If you needed help, you should have come to me and asked for my support. I am not a heartless boss when it comes to my employees' well-being, especially when it's a financial matter. But instead, you sought help from another company and betrayed the very place that has provided for you for twenty-five years."

Rhea clicked her tongue and shook her head. "If your reason for doing this was that you felt your salary was too low, I could have understood. But instead, it turns out that you needed a large amount of money, and you had the option to ask for my help-but you didn't. Hah, this only convinces me even more not to forgive you."

Benjamin's face instantly turned pale with panic. "Miss, that's not what I-"

"Monica."

Rhea cut him off, calling her assistant's name before he could finish his sentence.

"Yes, Miss."

"Fire this man immediately and do not give him a single cent in severance pay. Announce his dismissal publicly in front of all the other employees. Oh, and one more thing... issue him a formal notice demanding reimbursement for the losses the company has suffered due to his betrayal. I'm giving him three months-if he fails to pay, take this matter to court. There is no forgiveness for a traitor."

Benjamin's eyes widened in utter shock. Not only was he being fired, but he was also required to repay a substantial sum to the company. He had been given three months to come up with 50 million dolar, and if he failed, he would be reported to the authorities.

"Miss Rhea, please have mercy on me. I don't have that kind of money. How am I supposed to pay such a huge amount?"

"You should have considered the consequences before committing this crime. Besides, 50 million dolar is nothing compared to the losses I've suffered because of your actions. You nearly drove this company to bankruptcy-do you realize the terrifying consequences of that? You almost cost thousands of employees their jobs. So, reflect on your mistake. If you really can't repay the money, it's simple, isn't it? Just accept your fate and prepare to rot in prison. It's that straightforward-don't make it complicated."

Rhea waved her hand, signaling for the man who had ruined her mood to be taken away from her office.

"You will regret this, Rhea Addilyn Blaire! One day, you will pay for your cruelty!" Benjamin shouted as he was dragged out by two security guards who had been waiting outside since the beginning.

"Miss, isn't it too harsh to only give him three months to repay such a large amount?"

Rhea shot Monica a sharp glare. "Do you feel sorry for him?" she asked.

"Yes, Miss. Mr. Benjamin has contributed a lot to our company."

"But he is also a traitor who nearly destroyed my company. I can forgive any mistake, but not betrayal. That is an unforgivable offense, no matter what. Besides, if you feel so sorry for him, why don't you help him pay the 50 million dolar?"

Monica's eyes widened in shock. She dared not say another word and quickly exited the president's office, fully aware of how firm and unwavering her superior was.

Rhea sank back into her chair, massaging her throbbing temples. Her gaze shifted to her phone, which suddenly vibrated on the table. Picking it up, she clicked her tongue in frustration as she read the message that had just come in.

It was from the housekeeper at her parents' home, informing her that her mother was sulking and had gone on a hunger strike-protesting Rhea's refusal to marry the man her mother had chosen for her.

"Ugh, what now?" she muttered irritably as she stood up from her chair. Grabbing the white blazer hanging on the coat rack, Rhea strode swiftly out of the room, determined to face her mother, who had been causing her endless trouble lately.

***

"Where is my mother?" Rhea asked the moment she stepped into her parents' house.

"She's in her room, Miss. She hasn't eaten anything since last night, and she hasn't taken her medication either," the housekeeper informed her.

Rhea clicked her tongue in frustration. Her mother's illness made it crucial for her to take her medicine on time.

She knocked on the bedroom door as soon as she reached it. "Mom, open the door. It's me!" she called out, hoping her mother would hear her and unlock the door.

"Mom, open up! You can't do this. You have to take your medicine!"

"Madam hasn't eaten anything since last night either, Miss. I'm really worried about her. She hasn't come out of her room all night," the housekeeper added anxiously.

Hearing this only made Rhea more panicked. Worry consumed her-her mother was the only family she had left. She was the most precious person in Rhea's life, and she couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to her.

"Has she been like this since I left yesterday?"

"Yes, Miss. After you left, Madam became extremely gloomy. She refused to eat and locked herself in her room."

Rhea closed her eyes, now fully understanding the reason behind her mother's sulking. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly before calling out, "Alright, Mom! I'll do what you want. I'll meet the man you chose for me!"

A few moments later, the door suddenly swung open, revealing her mother's beaming face. "Really? You're going to marry the man I chose?" she asked, her wide smile still intact.

Rhea rolled her eyes. "I'll meet him first, Mom. I need to see what kind of person he is. If he's suitable for me, then I'll consider marrying him."

Aliza clicked her tongue. "Hmph! In that case, I still won't eat or take my medicine."

Rhea frowned deeply. "Why are you being like this, Mom?"

"Promise me first that you'll marry him, then I'll eat and take my medicine."

"Mom, don't do this."

"It's up to you. If you want me to eat and take my medicine, that's the only condition."

Rhea held her breath, trying her best to suppress her irritation. "That's not fair, Mom. I-"

Before she could finish, Aliza started closing the door again. But Rhea quickly reached out to stop it with her hand. "Alright, alright. I agree."

"You agree to marry him? You promise?" her mother pressed.

Rhea shut her eyes tightly before reluctantly nodding multiple times. "Yes, yes, Mom. I promise."

Letting out a slow exhale, Rhea watched as her mother clapped her hands in delight. The woman who had been sulking and starving herself was now glowing with joy, thrilled that she had managed to make the undefeated, ruthless businesswoman surrender in defeat.

To ensure that her mother actually ate and took her medicine, Rhea stayed at her parents' house overnight. After all, she had been living in the house she bought for herself for quite some time.

Stepping out of the bedroom she had used as a teenager, Rhea descended the stairs and made her way to the dining room for breakfast.

Upon arriving, she saw her mother already seated at the dining table, where their breakfast had been neatly laid out.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Aliza greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning, Mom."

Rhea sat down, facing her mother across the table.

"I've already informed your fiancé that you want to meet him today."

The glass of water Rhea had just sipped almost came spraying out of her mouth. "What? What did you say?"

"Yesterday, you said you wanted to meet him. So, I contacted him and let him know. He said he's available today. He'll be waiting for you at Time Square Mall at 10 a.m."

Rhea was stunned, unable to believe how quickly her mother had acted on this. "Mom, you should've asked me first instead of just calling him like that."

"Well, you were the one who said you wanted to meet him."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I wanted to meet him today. Besides, I have an important meeting at the office. I can't meet him."

Aliza clicked her tongue. "This is exactly why you're still single. You're too focused on running the company. Blaire Industries is already the largest food corporation in California, sweetheart. Our restaurants are everywhere, even expanding overseas. Our boutiques are in shopping centers all over the country. There isn't a single person who doesn't know Blaire Industries. The company is already hugely successful, so stop chasing your career, Rhea. It's time for you to get married and have a family. Remember, you're already in your thirties."

Rhea completely lost her appetite. The chopsticks she had been holding were now set back down on the table.

"I know, but I don't want to rush into this, Mom."

"That's exactly why I'm letting you meet him first before getting married. Just go see him. I don't want to hear any more excuses."

Aliza turned her head away, crossing her arms in a clear show of her serious discontent. If Rhea dared to come up with another excuse to avoid meeting her so-called fiancé, her mother would undoubtedly get even more upset.

"But I just found out that you've been in frequent contact with him?"

Hearing her daughter's question, the middle-aged woman finally looked straight ahead again. "Yes, I've contacted him several times, which is why I know he's a good man who will make you happy. He's a pleasant person, and I'm sure you'll like him. Oh, by the way, his name is Dion Damares. He's very handsome-you're lucky to be marrying him."

Rhea frowned. "Have you met him in person?"

"No. But I've seen his photo. Do you want to see it too? I can send it to your phone."

Rhea shook her head. "No need. I'll be meeting him, so I'll just see him in person later."

Aliza's face immediately lit up. "So, you're going to meet him today?"

"As if I have a choice? I know you'd just pout again like yesterday if I refused to meet him, right?"

Aliza grinned widely, nodding her head as if she felt no guilt over her childish behavior yesterday, which had sent everyone into a panic.

"I'll send you Dion's number so you can contact him later."

Rhea simply shrugged, choosing not to comment further and letting her mother do whatever she wanted.

***

At exactly 10 a.m., as promised, Rhea arrived at Time Square Mall, one of California's largest shopping centers, to meet the man who was supposed to be her husband.

The mall was already starting to get crowded as it had just recently opened to the public. Rhea sighed, realizing she had no idea where to find the man. He hadn't mentioned a specific meeting spot, even though the mall was vast. She regretted declining her mother's offer to send his photo. Feeling tired from standing around, she decided to enter a café just outside the mall.

After choosing a table and ordering a cup of coffee, Rhea finally decided to call the number of her mother's chosen candidate.

She sent him a message first, but after ten minutes without a response, she opted to call instead. On the second ring, the call connected, and a deep baritone voice came from the other end.

"Hello."

"Hi, my name is Rhea Addilyn Blaire. Are you Dion Damares?"

"Oh, yes, yes. I'm Dion. Are you already at Time Square Mall?"

Rhea rolled her eyes. Clearly, this man hadn't checked his phone. "I've been here for almost thirty minutes. You should have checked your phone-I sent you a message earlier."

"Oh, really? Sorry, sorry, I was busy earlier. Since you're already there, can you come upstairs? I'm at Time Zone."

Rhea frowned. Time Zone. She knew exactly what that place was-a gaming arcade usually crowded with kids and teenagers. To her, it seemed completely inappropriate for an adult man to be hanging out there while talking to her on the phone.

"You're at Time Zone?" she asked, making sure she hadn't misheard.

"Yes, that's why I didn't see your message earlier. Sorry about that. Can you come here instead?"

Rhea let out an audible scoff. "No. I don't like crowded places. You come to me instead. Do you know the café in front of the mall?"

"Yes, I know it," Dion replied.

"I'll be waiting for you there."

"Oh, okay, okay. I'll head over now."

The call abruptly ended-Dion had hung up without warning.

Rhea couldn't believe it. The man she was supposed to marry still enjoyed playing games at a mall arcade? She couldn't help but wonder what kind of husband he would turn out to be.

Still, she decided not to dwell on it. She sipped her coffee and turned her attention to a report that Monica had just sent to her phone.

Just as she was deeply focused on the screen, she was startled when a man suddenly sat down across from her without permission.

Rhea shot him a blank stare. He looked young-probably a college student, judging by his appearance. She had to admit he was incredibly handsome, and with that smile he was flashing, his charm seemed to increase tenfold.

"Sorry, but that seat is already taken," she said, politely trying to dismiss the young man.

But instead of leaving, he extended his right hand toward her.

"Hi, my name is Dion Damares. And I won't be leaving this seat-because I'm the one it's reserved for. Isn't that right?" He playfully winked at her.

Rhea blinked, utterly shocked by his introduction. "W-wait... What did you say your name was?"

"Dion Damares. I'm your fiancé. And you must be Rhea Addilyn Blaire-I've seen your face on TV and in magazines plenty of times."

Rhea was too stunned to hide her reaction. She instinctively stood up, leaving Dion's outstretched hand hanging in the air, unanswered.

"W-wait here for a moment," she stammered before hastily walking away, leaving Dion sitting there, looking confused.

She stepped outside the café, finding a quiet spot before quickly dialing the one person who owed her an explanation for all of this.

"Hello?" A familiar voice answered. The very person she wanted to scold to no end-if only that person wasn't her own mother.

"Mom, explain this to me. Why is there a young man claiming to be the fiancé you chose for me?"

"Oh, so you've met Dion?"

Rhea scoffed. "I just told you there's a young man claiming to be-"

"That is Dion. He's still a college student. So? What do you think? He's handsome, just like I told you this morning, right?"

Rhea was at a complete loss for words, too shocked by her mother's response. "So that young man is really my fiancé?"

"Yes," Aliza answered without hesitation.

"How old is he, Mom?"

"Twenty. And remember, you already promised me you'd marry him, so don't say anything that might hurt his feelings, okay?"

Rhea was officially speechless. How could her mother have arranged for her to marry someone ten years younger than her?

Rhea still could not believe how her mother had arranged for her to marry a man who was much younger than she was. Wasn't he more suited to be her younger brother rather than her husband?

"Mom, there is no way I can accept this arranged marriage." She quickly and firmly protested, having already decided that she would not agree to marry a man who was ten years younger than her.

A clicking sound from her mother came from the other end of the phone. "Don't say that. We have already agreed to this arrangement."

"If you were going to arrange a marriage, you should have considered our circumstances first. That man is still so young, Mom. He is ten years younger than me. He is more like a little brother than a husband. You were reckless in arranging this match."

"I already explained yesterday. Initially, we intended to arrange your marriage with his older brother, but since our families lost contact for a long time, his older brother was already married to someone else. So, well..."

"So, he is just a replacement for his brother, who was originally supposed to marry me? That doesn't make sense, Mom. If his brother is already married to someone else, then just let it go. Why does his younger brother have to take his place?"

"Because we want to uphold our long-standing agreement to marry our children. We want to become family through your marriage."

Rhea clicked her tongue in frustration. To her, this was a huge mistake. "That's not how it works, Mom. This is selfish. You are only thinking about yourselves without considering my feelings-or his. He is still in college. I'm sure he would reject this arrangement too."

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

One of Rhea's eyebrows raised upon hearing her mother's challenging tone.

"All right, Rhea, I have an idea."

"Oh, really? What idea is that?" Rhea asked lazily while rolling her eyes, already tired and fed up with her mother's stubbornness.

"Ask Dion directly. If he refuses this marriage, then fine... I won't force you two to marry. But..."

"Hmm, fine. I'll ask him now."

"Hey, wait. I'm not finished talking yet. Don't just cut me off."

Rhea growled inwardly. She felt like hanging up the phone immediately, as she could no longer stand talking to her mother or staying in that mall any longer. In her mind, it was far better to go to the office than waste her precious time on something as ridiculous as this. Reviewing stacks of documents on her desk was far more appealing than dealing with this absurd arranged marriage.

"Alright, what else do you want to talk about, Mother?" For the umpteenth time, Rhea chose to comply with her mother's wishes, allowing her to continue speaking.

"But if Dion agrees to this arranged marriage and is willing to marry you, then you must also accept it. There will be no more excuses for you to refuse. You will have to marry Dion. So, what do you say? Do you agree?"

Rhea shook her head, thinking that her mother had lost all sense of reason by insisting on marrying off her daughter, the president of a major company, to a mere university student.

Letting out a long sigh and exhaling slowly, Rhea finally opened her mouth and replied with resignation, "Alright, Mother. I agree. Besides, I am sure that man will reject this arrangement. There's no way he would want to marry an older woman like me. He must want to marry someone his own age. I am certain of it."

A chuckle echoed through the phone, as if her mother was mocking her words. "That is not necessarily true. Alright then, go ahead and ask Dion now. Let me know his answer later, alright?"

The call abruptly ended as her mother hung up without waiting for Rhea's response. Rhea shook her head again, unable to comprehend her mother's way of thinking. How could she so easily arrange her daughter's marriage to a much younger man?

Clearing her throat briefly to calm herself from the frustration she was feeling, Rhea then walked toward the place where Dion was waiting for her.

Her steps were quick, driven by her impatience to confront the man she was being arranged to marry.

When she finally arrived at her destination and saw Dion still sitting in the same place, Rhea immediately approached him.

"Ah, you're finally back. Where did you go? You took so long," Dion said.

Rhea cleared her throat once more to steady herself before sitting down in the chair directly across from Dion. "There is something important I need to ask you, and I hope you will answer truthfully."

Curiosity was evident on Dion's face as he gazed at Rhea intently. He was undeniably handsome, and now his eyes were locked onto hers. "Hmm, what do you want to ask?"

"You must already know that the reason we are meeting here is because our parents arranged for us to be married?"

Dion nodded. "Yes, I know. And?"

"Now that we have met in person, do you still want to go through with this arranged marriage?"

Rhea could only swallow hard, anxiously awaiting Dion's response. Deep down, she hoped he would reject the arranged marriage just as she did. Well, let's see if her wish would come true.

"So, what's your decision? Are you willing to accept this arranged marriage?" Rhea asked once more, growing impatient. However, Dion didn't immediately respond, which only irritated her further.

"What about you?"

Rhea gaped at him. Instead of answering, he had thrown the question back at her. "I'm the one asking you! Why are you asking me instead?"

"Before I answer, I want to know what you think about our arranged marriage after this meeting."

Rhea rolled her eyes. First her mother, and now this man in front of her-they were both equally infuriating and had successfully ruined her mood for the day.

"Of course, I refuse. There's no way I would agree to marry someone like you, who is much younger than me. Tell me, how old are you?"

"Twenty," Dion answered quickly.

"See? I knew it. There's a ten-year gap between us because I'm thirty now. Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"It means it's impossible for us to be husband and wife. We're more suited to be siblings. Got it? So, I firmly reject this arranged marriage. I don't want to marry you."

"But I... I accept this arranged marriage and am willing to marry you."

At that moment, Rhea's eyes widened in utter shock upon hearing Dion's response.

"Huh? What did you just say? I didn't mishear you, did I?"

Dion shook his head firmly. "No, you heard me right. I said I accept this arrangement, and I'm ready to marry you."

"Even though you're still in college?"

Dion scoffed. "And so what if I'm still in college? There's no rule against getting married at my university. So, I can marry you anytime." As if oblivious to Rhea's rising frustration, Dion playfully winked at his supposed future wife.

Meanwhile, Rhea could only pinch the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on after hearing Dion's shocking answer.

"So, when are we getting married?"

At this point, Rhea felt like screaming out her frustration. She was dealing with two people who had completely lost their minds-her mother and Dion. Both of them were insane for agreeing to this ridiculous arranged marriage.