1: The Ten thousand dollars deal.

Alexander Brooke straightened his worn jacket and smoothed his hair, eager to impress. He knocked on the grand door of his girlfriend father's house, his confidence wavering.

He fell for Vivian two years ago in college. Their love grew, and when he proposed, she told him that her father's approval was first needed for the marriage. That was what brought him there under the hot sun.

After a while, the door opened to reveal Vivian standing behind it. Her angelic face beamed. "You're here, love!"

Vivian's warm face calmed Alex's nerves. He could never stop loving her. They hugged, then she led him inside.

The spacious living room astounded him, flanked by plush sofas and original works of art. Her father was undoubtedly wealthy.

However, his enthusiasm soon disappeared when Argent McCall, Vivian's father, frowned at the sight of him. Alex felt tension in the air. At 190cm, handsome and 23, he stood tall, but clearly poor.

Would Argent still accept him? What if he laughed in his face and saw him as a nobody, unworthy of his daughter's hand in marriage? Alex started to sweat, anxious thoughts swirling.

Vivian also got nervous. She forced a smile, “Dad, meet Alex, the man I told you about. The man I want to marry,” she said but received no response.

So, she nervously sat on the edge of a sofa as her father glared at Alex from an armchair. His glare made Alexander feel like he was under a microscope.

He didn't even bother to shake his hand; instead, he simply motioned for him to sit down.

"And you are?" Argent asked in a cold tone, scanning him through the rims of his glasses.

Alexander took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves. He hoped it would turn out positive. "Alexander Brooke, sir," he replied, sounding confident.

“Hm.” Alex could hear Argent releasing a throaty scoff. “Brooke? And from what family? Mukherjee Brooke, the owner of Brooke Textiles? Or Brooke Birdie, the founder of Birdie Entertainment? Just wondering,” Argent shrugged, a sneer tugging at his lips.

Alexander felt his face flush with embarrassment. He did not, and couldn't even dream of coming from any of them. He was only an ordinary lot attendant at SALMAS Automobiles.

He cleared his throat. “None, sir. I'm the son of Mrs. Anna Brooke, a retired teacher and currently a cancer patient, and I do not know my father. I understand that I may not be rich, sir, but I love your daughter with all my heart!”

Vivian's father laughed mockingly. "Love? What good is love when you can't even afford to buy her a decent gift worth thousands of dollars?!" he spat, erupting into fury.

Vivian stepped forward, hoping to reason with her father. She knew how difficult it would be because of his nature, but she truly loved Alexander. "Dad, I understand your concerns, but you need to trust me. Alex is a good man, and I love him for who he is!"

But Argent wouldn't hear it. He turned his fury on her, his face red with anger. “Vivian McCall! Are you trying to embarrass me by getting married to a good-for-nothing man? Is this what you call a life partner? Answer me!" His voice boomed so loudly that Vivian jerked and stumbled a step back.

Argent's words stung like hot coals, and Alex couldn't bear the thought of losing Vivian now.

"Dad, I don't care," she declared, steeling herself. "I mean, I really don't give a damn about what people think. I love Alex, and I'm willing to get married to..."

"Will you shut your mouth, or should I shut it for you?" Argent interrupted, his hand snaking out to grab Vivian's arm roughly. Vivian winced at the tight grip. "And who are you to defend him? A common 21-year-old girl picked up trash from the dustbin and called that her boyfriend? That is pure shame!"

"That's enough, sir!" Alexander finally spoke up. It was becoming too much and he could not bear the humiliation any longer.

"I understand that you are Vivian's father, but sir, please don't talk to her like that because of me, and we love each other. I love Vivian; she's an amazing woman. I have accepted the fact that I'm poor. I don't have the luxuries that your daughter is used to. But please, sir, everything doesn't come easy–"

Before Alexander could finish his sentence, a huge slap landed on his face, cutting him off mid-sentence. The force of the slap made him stumble backward, and he tasted blood in his mouth. Argent's face was twisted in anger as he glared at Alexander.

"So she should suffer and get married to a riffraff?" His voice dripped with anger and sarcasm, visibly irritated.

Vivian rushed forward, trying to defuse the situation. She held her father's arms right to prevent him doing any worse than he already did. "Dad, please, that's enough!" She pleaded, but he would not back down.

Alexander took a deep, shuddering breath, with his head bent low and almost shaken, trying to rein in the storm of emotions raging within him - love, hurt, anger, and desperation warred within his heart.

The thought of losing Vivian was unbearable. She filled his life with hope and joy. Without her, he wasn't sure he could go on. Vivian was his very reason for breathing.

But Alexander knew he had to stay strong - for Vivian and for his sick mother in the hospital who depended on him. He was really going through a lot.

"Okay," Argent broke the silence and turned around, then sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs, the leather creaking as he shifted his weight.

Alex looked up and sighed, his mind relaxing for a second. When he uttered the word "okay," Alex thought that maybe, just maybe, Vivian's father was going to allow them to be together.

But Argent only scoffed, adjusting his glasses again. "Your known-to-be-a-loser boyfriend will do anything to get you, right?"

"Any thing sir," Alex replied desperately. He did not want to lose her at any cost!

But then Argent continued, "I'm willing to give you my daughter on one condition - bring me 10,000 dollars by the end of this month."

"What?" Alex felt his heart rate increase as panic set in. He didn't have that kind of money. Where would he actually get it from?

"You heard me," Argent said, his grin widening into a sneer. "Ten thousand dollars. Or see her get married to someone else!"