CHAPTER TWO

It was a few minutes later.

Reynold and the strange lady had retreated to a bench that sat along the road, her black umbrella was still raised above their heads to prevent the drizzling rain from falling on them. The lady most especially seemed concerned about her dress getting wet.

But that was just one of the many things Reynold noticed about her that made him undoubtedly conclude that she was one hell of a sophisticated lady. Another thing was her fingers, long and slender, on her index finger sat a silver ring that glittered.

The ring drew his mind back to the words she had said a few minutes ago before she suggested that they should leave the rain.

Reynold still doubted what he heard and counted the possibility that he might have misheard her due to the situation he was in.

"So, are you calm now?"

Her hoarse voice broke two different walls of silence: the one that hung between them and the one in his heart.

"Yes. Thank you."

Unsure of what to do or say, his response was pretty much bland.

"Then do you need me to go over it again?"

Reynold looked at her. He didn't respond but his eyes said it all.

"I want you to marry me." She said it again.

'It was real? She can't be serious. Why would someone like her want to marry someone like me?! This must be a trick, yes that is what it is...'

"Are you not going to speak?"

Reynold knitted his brow together as he thought about his words before speaking. He looked into the lady's eyes with a sheepish resolve.

"I don't understand, why would you want to marry a stranger? You don't even know me, I don't know you."

The lady giggled in response to his statement. To her everything about him was funny.

"As expected, you never change Rey."

She said as her soft laughter came to an end.

Reynold frowned as he asked -

"How do you know my name?"

"Instead I'm disappointed that you do not recognize me."

Reynold raised a brow. Was this someone he should know? There's no way he has ever met a person this incredible. He wouldn't have forgotten the face if he had met someone like her.

"I'm not sure..."

His voice sounded with carefulness and he scanned her face to be sure if he had indeed met someone as beautiful as she was.

"It will be quite difficult to remember. I'm K.J Kayla Johns from high school."

Immediately she said the initials K.J. It rang a bell in Reynold's mind. What came out from him next was:

"No way!"

His eyes dilated and wouldn't stop sizing her up. It was because this was not the K.J. that he knew.

He struggled to put what was in his mind into words.

She smiled, "Yes. I lost some weight."

'Some' was an understatement. The K.J. Reynold knew used to be very fat. Although it was difficult for anyone not to notice her fat body, what Rey first got to know and liked about her was her handwriting. It was beautiful, the most beautiful he had ever seen.

The entire school bullied her for being fat even though she had rich parents, Rey was the only one who complimented her even if it was for her handwriting. It was special to her.

And now she was different, all that fat now carved out a booming curve on her hips, straight thick legs, and a provocative vanguard.

Majority of her bosom could not be seen due to the coat that covered her but with the way they pushed forward, it was evident that she was endowed. In every area, she was endowed.

Even her face was nothing short, her beauty was almost out of this world like a goddess had descended.

And such a lady was asking him to marry her.

Rey bowed his head. It was tempting, coupled with the fact that the girl he claims to be his own just betrayed him, he truly wanted to accept the proposal but was he truly in a position to get married?

His countenance fell and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry for not recognizing you K.J"

"It's fine, I did not expect you to and you can call me Kayla please."

"Okay, Kayla..." He took a breath, "...I'm sorry, I'll have to decline your offer. I can't afford to get married right now. What I need right now is not a wife but to get my life in order. I have to hustle to pay for my mother's hospital bills, I'd love for my sister to go back to school. Marriage is too much of a selfish decision for me to make." Reynold explained.

"What if I help? I'll pay for your mother's treatments, foot your sister's school bills till she's done with her education."

Reynold's eyes shot open like they wanted to fall off.

"Wait wait please I don't want to burden you..."

"Shut up and just consider it payment for marrying me."

"It's a lot of money K.J. Sorry, Kayla."

"How much?"

"My mother's treatment fee is two hundred and fifty million dollars.”

"I will help you with three hundred million dollars and provide an apartment in my father's real estate in Alimsar."

"Alimsar?! That place where the richest of people buy houses?!" He was freaking out.

And just as he had said, Alimsar was one of the biggest areas in the country. Rich folks purchase houses in areas like this which makes the city the richest in the country. Staying there alone would increase your prestige anywhere you go.

"Wow...." Reynold was so grateful.

'But why is she willing to spend so much money to marry me? Does she like me that much?'

Reynold laughed inwardly at himself. It was impossible, he could tell by the way she composed herself and presented this marriage proposal like a business that she wasn't doing this because she was in love with him. He didn't know why she was doing it and he wasn't planning on asking—because he was sensitive enough to know that asking might irk her.

This offer was good enough for him. He didn't need to have feelings for her, he would be able to take care of his mother and his sister.

"So, have you thought about it thoroughly?"

Reynold locked his fingers and leaned on his knee for a couple of minutes then he raised his back and turned his gaze to her.

"You are not kidding me are you?"

Kayla stood up with elegance, her flowery scent invading his nose as she rose.

"If you have decided to marry me. I'll be waiting for you in the next two hours in the town hall. And please come with your marriage permit."

"So fast?" Reynold was shocked.

"Yes." She responded and dialed her phone.

A minute later a black sleek car drove to her front. A young lady in a suit dropped out of it and opened the back seat. She looked at Reynold one last time and threw him a wave.

"I'll be expecting you." She said and entered the car.

Reynold watched and admired as the engine of the car made a bull-like revving sound as it sped away.

Then it dawned on him...

"Oh no, I'm getting married in the next two hours?"

It was a reality that came too quickly. He had never considered his marriage to happen too soon. And yet...

Ring ring.

His phone vibrated.

Reynold lifted the problematic old model smartphone to see the message that had just entered.

_You have received a credit alert of $300,000,000_