Chapter 3: Molly’s POV

Molly’s POV

I watched Harrison take the report from my hands. He flipped through two pages, and a low chuckle slipped from his throat.

Was he laughing at me?

My face began to burn. I felt like an idiot, but this was my only hope right now.

I had never been so embarrassed or humiliated, but I gritted my teeth. For Mom’s medical bills, I had to endure it.

“So there really are people,” Harrison said, setting down the report, amusement still glinting in his eyes, “who actually believe that rumor.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Was that whole thing just a rumor? You don’t need blood bags?”

He put the report back into my hands. “We live in a civilized society. I’m not a vampire, and I don’t have any perverse fetishes. I’m merely a law-abiding university professor.”

The report burned painfully between my fingers.

My mind buzzed. He was not the legendary vampire, and he did not need blood...

I should have felt relieved, but now I felt even more suffocated.

He did not need blood bags. Then... what was I supposed to do next?

The debts I owed. The medical bills...

“It’s only a rumor. Go home.” Harrison seemed to lose patience when I remained silent and still.

After saying that, he turned sideways, walked around me, and left.

I lowered my head and stared blankly at the floor.

“Sir.”

Someone stopped him just then.

I looked up. Harrison seemed to have run into someone he knew by the stairs.

The man who had stopped him was elderly, dressed in a black suit, and looked extremely stern.

“Deya, what are you doing here?” Harrison’s expression looked somewhat complicated.

“The old gentleman is at the school gate. He asked me to tell you that you must meet Miss Lavelle today.”

“Go back and tell Grandfather I don’t want to.”

“I’m sorry. That is not for me to decide.” Deya lowered his head, hiding his expression.

Harrison sighed helplessly. Then he suddenly turned his head and looked over. Our eyes met. The crease between his brows relaxed, one eyebrow rose, and a smile curved his lips.

Still looking at me where I stood outside his office, Harrison spoke to Deya again, now with a trace of ease in his voice. “Deya, go back and tell Grandfather that I already have someone I want to marry. There’s no need for today’s meeting.”

“Sir, if the old gentleman finds out you lied...”

“I didn’t lie.” Harrison walked toward me with a smile, then suddenly drew close and wrapped an arm around my waist. “This is my beloved, whom I just successfully courted. I think Grandfather will be very pleased with her.”

Deya’s somber gaze swept over me repeatedly. That scorching look struck me like a whip, making me deeply uncomfortable. I tried to twist away, but Harrison only held me tighter.

I looked up into his eyes. They were deep and bright, like black holes.

I did not know how much time passed before that scorching gaze finally moved away.

Deya inclined his head slightly to us as he spoke again. “I understand, sir. I apologize for disturbing you today.”

“It’s fine.”

Deya looked me over once more before finally turning and leaving.

After Deya left, Harrison released my waist. Faced with my puzzled stare, he said, “Let’s talk inside the office.”

I hesitated for a moment before following Harrison into the office. He closed the door, remained beside it, and looked at me.

“You were the girl at the school gate this morning, and you just came to me with your blood test report. If I’m not mistaken, you desperately need money right now. Am I right?”

He raised his eyes slightly, his stern air as a teacher especially strong. I nodded honestly. “Yes.”

“Perhaps I can offer you a job. Marry me,” he said calmly. “Afterward, you’ll cooperate with me according to my requirements. In exchange, you’ll receive enough money.”

“Marry... you?” I froze where I stood.

I had just witnessed his conversation with Deya. I had thought he had only said it casually...

Harrison looked at me without answering my question. “If you’re going to marry me, a blood test report isn’t enough. I need you to get a full physical examination. Every test must be done. I even need a report on your fingernails.”

I looked at him in confusion. Before I could speak, he slowly approached me. “Give me your phone.”

Perhaps it was his manner as a teacher, but I handed over my phone without thinking. He tapped at it several times, then returned it to me.

“I added my contact information for you. Go for a complete physical tomorrow. I’ll cover the cost.”

He took out his own phone. Ten seconds later, a transfer appeared on mine.

I could not stop myself from widening my eyes and crying out, “One million! Aren’t you only a university professor...”

My voice grew quieter with every word. After all, what university professor would be ordered by his own grandfather to enter an arranged marriage?

“This is your deposit. Think it over carefully. If you’re unwilling, you can send it back the same way.” Harrison turned to leave after speaking. “Once you’ve decided, bring me the medical report. Then we’ll register our marriage.”

Watching Harrison’s retreating back, I suddenly realized that I was about to sell my marriage.

That realization should have made me afraid or ashamed.

Yet a strange question surfaced in my mind.

Harrison needed me to have a physical examination. Did he need me to bear his child?