Sentenced to Marriage

Chapter 102

Fighting back This extremely handsome man standing in front of me in his classy three-piece navy suit gave me the most alluring smile I had ever seen on his face. I smiled back at him but couldn’t stop the tears that instantly covered my cheeks in wide streams. For a moment, the entire hall turned silent, as if nothing else mattered except for the two of us. Our eyes locked on each other, me standing on the podium and him on the level where all the workers and reporters stood. He reached out his arms toward me. I slowly stepped to the edge of the podium, taking in his entire magical presence. I hurriedly put the heels back on my feet in an instant need to look more presentable. He chuckled and scooped me up to hold me in his arms, bridal-style. I gasped and put my arms around his neck as he spun me around before gently putting my feet on the floor next to him. My heart beat hectically. His warmth, his touch, his smile… I missed it all insanely. I wished I could clash my lips against his and kiss him for hours; for every day that he couldn’t be with me. Unfortunately, we weren’t in the best place to make up for the lost time…

As I hesitantly glanced around us, I quickly realized that we had given those reporters the entertainment of the year. They stood in awe, flashing pictures of me and Aren and quietly waiting for our love scene to be over. The whole board of executives also impatiently awaited what would happen next, but their previous excitement had hurriedly turned to a stinking mix of rage and fear. Mr. Dawson still held the microphone as he stood petrified at the front of the podium with his mouth open while the rest of the board got up from their seats and stepped back, instinctively trying to escape the consequences.

Aren kissed my forehead and shifted his eyes to Dawson, his warm gaze instantly turning into an icy glare. He reached out his hand without saying a word, and the terrified CMO passed him the microphone. Aren slid his hand around my waist and pulled me close. His embrace was firm enough for me to hear his slightly unsteady heartbeat. I knew he wasn’t well; he couldn’t have felt well since he ran here only minutes after waking up from a coma. The fact that he was embracing me at that moment felt like the purest miracle. He pulled me closer, pressing me against his large frame and making me feel tiny and delicate in his strong arms. He glanced at me one more time with his smiling eyes before turning to the reporters.

“I recently discovered that the executives at Lan Diamond Corporation are extremely concerned about the company’s well-being and are always ready to intervene in the event of a dangerous occurrence. Unfortunately, it was my wife that they found dangerous.” Aren’s words, covered in sarcasm, immediately provoked a wave of snorts from the reporters.” Apparently, this fragile woman posed so much of a threat to those men that they decided to break the rules of the company’s status, risking their own jobs. I hope they will all be grateful because I intend to take this beautiful and intelligent woman away from them.” He locked his eyes on me as he said the last part of his sentence, and I couldn’t miss the devilish smirk that crossed his lips.

One of the reporters stepped closer. “Mr. Lan, can you tell us what caused your state, and are you healthy enough to return to your CEO’s position?”

Aren looked at him with confidence. “As my wife previously informed you, I was in the state of a coma due to an accident. My state was stable for many days, but only now did I regain the strength to return.”

“Were the board and the shareholders informed of your stable condition, Mr. Lan?” another

reporter inquired. “Yes, they were all notified that my absence was temporary, and I also know that my wife, who acted in my name, asked for their patience in the meantime…” After answering the question, Aren’s eyes shifted to the executives. “Not only did she not receive guidance from those who had the most experience in the company, but she was also threatened and disrespected.” His cold tone made everyone on the podium flinch. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Aren’s embrace became even firmer, as if he wanted to shield me from everyone who dared look at me with hostility. I wasn’t afraid to face those men, but I happily accepted Aren’s overprotectiveness.

“Of course, I cannot blame the board for being anxious about the company’s future. That is why they will not suffer any consequences for trying to remove me from my position as the CEO due to my long absence…” As Aren paused, I could clearly hear the deep sighs of relief coming from the podium, followed by the press’s murmurs. “However… I acted according to the company’s status, and the

executives went against that. I appointed a person who is dedicated and trustworthy as my replacement, and with all my knowledge, she did exceptionally well as a temporary CEO, giving absolutely no reason to the executives to replace her in her position, but they acted otherwise. And the last piece of information I wish to share is that those who insulted my wife will be fired effective immediately. They will also be sued for defamation of Cora Lan as an acting CEO and for the detriment of the company.” His words were heavily coated with a threat, making the fear spread across the hall.

As Aren’s statement caused the hectic commotion around us, he looked at me with the kind of tenderness that made my whole body melt. Those last words he said, he did it for me. He did it because I held his name and because he had once promised to protect me. But I also knew that he couldn’t stand the fact that someone could harm me, and he was ready to rip those executives to shreds for their cruel words and insults. Well… I wasn’t going to stop him if he decided to.

After the commotion subsided slightly, Aren motioned his head toward Neil. Neil nodded and quickly took over the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that it is time to finish the Lan Diamond Corporation’s press conference, as it is time for Mr. and Mrs. Lan to join the rest of the shareholders at the meeting. The main decisions made at the meeting will be later announced in a short public statement, in about two hours.” As Neil ended the conference, Aren grabbed my hand and pulled me straight through the crowded corridor to the private elevator.

The second the elevator door closed, Aren’s arms wrapped around me, pressing my entire body against his. His lips claimed mine roughly, his tongue instantly thrusting inside in hungry strokes. He grabbed the back of my head, positioning me to deepen the kiss, making me moan against his lips. My fingers possessively tangled his thick black hair, wanting him closer. I kissed him, flooding him with my desperate longing for his touch. Suddenly, his kiss became softer until he rewarded my swollen lips with a gentle peck followed by his bright smile.

“I wanted to do that the second I woke up,” he murmured. His words felt like a stab in my heart. “I wanted to be there… I was there, waiting for you…” He hushed my cracking voice, gently caressing my cheek. “I know, sunshine. I knew you were waiting for me. I could never blame you,” he whispered

with tenderness before he changed his tone into an icy cold one. “I blame those bastards. I will never forgive them for taking that moment away from us.” I looked at his blazing eyes, saw his tense jaw, and instantly became worried. His body must have been weak. He should have been resting, lying in bed, instead of fighting for his company. As strong as he was, he wasn’t a superhero. “Are you sure you are OK?” I asked softly a second before the elevator door opened.

He didn’t answer. He only grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the auditorium, where the shareholders were already waiting for the CEO to explain the current situation. It was unfair. Those frowning and filled with hostility people suffered no losses. What gave them the right to be so demanding and insensitive? Aren could have died, but they only cared about their fucking wallets! My blood began to boil just by looking at their faces. Aren seemed to be indifferent to their enmity. He simply smirked, meeting their glares as he walke heading to his seat at the head of the grand table and making me sit right next to him.

He waited as the room filled with people I recognized from the list of shareholders that Neil prepared for me. Aren scrutinized each of them like a predator selecting its prey. Once the shareholders took their places, the executives joined, reluctantly sitting not far away from Aren and me. Aren chuckled coldly as he saw fear in their eyes.

“I can see that we’re all here,” Aren said with a smile that never reached his eyes. “Let’s begin the meeting.”