A deal in the shadows (Escaping marriage)
1021 Words
The men outside couldn't help but grit their teeth in anger. They haughtily tapped a wad of cash against the door and sneered, “The door’s locked, so open up if you want your money.”
They had planned to pounce on the man the moment he unlatched the door, but the next thing they heard made their souls shudder in shock.
Even Melina, who was desperately gasping for breath beside the door, was taken aback. Ruth simply shook his head, slid open a small ventilation slot at the top of the door, and said, “Look, you can pass the cash through here. Once I verify its authenticity, I’ll give you the information you need.”
The men hesitated but ultimately complied. After all, five thousand dollars was nothing compared to the hundred thousand they would receive for finding the girl.
They tossed the wad of cash through the opening. As Ruth caught it, Melina, struggling to control her panic, whispered, “Are you really going to sell me out?”
Ruth shook his head and addressed the men outside. “The girl in the photo saved me from some hooligans a couple of days ago. You might find her at the edge of the forest—she was heading back toward a house.”
The men cursed under their breath. “We already know that! She vanished after returning home, so we came here to search. This place is secluded, and we’re not leaving until we’re sure she’s not here.”
Ruth clicked his tongue. “Oh, right. I remember now—I saw her two days ago. I invited her over as thanks for saving me, but she refused, saying it was just a coincidence. Then she went deep into the forest. She mentioned something about practicing martial arts.”
Melina tugged on his shirt, whispering urgently, “Hey, why are you telling them all this?”
Ruth ignored her and continued, “That’s all I know. Haven’t seen her since. But if you do find her, tell her I’m grateful.”
The men exchanged wary glances. His story seemed plausible. They wanted to storm in and search, but knowing the girl’s cautious nature, they doubted she’d stay in a rundown place like this.
Still, they insisted. “Hmph. Thanks for the info, but we need to be sure you’re not hiding her. Open up so we can check.”
Melina shook her head vehemently—if they got inside, she’d be found for sure. But to her shock, Ruth nodded. “Oh, sure. Let me unlock it for you. I assume you won’t harm me or take back the money, right?”
“Tch. Just hurry up and open the damn door. We won’t take long.”
Ruth subtly pointed to a corner, signaling Melina. Then, he pressed a hidden button, revealing a secret compartment in the wall. Melina quickly understood and slipped inside without hesitation.
Ruth then sighed dramatically. “Damn, I left the key in my room. Give me a minute.”
The men huffed impatiently, but they had no choice but to wait. A few minutes later, Ruth swung the door open.
They stepped inside, ready to rough him up, but Ruth raised his hands in mock fear. “Oh, please, sir! Don’t hit me! It’s hard enough making a living—I just wanted a little money. But if it’s too much, you can keep it and give me some change.”
Disgusted by his pathetic demeanor and shabby clothes, the men didn’t even bother looking at him twice. They scoured the house, checking every corner, but found nothing unusual.
“Tch. You better hope we find her. If not, we’re coming back to wreck this place.”
Ruth waved dismissively. “Sure, sure. I hope you find that kind lady. I’d hate to think of her running into trouble. I hear the deeper parts of the forest are crawling with wild animals.”
The men muttered curses and finally left.
Once the coast was clear, Ruth opened the secret compartment. Melina stumbled out, gasping for air. The compartment was cramped—barely big enough for someone to hide in for more than half an hour.
She eyed him curiously. “Why didn’t you turn me in?”
Ruth shrugged nonchalantly. “Why should I? I’m not obligated to help them. And besides, you saved me once.”
Melina hesitated, then admitted, “I don’t know why, but I feel like I can trust you.”
Ruth chuckled. “Well, let’s eat. The food’s probably cold by now. I’ll heat it up.”
For the first time in a long while, Melina felt something unfamiliar—security. As she sat down, she finally spoke. “Actually… my family wants me to marry someone. He’s the heir to another powerful family, but his character is… terrible. So, I ran away.”
Ruth nearly choked on his food. “Hah. I see. Must be tough being a wealthy daughter. But don’t your parents care about what you want? Couldn’t you have talked to them?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t bring myself to burden them. Ever since my brother passed away, they’ve done everything for me. I didn’t want to add to their worries, so I left without telling anyone.”
Ruth flicked her forehead lightly. “You’re an i***t. You should’ve told them. Or, better yet, just married some ordinary guy to escape the engagement. There are plenty of people who’d agree to a fake marriage if you paid them.”
Melina blinked in surprise. “Wait… why didn’t I think of that?” Then, after a brief pause, she asked, “Can you recommend someone trustworthy?”
Ruth scoffed. “I don’t know anyone. That’s your problem to solve. Just find someone who won’t sell you out when things get rough.”
Melina fell silent, deep in thought. Then, with a serious expression, she looked him in the eye.
“…Why don’t you be my husband? I trust you, and we can pay you handsomely.”
Ruth froze mid-bite, completely speechless.
- Writer
