Book 1-PROLOGUE
The restaurant was full of patrons talking loudly while eating. The sound of FM radio was also loud, blending with the sounds of spoons and forks. Among these patrons were two business tycoons sitting at the far end table, a designated place for smoking patrons.
"Amigo, I have a business proposal for you," the bearded man said as he lit his own cigar, smoked, and then puffed. Under his coat hid his big belly. His big eyeballs were always alert, and the thickened and darkened lips caused by frequent smoking cast a deceptive smile.
"What is it?" the man seated opposite the table asked, who was slightly annoyed by the foul odor emitting from his companion’s mouth. He looked dignified in his coat and tie and well-combed gray hair. He had a fair complexion, beautiful, deep-set but critical eyes under the eyeglasses, and smiling lips.
"Why don't we merge our companies? We could be a superpower in the trading business." The bearded man spoke. He burped loudly due to satiety.
"I don't see any reason to merge my company with yours. Unless you are in bankruptcy." The man in eyeglasses teased his companion and chuckled jokingly. Of course, he would not do it. His trading chain of companies was performing very well.
"No. Actually, what I really wanted to say is…” the bearded man paused for a second then puffed another smoke, "this is about my son."
"What about him?" the man in eyeglasses frowned. He doubted the motives of his comrade.
"He wants to marry your daughter," the bearded man replied after another puff.
"What?!" the man in eyeglasses nearly screamed. His blood boiled at the outrageous proposal.
"Don't get me wrong, Amigo.” The bearded man puffed successive smoke. “My son likes your daughter. He could take care of her."
"Amigo, I will never let my daughter just marry anyone else, especially your son!" The man in eyeglasses controlled his anger or else his fist would land on the face of the roguish man. "You invited me to this late dinner just for a nonsense proposal of yours. How dare you!" He punched his fist on the table instead, then left.
That ambitious womanizer son of his business comrade could never lay hands on his daughter. He perfectly knew what they wanted from him. It was all for their personal gain. To grab his business and wealth that he had worked for years and he would never let it happen. Not to his business and not to his beloved daughter.
He was still furious and just couldn't forget the nonsense conversation with the person until he got home.
His wife was still awake when he entered their room and he noticed she was secretly wiping tears.
He looked at his wife with a heavy heart. He knew the reason for her crying. He knew that their suffering would never end.
"Darling, how was your meeting?" his wife asked.
"Nothing important was discussed. It was just a plain dinner," he answered. "How's our daughter today?" He changed the topic to shrug off any further discussion about his dinner with his ambitious business friend.
"She was fine," his wife answered sadly. "I'm so worried about her. We are getting old. Who will take care of her when we're gone," His wife started crying.
"Darling, please. Stop thinking about those things." He hugged his wife to keep her from crying. "I promised she would never live alone. She will find a man who will love her unconditionally," he said gently.
His wife looked at him seriously. “But how?”
“I know,” he firmly answered. But the truth was he himself worried a lot that one day their daughter would live alone if she didn't marry. They just could not entrust their daughter to any of their relatives who were just waiting for their wealth. Where on earth could he find a man with pure intention and not interested in their wealth. He must act and it must be sooner.
