"That does not make sense. How could you even suggest such a thing when you are his brother!"
"It is because I am his brother that I am begging you to please marry me. I am certain that a member of that family has something to do with Henrick's death, and also, it is the only way for my nephew to get what he deserves. It is the only way I can protect him."
"I...I can't. I want to know what happened to Henrick. If his death wasn't an accident as you have said, I want to find the person that took my son's father away from him, but marrying you is.....".
"It will be a contract marriage. We will be married for two years, and that is enough time for me to make your son the heir of the Ashford family and to find out who really killed my brother. After all these, we will go our separate ways."
"Since it's going to be a fake marriage, then there is no need for us to sign any documents, right?"
"You don't know my family. My grandfather will confirm if I am truly married to you, and if he were to find out that we are not legally married, then he would throw you out." Gael said. He knelt in front of Andrea and added.
"I know this is hard, but it has to be done. Henrick loved you so much, and there is no way I'm leaving the woman he loved and his son on the street. Your son is an heir to a multi billion-dollar empire, and for you to fight for his right, you have to be strong; for you to give justice to the man who loved you with all his heart, you need to be ruthless. Please, Andrea, give me the chance to be able to face my brother when I die."
"I'm scared."
"You don't have to be. I will be here with you all the way; I will protect you and that baby with my life." A determined glint was seen in his eyes as he spoke those words.
Andrea felt physically, emotionally, and mentally tired. The idea of getting married to her husband's brother, who she had only known for less than a day, was beyond crazy, but whenever he spoke, she could see the deep love he had for his brother, and it was because of this that she had grown a certain kind of trust for this man.
To her, the most important thing is protecting her son, but she wished she could say nothing else matters, but deep within her, she wants to find the person who had taken Henrick from her; she wants to ask the person why and make him suffer.
Andrea wished she could carry her baby and run away, but she knew that Gael was right. If truly, Henrick was killed, then what if her son becomes the next target? What then should she do? How will a poor teacher like her protect her baby from those people who would want to harm him?
The only way to protect her son was not to run away. The only way to give her son the better life she has dreamed of him having was not to run away!
Her marriage with Gael would last for two years, and in those two years she would find out the truth about what happened to Henrick; she would grow stronger to protect her boy and give her son a better life, one she could never give herself.
"Let's do it." Andrea said.
Gael nodded and stood up as he said, "I will take care of the procedure."
He was about to leave when he heard her ask, "Will my son really have a better life if I go with you?"
"He will have a better life, but...."
Andrea turned to look at him, her eyes telling him to continue his statement.
"For him to have a happy life, he will need his mother by his side. Henrick and I lost our mother at a tender age and not having her around, made things harder for us."
Fresh tears fell from Lu Mei's eyes as she said, "I want him back, Gael . I don't think I will be able to live without him; I don't want to live without him."
"You have to live for your son. He is the only thing you have left from Henrick."
Andrea cleaned her tears, and she didn't know what prompted her to ask, but the question just came out of her mouth: "And who would you live for?"
Gael locked his gaze on Andrea's teary eyes and said, "Since our mother's departure, I have always lived for Henrick's happiness, and now, I have to live to give him justice."
"And after that?" Andrea asked, perhaps it is the deep sadness and loneliness that was emitting from him that made her keep asking this, but she just wanted to know.
"After that...." Gael repeated, his eyes growing distant. "Then my life will no longer serve a purpose."