Mission to Wealth

Chapter 6

"Yes. My mother."

Gibson fell silent. He felt a blow seeing his mother's condition. Amidst it all, Calista decided to invite Gibson to sit outside.

"Why do you seem so worried?" Calista asked, her eyes full of concern.

Gibson pondered for a moment before sighing heavily, "I'm facing a problem."

"What problem?" Calista inquired, genuinely interested in Gibson's life. "If you need a friend to share with, I'm ready to be that friend to share your problems, Gibson."

"We've just met. It doesn't feel quite right for me to tell you my problems," Gibson looked distant.

"It's okay. Just tell me. Who knows, I might have a solution," Calista tried to reassure the hesitant Gibson.

Gibson looked at Calista and then scanned her from head to toe. He looked at her attire, which seemed quite expensive. For a moment, an inaccurate thought crossed his mind, but luckily his sanity quickly returned.

"I... I'm having financial problems. I was just fired from my job and my mother needs surgery urgently, but I don't have enough money for her operation," Gibson finally admitted his problem, even though there was a hint of embarrassment.

Calista was momentarily taken aback, returning Gibson's gaze. In her mind, a plan emerged that she believed could help Gibson out of his difficulties and simultaneously solve his problem.

Calista shifted her gaze elsewhere. "What if I could help you, hypothetically?"

Gibson was surprised, "What?"

"I said, what if I could help you, hypothetically?" Calista repeated her question, wondering at Gibson's surprised reaction.

"Are you saying you'll lend me money, Calista?" Gibson asked, suddenly feeling a glimmer of hope.

Calista smiled and shook her head, "No, it's not about lending you money. I have a plan."

With a furrowed brow, Gibson asked, "What plan?"

"What if you were to marry me?" she asked with a surprised tone.

Gibson's eyes widened in shock as he realized what the beautiful woman sitting in front of him was suggesting. 'Marry you?'

Calista still maintained her smile, "But only as a contractual marriage. I'll pay you for it, and after we're married, I'll give you millions of dollars."

Gibson couldn't comprehend how this plan could come about. Nevertheless, he felt a significant opportunity to help his mother and overcome his financial problems.

As the sun set behind the horizon, like a dream greeting the end of the day, Gibson and Calista sat on a park bench, gazing ahead, contemplating unrealized plans and an unwritten future.

"You must have a reason to consider a contract marriage with me. Can you tell me, Calista!" Gibson looked suspiciously at Calista.

"Alright, I'll tell you. But please don't look at me as if I'm a criminal." Calista felt uncomfortable under Gibson's gaze.

Gibson sighed deeply, then turned his gaze elsewhere. He stared where the sun had long sunk, leaving traces of fading twilight in the sky.

"Listen carefully to my story, Gibson. I won't repeat it. The same goes for my offer; I'll only make it once," Calista said gently, as if feeling comfortable to talk about her true self.

Gibson looked back at Calista, his eyes full of attention. "What do you want to tell me?"

Calista took a deep breath, preparing herself to reveal her true identity.

"Actually, I am the daughter of a powerful mafia boss in this country," Calista said.

Gibson felt as if the ground was shifting beneath him. He couldn't fathom that the woman sitting beside him was connected to the criminal world like that. However, he signaled Calista to continue her story.

"My father wants to arrange a marriage for me with a man I strongly dislike. That man is the son of a mafia boss from another syndicate. Tonight was supposed to be my engagement night with that man," Calista revealed cautiously.

"So, you ran away from the engagement event?" Gibson asked, trying to understand the complicated situation.

Calista nodded, her expression filled with discomfort. "I knew that my life wouldn't be my own anymore if I married that man. That's why I decided to run away, even if it meant risking my life."

Gibson paused, processing all the information he had just heard. Yet, one thing still puzzled him. "But I don't understand why those men are chasing you. Who sent them?"

Calista took a deep breath, her expression turning pale. "At first, I thought those men were my father's henchmen, but eventually, I found out they were sent by the man I was supposed to be engaged to. He sent them to bring me back."

Gibson felt his heart race hearing this. The complex situation was unraveling like a thread pulled from a tangled knot. He couldn't imagine how dangerous the situation Calista was facing must be.

Calista gazed at the night sky, her eyes lost in thought. "Since we started talking this afternoon, haven't you noticed my face, Gibson?"

"Sorry, I haven't been paying much attention to you. What's wrong with your face, Calista?" Gibson asked, once again confused by her words.

"Look at my face again! Have you ever seen me before?" Calista inquired.

Gibson stared intently at Calista's face. "I'm not sure. I'm afraid I might guess wrong."

Calista sighed. "You know, I often appear on television. I'm a famous actress in this country. Oh my God! It seems like you rarely watch TV."

Gibson coughed upon hearing Calista's words. She quickly handed him her drink, and he finished it in one gulp.

"Sorry. I must have surprised you, Gibson." Calista felt guilty.

"It's okay. I'm just trying to understand you," Gibson chuckled awkwardly. "Forgive me for not recognizing you."

"No worries." Calista tried to play it off, although she was puzzled that there was still someone who didn't know her.

Gibson smiled sheepishly. "I don't watch TV much."

Calista smiled. "I think that's a good thing. You appreciate real beauty, not the fake kind." Then, Calista looked at Gibson seriously. "Gibson, you know, your incredible fighting skills are why I chose you to be my contract husband."

"What do you mean?" Gibson asked, once again amazed by Calista's thoughts he couldn't read.

Calista carefully explained her plan. "If you agree with my plan, you'll have a dual role in the future, as my husband and also my bodyguard."

Gibson fell silent, trying to process everything he had heard. Calista was a famous actress and the daughter of a mafia boss, and now she was offering him an unusual proposition.

"Well, Gibson? I've told you everything about me. Do you accept my offer?"