Chapter 4

"The Bennett family?" Zach repeated to make sure. "You mean Bennett of the BN Group? The largest FNB company in the country?"

"Yeah."

Zach couldn't control his expression from gaping. He then laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke of the century. "Me, becoming part of that conglomerate family?" He pointed to his own chest. "Me? Are you kidding?"

The Bennett family was one of the conglomerate families dominating the FNB business world. Their name soared because the company had branches in every corner of the country. Zach also got the inspiration from them to start his own food-focused company. Clearly, achieving the success of the BN Group was an impossible dream.

Zach stopped laughing and dropped his silly expression when he saw no change in the man's face. "You're serious?"

"I am Jeremy Brooks, the secretary and head butler of this mansion."

"Mansion?" Zach was taken aback. He looked around to confirm what he had just heard. "Not a house or a hotel, but a mansion?"

"The residence of the Bennett family," Jeremy clarified. "If you agree, you will be free from all your debts. Including your father's debt."

Zach blinked. "How do you know about that?"

Jeremy refused to answer. "Tell me if you agree or not."

Zach, who had been sitting cross-legged on the bed, immediately got down and approached the man. "Explain to me first. Why are you suddenly coming to help me? How do you know all my problems?"

The man adjusted his glasses and sighed deeply. "I don't have much time to explain. The lady of the house only gave me until tomorrow." He glanced at his watch.

"Tomorrow? There's still time—"

"Five more minutes."

"What?" His eyes squinted as Jeremy showed his phone displaying five minutes to eleven PM. "Oh shit! How long have I been unconscious?"

"All day. You weren't unconscious, but asleep." Jeremy recalled how Zach had shown a comfortable expression while sleeping, rolling under the blanket with a small smile and repeatedly murmuring 'comfortable.' Sometimes, he even complained of pain and hunger, then cried. "You looked like a baby."

Suddenly, Zach's hair stood on end. After all, he was nearly thirty years old. Hearing Jeremy's words just now made him feel utterly disgusted. "You sound like a creepy old man," he muttered to himself.

"So?" Jeremy raised one eyebrow. "Two minutes left, or I’ll throw you back to those loan sharks."

Zach began to panic. He had no clue about this situation. He didn't know what Jeremy or the Bennett family wanted from him, but he needed a place to stay and safety from the loan sharks and his mounting debts.

"One minute," Jeremy said again, waiting with a calculating look.

"At least explain to me first how I become part of this family!"

"By marrying the family's daughter. Sarah Bennett."

Zach's eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. "Marry, you say?" That sounded even more absurd. How could he marry a woman he had never met? Plus, with his background completely opposite to the Bennett family. How was that possible?

"Thirty seconds."

Zach tugged at his hair. He kept licking his lips, which still showed dried blood at the corners. His throat suddenly felt dry. Zach was panicking and confused. This choice was too sudden with an insanely short time frame.

"Ten seconds." Jeremy sighed. "You will lose the opportunity and return to your life, working yourself to death to pay off your debt—"

"Deal! I agree!" Zach shouted in frustration. His breath was ragged. Out of all the foolish decisions in his life, this felt the most ridiculous and crazy.

"The wedding will be held in two days." Jeremy put his phone back in his jacket pocket. "Before that, you need to clean up your appearance."

Zach looked at his own appearance. His shabby jacket and plain T-shirt were stained with blood and dust all over. He truly looked like a tramp.

Two days later, Zach was dressed up as a groom. A lavish wedding with a few guests was held in the wedding hall. Zach felt awkward, doubtful, and a bit cold-sweaty. He felt like the most ridiculous groom in the world, having never seen his bride at all.

Sarah Bennett's name sounded familiar, but Zach couldn't really remember her face or figure. So, he felt like he was marrying a cat in a bag. But if he thought about it, did it even matter? This marriage was a path for him to live decently and escape from the loan sharks. At least, he would be free from his choking debts.

"The bride is entering the podium." The emcee's announcement was followed by enthusiastic applause from the guests.

Zach wasn't sure who the guests were, but they might be extended family. This wedding was attended by no more than eleven guests. Zach tried to ignore it and focused on his task.

Then, a beautiful, slender woman in a golden-yellow sequined wedding dress walked slowly. Zach was momentarily mesmerized by her beauty and stood still for a while. Meanwhile, Jeremy kept watching from behind to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The wedding ceremony proceeded smoothly. Zach officially became the husband of Sarah Bennett. He felt awkward about the kissing scene, as was customary at weddings after exchanging vows in front of the priest. However, he still gathered the courage to approach her. Then, he was shocked by his wife's words.

"Stay away from me, you Trash!"

Then, Sarah walked away, leaving Zach rooted in place. Soon after, the guests also dispersed as if they had just performed a formality.

Zach didn't understand. From the beginning, everything felt odd, strange, and absurd. What woman would want to marry a man like him? They didn't know each other and had only met here, this once, in front of the priest. It was laughable.

"With this, you are now part of the Bennett family," Jeremy approached Zach to inform him. "Welcome, Zach."

It sounded like a greeting from the gatekeeper to hell. Zach clenched his fists. "Damn it!" he cursed inwardly.

"Mrs. Grace wants to meet you in her room in five minutes," Jeremy continued. "Get ready."

Zach knew who Grace Bennett was. One of the most influential women in the business world. Grace Bennett, or commonly known as Mrs. Grace, was often referred to as a symbol of beauty in New York City for the age range of 60s.

"You will soon understand your position, what you need to do, and how this family will view you." Jeremy bowed briefly to him. "Young Master Zach. Let me take you to Mrs. Grace."

Zach even got a title equivalent to the members of the conglomerate family. Despite the way his wedding went, legally he was indeed a member of the Bennett family.

He followed Jeremy from behind. They returned to the mansion and met Mrs. Grace. Initially, Zach was unsure, nervous, and felt strange. In his dreams, he had never dared to face this woman. Zach highly respected her as a motivator for his business endeavors.

When the door opened, Zach felt as if he was standing in the Sahara Desert, feeling parched.