Archer and Oliver followed the voice, and their gazes led them to the stunning girl who had just joined them.
They both stared at her in confusion wondering who she was referring to.Archer searched himself- the last time he checked, he had only been married once and divorced today.He had no idea that he had a fiancée, “or maybe she’s Oliver’s fiancée” he thought within him. After all, the Austins were now in the influential social strata of the city, Oliver could have easily fooled her into marrying him. He glanced at Oliver, but he was even more confused than him.In fact, he was staring at her in shock, almost leaving his mouth.Oliver was trying to process what trying to make sense of everything, after all, Archer had just come out from prison, how could he have a fiancée already?Not just any kind of person, the girl was beautiful and elegant, and looked nothing like his sister, Eva. The girl completely ignored him, like he did not even exist. Instead she smiled at Archer and greeted him."Hey Archer" she said, Archer was surprised and full of confusion, but he couldn't deny that he was captivated by the girl's glinting blue eyes."Hey" he replied, a little coldly. Oliver felt the tension between the two of them and immediately concluded that Archer was playing make-belief.He broke into a loud mocking laughter, shouting carelessly."Archer did you have to go this far?" He said."You're a loser, Archer. A worthless good for nothing, sore loser! And you will never be anything better. In fact, I will be happy to announce your it to the whole world that you're a loser!" “Everything you’re doing now is useless, I will expose you!”"My sister divorced you because you were a burden to her, and you quickly tried to replace her with a whore?” Oliver spat. The beautiful lady was getting impatient with him. His insults were intolerable and it was written all over her face.She smirked at him and Oliver became even more fueled to insult the two of them."Your beauty cannot deceive me!" He ranted."I have an even prettier sister and she dumped this worthless man just one hour ago. If you were here just a little earlier, you would have seen him on his knees begging to be loved like a dog!" "I will advise you to save yourself and leave this miserable man like my sister did”, "But, then again" he continued, “if Archer hired you, then you must be a miserable whore, a perfect match for him!" He spat. The pretty girl's smirk turned into a stern warning look, showing that she was suppressing her anger. "What will you do?!" Oliver sneered, before he could say another word, a stinging slap landed on his face. A slap humiliating enough to shut him up. Archer was surprised at the girl's actions, he was never one to hit people even though he was a master in Martial arts, but he was impressed when the pretty girl slapped Oliver. She still looked so elegant to him.Oliver glanced at Archer and he had a proud smile on his face. He became furious, his face reddened in anger yelling at the top of his voice, "Archer, you let your whore slap me?!", "I'll end you both!" He screamed angrily, raising his hand and charging at the girl to slap her. But Archer was faster than him, he powerfully grabbed him by the arm and stopped him from hitting her. The girl looked at Archer, she was surprised that he defended her and protected her from Oliver. She was impressed.A soft smile played on her face as she watched Archer overpower Oliver so easily."Argh Argh" Oliver screamed out in pain, begging Archer to spare him.Archer released him, but gave him a stern warning."This is the last time I want to see you or anyone from your family ""Eva and I are no longer married, we are divorced now, the Austins and I do not share any sort of relationship now, do you hear me?"Oliver nodded reluctantly, still intimidated by Archer’s angry face. After a few minutes, Oliver’s face turned sour and evil, he had been a spoilt kid from childhood, this was the first time anyone ever put him in his place and it didn’t feel good. He stood there glaring at them, thinking of what he could do to get back at Archer, but not even Archer or his girl were moved.Suddenly, Oliver broke into a sly laughter showing his brown teeth that were decaying from too much cigarettes.He had finger marks on his face from the hard slap the girl had given him.Still, he was relentless,"You're talking about divorce," he said,"You divorced my sister just one hour ago but you already have a fiancée?“Did Eva know you were cheating on her?! Did you inform her that you’ve been cheating on her? You useless man!” “You don't deserve the money she gave you, give it back!" He fumed."Give back the money, you ungrateful bast*rd!" Archer shone his head unbelievably, his face showing his suppressed agitation, "I didn't take any money from Eva" he replied. "Oh shut your lying mouth!" Oliver screamed, frustration evident on his face.“We both know she gave you a million dollars cheque and you must return it". "We both know I tore the cheque right in front of you." Archer replied.“Where is the evidence that you tore the cheque?” Oliver returned, “You must show evidence or you must repay the money, you must give me that one million dollars, you fool!" He spat. Archer shook his head unbelievably, he knew Oliver had always been a trouble maker, but his behavior today was just unreasonable. Even after three years, Oliver did not grow up at all.“Look down” Archer.“That’s your proof”The girl looked down and saw that Archer was right, they were standing on several torn pieces of the cheque. The girl was tired of Oliver’s rant, she raised her hands in thr air and made a waving gesture.Several men dressed in black, appeared before her.She pointed at Oliver and said "Throw him out!"The men in black grabbed Oliver and dragged him away. Oliver ignored all his humiliation and embarrassment. Instead he kept yelling empty threats at Archer."I won't let this go easily, I will get you!" He screamed in anger.But his heart was racing in fear, he was intimidated by the sturdy men in black, thinking that Archer had employed thugs to follow him around, pretending to be rich.Immediately the men dumped him outside the gate, he took to his heels, running for his life.As quickly as Oliver was thrown out, the cafeteria regained its peace and serene energy.Archer sighed in relief, and finally turned to the girl before him.Just looking at the girl made him calm, all his anger and sadness felt so distant, but he couldn't shake off the fact that the girl had called herself his fiancée.Even though he was looking at her calmly, his eyes were filled with questions."Could you tell me what is going on?” He finally spoke out,"You called yourself my..." He paused."Fiancée?" The g
Tangie’s bodyguards dressed in the black suits ran towards them quickly, but Archer had already gotten her.A frown crossed his face as the men in black gathered around them, staring at her helplessly. None of them provided medication or anything else for Tangie, leaving Archer to wonder if this was the first time.His Master had taught him that in treating a patient, he had to take careful examinations of the patients’ skin, lips and in some cases, the rhythm of the heartbeat.Archer set to work immediately, but first, he sat by her side with his left arm wrapped around her, holding her up.The features of her face were clear enough for Archer to note without much thought.“Pale face, blue lips…” he paused, something else caught his attention.The base of her neck was hollow, tugging deeply into her collar bone as if she was gasping for air…“Asthma!” Archer realized,“It’s an asthma attack!” He noted silently.Quickly, his free hand went to Tangie’s chest, rubbing and massaging her
Archer remained calm even though he was surrounded by four angry guards, Tangie’s disappointed face made him smile slightly. He was relieved at least that his treatment had worked.“Don’t you have anything to say?” She continued, staring at him quizzically.Archer was surprised, he had become so used to suppressing his defenses and emotions that even in situations where he could have explained himself he remained quiet, thinking that no one would care about his feelings anyway.Unlike his past altercations with the Austins family, this was the first time he was asked his own side of the argument, the first time he was given a chance to defend himself.“I don’t want to believe that you are a bad person” Tangie said, “at least say something”Archer exhaled softly, and a look of relief appeared on his face.“I’m sure it seemed like harassment, but that is far from my intention. I would never do that to an ailing woman.” He said.“Ailing?!” She retorted, frowning.“Yes, you almost dropped
A few minutes passed between the arranged couple. Archer was silent, contemplating about a good conversation starter. He was impressed with her but he didn’t seem to know much about her, apart from the fact that she was the daughter of the Lord of Keringham.Following his experience with his ex wife and her family, he wanted to know about her family too, but the awkwardness between them stopped him from speaking. He was in fact waiting for Tangie to at least say something.“Hm hm” he cleared his throat softly. Tangie sat up, staring at him.“Uh…” she started.“I don’t know if this is too early, but…” she paused.Even though she was a confident, rich woman, and Archer was dressed in shabby clothing, something in her just felt submissive to him. He had the kind of personality that seemed to intimidate her, and more so, the fact that she was feeling something for him. She nervously began to fiddle with her fingers, smiling shyly.“But…?” Archer nudged her on, sensing her hesitation.“But
“It’s impossible!” Mr Matthew exclaimed, “there’s no cure to asthma.” He added sadly. He wasn’t an asthma patient, but his daughter had suffered severe asthma since toddler and he had gone everywhere in search of a cure, or at least to find a some help to make his daughter better but there was none.Not even all his money could help his daughter, and she had to live with an inhaler in her purse every day.“They better not mislead the public and give them false hope, all because they want to sell” Mr Mathew scoffed, thinking about the number of asthma patients that would willingly buy the new medicine despite its cost.“But if the Sterling Group has indeed found the cure to Asthma, they would sure need distributors…” Lord Sullivan said,“We should step up and seize the opportunity…”“There’s little or no opportunity here, Grandpa” Tangie’s oldest cousin, Victor objected.“I believe Uncle Mathew is right. There can’t be any medicine that can cure asthma. Take Tangie for example, we spen
"I don't believe anything you say" Beatrice rolled her eyes,"And why not?" Tangie returned. She was tired of her incessantly belittling Archer. Although she did not entirely believe that Archer who just came out of prison could be the CEO of Sterling Corporation, but something in him commanded her trust and she went with her instincts."Why can't you believe him? Is it always about the way a man is dressed? He might look scruffy but he deserves to be heard.""He doesn't even deserve to speak at our table and you're talking about hearing him out?" Beatrice fired.At Beatrice's words, Mrs Margaret nodded, showing her approval."That's enough you two!" Lord Sullivan bellowed. "I will not have you insult a man before me. It is like Tangie said, a man is not always how he is dressed. He may not be anything at Sterling but he is our son-in-law-to-be." He continued, "And for that, he deserves respect." "Son-in-law?" Chorused the table, each person squirming in their seat, looking around
His ex-brother-in-law's laughter filled the air, churning and stirring anger from within Archer.Without second thoughts, he barged into the living room and found not just Oliver, but his mother too sitting comfortably on the couch."What are you doing here?!" Archer thundered, Oliver and his mother jumped in surprise. They weren't aware of another person in the house until Archer's angry voice demanded an explanation."I said what are you doing here?!" Archer repeated, his angry voice reverberating through the house.Oliver and his mother recoiled instantly, sensing Archer's overpouring anger. But she quickly composed herself."What do you mean what are we doing here?" She retorted, "Who are you, by the way, and what are you doing here too?"Archer's anger simmered inside him, but he fought hard to control his temper.He didn't have the strength for their usual banter. He looked around the house, searching for a more reasonable person."Where is Eva?!" He bellowed."I thought as muc
"I'm sorry you had to see that," Archer said in a low tone as they walked out of the house, still holding hands with Tangie. He felt sorry that their first day together was full of so many events.He could not even bear to glance at her for fear of seeing her disappointment.Instead, his mind swirled with thoughts of where he could take her to. He had promised to spend the month before their wedding together, but it seemed like all his efforts were fruitless."It's fine..." Tangie replied softly, "but it feels like your ex still loves you." Archer paused in his tracks instantly and pivoted towards her, "don't believe anything you saw today. Don't believe anything you heard either." He said seriously."I didn't hear anything, I just got the message from her body language when I introduced myself as your fiancée."Archer furrowed his eyebrows, glaring at her like she was touching a sensitive part of him."I'm sorry," she apologized, sensing that he did not want her to continue talking