The man did not answer. He merely gave his bodyguard a small signal.
The bodyguard stepped forward. A black leather suitcase was placed on the glass table.
Click.
The lock sprang open.
Liam froze.
Mrs. Sari covered her mouth.
Inside the suitcase was a stack of one-hundred-thousand-rupiah bills.
Red.
Neat.
Packed tight.
There was so much money that Liam could hardly believe his eyes.
“There’s one billion rupiah in cash inside that suitcase.”
The old man said it casually.
As if he had just set down a ten-thousand-rupiah bill.
“The money is yours.”
Liam remained silent.
“You don’t have to pay it back.”
Mrs. Sari’s eyes began to fill with tears.
“And there’s more than enough in there to clear every rupiah your mother owes the loan sharks.”
Both of Mrs. Sari’s hands flew to her mouth.
Her sobs broke free.
“Oh, God.”
Tears streamed down her face.
“Son, is this a dream or something?”
Liam did not answer.
Instead, he stared at the old man suspiciously.
Something was wrong.
A hard life had taught him one thing.
Nothing in this world was truly free.
Especially not something from a billionaire.
Liam looked at the suitcase.
Then he looked at the man in front of him.
“What’s the catch, Mr. Adrian?”
His tone turned sharp.
“A rich man like you wouldn’t give an ordinary person one billion rupiah without wanting something in return.”
Liam’s stare grew even sharper.
“What do I have to pay?”
A faint smile appeared on the old man’s face.
It was not a mocking smile.
It was more like the smile of someone who had just discovered something interesting.
The man reached for a thick document from the leather briefcase beside him.
Its cover was decorated with a gold ribbon.
He placed the document on the table.
Right beside the suitcase full of money.
“Simple.”
His voice was calm.
“I want you to marry my only daughter.”
Liam furrowed his brow.
“Who?”
“Yuni Wijaya.”
The man looked straight at him.
“Tomorrow morning.”
The room suddenly fell silent.
Completely silent.
Even the hum of the air conditioner seemed to disappear.
Liam stared at the man.
“Get married?”
The man nodded.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
“No.”
Liam let out a short laugh.
There was not the slightest hint of joy in it.
“You want me to marry Yuni Wijaya?”
He paused for a moment.
“Your daughter, who was reported to have been in a coma after a car accident nearly a year ago?”
“Exactly.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Liam looked at the document on the table.
“You’ll sign this marriage document,” Mr. Adrian said, pointing at it.
“You’ll recite the marriage vows before an official marriage registrar and several witnesses.”
His gaze remained calm.
“After that, you’ll legally become her husband, under both state and religious law.”
Liam’s chest suddenly burned.
The shock that had filled his head turned into anger.
So this was what it meant?
This man was using his father’s life to force him to marry a woman in a coma.
Liam clenched his fists.
“Are you crazy?”
Mrs. Sari flinched.
“Liam.”
Liam rose from the sofa.
His legs were still a little weak.
But his anger made him forget everything else.
“You want me to marry a woman who can’t even open her eyes?”
His voice rose.
“A woman lying there stiff and motionless, hooked up to medical equipment?!”
He pointed at the suitcase full of money.
“What do you think I am?!”
Liam’s breathing quickened.
“Some servant who can be bought with a suitcase of money so your rich family can keep up appearances?!”
“Liam!”
Mrs. Sari hurriedly grabbed his arm.
“Son, watch how you speak to Mr. Adrian.”
“No, Mom!”
Liam shook off his mother’s hand.
His eyes were red.
“Liam is poor.”
His voice trembled.
“We do need the money for Dad’s treatment.”
He pointed at his own chest.
“But Liam has his dignity!”
Mrs. Sari fell silent.
Liam looked back at Mr. Adrian.
His eyes were filled with anger.
And pain.
“I won’t let myself be sold like this.”
Mr. Adrian remained silent.
He was not angry.
He was not offended.
His expression barely changed.
The old man merely let out a short sigh.
Then he stood.
He straightened the buttons on his suit.
His movements were calm.
Too calm.
Then he looked at Liam.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
The smile of a businessman who knew exactly that the man before him did not have many choices.
“You’re not selling yourself, Liam.”
Mr. Adrian’s voice was soft.
Yet that only made it cut deeper.
“You’re only renting out your status.”
He paused for a moment.
His gaze hardened.
“To save my daughter’s life,”
Then his eyes shifted toward the door.
“And your father’s.”
The room fell silent again. Liam could not answer.
For the first time that night, he realized it.
Perhaps from the very beginning, he had never been given a choice.