Chapter 46 - Stumbling Block

She shook her head while thinking to herself, 'Nah, I don't believe that. He is obviously a playboy. Even if he is indeed interested in me now, it wouldn't take long for a playboy to get tired of chasing after a lone woman.'

Ariana was a very rational person, particularly after everything she had been through. Her rational thinking made her able to forcefully tamp down the budding feelings and attraction she felt towards Dan, as she knew it would take her no where.

In fact, she had resolved never to get married for her entire life after her father had slowly pushed her mother to her death together with his mistress, her current stepmother. In her heart, she understood that men were unreliable, you could never put your entire life in their hands, it was better to rely on yourself!

Meanwhile, Dan felt even more furious as he watched Ariana still not coming over even after he reminded her that she was going to be late in less that twenty minutes.

'She really wants nothing to do with me? Would she rather stay helplessly on the road than get into my car?', he thought to himself while feeling both angry and hurt.

He took a deep breath to suppress the emotions that were threatening to burn through his chest and made a move to turn the ignition key.

'Fine! If she doesn't want my help, then I will leave!'

He was too proud to keep making exceptions for someone who wouldn't appreciate it. But just as his hand landed on the ignition key and he was about to turn it to start the car, he heard her speak.

"Why are you helping me?"

He snapped his head up so fast that you would have thought it would definitely break and looked at the woman standing next to the front pasenger seat door with a hint of surprise and happiness in his eyes.

Seeing her looking at him with suspicions, Dan also regained his calm and looked deeply into her eyes while speaking frankly.

"Because I want you to be my woman!"

At his words, Ariana showed no surprise after all she already guessed as much and instead asked him calmly.

"Why? Because of the one night stand?"

"Yes and no", Dan answered her but didn't explain what he meant by his words, rather he stared at her and asked calmly, though a closer look would reveal the nervousness in his eyes and the tightly clenched fists hidden by his side.

"So... Are you willing to be my woman?"

Ariana stared deeply at him before suddenly smiling brightly at him.

"Sure, why not?"

She opened the paaseger seat's door the moment she finished speaking, got in, sat down and used the seatbelt. She did everything in one fluid move leaving Dan stunned.

He still couldn't believe that she had agreed... so easily. He had already made up plenty reasons why it would beneficial for her to become his woman and in the end... he didn't need it?

Noticing that he still wasn't starting the car, she turned to him and ask with puzzlement.

"The car has a problem?"

Her question snapped Dan out of reverie as he gave her a glance before acting like nothing happened.

"Sit tight."

His words has just landed before the car shot out like a rocket, almost leaving afterimages.

Dan, at this moment had completely forgotten that he was supposed to be somewhere else and had no idea that someone(make that two) was waiting anxiously for him...

**Anderson's Residence **

Patriarch Anderson and Luke who were still waiting for Dan got increasingly impatient as time went by.

One hour. Two hours. Three hours.

Slam!

A fist slammed the table angrily, shaking it violently. With a dark expression on his face, Patriarch Anderson gritted out.

"Is he taking me for a fool by making me wait for so long?"

Luke who also had a dark and hateful expression on his face replied with false calmness.

"He should be coming..., right? Let's wait for a while more...", He told his furious father though his tone indicated that he also wasn't sure of himself.

"Wait?! That is what you have been telling me for the past few hours! Even if he is living somewhere remote, he should have gotten here by now!"

Of course, Luke also knew that, but he still found it hard to believe that a b*stard son that have never been taken seriously by them would have the guts to stand them up!

Wouldn't that become a joke if it was heard by other people?

But what could they do? They just happen to need the help of this particular b*stard so or else who would even care to remember that someone like that even existed?

"Both of them are really deliberately going against me! Even a b*stard son of mine now has the guts to stand me up and climb all over my head!"

If he had another option, Luke also didn't want his b*stard brother's help but it was obvious by their family's current circumstances that he was their best shot at wrestling the Blood Gang's control back from Ryan's hands.

He tried thinking of other methods that could be used but came up with nothing.

'Could it be that he would have to really give up his chance of being elected?'

No! He wasn't reconciled with that! Why did he have to give up everything he has worked for so far?! He was just days away form his goal, in fact, he already had the assurance that he would be elected into the senatorial position, asking him to give up all that would be akin to killing him!

A very sinister look appeared in his eyes when he thought of that.

He wouldn't let anyone stop him from achieving his goal, not even his biological little brother!

He had given up just too much to come this far!

So, the only way was to get rid of all the stumbling blocks in his way, not withsatnding whoever it is!

By the time he looked back up at his father, his face already had serene expression though the words that came out of his mouth was anything but.

"Father... Since Ryan is not willing to take into consideration our blood ties and really plan on destroying our family's foundation, then we should also disregard the blood relationship."

Patriarch Anderson has a solemn look on his face as he stared at Luke with profound eyes that seemed to see through what he was thinking.

"You mean..."

Luke nodded, "Yes."

"Since he is determined to be the road block to our family's prosperity then we can only remove him from our way!"

Patriarch Anderson seemed to ponder seriously on his words before he looked up with a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then I will leave it to you, Luke. Be cautious and also remember that our family's fate depends on your success. You can only succeed! Failure is not an option, understood?", Patriarch Anderson looked at his seemingly obedient eldest son and told him with frostiness in his tone.

Luke also straightened up and nodded solemnly at him before replying to him.

"I know, father."

Of course, he knew. Getting rid of Ryan was the only way he could get to that position without worry, after all, if the Anderson's family should get into trouble, he would also automatically be in hot soup.

Patriarch Anderson breathed a sigh of relief on seeing that Luke took his words seriously and at the same time, he also relaxed on knowing that soon, the harbinger of doom for their family would be gone from their world.

At this moment, he and Luke seemed to have forgotten that the person he wanted to get rid of was his biological son(brother), not a random stranger. But maybe they do remember, however in front of true power, what could blood ties count for!

...

Unaware of the fact that the Anderson's father and so had gone bonkers and planned on killing Ryan due to the fact that he had stood them up, Dan drove speedily to the the Houston's Company and parked stylishly in front of the building, attracting both curious and envious gazes.

Inside the car, Ariana suppressed the nauseous feeling in her mouth with difficulty and stretched out her hands to open the door to get out of the car, knowing she had less than five minutes left.

However, she was stopped by Dan.

"Not that fast. Gimme a kiss before you go", He said teasingly while tapping seductively on his lips.

Ariana who was already feeling urgent had no.mind to argue with him and straightforwardly pecked him on his lips and then said pleadingly to him.

"Can you let me go now?"

Dan who was still stunned at her straightforwardness looked at her with surprise before unlocking the door for her.

Before he could even blink, she was already out of the door. He could only shout at her back after being stunned again.

"Remember to call me!"

The woman didn't even look back as she ran into the building.

"What a heartless woman, getting rid of me after using me!", He muttered though he didn't look angry at all.

He had shortened a trip that would have taken half an hour to fifteen minutes, which was half of the time it would have took.

Though, he was surprised that Ariana still looked okay after he had raced that fast, except for having a bad face. Most women would have been vomiting all over, inside the car or after getting out of the car.

Dan touched his lips reminiscing the soft seansatio that has been there earlier. His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he thought to himself.

'I think there is no longer a need for me to ask her why she didn't call me. It no longer matters anyways since she is now officially my woman!'

He took a last glance at the Houston's building before driving away.