Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain
Chapter 27: THE DEAL

Chapter 27: THE DEAL

"Once we are divorced, I will be the primary caregiver for the baby." Ranon told her his condition, which was a shocking thing for Hazel, because she didn’t think he wanted to be involved with the baby that much.

However, that was a good thing because Hazel herself didn’t really know what to do with this drooling little human.

"Okay." Hazel didn’t mind it at all.

"I want the details of it to be recorded."

"Let’s do a prenup."

"Great." Ranon nodded. "Lucian will draw the details of this deal."

"Okay."

They fell into silence again. Ranon fiddled with a black Zippo in his hand, and Hazel glanced at it. The lighter was rather old; there was a dent on the corner of it.

"Be honest with me; is this your father’s idea?"

"No. He was actually furious when he learned that I was pregnant. I think he punched Dylan for his ’brilliant’ idea."

"Hm." Ranon flicked the lighter and then flicked it again. "Is this your brother’s idea?"

"No. This is my idea. I have wanted to get out of that house."

Ranon knew that Hazel was not treated well in that house, but he didn’t know the extent of it. But with this ’new Hazel,’ bullying was not a problem; she had another reason not to want to be in that house.

"How bad is it?"

"What is it?"

"The way your family treated you."

Hazel blinked her eyes and then realized what he was trying to figure out. "Not bad." She did not really lie. Compared to what she had to endure under her own father, what Hazel had gone through could be classified as mild. Especially compared to her training with her father.

Arthur really molded River into an assassin.

"What is not bad? ’Being slapped’ is not bad?"

"’Being belted’ is not bad."

"Belted."

Hazel waved her hand. "Nah, Father only belted me twice; Logan, my second brother, got it a lot."

Still, this didn’t make Ranon’s expression become any better. He observed her closely this time, as if he was looking for any signs of that abuse on her.

"Fine, let’s talk about this later. I am tired. I want to sleep. Good night, Ranon," she said, waving her hand, and then walked away before Ranon could respond to her.

Once she had disappeared behind the glass sliding door, Ranon finally lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply. He stayed up so late that he had no more cigarettes to light up.

The next day, Ranon was very busy. Thus, they could only talk about it two days later. At night, Hazel would cook for him, and they would eat together, make small talk, and then Hazel would go to her own bedroom.

On the fourth day of Hazel’s arrival, Lucian and Ares were here, and this discussion was recorded too, talking about the details.

They gathered in the living room after they had lunch. This time, Ares and Lucian brought takeout for them, since Ranon told her that she didn’t need to cook for them two.

Hazel was fine with that, since it was Ranon that she wanted to please. She read that a way to a man’s heart was through their stomach.

"I want a romantic proposal."

They were talking about how they would present themselves in public, what kind of couple they wanted the public to see. This was actually Hazel’s idea, but Ranon agreed to it.

"You need to accompany me in every event."

Hazel nodded. "Okay." She agreed to that because it meant she would be able to meet with the Berlowe family often. "I want a big wedding with all of your business partners there."

Ranon raised his brows. "Do you have any idea how many business partners I have?"

"Yes." Hazel grinned. "I have done my research."

And they were going on with what they were going to do in this relationship that would only last for a year.

Meanwhile, Ares and Lucian looked at each other with a meaningful gaze.

"Hold on. Wait a minute." Lucian raised his hands when Ranon and Hazel talked about their honeymoon. "This marriage will only last for a year; why are you two so worked up about it? It’s not like you will stay forever."

"A big wedding and a lavish honeymoon are not necessary," Ares chimed in. "You can just have a court marriage."

"People will talk about the Leighton family if we only have a court marriage." Hazel leaned her back, crossing her arms and talking calmly to Ares and Lucian, as if explaining the obvious. "A wedding of this scale will add to your prestige. More so, there are a lot of people that I need to invite too. My father and brothers have wide connections."

Ranon then added. "There are a few politicians from the Rose family’s side that our business partners would like to meet." Ranon looked at Hazel, who was smiling sweetly at him. "It will be a great opportunity to make connections for them."

"Wait." Lucian raised his hands again. "Are you going to make your wedding a business opportunity to widen your connections?"

"It’s still a wedding," Hazel justified it.

"It’s still a wedding," Ranon parroted her.

Ares and Lucian exchanged looks; they weirdly had a feeling that these two could make the marriage work, since they were rather similar in the way they were thinking.

They, oddly, could make a good couple.

"Now, let’s talk about sex." Hazel drank her tea. She was glad that she had not yet gotten morning sickness because, from what she read, it could be awful.

Both Ares and Lucian almost choked on their coffee when they heard that, but Ranon only smirked, as if what she said was amusing.

"I want you to be available every night."

Hazel shook her head. "No. Twice a week, four when I am close to the due date." She read that sex could help when she gave birth.

"Four and six when you are close to the due date."

Hazel frowned. "Mr. Leighton, I don’t know that you like sex that much. You should have found a girlfriend sooner." She wondered if this was the effect from being celibate for years. "Three and five when I am close to the due date."

"Fine, but it will be accumulated to the next week if that week I have to go out for a business trip."

Hazel could feel the corner of her lips twitch; this man was indeed a businessman. "Fine, but there is no sex after I give birth. Obviously, I can’t do it, and we are going to have a divorce. I don’t want to take a risk to have another child."

"Deal."

"But all deals will be void; if I am not up to it, you can’t force me." Hazel looked Ranon right in the eyes. "You can be with someone else at that time."

There was a flash of anger in Ranon’s eyes when he heard that. Ares and Lucian grimaced; they knew what angered Ranon.

"No. There will be no third party involved in this marriage." His words left no room for negotiation. "If you are not up to it, I will not force you." He tilted his head and smirked, as if he would find a way for Hazel not to be able to resist him. "But I still can seduce you."

"Fair enough." Hazel shrugged her shoulders. She agreed with the terms. Obviously, she wouldn’t be with someone else, but she really appreciated Ranon being loyal to her, especially after how Arlo and Aubrey backstabbed her. "You can seduce me all you want." She grinned, as if challenging Ranon.

Meanwhile, Ares and Lucian had the same thought in their minds when they saw the two of them: ’Are they flirting?’.

After that, they talked more about a few details after the divorce, such as division of property, and Ranon agreed to give Hazel spousal support until she married someone else, a house, and a car. She would also get five percent of the Leightons’ annual profit.

"You are being generous. I don’t need that five percent profit." Hazel waved her hands. She could live lavishly with only spousal support from him.

"I don’t want the mother of my child to live poorly," Ranon said casually.

"Even if I am not a Leighton anymore, I will still be Greyson Rose’s daughter. I will not live poorly."

"Your family didn’t treat you well."

Oh. Right. Hazel wondered how her father would react when he learned about her divorce. "You have the point."

"What will be the reason for your divorce?" Ares asked; they were so close to wrapping this up. He couldn’t believe they extended their stay only to discuss this matter.

"Mutual decision," Hazel and Ranon spoke at the same time.

This was the safest reason because they were not going to talk bad about each other or try to make the other person look bad.

A cheating story could be an option, but it would add to the drama. After all, they were going to co-parent their child; there was no need for fake animosity.

"You know what? I think you can be good together," Lucian commented.

"We still need to do a blood test and a DNA test, just to be sure."

Hazel shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t mind it at all.

Right at that time, the phone rang, and when Ranon picked up, the receptionist of the building told him that there was someone who wanted to see Hazel.

"Who is it?" Ranon had an idea about this guest, and the receptionist informed him.

"Mr. Rose, Mr. Greyson Rose, sir."