“We’re here…” he said as he stopped the car in front of the emergency room.

“Will you stay with me?” Kenzie asked, to which Daryl nodded before he went out to lift Kenzie in his arms and bring her inside the emergency room.

“I feel like we are newlyweds,” Kenzie teased followed by a giggle.

Daryl shook his head and whispered, “Behave or I will drop you down.”

“If you say that then I will have no choice but to hold your neck more tightly…” Kenzie chortled, feeling very happy being in Daryl’s arms again.

Daryl brought Kenzie to Yang Global Hospital where she was immediately treated.

“Ouch!” Kenzie cried and intentionally grabbed Daryl’s hand who was sitting beside her.

Daryl tried to pull it back but Kenzie held it tightly and looked at him with her pitiable eyes as she whimpered, ” It’s really painful you know, so please bear with my hand because I need your support”

Daryl sighed as he looked at Kenzie’s ankle. The doctor was putting a cast on it to keep it still.

“You will need to use crutches until it heals,” the doctor said as he briefed her about her medications before he left Kenzie and Daryl alone.

“It will be uncomfortable for you to work in the office in your current state. I will explain everything to Liam and get him to approve your leave so don’t worry. I already called your father and informed him about your situation. He’s on his way here now,” Daryl informed.

Kenzie’s shoulders dropped and with pouted lips, she complained, “Are you happy that I won’t be able to bug you in the office anymore? I really like working beside you so I don’t think this will be a hindrance. I can stay in my chair the whole day doing paperwork and you know that.”

“Your father won’t agree to it,” Daryl answered, which made Kenzie smile brightly.

Daryl felt confused, seeing how Kenzie suddenly looked so happy when she was sulking just a while ago.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Kenzie replied as she pursed her lips. She decided not to tease him. Because if she did tease Daryl, he would be in denial if he knew that his answer meant that he wants her to go to work since he did not say it referring to himself but referring to her father instead who would not agree for her to come.

“My father is indeed very protective of me. To him, I’m very precious since I’m the only thing my mother left to him in this world. You see my mother had heart disease and keeping me in her w.o.m.b was a struggle for both of them, but mom was very firm in her decision to continue keeping me and let me grow inside her. The worst complication arose during her delivery…

The doctor said that it would be a fifty-fifty chance for my mother to survive if she decided to give birth or even not to give birth to me. It was a very tough decision for both of them and my dad did not know what to do. It’s my mother who decided on having me since I have a hundred percent of survival rate.

You see… My mom gave me life sacrificing her own, and after that incident, my father treasured me so much. He became both a mother and a father to me as I grew up… Filling me so much with everything in all aspects physical and emotional needs. I want to be a good daughter who always follows what he wants since I know he only wants the best for me.”

“So are you saying that you will agree to him to marry you to Harry?” Daryl could not help but comment.

Kenzie looked at him directly and said, “Yes, if I fail to make you fall in love with me in three months. To you, it may look like I am just playing some sort of game with you, but to me, it’s not. I have risked a lot and bargained endlessly with my father just to let me have these three months of freedom to be able to choose the man I want, as I chose you for me.

However, it takes two to tango. My father says that unrequited love is the worst kind of feeling. So if I won’t be loved back… I must use my head and will have to choose someone who can love me back… He also says that love can be learned through time if I will be with the right person…”

“And your father thinks that Harry is that ‘right’ man who can take care of you and even love you?” Daryl mumbled wryly in his sourest expression.

“Well, he didn’t say that, but he has given me the option to know more men that he had picked for me. Harry is the first and most liked one on the list. If I found him not likable at all then another one from his line-up will show.

‘And obviously, I’m not in that line-up!’ Daryl could not help but silently scorned.

Kenzie chuckled because she could read what was Daryl thinking.

“You are indeed not in his lineup because he believes that the man best for me will be someone who can protect me and take care of my future. That includes him being really rich and having plenty of properties in his name too…

I’m very irresponsible in his eyes and weak too, so according to him I need someone reliable as my husband as well as a well-known figure in the business world. Someone who could build a family.

He is not judging you but he thinks you are not that reliable man since you couldn’t even take care of your own family issues and business. However, if you will sincerely love me, he is willing to accept you and embrace you wholeheartedly Daryl.”

Daryl chuckled and shook his head. He could not believe he was hearing these things.

“You sound like you are proposing a business deal with me Kenzie,” he murmured. He had mixed emotions. He did not know whether he should be flattered with Kenzie’s deliberation or be offended with how her father was looking down at him.

Kenzie winked at him and added, “Isn’t it better to just love me back? I promise I will be good to you and follow your orders, whatever you want me to do.”

Daryl gulped and whispered, “Kenzie you’re too young for me. For all we know, you’re just a little infatuated with me like I said before.”

“Hey, there’s no age factor in love! I’m already 21 Daryl and you are 28 so there is only a 7 years age gap. Geez! People even betrothed as early as 12 in the early days. They even married girls as soon as they started having their period!” Kenzie yelled with a crumpled face.

“Hey! That’s old age customs you are blabbering about! And for your kind information, we are not in ancient times anymore. At this time, girls at 21 are still immature!” Dary countered.

“So for you, it’s better that I just agree with the arranged marriage my father is proposing? Marry your stepbrother and be his wife? huh?”