Ian was aggressive in the mission that's why they failed. He cursed many times and threw his bonnet on the floor.
"I'm sorry." He exhaled frustratingly.
"It's fine." Karmina smiled at him. "We didn't lose anything, Ian. Not even a single man. It's enough to threaten the Charles Empire." She sipped on her wine and glanced at her husband who was currently reviewing the Rossie Company's files.
"With three big Companies together, it's enough to crush them. But the funds that they have are a lot.." Henry said.
"I grabbed her hand," Ian said as his eyes looked murderous. He will never forget how she was after his girlfriend and not to mention that she killed someone brutally. It's manslaughter. It is also not just because of all of that, she almost killed his kind niece and ruined her family. Although they are together now, he still held grudges toward that woman. He wanted to kill her right at that time and her family.
"Ian, calm down." Karmina approached him and pulled him to the sofa to sit down. "Why are you tense? It's just one of our missions."
"I wanted it to end, Mina," Ian said desperately. "I want a peaceful life. I want my niece to have a peaceful and happy life. I know that she's not happy although she shows happiness. Who wants to be protected while people around her get killed?" Ian shrugged.
"We will end this. But first, we need to drain them." Karmina said. "If we don't drain them, they will lose power and if they lose power, it will be easy for us to end them." She patted him. "I know that you are worried about your niece and our future. But you need to take it slow?" She squeezed his shoulders. "Why won't you take a break for days until your head is clear."
"Go back to your girlfriend," Henry said. "You missed her, that's why you are annoyed." He put down the documents on the table. "If you don't have a cool head during the mission, everything won't go well, Ian. You knew that too well."
"Yeah, fine."
Karmina stepped away as Ian stood and picked up his bonnet.
Ian left the couple's office and left the mansion. He drove fast directly to his girlfriend's family house. He wanted to snuggle with her although she was busy. He slowed down when he reached the subdivision. The guard let him in after showing his pass. Then, another guard let him in when he reached the De Novo mansion.
He entered the house and his girl stood quickly while he glared at the man who sat near to her and held her hand. He saw it with his two eyes.
"Ian!" She quickly rushed to him and hugged him. He held her and felt her shaking.
"Who is that man?" He whispered. Tracey gently pushed herself and shook her head a little to sign him about something. The man stood and smiled at him.
"Babe, this is Franko Charles." She told him.
"Hmm," Ian gritted his teeth as he stared at the man but he needed to compose himself.
"My father had a contract with them." She said, "There's nothing to worry about."
"It's a marriage contract." Franko smiled at him. The man seemed to be five years older than him.
"What marriage contract?" Ian wrapped his other arm around her waist possessively.
"I don't know." She exhaled. "I don't know what my father signed."
"And how is it going to be invalid?" He asked her and scooped her face. She looked like she's going to cry.
"It is not going to be invalid," Franko smirked but he changed it into a grin.
"Really?" Ian nodded his head and scoffed. "Where's Gena?" He asked and looked around.
"She didn't know yet." Tracey grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and he saw how scared she was.
"Are you aware that your family wanted to kill the bride that was promised to you?" Ian carefully stroked her back. "I don't care what happened to her father but she's not marrying anyone but me."
Tracey was taken aback as she looked up at him full of hope.
"Are you sure that you dare marry someone who was destined to marry Charles?"
"Charles? You mean the Charles Empire?" Ian smirked. "I am not scared of any Empire, Franko. I think it's better that you take care of your family issues. I heard that you have a crazy cousin. You are older than the CEO of the Charles Empire, too. I wonder why you aren't in that position."
The man stopped from grinning. That sick grin, he knew it. It's part of Wendy or Klaus' plan since they found out that she was protected by the EPUA or Dragon Empire. If her father concluded with them just to get a sum of money, then it's probably done. He made a deal with them so he could start again with a new business.
"However, Mr. Ian is it? This is already approved by my lawyers and there is a sum of lawyers witnessed by it. For short, she was sold to me."
"How does she cost?" Ian sneered. "I will pay for that"
"Are you sure about that?" Franko sneered and then he signed his guards. Ian gripped on his girlfriend. "Now, hand my bride to me."
"How much, I am asking you how much she was sold to you!" Ian shouted at him. It scared off Tracey as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
"Please, leave." A voice of a woman said. Ian didn't glance at Gena but Gena also had the guards with her. "Mr. Charles, please leave." Gena glared at him. "That would be invalid as my ex-husband already lost his custody months ago," Gena said. "And I would file charges to my husband and you."
"It's Bianchi." She corrected him. "And taking my daughter against her will is already kidnapping."
"I can pay whatever sum of money that my girlfriend was sold," Ian said as he caressed Tracey's hair. Tracey covered her mouth while she's crying.
"We will visit again," Franko said as he fixed his coat.
"You don't have to," Gena said calmly as she signed her guards.
Ian glared at Franko until he left the door.
"That old weasel," Ian grumbled and he hugged her tightly. "They will never have you, don't worry about my love." He whispered and rubbed her back.
Gena pursed her lips as she sniffled. There's no tears that came out since she concealed it. She was scared for a moment but if it wasn't for the warning that Alex said months ago, she might lose her daughter. She's glad that someone is protecting her now. But she doesn't know how long they could hold on like this. Her father sold her off for the sake of money.
"Hey, baby." Ian patted her back. "I will take days off to be with you, okay?"
Tracey nodded her head like a little kitten and snuggled to him while sobbing.
Gena signed and reached her head.
"I'm sorry, darling. But you won't see that man again." Gena said.
"I'll check on this matter," Ian said and he pulled his girl up and she quickly wrapped her arms and legs around him.
"Okay, please do." Gena nodded her head. She was supportive of her and Ian and she watched as Ian took her daughter upstairs. They looked adorable together that's why she wasn't against in their relationship or they had sex before marriage.
She relaxed a bit and then, she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner and the maid helped her up.
Ian caressed Tracey's cheeks and kissed her lips. She's done crying and sobbing.
"Do you mean it?" She asked while staring at his naked chest.
"Mean what?"
"What you said a while ago? You want to marry me?"
"Yeah, let's get married right away then." He grinned. She frowned at him and sniffled.
"Where's the engagement ring then?"
He was a little baffled but he looked around and searched. He went through her stationery and she sat up with a crease on her brows. He was busy on something for like two minutes and he came up and put something on her ring finger.
"What's this?" She looked at the thin wires that were covered with her stationary thin ribbons and it was tied up in a pretty ribbon on top.
"There." He said. "That's the ring."
She bit her lips as she flushed. Ian turned back as he removed his shoes and pants.
"It's cheap, but this will do."
Ian chuckled and turned his head to her.
"Darling, I'm starving, okay? Let's not worry over the ring. Stomachs need to fill up first and I will fill you up later." He winked at her. Her cheeks heated up even more. "I'll take a quick shower, wanna join me?"
She shook her head.
"Are you sure?" He grinned and showed his manhood.
"Babe!" She covered her face.
"You have seen it a lot. Come on, babe." He lifted her.
"My ring will get wet. Just a minute." She jumped off from him as she removed it from her ring finger and put it on her jewelry box. She quickly removed her clothes and ran to him. "I miss you."
"Me too." He lifted her, her legs wrapped around his waist, and they kissed passionately before he walked to the bathroom.