SWNOVELS Chapter 945
Ophelia rubbed her temples in exasperation. "But Jonathan and I... we're just not cut from the same cloth."
Jonathan, to put it kindly, was harmless. To put it less kindly, he was a bit of a dimwit.
Ysabel frowned. "Lately, Jonathan's been cozying up to Saskia a lot. If they bring up marriage now, he might not agree."
Jonathan was the kind of naive guy who believed the whole world revolved around true love. He might even defy the Metzger family's plans for the sake of his so-called true love. "Yes, but my mom's word is final. I can't oppose her."
What Ophelia didn't say was that, compared to those cunning and conniving heirs of wealth, a simpleton like Jonathan was much easier to control.
Ysabel got the hint and didn't press further.
Halfway through their meeting, Ophelia excused herself to the restroom. When she returned, she found the manager trembling like a leaf by a private booth's door.
His face was fraught with anxiety, which made Ophelia frown.
"What's going on?"
"Ophelia," the manager recognized her and quickly said, "Mr. Jonathan Metzger is in there, drunk as a lord, smashing things up!" Jonathan?
Ophelia turned as if to leave, but then she remembered her mother's instructions and turned back. "You all go on out, I'll handle this."
The manager, visibly relieved, quickly herded the staff away.
Pushing open the door to the private booth, Ophelia saw Jonathan sprawled on the floor, surrounded by a sea of broken bottles. His shirt was crumpled, giving him a certain disheveled charm.
With a flick of the switch, the room was bathed in light.
She walked over and nudged him with her foot. "Jonathan."
"Get lost!"
Jonathan was clearly drunk and in a foul mood. When Ophelia kicked him, he pushed her away so violently that she nearly stumbled. Muttering a curse under her breath, she steadied herself, ready to leave. But Jonathan seemed to suddenly sober up. "Ophelia, I don't like you. Can't you just refuse to marry me?"
Seeing that he still recognized people, she pulled him up and dumped him on the couch. "You should talk to your mom, not me."
It's not like she was dying to get married to him.
Jonathan slumped on the couch, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I've fallen for someone else."
"I know." Ophelia was busy with work, yet she wasn't oblivious to the world. She knew Jonathan was practically Saskia's shadow.
"So, you..."
"Jonathan," Ophelia looked down at him from her higher position. "This marriage proposal came from the Metzger family. I have no reason to refuse."
She paused, almost in sympathy. "If you can't refuse your family's arrangement, then think about how you'll take care of Saskia."
Jonathan looked stunned, as if it had never occurred to him that Ophelia would agree to the marriage. He tried to stand up quickly, but his body swayed dangerously, and he nearly fell.
"You're willing to marry me?"
Ophelia looked at Jonathan with distaste. A grown man getting drunk over a woman-it was just embarrassing!
"An alliance between our families has many benefits. I see no reason to say no."
Besides, Jonathan was easier to handle.
A flicker of disgust crossed Jonathan's eyes. "Is that it? Do you people only measure everything by its benefits?"
"Yes. So, if the benefits are good enough, I can call off the wedding too." Ophelia didn't care how others saw her. Being driven by self-interest wasn't necessarily a bad thing. "But what can you offer me? Without the Metzger family, what are you?" Without the Metzger family's halo, Jonathan was nothing!
Jonathan, feeling his weak spot was hit, closed his eyes, refusing to engage any further.
Ophelia called the Metzger family to come pick up Jonathan before she left.
The gathering with Brittany had to come to an end as she needed to get home.
Returning home, Ophelia faced her parents.
"Mrs. Metzger wants you two to tie the knot as soon as possible. Are you okay with that, Ophelia?"