Chapter 3 Please, Marry Me!

Mr. Heinz walked over to Sharlynn, the only daughter left by the late first wife.

"You must let Julian marry Odette," Heinz said firmly.

Sharlynn felt a pang in her heart. She looked at the untruthful mother and daughter. A faint smile appeared on Odette's lips-a triumphant smile.

A loud chuckle came from Sharlynn's mouth. It was as if she was laughing at herself, not at her father's decision.

"Oh, okay, Daddy's right. Trash deserves trash," Sharlynn quipped with a sharp look at her half-sister Odette.

Rolanda immediately glared at her as her daughter showed her spoiled attitude.

"Mom..." whispered Odette.

"Sharlyn!!!" shouted Rolanda. "Look, Heinz! Your daughter is so rude; it's like she's never been taught!"

Immediately, a loud slap rang through the room. Sharlynn rubbed her cheeks, which were hot and sore at the same time. A low moan came from her mouth.

Sharlynn's knees seemed to weaken, making her want to fall to the floor and cry her eyes out. A father she expected to support her through every problem, but instead was defending a child who was not his flesh and blood.

"Okay, thanks, Dad!" said Sharlynn with a sharp but tearful look. "This is what your wife and child want. If necessary, give me everything I have! I will only ask for the rights that my late mommy gave me!"

Sharlynn's chest rose and fell with anger. She looked at her father, who looked guilty. But Sharlynn did not care. The beautiful girl stepped quickly up the stairs.

She quickly opened the door to the room. Once open, she rushed in and slammed the door so hard that it could be heard throughout the second-floor hallway.

Sharlynn could not hold back the tears that flowed freely. She leaned her back against the door, her body falling to the floor as she clutched her knees.

"Mom, Daddy is bad!" she cried between sobs. "He loves that little bitch more! He took everything I had, Mom!"

The beautiful girl's breathing sounded ragged. It was as if she couldn't accept being treated like this by her sister and stepmother. Trying to control herself to stop crying, she seemed to think hard.

"I can't be weak in front of them!" Sharlynn roughly wiped away her tears. "My car! Richie!"

With her remaining strength and her knees still feeling weak, Sharlynn got up from her position with all her might. "I have to see Richie! He's my only hope right now!" The girl half ran towards the bathroom.

***

Kaufmann family mansion.

Small footsteps in brown boots seemed to be coming from inside the mansion. A small blonde beauty with a ponytail stopped right on the terrace of the mansion. Her tiny, rosy lips smiled at the presence of Richie, who seemed to be busy inspecting Mr. Keenan's luxury car.

"Is my car okay and ready?" The heavy baritone voice made Richie, who was closing the hood of the car, turn to face the master.

"I checked it. All the engines are fine," Richie replied quickly.

Mr Keenan raised his wrist and looked at a luxury watch from one of the best brands in the world. The hands showed nine o'clock in the morning.

"In one hour, please take me to the office," the master commanded. "And get ready for tomorrow. We're going to Hungary to do some paperwork with a client in Budapest."

Richie nodded obediently. With that, Mr. Keenan walked toward the mansion. He frowned when he saw his youngest daughter standing on the terrace of the mansion, smiling.

"Honey, why are you here? Are you waiting for Daddy?" Keenan asked his daughter.

"No, Daddy. I want to talk to Uncle Richie," Yolanda replied, then ran over to Richie, who was getting ready to leave.

Keenan, seeing his daughter's quick footsteps, just smiled and continued to enter the mansion.

"Uncle! Uncle!" Yolanda's little voice stopped the handsome man in his tracks.

Richie turned his head toward the source of the voice and found his little lady running toward him. The handsome man smiled at the little girl.

"Little lady, how can I help you?" asked Richie, looking down as Yolanda's body was only up to her thighs. "Would you like a ride?"

Yolanda lifted her head to look at Richie's face. Her ponytail twitched as she shook her head firmly against Richie's offer.

"I just want to ask Uncle. Hmm...but it's more like forcing," Yolanda replied with a simple smile.

Mr Keenan's youngest daughter looked sweet to Richie. The young man chuckled at the little one's response.

"Tell Uncle what the little lady wants." Richie began to bend his knees and squatted down, aligning his body with Yolanda's.

"Does uncle love Yolanda?" the little boy asked, making Richie laugh again. "Why are you laughing? Why don't you answer my question?" the little girl forced, playing with her reddish lips.

"Yes, little missy. Uncle loves sweet and nosy little miss." Richie poked the tip of Yolanda's nose, making the little girl giggle.

"If Uncle loves me, does Uncle love Aunt Sharlynn?" Richie was silent for a moment. He looked closely at Yolanda and found the little girl smiling nosily.

"Uncle, why are you silent? Why aren't you being honest with Yolanda?" the little boy urged the man to say something.

"No," Richie replied quietly. "Aunt Sharlynn isn't as sweet as Yolanda." Richie stood up from his position. He realized that the question would be asked of him again and again. Richie took Yolanda's little hand and led her into the mansion.

"Uncle, I don't like Aunt Sharlynn being married to Julian. He doesn't seem like a good man," Yolanda said as she pressed her lips together. Richie ignored her and continued walking with Yolanda.

"Miss Sharlynn and Julian are in love. That's why they got married," Richie explained.

"But I think only Uncle is compatible with Aunt Sharlynn. You guys are funny when you fight. But I like to see it. You two just got married." Yolanda continued to talk, and Richie's ears began to burn.

Richie stopped walking; he looked at the little boy next to him, "We're not getting married, little lady. We don't love each other."

Yolanda heard Richie's stern words. The pretty little girl pursed her lips again.

"Richie." A female voice greeted them from the foyer door. Yolanda and Richie both turned their heads at the same time. The man with the sharp eyes squinted to confirm the figure standing in the doorway.

His grey eyes were not mistaken. A beautiful girl, her slender body wrapped in a light blue one-shouldered dress, was walking toward him. Damn it! Richie's eyes could not help but scan the nude strappy wedges from head to toe.

"Aunty, did you come to the mansion to meet Uncle Richie?" asked Yolanda with a beaming face. Meanwhile, Richie was silent.

"Honey, can we talk in private?" Sharlynn asked Yolanda with a smile.

"Of course, Aunty. I'll leave you two alone." After saying that, Yolanda took a short walk to another room in the mansion.

Richie and Sharlynn happened to stare at each other. There was a strange look that Richie saw in the young lady's hazel pupils.

"I wanted to thank you for your help and for getting my car back," Sharlynn said, which made Richie smile slightly.

"That was my duty. No need to thank me," Richie replied.

After that, there was silence. Both were still struggling with their thoughts.

"Miss, if there's nothing else to talk about, I'll get back to work." Richie started to move and intended, intending to leave Sharlynn.

"Richie, wait!" Sharlynn grabbed the man's muscular wrist, making Richie change his mind.

Richie frowned in surprise as he looked at Sharlynn. The young lady's expression seemed to say something.

"Can you quickly say something that needs to be said?" Richie pleaded.

"Richie, I need to ask you something..." Sharlynn said and then stopped her sentence.

"Miss, please say something quickly," Richie said.

"Please, Marry me," Sharlynn continued.