Chapter 36 - Proposal

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The next day.

Heller came to the Lincolns’ early in the morning and rang the doorbell.

Howard got out of bed in a daze and opened the door. He snapped in displeasure, “Who’s disturbing my sleep so early in the morning?!”

A smiling Heller said, “I’m Heller Nicholson. You probably don’t know me, but you’ll definitely have heard of me! I’m here to ask for Ruby’s hand in marriage!”

Howard said impatiently, “I’ve definitely heard of you? Are you some kind of hotshot? I don’t know any Heller or Heavener… Huh?”

Halfway, Howard’s eyes suddenly widened and he exclaimed, “Who did you say you were?!”

Heller replied calmly, “I’m Heller Nicholson!”

As though he had just seen a ghost, Howard said shrilly, “H-Heller Nicholson?!?!”

Right after he said that, Howard slammed the door shut with a loud bang. His forehead was covered in a cold sweat and he looked frightened. He said, “W-wait a moment!”

.

Then, he scrambled over to the dining room yelling hysterically, “Mom! Mom! This is terrible!”

Holly was having breakfast. She tore a piece off the bread in her hand leisurely and took a sip of coffee before she turned and asked unhurriedly, “How bad can things get? Didn’t the Wilsons say that they’re only coming over to pick the bride at noon?”

Both Howard’s legs and his voice were shaking as he said, “It’s not the Wilsons! It’s Heller! Heller’s here!”

Holly froze. “Who did you say it is?!”

Howard stammered, “It’s that jinx Heller! He’s at the door right now!”

Holly was stunned. She asked anxiously, “Why is he here so suddenly? Does he know about Ruby’s situation?”

Howard said firmly, “No way! We’ve already confiscated Ruby’s cell phone last night! There’s no way she could’ve tipped off Heller!”

A surprised Holly asked, “Then why is he here so early in the morning?”

Howard carefully went over the events just now. Then, he said seriously, “I remember now! H-he said that he’s here to ask for Ruby’s hand in marriage!”

Holly jerked sharply. “We can’t do that! We’ve already agreed to the Wilsons’ proposal! Besides, even without the Wilsons’ proposal, I’ll never let Ruby marry him!”

Howard asked in a low voice, “What do we do now?”

Holly thought for a while before she said seriously, “I mustn’t make any contact with Heller. Should this matter reach the Wilsons’ ears, I won’t be able to explain myself no matter what I say!”

Howard was in a complete panic. He said, “Even so, we can’t just leave Heller at the door, right? Mom, don’t forget that he’s the one who killed both Jack Zoff and Hugh Wilson!”

Fear came over Holly!

Indeed, Holly certainly did look down on Heller with all her heart. In her eyes, Heller was a penniless pauper with nothing to his name after the Nicholsons were annihilated!

However, at the same time, Heller was also infamous for his brutal deeds. Holly was worried—should they really anger him, what should they do if Heller went on a killing spree?

After contemplating for a while, Holly took out her cell phone and dialed Jimmy’s number. She immediately said, “Mr. Wilson, Heller’s here! You have to help us!”

At the other end of the call, Jimmy held his hand over the cell phone’s microphone and turned to Neal. He lowered his voice and said, “Sir, Holly says that Heller has gone to the Lincolns’. She’s asking us for help.”

Neal raised his brows and sneered, “I wasn’t intending to really let the Lincolns off anyway! Since Heller has gone over, it’ll be even better if he kills them all! There’s no reason why we should do anything!”

Jimmy, who had understood what he meant, turned back and said indifferently to Holly, “Mrs. Lincoln, our agreement was that in exchange for your cooperation, we’ll give you the benefits we promised after the matter is successfully completed. There’s nothing we can do about the problems that you encounter. Besides, we aren’t obligated to help you solve them, either! You’re on your own!”

Jimmy hung up!

At the Lincolns.

Holly stared at the disconnected phone and cursed. “The Wilsons are also a bunch of bastards! They aren’t willing to help at all!”

Howard was completely in a panic now. “What do we do, Mom?! If Heller takes Ruby, I’m afraid the Wilsons definitely won’t let us off, either!”

“Whoosh!”

Holly took a deep breath and calmed herself down. Then, she said coldly, “What are you panicking for? Didn’t Heller say he’s here to ask for Ruby’s hand in marriage? Just let him in then! I’m Ruby’s mother! If he wants to marry Ruby, then that means I’m his future mother-in-law! I don’t believe he’ll really have the guts to kill me!”

“How about this?”

“Howard, take Heller to the living room now! After that, you are to leave immediately!”

“I’m going to the garden!”

“Just leave Heller in the living room and ignore him! I believe he’ll leave once he realizes the odds are against him!”

“Okay!”

…

As per Holly’s instructions, Howard took Heller to the living room and slipped away after that!

Time passed bit by bit.

In a blink of an eye, Heller had sat in the living room by himself for two full hours.

There were two bottles of expensive wine, two boxes of high-end cigars, and two boxes of health supplements on the table. They were gifts that Heller had prepared for Holly, his future mother-in-law.

However, despite two full hours passing, Holly simply never showed up. They ignored Heller the whole time. Only a servant brought him a cup of coffee in between. Apart from that, there was no other interaction.

In the backyard, Holly, who was dressed gracefully and lavishly, sat in the garden and enjoyed the cooling weather. She munched away elegantly on cherries while casually asking, “What do you think of Heller’s temperament?”

Howard thought for a while and truthfully replied, “He’s very calm and steady! As per Mom’s instructions, I specially got the servants to turn off the air-conditioner, so the living room is very hot and stuffy. However, he still sat in there all by himself for two whole hours. He didn’t even change his sitting position the whole time! Even when the servant went in to serve him coffee, he only took a sip and nothing more. He likely did that only out of courtesy because he put it down after just a tiny sip!”

At this point, Howard breathed a small sigh of relief. Then, he continued and said, “Heller’s behavior differs a little from the rumors. It doesn’t seem like he’s intending to go on a killing spree!”

Holly picked up a paper napkin and dabbed gently and leisurely at the corners of her mouth. She frowned and said, “It looks that he’s really intending to just wait it out? My original intention was for him to automatically leave in the face of difficulties. This way, it also protects the last vestiges of his dignity. But he’s actually able to endure this hot weather that’s gone past 100 degrees Fahrenheit? Since he’s so obtuse, then I’ll personally go over and drive him away!”

“Additionally, Go and tell Ruby this—if she wants her daughter to live, then come out to cooperate with me later and get Heller to leave as soon as possible!”

“Okay!”

Howard went straight to Ruby’s room.

As for Holly, she got up and walked over to the living room. When she reached the door, she stopped and looked at Heller who was in the hall. She raised her eyebrows slightly.

Heller was wearing a washed-out army uniform. Although it was very old, it was very clean. He sat upright and meticulously in his seat. Even the gifts on the table were also neatly arranged.

The coffee on the table had already turned cold, and even Heller himself had been left on his own for two full hours. In spite of that, she didn’t see any traces of impatience on Heller’s face!

That man possessed calmness and patience that was hardly found in people his age.

This was Holly’s first impression of Heller!

Heller spotted Holly at the door. He got up and said, “Hello, Mrs. Lincoln. My name is Heller!”

Holly’s eyelid twitched a little as she looked at Heller. Then, she slowly tapped her chin and forced herself to sit calmly on the sofa opposite Heller. She said lazily, “You haven’t been back in L.A. for five years, right? The city has seen a lot of changes over these few years. Have you taken a look?”

Heller replied truthfully, “I’ve been held back by a lot of trivial matters, so I haven’t had time to take a good look at L.A. yet.”

Holly picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. She cleared her throat and slowly said, “Heller, since you’ve already come here in person and even sat here for two whole hours, I won’t beat about the bush anymore.”

“Let’s get straight to the point!”

“If… If this were five years ago; if you had come to ask for Ruby’s hand in marriage when the Nicholsons were in power, I’ll admit this—it’s the Lincolns who would have been beneath you! I would definitely have been all too happy to have Ruby marry you!

“But things are no longer what they were!”

“The Nicholsons are no more! Heller, not only do you have nothing to your name now, but as far as I know, many in L.A.—especially the Wilsons—are after your life! They’ll avenge Hugh Wilson! Am I right?”

“It is in man’s nature to strive for better!”

“Heller, there was no news of you for five years after your disappearance. You have nothing now. You’re not worthy of my daughter at all!”

“Even if Ruby has given birth to your daughter, it doesn’t make any difference!”

Holly looked straight at Heller and said calmly, “Therefore, I hope you can leave immediately and never ever come back again. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

At this point, Holly glanced at the gifts on the table. With a faint sense of mockery, she said, “Wine, cigars, and health supplements… Heller, you’re very considerate and follow propriety very well, but you just so happen to have forgotten the most important thing!”

Holly clapped her hands lightly.

The next moment, a large group of servants filed in carrying trays.

Each tray was filled with hundred-dollar bills!

A beaming Holly, “Ruby is indeed getting married, but you’re not the bridegroom! This is the gift that my real son-in-law has prepared for his future mother-in-law! There’s one million dollars here, not a cent more and not a cent less! Only a price like this is worthy of my daughter!”

“Heller, can you afford a gift like this?”

“No, you can’t!”

“Is my explanation clear enough?”