Black Pearl in Raging Fire

"Mr. Halsey, I can lend you as much money as you want."

Collin Halsey furrowed his brows where the wrinkles on his aged face deepened with confusion. He was old, for suddenly the arrival of a handsome and brave young male guest came to his door, he could not guess any hidden intentions.

Even though Collin didn't know much about young talent in the business world, but he wasn't completely blind. His business was indeed at stake at the moment, which he didn't even have time to blink to see anything else, it was just that he knew very well who the young man in front of him was. One powerful piece of information that flashed through his head as soon as he saw this young man was the news of a talented young CEO whose name had been skyrocketing recently. Even in national and international news broadcasts, newspapers and business people's discussions, the name of this one man once crossed his mind; Adriel Kingston.

So when this young man said he was going to lend him the money out of the blue, Collin knew that he was indirectly offering cooperation.

"Mr. Kingston, do you know how much money you might spend helping the Hale Group?" Collin asked at a straight point.

He didn't expect that Adriel would actually be able to fill the void that his company nearly crashed into. In his heart he was grateful for this young man's willingness to offer help, but on the other hand he also didn't want to dream. The Hale Group was an international company engaged in industry. For nearly thirty years this company has been a business empire that has brought the Halseys up to this point and was well known to everyone. With a net income that reaches 300 million per year, it was able to make the name of the Hale Group known to everyone and expand its business to foreign countries.

However, big companies always have competitors who want their destruction at every crack. Almost three years ago the Hale Group developed a large project in a neighboring country which took up a lot of operating costs. Due to the country's sudden policy of restricting foreign trade and investment, 'someone' took the opportunity to drop his company's market selling price and made investments that were already running lose value at heavy losses. Its shares fell violently, the company's capital was destroyed and banks continued to collect debts at increasing interest rates. It was on this day that the company nearly declared the Hale Group headed for bankruptcy.

"I had made some planning before coming here." Adriel raised his hand and took the file his assistant had brought. "Please Mr. Halsey to take a look."

Collin was still breathing coldly and nonchalantly, ignoring the document in the young man's hand. "The Hale Group's corporate deficit requires 50 million to get back on its feet. It's only possible to start from scratch without predicting success. You can't voluntarily lend money to a company in crisis, can you?"

Young people are always on fire. They are used to seeing profits in the first place and putting aside risks. Unfortunately, although in a state of urgency, Collin didn't want to take this innocent kid to drown in the mud with him.

Unexpectedly, Adriel calmly replied, "The Hale Group has always been a very profitable company in the past. I believe as long as you are willing to give this opportunity a try, the Hale Group will return."

"Are you just lending me money for free? With your abilities, you can even hold this company in your fists without bothering to do all this." Collin's old voice was full of doubts.

"I really don't lend money for free." Adriel confirmed.

Collin almost sneered because his guess was right, that there must be a shrimp behind the rock from this favor. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me as collateral?"

"I have a request."

"Say."

Before answering, Adriel's blue eyes looked to the second floor, catching someone who overheard this conversation. The lights on the second floor were dim, so he could only see some of the person's features. Yet even in the darkness, he could see how delicate and handsome the other party's face was.

The next second Adriel lowered his eyes again with a slight smile. "I need a wife."

Collin looked at him in confusion. "Did you get the information wrong? I only have one child and that is a man."

When he saw Adriel's smile deepened, Collin gasped. "You ...!"

"I want to marry your son."

"You're crazy! Get out of here! Do you think it makes sense to marry my son when you are a man too? I, Collin Halsey, would rather be poor than having to beg on you for something like this. I'd rather be useless and no money, but I won't sell my son!" Collin stood up and shouted angrily, he took the paper from Adriel's hand and threw it in his face.

Adriel's expression didn't even change in the slightest, as if he had expected this. He sat still. "Mr. Halsey, you'd better think it over."

"I don't have to think about it! Get out of here! Get out!"

"Mr. Halsey, if your company goes bankrupt, tens of thousands of employees will be unemployed."

"Get the hell out!"

"Mr. Halsey, you may not mind living poor without money, but what about your wife and son?"

"You ..." Collin was speechless after being touched by his weak point. "What do you really want?"

"I need a partner."

Collin's heart felt squeezed so tightly that he felt pain. The day he brought his own son to marry, it was the day he had been waiting for someday, but not for this kind of marriage. Even when his son had to be called a wife when he was a man, his breath grew cold.

"Why do you want to marry my son?" Collin obviously put a lot of energy into saying this because his hands were clenched into fists.

"I'll treat Liam well," Adriel replied without hesitation.

Collin contracted for a moment, even this young man immediately called out his own son's first name.

"No! Even if I had to beg for my life on the streets, I wouldn't want to sell my son! Go! Get out of here!"

This time Adriel didn't try to persuade again, but he didn't move an inch from the couch. He calmly collected the fallen papers, then placed them on the table. This gesture was not provocative.

Collin trembled with anger and pointed at him. "You ..."

"Dad."

His words stopped hearing this voice. Two heads immediately turned to the end of the stairs where a tall and slender man was standing there, in a soft light green sweater and white undershirt, making his skin look like it was transparent. The cold and expressionless face stared indifferently, immediately Adriel's heart jumped slightly.

"I agree." Liam gripped the banister without exertion, facing a smiling Adriel. His voice was calm as he said, "I agree to marry you."

"Liam, this ..." Collin was worried.

"Hale Group won't last long. If it wasn't for me at least you should think about the tens of thousands of employees who would lose their jobs." Although these words sound kind, Liam's face was clearly conflicted, because he was cold, lifeless.

Collin didn't know what to do.

Liam said, "If Mr. Kingston doesn't mind, please make arrangements for the wedding to take place as soon as possible."

Adriel's eyes flashed for a moment. "Alright."

After a while, Adriel and his assistant politely said goodbye and promised that marriage matters would be none of their business. Adriel's departure was smooth and fast, and Liam didn't even have time to have a special conversation with him. Liam never dreamed of what kind of partner he would marry in the future, who knew it would be a young man who took him as collateral for a debt.

A smart, calm and successful businessman, who even though he married him not because he loved him, promised to be nice to him. In his heart, Liam didn't want anything, if what he did could help his family, marrying anyone was not a problem.

"Liam, I don't think this is right. If you want, you can still undo this," said Collin persuaded him.

Liam stared at his father for a moment, placing the spoon he was holding onto the plate. He didn't expect his father to bring this up again when they were at the dinner table.

"Dad, it's my decision. It doesn't matter if I get married now or later," Liam replied.

He was currently twenty-one. With his good-looking face, there were many women lined up to get his attention, but none could ever get close to him. His demeanor was cold and indifferent, he was also a loner, not having many friends around him. Even though some of those who approached him only used him to gain advantage, in this case because he was a wealthy second generation, in the end these people backed down due to his cold refusal through his demeanor.

Mrs. Halsey, Elsa Halsey, saw her son insist and suddenly became anxious too. "Son, you are too young and Mr. Kingston is a man. Are you sure, dear?"

"No problem, Mom. Same-sex marriage is popular now."

His parents were silent.

"Besides, it makes sense to guarantee the loan money from the young entrepreneur. Thinking of today, companies need money to pay their employees' salaries, right?" Liam said flatly, then looked at his father. "And Dad, think that we still need money for Mom's treatment."

This words silenced Collin on the spot.

Liam took a napkin to wipe his mouth. "I'm done. I'm going to my room."

Without waiting for the answer of the two remaining people, Liam went to his room, leaving a stiff atmosphere at the dining table.

"This young man, he is so brave to ask for my son as collateral! Will he later ask for my heart too?!" Collin was furious.

"Honey, can this man be trusted? Can he take care of our son?" Mrs. Halsey's eyes reddened from crying. "Is there still time to refuse it? My son ... my son will ..."

Collin grabbed his wife and hugged her. She ended up crying in his arms until she coughed every now and then.

"Elsa, honey, calm down. Listen to me, don't cry. Don't be depressed. Remember your condition, ok? I ... I'll find another solution ASAP."

... to be continued ...