Contract marriage:Mother for rent, wife for free
Chapter 44: Better than them

Chapter 44: Better than them

"I need to go to the bathroom." She whispered to Garry, who nodded.

She carried her purse, not knowing which way was which, she had to solicit the help of a waitress.

She pointed her in the right direction.

She released a pent-up breath and dialed a number.

The reciever picked up on the first ring.

"Yes?" Ezekiel’s voice, as always was coated in ice thin impatience.

"Ezekiel! Why didn’t you tell me?" She whisper-yelled. She pinched her eyes closed in frustration.

"Tell you what?"

"About the yearly donation! About the tier thingy. How was I supposed to know?" She couldn’t stop the frustration from seeping into her voice.

There was silence. It seems to stretch till eternity. Lin wei was counting zeros in her head and her foot made rhythmic contact with the floor.

"I’m coming now."

Perhaps she needed a hearing aid. He was coming?

"What do you mean you’re coming?" She whispered, horrified.

The answering beep of the ended call made her scream. Damn him!

"Um..miss, are you okay?" Someone in the next stall called out.

"Thank you, I’m fine." She lied.

Grabbing her gown with her hand, she walked slowly to the ballroom. And there, she met another new disaster.

Ezekiel could be a bit contradictory_an understatement if there’s ever been one_but she didn’t think it’ll be up to this.

Harry breathed a relieved sigh at seeing her, and quickly motioned for her to lean down.

"It’ll be our turn in ten minutes." He said.

Lin wei nodded eagerly. Perhaps he knew something that could be done to salvage the situation before that?

"How much are we donating this year?"

Lin wei’s jaw dropped open. How was she to know?

"I...I have no idea." She replied lamely.

Harry looked stunned.

"Madeleine donated 3 million dollars."

Lin wei suddenly felt a bit faint. 3 million dollars? That amount was something she never even dreamed she’d have.

"Yes, I know. She outdid herself this time around. But that is by the way, do you know realize how embarrassing it’ll be if we do not donate? It’s like_"he fumbled for a perfect illustration.

"Just..let’s go. Well figure something out." She hoped so.

She fervently prayed tonight of all nights, wouldn’t end up to be a classic Lin wei disaster.

Madeleine’s sly smile and covert frosty glares did nothing to ease the rolling knots in her stomach. Apprehension made the lemon cake curdle and her breaths faster.

Garry as usual, was the epitome of calm. His gaze did not falter from the book he was holding and when it did, it was to survey Lin Wei under his eyelids.

Lin Wei mostly managed a tight smile for him.

Finally, when the threads of her patience had been worn sickly thin, and each passing second was like being underwater_unable to breathe and not knowing if there are sharks_the double door swings open.

The black tightly clad silhouette could only be someone. The room plunged into a collective silence.

Awe and surprise.

He stepped through the door, his raven black hair slicked back to expose his forehead. His midnight blue suit and snowy white shirt contrasted sharply. His blue glacier eyes glared dagger at everyone.

The MC finally found his voice and stammered into the microphone, "we have a surprise guest. A delightful surprise indeed! Let’s welcome, Ezekiel Wang. The CEO of Wang corporation."

The crowd let out a gasp. Perhaps they could not believe their eyes, until they heard the announcement.

Lin wei let out a relieved breath. It was probably the absolute confidence in his gait, but she found herself smoothening her gown.

He silently took a seat beside them. Madeleine was smiling so wide, her white teeth flashing.

He simply inclined his head politely _bordering on impolite _and looked away.

"Cat got your tongue?" He asked casually.

Lin wei closed her mouth with a snap. She managed to swallow the scathing reply on her tongue.

"You’re actually here." She said meekly.

He shook his head, amusement lingering in his eyes. Harry could barely contain his happiness.

"You came! You really came." He grinned.

Ezekiel smiled, it made the corner of his eyes crinkled. Lin wei found herself riveted, her gaze locked on his lips.

He had a really pretty smile. If only he would smile often. But that was like asking a lump of ice to melt butter.

Impossible.

"I’ll make the donation now." He made to got up.

"You could have told me about that!" She whispered hotly. Her face flushed when she realized what she had done.

But she refused to back down. She held her chin aloft.

"I could have. I just didn’t." He left her gaping like a fish out of water.

"Mr Ezekiel is going to make the last donation for tier one!" The MC announced.

The crowd held their breath, each one thrumming with barely contained excitement.

Garry tsked and continued with his book.

"How much do you think he’ll donate?" Lin wei mused out loud, side eyeing Madeleine.

Madeleine scoffed and turned her neck sharply, it was a wonder she did not break it.

Lin Wei’s lips parted to speak, to say something—anything—but no words came out. Ezekiel was already walking toward the stage, unhurried, as if the entire ballroom had adjusted its tempo to match his stride.

"Veronica," Madeleine drawled, her voice saccharine, "you really kept him a secret."

Lin Wei blinked. "I didn’t know he was coming," she said honestly, and her words came out weaker than she intended.

Madeleine’s perfectly arched brow rose just a fraction. That was all the satisfaction she would allow herself in public, but Lin Wei could feel the triumph humming off her like expensive perfume.

She turned away before she could say something truly unladylike. God forbid the "goddess-like" Madeleine Yin say a bad word.

Imagine the scandal!

Lin wei rolled her eyes.

The ballroom hushed again as Ezekiel approached the microphone. All eyes were on him—who could take their eyes off that man exuding coldness and elegance.

He didn’t greet the crowd, didn’t offer a smile. Instead, he simply adjusted the microphone with two fingers.

"I apologize for arriving late," he began, his deep voice spreading like velvet over the crowd. It feels wrong somehow.

Like it was the crowd that was supposed to make the apology for arriving too early.

"I understand I’m to make the final donation for Tier One."

There were polite nods and scattered murmurs.

Madeleine shifted in her seat, angling her body just enough to appear casual, but Lin Wei caught the stiffness in her shoulders. She was waiting—no, bracing.

"I would like to donate," Ezekiel continued, pausing just long enough to let the anticipation sharpen, "ten million dollars."

The room erupted.

Gasps. Applause. Some people even stood. Lin Wei’s breath caught. She swore she saw the MC’s knees buckle slightly.

Harry let out a squeaky cheer and clapped enthusiastically, his eyes practically sparkling. "He did it! He beat Madeleine!"

Garry managed look enough to smile indulgently at his twin brother before going back to his book.

Lin Wei was too stunned to move. Ten million dollars? That was more than Madeleine’s donation, the combined cost of the entire ballroom, and probably her own soul.

Madeleine’s smile cracked for the first time. But then the woman was clapping too, her applause tight and mechanical.

The MC cleared his throat. "A tremendous, tremendous donation from Mr. Wang! Let’s show our appreciation, ladies and gentlemen!"

The crowd roared again, and Ezekiel gave them a shallow nod before stepping down.

He didn’t come straight back. Instead, he took a brief detour to speak with someone at the side—probably the committee head—before finally returning to their table.

The man was rounded especially around the middle, he mopped his brow and was gesturing rapidly. A smile on his lips.

Lin Wei sat frozen. When he pulled out his chair and sat beside her again, she turned slowly, like a puppet whose strings had tangled.

"You... donated ten million dollars?" she asked, her voice a dry whisper.

"Yes." He didn’t even look at her, reaching for the glass of water set beside him. "It seemed appropriate."

"Appropriate?" she echoed, flabbergasted. "Do you usually just casually throw around that kind of money?"

"I have it," he replied simply.

She wanted to weep. He did have the money.

"God, you’re insufferable," she muttered, burying her face in her hands.

"I know," he said, and she couldn’t tell if he was smirking or being completely sincere.

Harry was practically bouncing. "That was so cool! Madeleine looked like she swallowed a lemon!"

Lin Wei shot him a look, but he shrugged and said, "what?"

Ezekiel finally looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes. "You handled tonight well."

She blinked. "You think so?" of course she did! She had been holding on to the situation with her teeth and nails. She was half way crumbling before he arrived!

"You didn’t run," he said, then leaned slightly closer. "I expected you to."

Her pride prickled, but before she could snap something back, he added, "You stayed calm for the twins. You looked like you wanted to run, but you didn’t. That matters."

Lin Wei stared at him, speechless. She wasn’t sure what stunned her more—the compliment or the fact that he had noticed. Noticed her nerves. Her fear. Her effort.

She cleared her throat. "Well, I try not to embarrass myself in public. Even if everything is literally on fire inside my head."

And it was really rare that her "effort" to not embarrass herself yeild any results.

Lin Wei didn’t respond, but a small smile curved her lips.

The rest of the event passed in a blur. More speeches, a final performance by a string quartet, and trays of petit fours no one really touched.

But the highlight had been made—Ezekiel Wang’s unexpected appearance and earth-shattering donation.

People tried to approach their table to talk to him, but he dismissed most of them with curt nods or cool stares. Lin Wei found herself becoming his unintentional buffer, offering a small or two.

Or three, and a stern glare as in the case of a very persuasive man.

By the time they slipped out into the cool night air, her feet were aching and her voice hoarse from small talk.

"Where’s the car?" she asked, looking around.

Ezekiel checked his watch. "James should be here in two minutes."

Harry tugged at her arm. "Can we get burgers on the way home? Please? Garry said yes too!"

"I did not say that!" Garry chimed in.

"No, we can’t. No more greasy food for you." Ezekiel replied.

Lin wei shook her head. She’ll never understand this man, that’s for sure.

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