Love and Lust in Contract Marriage

Chapter 8

"What are you doing here?"

Kate's footsteps stopped in the middle of her activity down the stairs when her sharp eyes caught a familiar but unfamiliar figure in her house, joking with her father. Who else but Liam?

"Oh, Kate. Good night,” said Liam, smiling brightly as Kate appeared within his sight. "It's good to see you tonight," he continued, starting his flirtation. Yes, yes. He knew Kate was immune to all his temptations. However, it was a behavior he had become accustomed to over the past ten years. So she had to get used to it because she had no intention of throwing it away, and would instead use it to tease Kate. Just imagining it was already amusing. Kate who nags pouts, or gets angry when he seduces her… It will be fun entertainment for him as long as they get married and live together later.

Kate rolled her eyes lazily. Presumably, Liam and his seduction are an inseparable package.

“I asked, what are you doing here? On my dining table?” he asked as he continued down the stairs. In fact, he had already heard the faint sound of a stranger in his house when he came out and closed the door to his room. He thought his father was having a visitor, who knows. So, he intended to get ahead of his father and enjoy his own dinner.

However, the closer his feet swung toward the source of the sound, he felt that the sound was very familiar. He seemed to recognize the owner of the voice. The deep voice of someone he met almost every day and never got tired of starting a fuss with him. And sure enough. The voice belonged to Liam Ortiz.

“Getting ready for dinner,” Liam replied, still with the same smile.

"Dad invited him here." Howard's voice joined in.

Kate paused and then looked at Howard and Liam in turn. Not only did Howard's answer make him question his father's purpose in calling Liam over to his house—and for dinner, he also used his silence to think about where he would sit. Being next to his father automatically makes him have to meet face-to-face with Liam, or face his father who indirectly requires him to sit next to the man. Really, a tough choice.

But in the end, he chose to sit next to Howard. It seemed it was a much safer place than the other option. At least she wasn't within reach of the man's hand—just in case Liam started making more physical advances.

"Why did Dad invite him here?" Kate asked, pulling up the empty chair to Howard's left and sitting there.

"I want to have a chat with my future son-in-law."

Kate no longer responds to her father's response. He chose to do what he was supposed to do in the dining room. Of course, eat.

Kate took a few spoonfuls of the reddish soup that lay on the table into her bowl. He saw pieces of octopus and clams there. So, his brain quickly concluded that the dish was seafood soup.

"You can call me any time, Howard." It was Liam who replied to Howard's words.

The two grown men then chuckled softly before resuming their conversation. And Kate was determined to keep quiet.

"Come on, Liam, let's eat. Kate is indeed less sensitive because she precedes dinner and doesn't invite her guests," Howard commented unceremoniously, mocking his daughter's behavior.

Kate grumbled inwardly. Why is he to blame? He didn't know if they were waiting for him. He didn't think Liam and Howard really wanted to have dinner. So, it's not wrong, isn't it, if he immediately eats because his goal is to go there, yes, eat. His stomach was impatient, asking to be filled immediately.

He glanced at the two people who had started to follow his activities—filling their plates with food, before starting to shovel the red soup into his mouth. Nice. The combination of the spices used mixed with the seafood in it clearly creates a taste that shakes his tongue. And he really likes seafood.

"So, when exactly will your wedding be?" Howard asked, starting the conversation about marriage. Kate had guessed. His father would definitely talk about this matter.

"Next month, Dad. Liam needs time to enjoy his single life." Unbeknownst to Kate, her mouth had answered the question, whereas previously she had determined to just listen to their chatter.

"It's not like that, Howard. I want us, Kate and I, to be both mentally prepared before starting our married life.” Liam argued, clearly lying because Kate didn't hear a similar reason from the man's lips.

Howard nodded at that. Compared to Kate's answer, Liam's reasoning sounded more plausible to him. Or maybe, he believed in both but preferred his future son-in-law's answer. "We have to start preparing for the party,” he decided.

"There's not going to be a party, Dad," Kate said quickly.

Howard turned to his daughter and gave her a confused look. "You mean, honey?"

"Liam and I agreed we shouldn't have a party."

Howard still studied Kate's beautiful face, then turned to Liam, still in the same confusion. "Explain, Liam," he begged the thirty-three-year-old.

"Well, Howard, we don't think there's a need for a party because the essence of marriage is a promise to maintain the bond that holds two people together." Liam is forced to follow Kate's game. Ah, apparently, that woman was testing her sweet mouth. Not to women, as he usually did, but to Howard. The cool term, taking the heart of the prospective in-laws.

Once again, Liam's lie sounded logical to Howard's ears. But this time, he didn't necessarily follow the wishes of those he was talking to. "I see," he replied, confirming Liam's words. The man was not wrong. Party is not an obligation because the essence of marriage is to make a promise before God. "But, I want to see my daughter's wedding party."

Yes, one of Howard's dreams—in the past, he and his wife—was to see Kate's wedding. That is, a wedding party where her daughter wore a wedding dress, complete with a veil that adorned her hair, and a bouquet of flowers to complete her appearance. Kate would definitely look really pretty.

"No, Dad." Firmly, Kate refused. "Holding a wedding party would be very troublesome," he said later. He didn't lie about this. He knows having a wedding party is not easy. There are many things to prepare. Moreover, if they divorce later, what will those who come to attend the wedding say? He probably doesn't care about his image. But, obviously, he cared about the image of his father and the Whitelaw Corporation.

“Who said it was troublesome? Dad will help prepare everything. You just have to come for the wedding dress fitting and be the queen and king of the party.” Howard didn't want to lose.

"No need, Dad. We want it to be quick. So, no party."

"What do you need to include in the terms of our agreement?"

Hearing that, suddenly, Kate turned and looked at her father with a frown on her forehead. "That's not fair! Can't you just do it on your own?" protested Howard's unilateral decision.

"Oh, sure, I can. Remember, honey, you have to please Daddy so that I will be willing to grant your wish."

Checkmate! Kate could no longer continue her protest.

"How about you, Liam? You don't mind, do you, with a wedding party?" Instead of asking if his daughter was ready, Howard actually asked Liam.

"Sure. I've never had a problem with weddings. We'll do the party."

And Kate couldn't help but see the two people colluding directly in front of her.