waking up married

Chapter 3 Contract Marriage?

While Eric was out talking on the phone, Caroline began to stealthily and quickly rummage through the bookshelves and drawers in the room.

Tucked away at the bottom of the shelf, a stray piece of paper caught her eye. Snatching it hastily, she examined it.

Her gaze settled on the details of a project contract, noting the 'Connor Group' as Party B.

Kevin Connor?

Baffled, Caroline remembered her mother's boyfriend at the time, Kevin Connor, a prominent company owner.

Unfortunately, Kevin was a married man, already a father to a son, who relegated her mother to the shadows as his mistress.

Caroline had always opposed her mother's affair with Kevin, advocating for its end, but to no avail. Frustrated, she had once considered conspiring with Kevin's son to sabotage the relationship.

Could Eric be that son?

The thought surged through her mind, leaving her stunned. How had she ended up ensnared with the offspring of her mother's lover?

Damn it! This is absurd!

The sound of footsteps nearing the door snapped her back to reality. With haste, she stuffed the contract back into its hiding spot and sauntered back to the table, feigning an interest in her meal.

"Sorry about the long phone call," Eric apologized, rejoining her at the dining table. His tone was gentle, though his eyes narrowed speculatively at the toast in her hand—clearly, she hadn't touched her food in his absence.

"During this time, what else might have Caroline been involved in?" This question lingered in Eric's thoughts.

"It's alright," Caroline cleared her throat before pressing on, "Eric, it seems I've forgotten quite a bit. Could you fill me in about yourself? Like, your family background?"

"Absolutely," he replied with a relaxed expression.

"My father is the CEO of the Connor Group. His name's Kevin Connor, and I've got a stepmother. Just recently, my dad brought back another son, so I've got an older brother now," he explained, a hint of malice flickering in his eyes with the last remark.

Caroline felt taken aback by his candidness. After a momentary pause, she asked further, "Did you know that my mother and your father were acquainted?"

"Of course, I knew. That's how you and I had our first encounter," Eric replied with a slight smile, lost momentarily in the past.

"You were a college freshman. One day, you stormed up to me, all fired up, berating me to have my mother rein in her husband. I found you so intriguing then, and I decided to chase after you,"

As he spoke, he gazed at her with intense eyes as if he were a hunter pursuing a coveted trophy.

Caroline lowered her gaze, realizing why she had married him despite being aware of her mother's relationship with his father. Everything about this man was inexplicably captivating.

Eric's face, sharply contoured, warmed with a tender smile as he naturally reached out to brush crumbs off the corner of Caroline's lips. Her cheeks to flush a delicate pink.

"Your mother didn't know about us before she passed away. As for my father, he never cared about my affairs," he remarked casually, yet his eyes never strayed from her face, capturing every subtle change in her expression.

His Caroline was exceptionally astute. Even the slightest hint would arouse her suspicion.

Caroline couldn't make sense of it.

Given that her mother was her only family, she wouldn't have concealed the fact of having a boyfriend, even if that man happened to be the son of her mother's lover.

Was there something else she had overlooked?

At the thought of this, she deliberately changed the topic. "I noticed a white Persian cat. Did we get it together?"

"Yeah. You adore cats, don't you?" Eric asked, gently holding her hand against his lips and tenderly caressing it as he gazed into her eyes. "I cherish everything you love."

Caroline smiled gently, but inwardly, her heart grew colder.

She disliked spacious places.

Raised by her mother alone, a large house always made her feel insecure.

If they were a normal couple, she would undoubtedly share her likes and dislikes with him.

Additionally, any cat owner would know that cats rarely hiss at their owners. Hissing is typically a sign of fear in cats.

Eric's behavior seemed deceptive. What was his motive? What had transpired between them?

After breakfast, Caroline expressed her desire to explore the house alone, to which Eric agreed, though his gaze closely tracked her every move.

He never strayed far from her side, making her feel like a canary trapped in a gilded cage.

As night descended, her unease peaked.

Eric pushed her onto the bed and kissed her, nearly suffocating her.

It was said that men were most relaxed and vulnerable in bed.

Caroline clenched the brooch in her hand, her moist eyes fixed on the man atop her without wavering.

His disheveled hair and the warmth of his breath against her neck quickened her heartbeat.

"Don't stare at me like that." Eric frowned, avoiding Caroline's clear gaze.

Without further hesitation, he rolled her over, showering her delicate back with fervent kisses. His hands trailed down her waist, gripping her hips tightly, anchoring her to him.

Caroline clenched the brooch in her hand.

Even its sharpest point couldn't harm the man, but it helped her stay mentally alert during their intimacy.

As time passed, the room grew quiet.

Content and at ease, the man drifted into sleep, his thick eyelashes veiling his beautiful eyes. His hair, damp with sweat, delicately clung to his forehead, lending him the innocence of a child.

Caroline, however, had no time to linger. She struggled to free herself from his tight embrace, her body sore and limp. Eventually, she managed to change clothes and slipped out barefoot, leaving the room behind.

The truth she sought might lie in the safe upstairs.

She attempted to pry open the safe with the brooch, but it didn't work at all.

She then entered their wedding date, but still, nothing happened.

Frustrated, she tried her birthday, and the safe finally yielded its secrets.

With mixed emotions, Caroline was touched that he had used her birthday to lock away his most valuable possessions. She inhaled deeply before rummaging through the contents.

Alongside a marriage certificate and a photo frame, she discovered a mahogany box tucked in the corner.

Inside the wooden box laid the silver necklace she had worn for more than ten years. Her heart faltered for a moment. "Is this truly the treasure Eric held so dear?"

She went back to the safe and unearthed another document: one labeled "Marriage Contract".

Opening it revealed several pages of terms and conditions, with Eric designated as Party A and her as Party B.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her marriage to Eric was contractual!

"You've finally discovered the truth." Eric's deep voice resonated in the dim room, carrying a trace of imperceptible tiredness.