Marry Me Instead

11

Chapter 11 — The Man Beside Him

Evelyn stared at the photograph on her phone. Sebastian was younger. Perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four. His face was still recognizably his, but there was something different about him. Less guarded.

The man standing beside him was older, dressed in a Hawthorne Group suit. Evelyn didn’t recognize him. She turned the phone toward Sebastian.

“Who is he?”

Sebastian looked at the photograph. His expression changed. Barely. But she caught it.

“You received this just now?”

“Yes.”

He took the phone from her. His thumb moved across the screen, enlarging the photograph.

“Where did you get this?”

“Unknown number.”

Sebastian stared at the image.

“Don’t respond.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

Evelyn crossed her arms.

“Now tell me what happened that night.”

His eyes lifted.

“You don’t know what night they’re referring to.”

“The message says I should ask you.”

“Messages can lie.”

“So can people.”

His gaze held hers.

“Exactly.”

Evelyn waited. Sebastian returned the phone.

“I’m not discussing this.”

“That’s convenient.”

His expression tightened.

“Not everything has an answer I’m prepared to give you.”

“Then say that.”

“I just did.”

She studied him. There was something beneath his composure. Not anger. Something closer to discomfort. That alone told her the photograph mattered.

“Fine.”

She took her phone.

“I won’t force you.”

Sebastian’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

“But…”

She slipped the phone into her handbag.

“When you decide to tell me, don’t give me a polished version.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I don’t do polished versions.”

“You absolutely do.”

A pause.

“You’re sitting there looking like you haven’t been affected by anything since 2019.”

His mouth twitched.

“That’s oddly specific.”

“You have a very specific face.”

“And what does my face say?”

“That you’re annoyed.”

“I’m not.”

“Then you’re terrible at being annoyed.”

He looked at her for a moment.

“I’ve been told I’m difficult to read.”

“Whoever told you that was being generous.”

A quiet laugh escaped him. It was brief. Low and Unexpected. Evelyn stopped. She had never heard him laugh before. Sebastian noticed her expression.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You looked surprised.”

“I was.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t know you could do that.”

His brow lifted.

“Laugh?”

“Yes.”

“I do it occasionally.”

“Apparently.”

He shook his head and returned to his desk.

Evelyn followed.

“We should discuss the wedding.”

Sebastian glanced at her.

“The wedding?”

“The legal ceremony.”

“You’ve changed your mind?”

“No.”

She pulled out the contract.

“We’re getting married in five days.”

“Four.”

She looked up.

“Four?”

“If we’re attending the banquet as husband and wife, we need the marriage registered at least a day beforehand.”

Evelyn sighed.

“Of course.”

Sebastian opened his calendar.

“Tomorrow is impossible.”

“Why?”

“Board meeting.”

“Day after?”

“Investor negotiations.”

“Then the day after that.”

“Legal appointment.”

She stared at him.

“Do you ever have free time?”

“Rarely.”

“That’s unhealthy.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“By someone?”

“My doctor.”

She smiled.

“Good. At least someone tells you what to do.”

“I don’t always listen.”

“I noticed.”

Sebastian looked up. Their eyes met. The moment lasted slightly longer than either expected. Evelyn looked away first.

“We need to decide how we’re going to behave publicly.”

“We’re married.”

“Not yet.”

“Practically.”

“That’s not how the media works.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

Evelyn thought.

“We don’t need to act like we’re madly in love.”

“Good.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You sound relieved.”

“I don’t enjoy pretending.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then we show them what they need to see.”

“And what’s that?”

Sebastian stood.

“Two people who chose each other.”

He stepped closer.

Evelyn remained still.

“Not two people who were forced into a marriage.”

He stopped a comfortable distance away.

“Not two people seeking revenge.”

His gaze settled on hers.

“Two people who decided they belong together.”

Evelyn swallowed. That sounded simple. It wasn’t. Especially with him standing this close.

She cleared her throat.

“That’s going to require practice.”

“Practice?”

“You’re not exactly affectionate.”

“I’m capable.”

“Are you?”

Sebastian’s eyebrow lifted.

“You want to test that?”

Evelyn stared at him. She had expected a dry response. Not that. A small smile appeared on her lips.

“Maybe.”

Sebastian stepped closer.

Not enough to touch her. Just enough for her to become acutely aware of the distance between them. His voice lowered.

“Then we should establish some boundaries.”

“What kind?”

“Public affection.”

She nodded.

“Right.”

“Hand-holding.”

“Fine.”

“Standing close.”

“Fine.”

“Occasional kissing.”

Her eyes widened.

“Occasional?”

“For credibility.”

“Of course.”

His expression was perfectly serious. Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

“You enjoy making me uncomfortable.”

“No.”

A pause.

“I enjoy watching you try not to be.”

She stared at him. Then laughed.

“You’re worse than I thought.”

“You’re still marrying me.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Fortunately.”

She looked at him. The confidence in his voice was almost irritating. Almost. Her phone vibrated. The moment broke. She checked the screen.

Amelia.

We have a problem.

Evelyn’s smile disappeared.

She answered immediately.

“What happened?”

Amelia’s voice was tense.

“The board meeting was moved forward.”

“By whom?”

“Richard.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened.

“Why?”

“Because Arthur Morrison has officially submitted his acquisition proposal.”

She glanced at Sebastian.

“How much?”

“Twelve percent.”

Sebastian’s face went cold.

Amelia continued.

“And Evelyn…”

“Yes?”

“There was another buyer.”

“Who?”

“Someone bought eight percent through a holding company this morning.”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.

“Do we know who?”

“No.”

She ended the call. Sebastian was already reaching for his phone.

“Daniel.”

He listened.

Then his eyes met Evelyn’s.

“We have four days.”

“For the wedding?”

“For everything.”

Evelyn stood.

“Then let’s get to work.”

Sebastian nodded.

They walked toward the door together. Neither noticed how naturally their steps had fallen into rhythm. Neither noticed how close their shoulders were. But both noticed. Neither moved away.

Part Two

The elevator doors opened onto the lobby. Evelyn stepped out first, Sebastian beside her. The moment they appeared, several employees turned to look. Not because they were together. Because everyone had seen the news. Whispers followed them toward the entrance.

“Is that Evelyn Sinclair?”

“She’s with Sebastian Hawthorne.”

“Are they actually getting married?”

Evelyn kept walking. Sebastian didn’t seem bothered by the attention.

“You’ve become very good at ignoring people,” she murmured.

“I’ve had practice.”

“Years?”

“Most of my life.”

She glanced sideways at him.

“And yet you still notice everything.”

“I notice useful things.”

“Am I useful?”

Sebastian looked at her.

“Extremely.”

She rolled her eyes.

“That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.”

“It was the answer I gave.”

They reached the waiting car.

Sebastian opened the passenger door.

Evelyn stopped.

“I can open a car door.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because I wanted to.”

She looked at him for a moment. There was nothing patronizing in his expression. No assumption that she couldn’t do something herself. He simply wanted to do it. Evelyn got in.

“Thank you.”

Sebastian closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. She blinked when he got behind the wheel.

“Where’s your driver?”

“At home.”

“You drive yourself?”

“When I want to.”

Evelyn fastened her seat belt.

“You’re full of surprises.”

“So are you.”

The car pulled away from the building. For several minutes, neither spoke. Then Evelyn’s phone rang again.

She answered.

“Amelia.”

“Where are you?”

“In the car.”

“With him?”

Evelyn glanced at Sebastian.

“Yes.”

There was a suspicious silence.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Amelia.”

“I’m just saying… if you’re going to marry the man, you could at least pretend to enjoy being around him.”

Evelyn closed her eyes.

“Goodbye, Amelia.”

“Wait—”

She ended the call.

Sebastian looked amused.

“Your friend doesn’t seem concerned about the arrangement.”

“She thinks I’m incapable of making a bad decision.”

“Is she wrong?”

“Occasionally.”

He nodded.

“Good.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“You really don’t know how to reassure people, do you?”

“I don’t lie.”

“There’s a difference between lying and being reassuring.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She smiled despite herself. The car stopped at a red light. Sebastian glanced toward her.

“Are you nervous?”

Evelyn’s smile faded.

“A little.”

“About the marriage?”

“No.”

She looked out the window.

“About everything that comes after.”

Sebastian was quiet.

“The wedding is easy.”

“Easy?”

“We sign documents. We exchange rings. We leave.”

“And the families?”

“We deal with them.”

“The media?”

“We control the narrative.”

“The business?”

“We fight.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“And if we lose?”

“We won’t.”

“You sound very confident.”

“I don’t enter battles expecting to lose.”

She studied him.

“That’s one of your flaws.”

His eyes flicked toward her.

“Which one?”

“You think everything can be controlled.”

The light turned green.

He drove forward.

“Not everything.”

“What can’t you control?”

His hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

“People.”

The answer came quietly. Evelyn understood there was more behind it. She didn’t press. Instead, she said, “Then you might want to prepare yourself.”

“For what?”

“I’m difficult.”

“I know.”

“You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

She smiled.

“That’s dangerous.”

“So is marrying a stranger.”

Their eyes met briefly. Neither laughed this time. The air inside the car shifted. Evelyn looked away.

“Where are we going?”

“Your apartment.”

“Why?”

“You’re not going back to the Sinclair estate.”

She frowned.

“Who decided that?”

“I did.”

Her expression hardened.

“I don’t need you deciding where I live.”

Sebastian glanced at her.

“I wasn’t ordering you.”

“It sounded like it.”

“Then let me rephrase.”

He turned onto another street.

“You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

Evelyn went quiet. Not because she agreed. Because she understood what he meant. The photograph. The anonymous message. The shell companies. Someone had been moving against Sinclair Group for months. And now she was directly involved.

“I’ll stay somewhere else,” she said.

“Where?”

“My apartment.”

“Your security?”

“Two guards.”

“Four.”

She frowned.

“Three.”

“Four.”

“You’re negotiating security now?”

“Yes.”

She sighed.

“Fine. Four.”

Sebastian nodded. A few seconds later, he said, “You should also change the locks.”

“They were changed last month.”

“Change them again.”

She turned toward him.

“You really do like controlling everything.”

His jaw tightened.

“I like eliminating unnecessary risks.”

“There’s a difference.”

“I know.”

She studied his profile.

“You’re worried.”

“No.”

“You’re terrible at lying.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

“Then you’re worried.”

He didn’t answer. Evelyn smiled faintly.

“Interesting.”

“What?”

“You care.”

His hands tightened around the steering wheel again.

“I have a business interest in keeping my future wife alive.”

She laughed.

“That’s the least romantic sentence I’ve ever heard.”

“It wasn’t intended to be romantic.”

“Obviously.”

The car stopped outside her building. Sebastian got out and walked around to her side. This time, Evelyn opened the door herself. He didn’t protest. They entered the building together. The elevator doors closed. Evelyn pressed her floor. Sebastian stood beside her. Their shoulders nearly touched. Neither moved. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable anymore. It was simply different. Evelyn looked at their reflection in the mirrored wall. They looked like a couple. Not lovers.

Not yet.

But there was something convincing about the way they stood together.

She glanced at him.

“Sebastian.”

“Hm?”

“When we go to the banquet…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t let them make you lose control.”

His eyes met hers in the reflection.

“I don’t lose control.”

“I know.”

She turned toward him.

“That’s why I’m telling you.”

The elevator stopped. The doors opened. Evelyn stepped out. Sebastian followed. She reached her apartment door and stopped. The lock was already open. Her expression changed.

Sebastian immediately noticed.

“What?”

Evelyn pushed the door slightly.

“It wasn’t supposed to be.”

Sebastian stepped in front of her.

“Stay behind me.”

She frowned.

“Sebastian—”

“Just this once.”

His voice was quiet. But there was no room for argument. He entered the apartment first. Evelyn followed closely. Everything looked normal. Too normal. Then she noticed it. Her desk drawer was open. Nothing appeared missing. Except one thing.

The photograph from the unknown number was lying neatly in the center of her desk. And beneath it was a handwritten note.

Four days.

Evelyn stared at it. Sebastian picked up the photograph. His expression went completely cold.

“Someone was here.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“Why leave the photograph?”

Sebastian’s eyes remained fixed on the note.

“Because they wanted us to know.”

“Know what?”

He turned toward her.

“That they can reach you whenever they want.”

For the first time since the wedding disaster, Evelyn felt something colder than humiliation settle in her chest. Fear. Not for herself. For what this could mean for Sebastian. Because whoever was behind this hadn’t just targeted her.

They had just walked directly into their marriage.

And they had given them four days to respond.