The CEO's Reluctant Bride

Chapter8

“I was planning to pick up Barnett. Don’t you want to come with me?” Carl glanced at the rearview mirror, and I could see the faint, teasing smile on his face through the reflection. I chewed on my gum while flipping through the latest business magazine.

Even though Barnett and I were engaged, I’d never actually seen him up close. In the business world, no one was unaware of Barnett, the low-profile CEO of Mount Corporation, who had the power to turn the tides with a single move. He never attended any business gatherings, and anyone lucky enough to secure his presence was someone who could stand on equal footing in the corporate arena.

Even a photo of his side profile, taken with sunglasses on, could make headlines. I liked the name of his company, Mount—it was so commanding. If I married him, I’d practically be queen of the world, right? Of course, that was just a fantasy.

“Does he have a scar on his face? Or maybe he’s had some trauma and has, you know, issues? Or perhaps he’s actually a pot-bellied old man?” My wild guesses left Carl with a dark expression. But seriously, why else would someone avoid public appearances so much? I couldn’t think of any other reasons, so I dropped the subject.

“Trust me, every woman who’s seen him likes him.”

“Sure. I bet the only woman who’s seen him is his mom.”

“You’ll understand once you meet him.” Clearly, Carl had no interest in explaining further.

But I was still in a rush to get to the swimming pool for my lessons. Otherwise, on the day of the wedding, I wouldn’t even have a chance to escape.

Whoever thought it was a good idea to hold the wedding on a luxury yacht really underestimated me. I had to learn how to swim, so I’d have a better shot at getting away. I wasn’t dumb enough to run before the wedding—that would definitely get me caught.

But if I made a run for it on the day, even if I didn’t succeed, at least the wedding would be disrupted. If things escalated and Barnett’s reputation took a hit, maybe he’d decide not to marry me after all.

But before that, there was no harm in unveiling the mystery surrounding this man. So, a small part of me felt a little excited on the ride over. Barnett, what kind of man are you really?

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The man in question was dragging a heavy suitcase by himself, dressed in a burgundy shirt and black trousers, with sunglasses covering most of his face. Despite that, you could still make out his sharp, refined features.

Handsome as jade, unparalleled in the world—that was the phrase that came to mind. I wasn’t usually the poetic type, unlike Nerys, but it felt right this time, even if I wasn’t fully sure of its meaning.

I looked at his outfit, then glanced down at my own—a black lace blouse paired with red polka-dot suspenders. We hadn’t planned this, so why did it feel like we were coordinated? Two hearts with a single thought, like wings of a bird in flight—another line of poetry flashed in my mind. Was Barnett awakening some hidden literary side of me?

Hands in my pockets, I kept chewing on my gum, trying to blow an even bigger bubble. Carl leaned down and whispered in my ear, “He’s here.”

Carl quickly stepped forward to greet the man. "Barnett," he called softly.

I trailed behind, watching as Barnett took off his sunglasses. In that moment, it was as if every movement he made was in slow motion. His dark eyes, cold and deep like a still pond, sent a shiver down my spine. Yet, despite how strikingly handsome he was, there was something oddly familiar about his face. Maybe I was mistaken.

They didn’t hug or slap each other on the back. Barnett simply let out a quiet “hmm” in response, then shifted his gaze toward me.