Chapter 9
935 Words
The man suddenly turned around, revealing a chiseled face. Melina's heart seized, her face went pale, and she stumbled back against the closed door.
How could it be him? Adrian! The man she liked, admired, and wanted to get close to. She had always watched him from afar, never imagining their first real encounter would be so degrading. She didn't want to be so lowly in front of Adrian. He was the buyer, and she was selling herself.
Adrian frowned slightly, his dark eyes on Melina. It was her, the girl who threw a check at a beggar. A look of disdain crossed his eyes—so much for her pride. Just another greedy woman. Greed was good. All he wanted was a marriage that dealt only with money, not emotions.
Melina stood frozen, body stiff, watching Adrian approach. As if in shock, she turned to leave, but Adrian's strong hand grabbed her. She met his cold, dark eyes, feeling humiliated and frightened.
"I don't like to force people, but think carefully. If you leave now, you won't get another chance, and you won't get the money you need. Consider it," Adrian said, letting go of her and stepping back.
Money! Yes, she needed money, a lot of it. Steve was still in the hospital, needing treatment. What was she hesitating for? She had already decided. She just hadn't expected the buyer to be Adrian.
Making this decision meant sacrificing her dignity and future. Her heart ached as she looked up at Adrian. She was losing more than just pride—she was losing the right to love Adrian. Holding back tears, she maintained the last shred of her dignity.
"Fine, let's talk terms."
Good, no need to find someone else. His terms were simple yet complex: a marriage based on money, not emotions. After the wedding, they would live separate lives, only pretending to be a loving couple in public. When the time was right, they would part ways. Within the bounds of morality and law, she had to fulfill her role as a wife, obeying his requests. He would provide her with the money she needed.
After explaining this, he asked, "Do you have any requests?"
She looked bravely at his cold face and icy eyes, hesitated, then mustered the courage to say, "I have one condition. You can't abuse me."
Adrian's eyes twitched, his cold gaze turning to Melina as if she were a monster. His thin lips pressed tightly together, he didn't speak, his black eyes narrowed, seeming to suppress something.
Melina's heart sank. She looked at him with wide, fearful eyes. "You... you don't really have violent tendencies, do you?"
Adrian was reluctant to answer, but seeing her fear, he leaned in closer. "Do you have a masochistic tendency?"
Melina shook her head, pulling back. "No, I really hate pain."
Adrian folded his hands on the table. "I don't hit women."
Melina sighed in relief. Their agreement was made. They signed the contract. His signature was beautiful, powerful, just like him.
"Tomorrow at eight in the morning, bring your documents to your house. You can leave now." He said emotionlessly.
"Documents?" Melina looked at him in confusion. He seemed impatient. She realized he meant to get the marriage certificate. "We'll get the certificate tomorrow, right? I'll be ready. Looking forward to our cooperation."
Melina extended her hand. Adrian's cold gaze lingered on her hand, making her withdraw awkwardly. She waved instead. "See you tomorrow, bye."
As Melina left, Adrian frowned, thinking she seemed somewhat unstable. Had he made the right choice?
The next morning, Melina prepared her documents and arrived at the entrance of her neighborhood five minutes early. She had put on a bit of makeup, adding some color to her face. She wore a white T-shirt and a floral Bohemian skirt that highlighted her slim waist, with her hair neatly pinned up, giving her a fresh and pleasant appearance.
Waiting, Melina felt nervous. She had always followed Adrian from afar, admiring him, never imagining their relationship would develop this way. Marrying someone you love should be a happy thing, but Melina only felt bitterness and pain.
A flashy Land Rover pulled up beside her. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked down to see Adrian's face. He gave her a cold glance and said, "Get in."
She had always wondered why his face was so stern. Was it natural or practiced? He would look even better if he smiled. She got in, and he elegantly drove towards the private office of a legal facilitator who handled such matters discreetly for high-profile clients.
They were silent during the drive.
Getting the marriage certificate was quick. They were early, so it didn't take long before Melina had the document in her hand. Opening it, she saw their wedding photo inside—his face stern, hers slightly smiling.
It felt like a dream. She was married, to the man she loved, even if it was a transaction. She carefully put the certificate in her bag and got into the car with him.
This time, she sat in the front. He casually tossed her a delicate box and a card. She frowned slightly and opened the box to find a diamond ring. Looking at him, she saw a matching ring on his finger.
Of course, they were married, so they needed rings. She took out the ring and slipped it on. Watching the diamond sparkle, she longed to hold his hand, to grow old with him, but she could only grasp her own hand, feeling the coldness of the wedding ring.
- Writer
