Sentenced to Marriage

Chapter 15

A peal of hysteric laughter escaped my throat as an intense blush painted my cheeks. He didn’t actually expect me to have sex with him during our contractual marriage… right? As my eyes slowly shifted to Aren, I muttered, “You cannot be serious?” He smirked, once again carefully scanning my body. “Why not? I need to know if it’s safe to fuck my wife.”

My jaw literally dropped, and I heard Mr. Edmond chuckle. How could Aren talk about such things so casually?! And how could he talk about having sex with me in front of some other people?!

“You can’t expect me to sleep with you,” I squeezed through my teeth. “I’m not turning you into my sex slave. I am giving you an option. Besides, you will receive a copy of my medical card as well,” he said calmly. “An option?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Yes,” he replied, standing up and sitting next to me. Then he gestured at the lawyer and Mr. Edmond. “Give us five.”

A second later, I was in that room alone with him, sitting inches away from me. My whole body tensed as his fingers nearly accidentally brushed my thigh, making my heart hammer.

“I’m not going to force you because I would never force a woman…” he stated before whispering to my ear. “But I’m not going to lie. I wanted to fuck you from the first moment I saw you.”

His lips touched my earlobe, sending a wave of shivers down my spine. I leaned back in desperate need to escape from him. His voice, his scent, everything about him felt like a deadly weapon turned against me. I moved to the edge of the sofa, which earned me a chuckle.

“I will give you a month,” he tossed, leaning back and sitting more comfortably.

“A month… for what?” I mumbled, trying to find my lost composure.

“For you to admit that you want me as much as I want you.”

I wasn’t in denial. His sole presence could turn me on, but it wasn’t enough for me to jump into his bed. I was never a saint, but I was never able to separate sex from emotions. After my dreadful relationship with Callan ended, I promised myself two things: never to start a relationship from physical attraction, and never fall for an arrogant rich guy. “Dream on.” I scoffed. “I can pretend that I’m in love with you and that I am physically attracted to you, playing my part in front of others, but that’s it.” I crossed my hands over my chest.

He grinned smugly. “As I said, I won’t force you, but what if we need to get a little physical while playing a perfect married couple?” I swallowed. “What do you mean?”

Confused

Before I knew it, his arm slid around my waist to my back, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. “Like this,” he said softly, his other hand cupping my chin and positioning my lips an inch away from his.

I couldn’t restrain an urge to glance at his full, incredibly kissable lips. I badly wanted him to press them against mine, but he just stayed still, observing how I struggled to resist him. His fingers on my back drew a line down my spine, making me bite my lip just so I would prevent myself from making strange sounds. My whole body pulsed at his simplest touch. I hated myself for craving him the way I did.

He smiled slyly, releasing my chin and back from his grip. “Your reactions seem honest. Someone could truly believe that I turn you on,” he said mockingly.

I clenched my teeth and lowered my gaze. I knew that saying anything or trying to deny what had happened would only make things worse. I didn’t know what was more irritating the fact that I was losing to him each time he used his charms or that I found his style more and more appealing. Perhaps if I got used to his presence, I would stop questioning my sanity around him. I knew that I was strong enough to say no to him and that there was a line I would never cross, not after Callan.

“Fine… let me sing this damn contract,” I said arrogantly.

He laughed and pressed something on his phone. A minute later, Mr. Edmond and the lawyer were back in the room, and I was holding a pen in my hand, ready to place my signature and sell my soul. Aren stayed beside me, and his presence wasn’t helping. For the first time in my life, I had to concentrate before writing my own name.

“Done,” I announced as I finished my signature.

The lawyer heaved an audible sigh of relief. He collected the documents and left as if he couldn’t breathe inside that office where we were. I had yet to figure out how I felt after signing this contract. At least whatever I felt at that moment didn’t make me restless.

I was about to hide the pen in my purse when Aren suddenly grabbed my hand and placed it ‘gently on top of his own.

“Who did this to you?” he asked, dangerously narrowing his eyes.

I flinched before looking down at my wrist. Only then did I realize it was covered in dark colored bruises with visible round spots the size of large fingertips. I began to wonder whether the harsh treatment I had received the night before truly came from Aren’s order. At this point… I doubted it. He seemed concerned and angry, and I couldn’t sense any lie in his expression. I glanced at Mr. Edmond and noticed he straightened nervously while tightly sealing his lips. Wasn’t he going to say anything? He had seen me dragged through the corridor. Was he trying to cover for his subordinate?! I hated being a snitch, but if that guy hurt me because he liked to abuse his strength, then at least his boss should know about it… “One of the security guards…” I muttered, hesitantly gazing at Aren. He put my hand down on the sofa, treating it as if it was made of delicate porcelain. I could see his jaw tense, the darkness of his black irises deepening. “Neil, mind explaining this?” The firm tone of his voice carried an unmistakable threat,

Confused

making Mr. Edmond flinch as Aren’s eyes landed on him.

“It was Cliff Owen, Sir… He was told to bring Ms. Bell upstairs, and I guess he used an inadequate amount of strength,” Mr. Edmond explained in a deep apologetic bow.

An icy smirk formed on Aren’s lips. “I always enjoy the way you add courtesy to every description that puts you in a difficult position, Neil.”

Mr. Edmond bowed even lower. “I…. I apologize, Sir. He might have misunderstood… that was why… His attitude towards Ms. Bell-“.

“Call him to your office, and have him waiting for me… And inform HR that Cliff Owen doesn’t work for us anymore,” Aren said curtly.

Was he going to fire him because he bruised my wrist? It felt weird that my aching hand would

cost somebody his job, but I wasn’t going to feel sorry for the guy. “Is bringing him to the office really necessary?” Mr. Edmond questioned, nervously smiling.

Aren responded with a murderous glare that sent chills down my spine even if his eyes weren’t aimed at me.

“Understood, Sir.” A second after these words left Mr. Edmond’s throat, his hand was on the door handle, ready to follow his boss’s command.

“Wait.” Aren’s voice instantly made Mr. Edmond freeze. “Order someone to do as I said. I want you to take care of my fiancée personally.”

I felt a tickling sensation in my chest at the word “fiancée,” and I couldn’t understand why hearing Aren say it made me inwardly smile. As his eyes shifted to me, I instantly noted the change in his expression. He seemed calm, looking at me, and the corners of his lips were gently curved in a faint smile. “I can

assure you that you will never get hurt again. I apologize for what happened yesterday,” he said, his onyx irises carefully reading my face.

„My heart began to race, and a wave of heat flooded my body. Didn’t we agree to fake our

relationship? Why did it seem like he cared? It confused me, messed with me, and I didn’t like being played with. “It’s OK. It’s only a few bruises. They will heal.” I tried to make my voice sound as indifferent as possible, hoping that he couldn’t hear my hammering heart.

He smiled, looking at me as if he saw right through me, and then his eyes turned to Mr. Edmond. “Neil, you will go with Cora to her apartment and help her pack anything important to her. She needs to move into my penthouse by tomorrow. You’re free to tell her whatever you find necessary. I don’t plan to hide anything from her.”

I had to admit that Aren’s words suddenly made me anxious. I knew that I had already signed the clause of confidentiality along with the contract so he could feel safe that I wouldn’t reveal his secrets to anyone, but I wasn’t sure if knowing too much about him would be safe for me…

A minute later, my fake fiancé excused himself, saying that he needed to get back to work, and I left with Mr. Edmond, who was supposed to take me to my apartment. As soon as we stepped into the corridor, he started texting someone, and when he finished, he heaved a heavy sigh. I

glanced at him curiously, and he caught my gaze.

“I almost feel sorry for the bastard,” he said with a dry chuckle. I quickly processed whom he could mean. “For Cliff?” I asked. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Yup. At least his severance pay will cover his hospitalization.” He shrugged and observed my reaction to his words.

“What do you mean?” I laughed nervously.

He smirked coldly. “Why do you think Mr. Lan wanted to meet with him alone even if he was fired anyway?”

“W-what do you think he’ll do to Cliff?” I asked, swallowing as my mind sent me a few ideas.

“I would say he’d break his fingers… or his arm… maybe a few ribs as well,” he tossed nonchalantly. “Oh, God…” I pulled a shaky breath into my lungs. “Is he truly capable of doing things like that?”

Mr. Edmond burst into laughter and then shot me a beaming grin. “Ms. Cora Bell, perhaps it would be better if you got to know a thing or two about your future husband, but I guess you’ll need a solid drink before hearing the story…”