Jonathan's sneer froze. He could not believe his ears.After what felt like an eternity, Jonathan finally spoke."What … did you just say? Say that again!"Blinking, Rose said earnestly, "Let's get married!"She could pay him for it.She had already thought things through. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the easiest way was to make it a trade.There would be no emotional strings attached. She would pay him to marry her, and he would take the money.Also, due to the special nature of his job, he was the perfect candidate!Jonathan thought about it for a moment. Then, a look of disdain and disgust appeared in his cold eyes.He could tell what she was trying to do now.Scoffing to himself, he assumed that despite not knowing who he was, she knew he was no ordinary man. Therefore, after heading home and thinking about it, she came back to him.Was she trying to marry a rich man, or was it the money she was after?Jonathan recalled the red stain on the sheets this morning. The gui
An hour later, Jonathan stood outside the county clerk's office. He stared darkly at the marriage license he was holding.Meanwhile, Rose excitedly planted a kiss on her copy of the marriage license. She was already looking forward to the Lanes' banquet tomorrow. That was when Nixon's plans would fall apart.Suddenly, she looked at her "star escort husband" who was beside her.He had such a wonderful figure and face that Nixon could not compare to him at all.If he appeared at the Lanes' birthday banquet tomorrow, Nixon would be disgraced!The more Rose thought about it, the more excited she became."Um … Do you have time tomorrow? Can you attend a banquet with me—"Jonathan was still coming to terms with the fact that he was married. Without even thinking about it, he declined. "I'm busy!"Rose fell silent. She felt a little disappointed.But she soon got over it.Nixon's uncle, Jonathan, would be attending the Lanes' birthday banquet tomorrow. It would probably be an extrav
When Rose returned to the villa in Scenic Gardens, she was refused entry."How dare she come back again? Chelsea, go and drive her away!"Jamie's angry shout could be heard through the door."Jamie, don't get angry because of her. You should take care of your health …""Dad, just let Rose in. She probably wasn't thinking straight when she betrayed Mr. Lane. The men at Nightfall Lounge are all … engaged in that sort of work."I'm sure Rose would've paid him so that he wouldn't tell anyone else about something like this …"Over in the living room, it seemed like Chelsea and Kelly were coming to Rose's defense. But in reality, they were adding fuel to the fire.In an instant, Jamie's tirade intensified."She's a wretched girl! I refuse to acknowledge a shameless woman like her as my daughter! From now on, she is not allowed to enter this house. I don't want her tainting this place."Kelly, you're kind and innocent. Don't be like her."Rose felt like her heart was breaking. She w
Rose was silently screaming for a refund, but her rage disappeared when she received the address her new husband sent to her.He had a conscience, after all!Rose rushed to the hotel at once. But once she arrived at the hotel, her smile stiffened.Her star escort husband was staying in the second-best five-star hotel. Even the cheapest room would cost thousands of dollars per night.He could not possibly afford to stay here for long with the 6600 dollars she gave him.Rose subconsciously clutched her heart. It hurt her to see her money getting spent like this.Heading up to the room number she had been given, she arrived at a luxury suite.Rose felt her heart aching even more. She was beginning to suspect that the money she gave him could not even pay for a night in a room like this.Taking a deep breath, Rose decided to have a proper talk with her "husband".The door to the suite was slightly ajar. Rose pushed open the door and went in.While she did not see anyone, she did
The Lane residence was located within a mountainside villa area in Aquastead.Guests were already arriving at the venue.Kelly had arrived much earlier.In Nixon's room on the second floor, Kelly and Nixon were tangled up in a bout of passion. After doing the deed, Kelly draped herself across Nixon's body. She wanted to keep seducing him.But Nixon grabbed her hand and stopped her."Uncle Jonathan should be arriving soon. Grandma wants me to welcome him myself. It's a rare opportunity for me, so I can't miss it."Kelly lowered her gaze in disappointment. She looked adorable and pitiful.Nixon's heart ached when he saw her like that, but the event today was far too important.Nixon helped Kelly put on her dress.She looked like a flawless princess in her white dress. It was her air of purity that made it impossible for Nixon to hold himself back."I've never seen you wear this dress before. It looks good. The design is pretty nice."Nixon made a casual remark, but Kelly's eye
All at once, the expressions of the rich ladies around them changed.Yet, Rose remained calm and simply smirked coldly. She stepped forward and adjusted Kelly's dress, which looked a little large on Kelly.Then, she commented evenly, "K&K's dresses are tailored to the customer's exact measurements. We have different body measurements, Kelly."If you had said that you liked this dress, I would've returned it and asked them to alter it for you. It wouldn't have looked so awkward on you, then."It was only then that the rich ladies noticed that Kelly's dress did not actually fit her.They instantly forgot about Kelly's pitiful display. Their eyes were filled with disdain."So it's not her dress after all? Don't tell me she stole her sister's dress. It does look like it would fit Ms. Rose better.""I never thought Ms. Kelly would be so vain. I heard she's the tagalong child that Ms. Rose's stepmother brought into the family. These kinds of children are more cunning than illegitima
Rose glanced around her. She spotted a tall male figure through the curtains of the tea room.The figure seemed familiar to her somehow.Rose was about to take a closer look when Nixon suddenly walked up to her. He blocked her line of sight. "Hurry up, Rose. I'll take you to Uncle Jonathan right now."Nixon wanted to hold Rose's hand, but Rose shirked away disdainfully.His eyes flashed with displeasure, but when he thought of Jonathan, he had no choice but to suppress his emotions."Rose, today is a great opportunity for me and my family. The Finches are the top among the three greatest families of Regalia, and Uncle Jonathan is the newly appointed person in charge of the family."Once he officiates our marriage, and with Celeste Jewels behind us, I am guaranteed to become the heir of the Lane family!"Nixon was the Lanes' only grandchild. But at the moment, his father, Hayden Lane, handled most of the family businesses.Hayden had an illegitimate son whom he had been workin
Rose struggled instinctively, but the man's large hand gripped hers suddenly. Their fingers laced together suggestively.He buried his face against her shoulder. His ragged breaths brushed over her collarbones and made her feel numb there. Rose could not help but shiver.She tried to kick a vulnerable part of the man's body, but she had only just lifted her leg when a hand gripped her knee.In the darkness, Jonathan's gaze was terrifyingly piercing."How heartless!" he snarled coldly and mockingly.She had paid to spend the night with him the night before last, but she was trying to make him impotent now. He silently cursed Rose.Jonathan recognized her the moment she walked into the room. He spilled the wine on purpose so that the smell of alcohol would mask his scent.He even disguised his voice by making it lower. That way, she would not recognize him.Jonathan thought about the lipstick stain on Nixon's collar. He felt an inexplicable rage building up inside his heart."Wh