Chapter 5
Liora was still fuming with jealousy, so she tried to make a move to leave in our car. Fortunately, Edward was not having it.
Without a second thought, he locked the car door mercilessly, shutting her out. As we drove away, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Liora’s eyes were full of fury, her jealousy burning so bright it felt like she could set me on fire with a single glare.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect Luke to lose control like that,” I said softly, breaking the silence.
We were waiting at a red light when I decided to take out the small medicine box from the glove compartment. I gently
dabbed the corner of his mouth where the fight had left a mark.
“It’s just a small injury, no need to worry,” he reassured me, trying to downplay the situation. But I could not help feeling a twinge of regret.
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“If I had known Luke would go that crazy, I never would‘ ve agreed to that marriage agreement with you in the first place,” I sighed.
Edward’s face tightened for a moment and his voice took on a slightly anxious tone. “Don’t overthink it. Since I’m the one who made the deal with you, it’s my responsibility to bear the consequences.”
He gave me a small smile and, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled out a piece of chocolate, handing it to me.
“Here. Give me a smile.” His eyes softened. “At least today, we didn’t walk away empty–handed. We‘ ve managed to create some distance between Luke and Liora, even if just a little.”
After a brief pause, he frowned slightly, looking at me with a hint of concern.
“Though I’m worried Luke might not fully believe that we’ve gotten the marriage certificate. He might think it’s just an act.
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To make it convincing, maybe it’s best if you move into my house for a while, just to keep up appearances.”
What he said made sense and after giving it a quick thought, I did not protest. So, for the first time in nearly two months, I found myself staying in a luxurious villa again.
Later that night, as I lay rolling around on the massive bed, I could not help but feel a bit dazed. Just a few weeks ago, I was frantically looking for a job, trying to restart my career as a designer. I had even submitted a resume to the Reynolds Group, hoping to find some normalcy again. But things had taken such an unexpected turn.
I remember the day I met Edward during the interview. He had flown back from abroad just to conduct it himself. When I casually mentioned that I was single, I noticed his eyes light up with sudden interest, though I didn’t think much of it at the time.
Two days later, he asked me to meet him at
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a café and his expression was different. He seemed somewhat somber, almost sad.
“This is an offer letter,” he had said, sliding the paper toward me. “You can come back. to work when you‘ ve fully recovered.”
It was clear by then that he had thoroughly investigated the situation between Luke Grayson and me.
I was taken aback and could not help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid that I’m just using this as a cover to sneak into your company. and steal trade secrets for Luke?”
Edward chuckled softly, a smile playing on his lips. His dark eyes sparkled like stars, bright and captivating, drawing me in despite myself.
“Calista Hale,” he called softly, his gaze unwavering, “you‘ re not that kind of person.”
For a moment, my heart pounded loudly in my chest. I could not deny the warmth that spread through me, especially as I recalled
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Luke’s previous warnings.
He had once told me, “Edward is a player. He knows exactly how to charm women. Stay away from him, or you’ll end up getting fooled and counting money for someone else.”
But after spending just a few days around. Edward, I began to sense how wrong that warning was.
Despite his relaxed and humorous.
demeanor, he had a genuine sincerity that Luke had failed to see. There was no sign of the reckless playboy Luke had painted him to be. So, when I found myself heartbroken once again, silently crying over what could never be, Edward surprised me with an
offer.
He had said he would help me make Luke regret his mistakes.
That was when I made the decision to get the marriage certificate I had longed for. Not with Luke, but with his greatest rival.
–
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In return, I only had to help Edward win the Watson Family’s design contract for the following year.
Life in the villa with Edward felt
unexpectedly comfortable. We ate together and shared the space and I still managed to catch a ride with him every morning to work.
One afternoon, while I was out shopping alone, something unexpected happened.
I was suddenly blocked by two tall bodyguards and before I could make sense of it, I was “invited” to step into a car. Inside, Luke sat waiting, his expression dark and stormy.
Frustration boiled up inside me. “What do you want?” I asked, annoyed by his sudden.
appearance.
“Do I need a reason to see you?” he asked
back.
I rolled my eyes, barely able to contain my irritation. “You’re married now, Luke. You
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should know better than to chase after
other women.”
“Calista Hale! I’ve told you before, it was only to help her! The one I love is…” He tried to explain, but I cut him off.
“Stop pretending,” I said coldly.
Pulling out my phone, I revealed the photos and chat logs from his and Liora‘ s wedding night. “Weren’t you having a great time with her that night?”
His face paled and I could see the panic flicker in his eyes as he swallowed hard, trying to find the words to defend himself.
However, I was not interested in hearing it. “Don’t bother explaining. I’m genuinely happy for you and your unforgettable first love, your precious Liora Sinclair. You‘ ve finally won, haven’t you? You two are officially a couple now.”
“And don’t worry,” I added, my tone growing sharper, “there’s no child to divide your precious property.”
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My cutting words struck deep and I could see the sting in Luke’s eyes. He was speechless, left with nothing to say.
He grasped my hand tightly, his voice filled. with urgency. “Calista, I swear to you, from the beginning to the end, you‘ re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with! If I had known earlier that we had a child, I never would have agreed to Liora’s demands.”
His words tumbled out in a rush. “Yes, I’ll divorce her right now and then we can…”
Before he could finish, I pried his fingers off one by one, my expression cold and unyielding. “Don’t waste your time. I’ve already gotten the marriage certificate with Edward.”
I continued, my voice sharp. “You’ve had people follow me for more than ten days. Haven’t you already confirmed it? Why are you still trying to deceive yourself?”
I could see the pain in Luke’s eyes as he
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clung to the corner of my clothes, trying to hold me back. “Calista, you must‘ ve been tricked by him. I can find a lawyer and help. you sue Edward or even Liora…”
“Stop!” I cut him off, my tone firm and
unwavering.
I refused and said sternly, “Edward is better than you in every way. Appearance, character, family background, everything. Most importantly, he doesn‘ t have a first love he can’t let go of. I want to be with him.”
“He and I are married now, Luke. Your should stop interfering in my life from here
on.”
With that, I opened the car door. He sat there, his eyes bloodshot, filled with anger and heartbreak, as though he wanted to lash out but could not find the words. Then, without another word, he turned and left.
