Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 110

Half an hour later, the car pulled up smoothly at The Obsidian Circle.

Stephanie and Jonathan got out of the car, one after the other.

As Stephanie bent down to change her shoes, Jonathan was already seated on the sofa.

Stephanie pursed her lips.

She had thought about it the whole way, but she really felt there was nothing to explain.

She and Jonathan weren't a real couple.

Their marriage certificate had been obtained under bizarre circumstances. They had no feelings for each other; at best, they were just using each other for their own needs.

As for her and Quennel, wasn't the situation obvious?

What did she need to explain to a partner of convenience?

It was late. Stephanie started up the stairs, ready for bed.

Behind her, Jonathan’s ambiguous voice called out, “Come here.”

She paused, turned her head, and instinctively said, “There’s nothing between Quennel and me!”

Jonathan stared at her, his gaze incredibly deep.

Suddenly, he stood up from the sofa, reached out to cup the back of her neck, and pulled her into his arms.

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

“Tell him what?”

“That I’m your husband.”

Stephanie froze. So that was what he was angry about?

Cecilia’s words suddenly flashed through her mind—

“But from my years of experience, men like that are usually starved for affection. If you show him even a little kindness, I bet he'd give you his life.”

Even if he had been forced into this marriage, he still needed to be validated in public.

Stephanie was silent for a moment. “I thought, since we’re secretly married, you wouldn’t want people to know about our relationship. I was just being considerate of you.”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow, as if finding her words amusing. “Considerate of me?”

Stephanie tilted her head up to look at him. “But that’s what the agreement says.”

“Agreements can be voided.”

“…”

Her dazed expression was innocent and helpless, like a deceived little rabbit.

It was also incredibly effective at bringing out a man's baser instincts.

Jonathan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wrapped one arm around her back, gripping her waist, while his other hand brushed away the stray hairs by her ear.

“You went to all this trouble to marry me, and you’re so considerate. Isn’t it because you like me?”

“…”

Stephanie’s fingers curled instinctively. How could this guy twist things around like that?

Who went to any trouble?

Jonathan took her hand and placed it on his chest.