Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ novel Chapter 20

Breakfast

I blow-dried my hair, put on a shirt top and jeans, and was ready to come down to the kitchen. My heart rate slowed down a little, but the thought of half-naked Aren made that foolish blood pomp in my chest race again. I took many deep breaths as I walked down to the kitchen, trying to mentally prepare myself to see him again, and I sincerely hoped that this time he would be dressed.

I sighed in relief when I saw him wearing a black shirt and a casual pair of jeans, but I quickly realized that it didn’t make him look less disturbing… He was standing by the oven, preparing breakfast. Who would have known that this billionaire could actually use a frying pan and an oven? I walked closer and swallowed hard. He didn’t make it easier for me. In his black shirt with rolled sleeves and forearm muscles tensing as he swirled vegetables in the pan, he looked insanely hot. He must have sensed me gaping at him because he shifted his eyes to me and grinned.

“Hope you’re not allergic to eggs,” he said, turning to the cutting board to chop mushrooms and pepper.

I could only respond by shaking my head. My brain was too busy processing how to handle this new, suit-less, and chef-like version of Aren Lan. I stood like an idiot, admiring Aren’s cooking skills and wondering how come every single thing he did seemed perfect.

“You may either sit down or make us some coffee,” he suggested, pouring stirred eggs onto the pan. I nodded, again choosing not to talk. I walked over to the coffee machine. I took out the coffee beans from the cupboard, grounded them, and started preparing a black, full of caffeine, liquid. “Espresso?” I asked, remembering what he ordered at the café the day we met.

“Yes, please,” he replied, putting the fried veggies on our plates.

The moment I put the second cup of coffee on the kitchen table, Aren brought our breakfast. It looked absolutely delicious. Every detail had been carved into perfection: the dish he cooked, the basket of freshly baked scones, or the small plate with butter.

“Let me.” He took one scone and cut it for me.

“Thank you,” I replied, taking both halves from his hand.

I didn’t expect this kind of treatment from him. I had never pictured him serving anyone or making someone breakfast. Was it some kind of game for him? Was he bored and decided to play house? Or was he enjoying messing up with me? “Delicious coffee,” he commented, taking another sip from his cup.

“I’m glad it suits your taste…” I said, hesitantly.

He was relaxed and smiling, whereas I was completely stiff. I knew that I was supposed to get used to him and learn to cope with him, but this was too new, too different, and too frightening. Honestly, I was terrified, terrified that I could actually enjoy living with him. I

Brandiast

had to stop this idyllic mood before I would find myself lost in it…

“So… what do you need this marriage for?” I blurted.

His expression changed immediately. His stare at me darkened. His lips no longer curled into a smile. He straightened in his seat, placing his elbows on the table and tangling his fingers together. “I need more power, and Grandfather’s shares will give me the power I need.” He shrugged.

I could see that there was much more to it. He was hiding something.

“Why do you need it? You are already one of the richest men in the world. Why would you need more than you possess?” I inquired. “I have my reasons.” He smirked and finished his coffee.

I felt as if the air around us had become heavier. He no longer looked into my eyes.

“You don’t trust me…” I muttered. “No, I don’t.” His reply felt like a stab in the gut. “You wanted me in your bed, but you don’t trust me?” I asked, confused.

He said coldly. “I don’t need to trust those I fuck”

I leaned back, feeling as if I was looking at a different person. He seemed completely different from the man who carried me to his bed to give me a towel, and then made me breakfast. “I feel like an idiot…” I mumbled under my breath.

He didn’t necessarily hear me, but he must have noticed the change in my expression because he let out an annoyed sigh. “It’s about business. I trust only a few people when it comes to business.”

“Even if I’ve signed a full-of-penalty contract?” I frowned. “You told Neil to tell me everything… and I wanted to do my best to help achieve… whatever it is that you want. I -thought that we were going to be -”

“This will never be a real relationship,” he said curtly. The stabbing pain became worse, but I decided to fight through it. “I meant partnership. I thought that you were going to treat me as your partner. Were you planning to use me as a dumb puppet who would stand next to you whenever you needed to prove that you have a wife?” I squeezed through my teeth. He cocked his head to one side, a look of amusement and surprise on his face. His eyes locked on me again, and this time his gaze seemed more devilish as if he was testing how determined I was. It took all I had within me not to flinch or move back, seeing his predator gaze, but this time, I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. “I’m sorry, but I don’t do well as a men’s accessory,” I hissed. “I’m not some bored lady whose most time-consuming hobby is shopping and doing nails. You said that you were going to take care of my Grandma, and I felt grateful. I was so grateful that I thought of using all of my abilities to help you and actually do something to earn that money you’ll spend on her treatment. But if you are too scared to take a risk and trust me, then too bad.” I stood up,

pulling back my seat with a meaningful scratch.

I couldn’t understand why his words hurt me so badly. It wasn’t like I had expected to turn this contractual marriage into a loving and caring relationship. Nonetheless, I wanted to make sure that he would pay my Grandma’s medical bills, and how was I supposed to ask him to use his money when all I would be doing is living in his house and using his last name? I needed to give him something he wanted… and giving him my body wasn’t an option. I was confident that if he had a lot of enemies, there would be a lot of ways that I could use my skills to help him. I hated the fact that, despite knowing what I was capable of, in his eyes, I was no different than those bimbos who merely wanted to crawl into his bed. My annoyance grew and I needed to leave this apartment before I found the right-sized object to punch him with.

He smirked. “I needed to know everything about my future wife.” How could I possibly say no to his condition? The truth was that I would do anything to get the money for that surgery, and now, Aren had just said that he would pay for it? I wanted to cry tears of joy.