Klein’s lips curved into a faint smile, but as he noticed her red, teary eyes, he swallowed the teasing words that threatened to spill out.
“The doctor said you’ll be fine once you finish this IV drip. But your tongue’s pretty messed up. It might take a few days to heal. Try to stick to mild, liquid foods for now, so you don’t make it hurt more,” he advised gently.
Whitney smiled, a flicker of warmth igniting in her chest. “Thanks, Klein.”
*So now she’s saying my name in that soft tone,* Klein thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He leaned back in his chair, two buttons undone on his crisp white shirt, his collarbone peeking out in a way that was almost unfairly attractive.
His long legs were crossed, taking up more space than necessary, a confident posture that only added to his allure.
“Do you know who did this?” Klein asked, his voice steady yet laced with concern.
Whitney lowered her gaze, her bangs falling forward to shield her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
“Do you want me to help?” Klein inquired, his tone serious.
Whitney shook her head, determination etched on her face. “I can handle this myself. But Klein, does what you said last time still count?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.
Klein’s deep eyes narrowed slightly beneath his long lashes. “What did I say?”
“You know… you said you’d make it up to me for what Carter did,” Whitney said, her voice hesitant yet hopeful.
“Can I really ask for anything?” she added softly, her heart racing.
Klein gave a barely-there smile, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Yes. Anything at all.”
He suddenly leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “Do you want to say it now?”
“Mm,” Whitney murmured, her voice soft as a feather, sending a delightful shiver through Klein’s heart.
The warmth of her words wrapped around him, making his heart tingle in the sweetest way.
“But before I ask, I have a question,” Whitney said quietly, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue.
Klein raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Go ahead.”
Whitney’s hands gripped the sheets tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. “I just want to know… are you single?”
Klein fixed his gaze on her, an eyebrow arching in curiosity. “Am I single?”
He let out a brief, derisive chuckle, but the amusement quickly faded, replaced by his familiar, composed demeanor. “I don’t have a girlfriend. Is this related to the terms you’re about to discuss?” he inquired, his tone even.
Whitney’s fingers fidgeted with the sheets, twisting and bunching them in a nervous dance. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words, until she finally mustered the courage to respond, her voice barely above a whisper, “Yeah, it is.”
Klein observed her without haste, his expression calm and patient, as if he understood the weight of her thoughts. “Go ahead. It’s perfectly fine. Whatever you need, I’m here for it. I promised you that,” he said, his voice softening just a touch.
Whitney couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps she was misinterpreting his tone, but his words felt almost like a gentle nudge of encouragement.
She locked eyes with him, her heart racing as she swallowed hard. “Um, I was wondering… do you need a girlfriend? Because I really need someone to help me deal with my family for a while. Would you consider being my boyfriend for three months?”
Whitney was no longer the naive girl she once was. The way Klein had been looking out for her recently transcended mere politeness and courtesy. She had called off her wedding, after all, and with Carter and Emily looming in the background, she knew she should keep her distance from Klein. Yet, if he actually had feelings for her, Whitney was ready to take a leap of faith.
Klein’s eyes were dark and deep, reminiscent of a turbulent sea just before a storm. “I don’t need a girlfriend,” he replied, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his lips. “But I am lacking a wife. Interested in the position?”
Whitney felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her. ‘Does he even realize what he’s saying?’ she thought, her mind racing in circles.
“It’s okay,” Klein reassured her, his voice steady and calm. “You’re still navigating your family situation, so there’s no rush to respond. Once you’re my wife, none of this turmoil will touch you anymore.”
“As Mrs. Harris, my name alone will be enough to silence anyone who dares to trouble you. So, what do you say? Want the job?”
Whitney felt frozen, as if a sudden chill had enveloped her, leaving her utterly speechless.
Klein chuckled softly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “What’s the matter? Did I blow your mind or something?”
She shook her head vigorously, trying to process his words. “No, it’s just… I’m still trying to wrap my head around this.”
‘Honestly, anyone would be left speechless by that,’ she thought, still reeling from the unexpected proposition.
Whitney genuinely wanted to lean into his offer. Three months seemed like just the right amount of time to handle her family’s chaos. But she never anticipated that he would actually propose marriage in such a direct manner.
She muttered under her breath, “James would never approve of this.”
Klein raised an eyebrow, his confidence unwavering. “Whether he agrees or not is my concern. My wife won’t need to worry about any of that.”
His self-assuredness bordered on arrogance, but it was quintessential Klein-the only man she knew who could carry himself with such steadfast confidence.
Whitney bit her lip, feeling the weight of the decision ahead. “I need to think about it.”
She looked up at him, her heart racing. “Is this going to be a contract marriage?”
The thought of marriage still felt foreign to her, especially with Patricia having just passed away. She felt an obligation to mourn for at least a year.
Klein’s response caught her completely off guard. “Whitney Moore,” he said, using her full name, “in my world, divorce isn’t even an option.”
Whitney’s heart sank. ‘So he’s not interested in a contract marriage after all,’ she pondered, feeling the gravity of the situation.
“I need to think it over,” she replied, her mind racing with the implications.
‘Marriage isn’t a game. I’m not about to take it lightly,’ she reminded herself firmly.
The curve of Klein’s lips deepened into a reassuring smile. “Take your time. No rush. You have all the time in the world.”
*****
After Whitney finished her IV drip, she was adamant about not letting Klein drive her home.
Seeing her determination, Klein relented, allowing her to take her own way.
‘Marriage is a serious matter. She needs the space to consider it,’ he thought to himself, respecting her need for time.
After bidding him farewell, Whitney hailed a cab and headed straight to the auction house.
By the time she arrived, the place was mostly empty, the remnants of the day’s hustle and bustle fading into silence.
Presenting her attorney ID card, she requested to speak with the building manager. Once she explained her situation and signed the necessary forms, she was escorted to the security office to review the hallway footage from that day.
Everything unfolded smoothly. After scrutinizing the surveillance footage, Whitney made her way to the police station to file a report, her hospital records clutched tightly in hand.
Whitney always ensured she emerged victorious.
With the case number slip safely in her possession, she returned to her apartment, feeling a renewed sense of steadiness.
It was only then that she noticed the bracelet adorning her wrist.
‘Wait, isn’t this the bracelet I wanted to buy for Grandma at the auction?’ she thought, her heart racing.
But Klein had been the one to win the bid.
And he had been the one to place it on her wrist.
‘Why would he do that?’ Whitney mused, confusion swirling in her mind.
Everything Klein had done for her lately felt almost too good to be true, so perfect that disbelief crept in.
Three days later, Laura was practically beside herself with agitation.
“Samuel, Whitney’s lost her mind. I only wanted her to meet my nephew the other day, and now she’s accusing him of sexual harassment!” Laura fumed, her frustration palpable.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.