Khloe froze, momentarily convinced she’d misheard. Was Henrik serious, or was this some kind of joke?
But the unwavering intensity in his gaze quickly dispelled any notion of humor.
What could his motive possibly be?
Aside from her appearance, what could she offer a man like Henrik? But he could have any woman he desired, so why her?
Khloe mulled over her options, treading carefully before responding, “Mr. Watson, I’ve been to prison, and my name is already dragged through the mud. If I agree, people will mock you.”
Henrik’s lips curled into an amused smile at her calculated response.
There was a glimmer of recognition in his eyes, as if he’d expected such caution.
Most women, faced with such an offer from him, would have jumped at the chance without a second thought. Yet Khloe’s measured hesitation intrigued him more than he’d anticipated.
“I only need a fiancee for appearances. My family left behind a patent with technology I require. But it’s locked behind a stipulation: marriage. I need someone to help me fake it, to get what’s rightfully mine.” Henrik idly wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger. “You need an ally, and I need a wife. We both stand to gain. Think it over.”
Despite his polite phrasing, Khloe couldn’t miss the unyielding authority behind his words.
Even though his tone was calm and almost lethargic, there was an unshakable aura of darkness and coldness surrounding him. It sent a clear signal to her instincts: stay away.
But what choice did she really have?
Her life had already unraveled to its lowest point. Teaming up with Henrik wouldn’t make it any worse.
For her mother.
For revenge.
Henrik was the last lifeline she had left.
“Alright,” Khloe said firmly, her voice steady as she met his gaze head-on.
A radiant smile spread across her face, her eyes glinting with confidence.
Extending her hand, she said, “Hello, my future husband. Allow me to introduce myself-Khloe Evans.”
For a brief moment, Henrik was caught off guard, but then a subtle smile curved his lips as he took her hand. “Hello, my future wife. You may ask one favor from me now.”
Khloe nodded, completely unbothered. “I want you to guarantee my mother’s safety. She’s in a hospital under the control of the Evans family, and I’m concerned about what might happen. At the same time, I need you to ensure they have no idea you’re involved.”
“Okay,” Henrik said with a slight nod. “But tell me, wouldn’t you rather have me step in and make the Evans family disappear altogether?”
To say she didn’t want that would’ve been a lie.
Khloe knew that with just one word from Henrik, the Evans family would crumble without a fight.
But deep down, she also understood that nothing in this world came without a cost.
Making a deal with Henrik and becoming his fiancee had already tipped the scales in her favor.
If she dared to ask him to take down the Evans family, who knew what kind of price he’d demand in return? He was not the kind of man she owed favors to lightly. She had no intention of diving into waters she couldn’t navigate.
“There’s no need. Isn’t revenge far sweeter when you handle it yourself?” she replied, turning him down.
Henrik chuckled, clearly amused by her icy response. Watching a kitten bare its tiny claws in defiance was endlessly entertaining.
He didn’t press the matter. Instead, he shrugged off his coat and draped it over Khloe’s shoulders. “Get some sleep.”
As Khloe was wrapped in his coat, its warmth quickly chased away the chill clinging to her body.
It didn’t smell of sweat like she’d expected; instead, it carried a subtle, refreshing mint scent.
It was only at that moment that Khloe noticed the weight of her exhaustion.
Since the second she’d stepped out of prison, her nerves had been stretched taut like a bowstring.
As she felt Henrik shift beside her, she instinctively pulled the coat tighter, curling up on the sofa and drifting into an unintentional sleep.
Thirty minutes later, Henrik reappeared, cradling a soundly sleeping Khloe in his arms.
The sight of him carrying her out left the men waiting outside stunned once again.
They couldn’t help but wonder if Henrik had fallen under some sort of spell.
Yet not a single one of them dared to voice their thoughts. Instead, they simply trailed behind him in cautious silence.
The group made their way back to an old house in the city, Henrik’s birthplace-a detail known to only a select few. Fiona Byrd, once Henrik’s nanny and now his loyal servant, had been the steadfast caretaker of the house for years.
The moment she saw Henrik walk in with Khloe, her surprise gave way to unrestrained joy.
Her eyes widened even more as she watched Henrik gently remove Khloe’s shoes, adjust her pillow, and carefully lay her down on the bed-all without asking for anyone’s help.
At that moment, Fiona couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. “Mr. Watson, may I ask who this young lady is?”
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.
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