“I’m not implying anything.” Anthony raised an eyebrow and continued, “I’m not a man with many skills. The only thing I’m good at is doing business. Since you lost a fiancé because of me, I shall repay you with one.”
“Repay? How do you repay a fiancé?”
Anthony threw the document Joseph had given him on the table and pointed at it with a single finger. “Have a look.”
I reviewed the document curiously and realized that it was a contract. The contract’s content was for me to be Anthony’s wife.
The whole situation was incomprehensible.
Anthony said indifferently, “Are you done with it?”
I nodded, then shook my head violently. I muttered, confusion in my tone, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to do.”
Anthony studied me with a somber look. “Gregory needs a mother, and I need a wife to fight for my daughter’s custody. I don’t see why we can’t help each other.”
His eyes were cold, and his gaze was sharp. It was unnerving for me to meet his gaze.
I was able to think clearly after a while. I threw the contract back onto the table and avoided meeting his piercing eyes that were boring into me. “That is your own problem. Why would I help you?”
“You’re suffering from amnesia,” Anthony remarked condescendingly, “It has been two months since you woke up, and no one has sincerely helped you recover your memories. I can help you with that.”
I scoffed. “I can find my own memories without your help. Such an excuse is too unconvincing.”
Thinking my words may be too unreasonable, I added, “I think it would be best if Mr. Featherstone discusses this situation with your fianceé, Ms. Ziegler. I believe she would be more than willing to help your cause.”
“Sure…” He nodded. When he raised his lashes, his eyes were filled with determination. “But you’re the most suitable to play Sienna Stanhope.”
My brow furrowed, and I pondered. Even Emery and Alexander indeed had a hard time distinguishing me from the real Sienna Stanhope. So I’m not worried in the slightest bit about the Stanhope family catching me. ”All this talk, Mr. Featherstone, yet you’re only listing down your demands. A win-win proposal is important in every business, right?” My heart thudded in anticipation.
This doesn’t feel like my first time negotiating something this important.
Anthony leaned back against the couch and crossed his legs when he saw me relent. “Leave your safety and lost memories to me.”
It would’ve sounded like an empty promise if it was given by any other person other than Anthony. But with him, I only felt a sense of safety and assurance.
As they said, money couldn’t buy you everything, but you couldn’t survive without any money. In short, money could help you solve most of the problems. Moreover, Anthony had more than just wealth to offer. No one dared to go against the Featherstones with their current status in K City. Thus, I would get a free pass everywhere simply with one word from Anthony.
If he was giving me his word, that meant he already knew about Rylee harassing me and the guy in a suit who stopped me today. There were too many people with malicious intentions around me, so his resources would be a huge help. I was well aware of that.
Most importantly, compared to Marcus’ reluctance, Anthony’s promise to help me “recover my memories” was the thing I desperately needed. So I gritted my teeth and agreed, “You’ve got a deal!”
The corners of Anthony’s lip quirked up as he rose to leave. “Let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?” I asked, puzzled.
“To sort out the relationship between you and Marcus, of course,” Anthony said with a deadpan expression. He then added, “Also, we need to move all your stuff into my house.”
“That will not be necessary.” The rejection came out automatically. Even though I had started to have a good impression of him, it didn’t cancel out the fact that Anthony was a self-centered jerk. “Don’t we need to sign the contract? I’ve studied it. Cooperating with you to fight for your daughter’s custody and act as a lovely couple in front of the media. I know what that entails, so there is no need for us to live together.”
Anthony looked at me calmly, retorting, “Marcus’ wife and child have returned. Are you sure you want to live under a roof with them?”
My mouth hung open for a second before I snapped it shut because I didn’t know what to say while Anthony had made his decision. “I’m picky when it comes to my sexual partners. Stop hesitating. Let’s go.”
Did he insinuate that I’m not up to his standard of a sexual partner?
That comment is so unnecessary and insulting!
He is the one who benefits the most, yet he’s acting as if he’s on a high horse, giving me some hand- outs.
However, what he said is right… I was fine with staying at Marcus’ house when I was his fiancee, but now…
I blew out a breath and followed behind the stoic man.
When we reached the White residence, the woman and boy had cleaned up, and they were waiting in the living room with Marcus. I felt like an outsider when Anthony and I entered.
“What’s the matter?” Marcus approached me, ignoring the presence of the woman and the boy completely.
“Anthony wants me to be his fiancee and the mother to Gregory,” I spoke directly since I had considered Marcus to be a close relative.
There wasn’t much of a reaction from the man; it was as if he had anticipated my reply. “What do you think? Is that what you want?”
“You have your own family, and I don’t want to live my entire life not knowing what I want. He can help me with my lost memories and protect me at the same time. Moreover, I like Gregory.” I lowered my head, avoiding his eyes as I spoke.
Discounting the identities of the woman and boy, I knew of Marcus’ feelings towards me after we had been together for so long. I couldn’t help feeling guilty when I picked someone else over him so easily. I felt like a cold, heartless person.
“Understood.” Marcus nodded, keeping mum after that.
I chanced a peek at the woman and boy. I didn’t know how to break the awkward silence, so I said to Anthony instead, “Please wait a while for me. I won’t take long since I don’t have much stuff here.”
As I turned on my heel to head upstairs, Marcus grabbed my wrist. “You’re moving out?”
Anthony ripped Marcus’ hand from my wrist before the latter could react. “Do you expect her to continue staying here and watch the three of you play a happy family?”
Anthony purposely nudged me to the sides, then stood in front of me, creating a barrier between Marcus and I. The former met Marcus’ eyes arrogantly. “You better get your facts straight. She’s now my woman.”
His curt words angered Marcus. “It has been many years, but the way you speak still irritates many.”
I noticed Marcus’ clenched fists by his sides.
The situation was about to lose control, so I quickly dragged Anthony upstairs. “There’s some heavy stuff I need your help with.”
Fortunately, Marcus didn’t follow us.
I released Anthony’s arm once upstairs and headed towards my bedroom. “I really don’t understand. Why do you have such an immense animosity towards Marcus?”
“You should ask him this question instead,” Anthony answered indifferently as he gave the room a quick scan.
After helping me pack my stuff for a while, he continued, “Does Marcus sleep here with you?”
I nonchalantly replied as I folded my clothes, “His bedroom is right next door.”
Anthony continued packing in silence after that.
As I pulled my luggage towards Anthony’s villa located opposite the villa I was currently in, the man snatched it away from me.
“Is it not this house?” I pointed at the villa where Anthony had recently moved in.
“It’s too old. I couldn’t get used to living there.”
He passed my luggage to the chauffeur, who then placed it in the trunk.
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.