Quietly fuming, Emily stormed out of the room, feeling the small space closing down on her. She could not believe the nerve of that man, showing up unannounced and intruding on her privacy. Suddenly, her sanctuary didn't feel safe anymore.
The room that once gave her refuge, her shelter during the storm, her protection from the harsh world she lived in, had slowly but surely become a cage. The air in the enclosed space turned thick and hazy, suffocating, making it harder for her to breathe.
With no choice, she walked straight to the back door, needing space and fresh air.
"What was wrong with him? Why can't he take a hint?" Questioning her husband's state of mind. "Clearly, this marriage was a mistake. But why won't he agree to the divorce?" In her mind, it didn't make sense.
After marching along the cobblestone, she sat on a wooden bench underneath the shaded tree. It was an ideal spot for silent brooding since it provided privacy from eavesdroppers and prying eyes. It was also a safe distance from the children playing on the playground.
"What now?" Emily uttered out of exasperation as her eyes followed the birds that flew on and off the branches above her head. She used to love watching nature as it calmed her down. But now, not even the cool breeze could ease her mind.
"How could I get rid of him?" She asked herself, as if forcing her brain to come up with an ingenious plan.
She could let Mother Tessa in on the secret, admit to her that her marriage was nothing but a sham. However, the orphanage already had more than its share of problems. She could not burden them with such a trivial matter.
Just looking at the state of the grand manor, it already required maintenance that she was sure Mother Tessa could not afford with their current budget. Even with steady financial assistance from charitable donations, it was just enough to sustain the daily needs of the mothers and kids who temporarily resided in the estate. There was not much left for repairs and renovations.
"No, I didn't come here to bother them with my marital affair." Emily firmly resolved to deal with her situation on her own. But she still had to come up with an idea, or she would be stuck in this place with her so-called husband, spending a honeymoon that was never part of her plan.
"Oh, no!"
"Ms. Jane... watch out..."
Emily heard the kids call her name, but it was too late to react. She stood frozen in her spot as the ball sped toward her. All she could do was squeeze her eyes shut and wait for the painful impact.
Seconds passed. Nothing.
"You're safe now, Princess. Your Prince has come to your rescue." That fast-becoming-annoying voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her eyes open.
For a moment, the playground, the kids, and everything else seemed to vanish, except for her husband, who loomed over her like a horrible eyesore. Emily watched as he juggled the ball in his hands, with a smug smile plastered on his lips. Obviously, he was deliberately enjoying himself at her expense.
"We're sorry, Ms. Jane." The kids shouted apologetically. "Thanks, Mister." The kids uttered in unison when her husband tossed the ball back in their direction. Then, the children started kicking the ball on the grassy portion of the open courtyard, resuming their game.
As the children's laughter faded back into the background, Nolan occupied the seat next to her despite her open protest. It appeared nothing could stop her husband from acting like an arrogant asshole.
"For your information, I'm not your Princess, and you're definitely not my Prince." Emily hated it when men assumed that she was a damsel in distress. She might look fragile, but she had always been tough as a nail. A mere bump or a fall here and there would not break her.
In fact, she hated this man, in particular, even more. However, that did not stop her heart from beating faster than usual when he sat closer to her. She might not like to admit it, but his presence, his mere touch, his baritone voice could easily break the bubble she had wrapped around herself.
"And who said I needed to be saved?" Emily had no intention of thanking him when all she wanted was for him to leave her alone.
"I think that is now my job as your husband." Nolan declared that as if it were the noblest thing to do. "And I take my role seriously." He proudly said.
"Why do you insist on this marriage?" Emily couldn't understand why he kept pushing to stay married to her when all she wanted was a divorce. "I'm sure if you want to get married, many more suitable women will be lining up to be your wife."
It was not as if she could contribute anything to his career. On the contrary, she believed she would only drag him down with her. What good was this marriage to him?
"If you want, I'll even set you up with some of my friends. I'm sure they would not hesitate to marry you in a heartbeat." She kept going. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling for names on her list. "Jacky is a supermodel. I'm sure that is your type."
"What about Nancy? I think she has just been nominated for her latest movie. The two of you will be perfect for each other." She continued suggesting names, playing the perfect matchmaker as she tried to set him up on a date.
"I'm sure they are all beautiful and nice." Nolan lifted her hand, stopping her from checking her phone, and cradled her fingers in his. "But..." He paused before pulling something from his pocket.
Emily tried to pull her hands, but his fingers held them firmly.
"I'm already married." Before she knew what he had planned, he was pushing the ring that she had returned through her manager back onto her finger. "And as I said, I don't intend to get a divorce anytime soon."
Truthfully, her heart skipped a beat as soon as his fingers touched her skin. The moment he declared that he was married and put that ring on her finger again, she could not help but feel something warm inside. It reminded her of why she fell in love with this man. His charisma was just to the roof, erasing all her doubts about this man's ability to make any woman fall to her knees.
Of course, she thought his gesture was so romantic until it was not. His next words suddenly pulled her back down from the clouds, making her crash to the ground.
"And I'm here to convince you to accept my proposal. Contract Marriage for a year." Nolan added, elaborating exactly what he wanted.
Just when she thought that he was about to declare his feelings, he had to pull that stunt on her.
"I'll guarantee three major leading roles, sponsorships, promotions, and I will even add ten million dollars as a bonus upon our divorce." Nolan enumerated the benefits as if discussing a new acting contract deal. "It's a win-win for you. Or you can even name what you want."
Truthfully, his offer was more than generous. For someone like her, who was just starting to make a name for herself, that was a good deal. Too good to be true, if she was being honest.
"Oh my!" Emily sighed, completely overwhelmed. "All that for a one-year contract." Still, she was not about to sell her dignity for her career, money, or fame. "It's a great offer. But I'm not interested."
Not bothering to think about it, she pulled her fingers off his hands and walked away. But she barely made it three steps when he stopped her.
"There must be something I can do to make you change your mind. Think about it. Don't say no right away." Nolan pleaded with her as he blocked her path to her escape.
This time, his face turned solemn. It was as if he were genuinely asking her for help. There was a desperation in his eyes that she had not seen before. It was brief, but she was sure it was there a minute ago.
"Damn, I don't know." Emily should have rejected him outright, but something in his eyes stopped her. "Maybe there is something you can do." She said instead.
"No, what did she do?" She silently chastised her big mouth for speaking without thinking. How could she let this man manipulate her again? Damn, those eyes. She was just a sucker when it came to desperation. She just could not say no.
At that point, she knew she would probably regret saying that later. Now, there was no way for her to back out on her word.
"Perfect! Just say the word."