Chapter 7

Scarlet stepped into the car that arrived to pick her up, just as Ryan had mentioned earlier. Her stomach twisted in knots as she remained unsure if she had made the right decision by agreeing to his unconventional marriage proposal. The thought of marrying a man like Ryan stirred mixed feelings in her, but the driving force behind it was the need for revenge.

With Ryan’s assistance, she believed she had a better chance of ensuring they paid for what they did to her.

As the car navigated through the bustling streets of the city, Scarlet couldn’t help but fidget in her seat. Her mind raced with thoughts of the potential outcomes and whether she was truly prepared for the aftermath of accepting his proposal. Despite the uncertainty, she reassured herself that Ryan was the only person who could help her achieve her goals, making her decision the best one.

The car pulled up in front of an exquisite restaurant, causing her anxiety levels to rise. Stepping out of the car, a man approached and offered to escort her in. Despite her apprehension, she masked her nerves and followed behind him as they entered the restaurant.

Her eyes were immediately captivated by the glamour of the luxurious surroundings, a masterpiece of stunning decor and exquisite cuisine. From the impressive lighting to the carefully curated artwork, no detail had been left unattended.

The restaurant appeared almost empty, and the sound of her heels clicking on the marble floors resonated as she followed the escort to the table where Ryan was seated.

The table, adorned with white roses and an expensive bottle of champagne, gave off an air of celebration. Positioned in the center of the restaurant, it seemed to be a setting for a significant occasion.

The escort brought her to the table, and she bowed curtly to thank him before he walked away. Ryan was already seated, dressed in an expensive-looking suit, his hair perfectly styled. He looked as polished and suave as she would expect.

“Scarlet!” He called out as soon as he saw her, standing to embrace her. “You look even more stunning than I remember,” he complimented, and she almost rolled her eyes at his very unsurprising comment.

“Thank you,” Scarlet replied, trying to remain calm.

After exchanging pleasantries, he pulled out a chair for her, and she thanked him before sitting down. He took the seat opposite her, and she studied his features, not hiding her cautious expression.

“Thank you for coming to see me,” he began after a few moments of silence. “Regardless of whatever your decision is, I’m grateful that you took the time out to see me,” he commented politely.

She nodded her head in acknowledgment but remained silent. Unsure about what to do, she had to give Ryan credit for trying to assure her that he wasn’t going to pressure her.

“I haven’t made up my mind completely yet,” she finally said. “I still have a few questions for you before I decide on what to do,” she told him.

He nodded his head and said, “I’m happy to answer any questions you have. But first, why don’t we order dinner? We can eat and talk at the same time, can’t we?”

She chuckled slightly and agreed with him. They picked up the menu and started to flip through it, deciding on the dishes they wanted. After a few minutes, they settled on their food and called the waiter over to take their orders.

As they waited for their food to arrive, Scarlet couldn’t help but feel a sense of apprehension. Ryan’s proposal had caught her off guard, and she still wasn’t sure if she could trust him enough to agree to be his wife. While they waited, she decided to start with the first question that had been bothering her.

“Why do you want to marry me to help me, and why do you think getting married would be the best option?” she asked.

“I mean, I understand that you and Henry may be rivals and you have a bone or two to pick with him, but even at that, I still don’t understand the benefit of a fake marriage like this,” she added, wanting him to explain his reasons to her.

Ryan sighed before leaning in as if to convey the seriousness of his response. “I may have said this before, but allow me to repeat myself. I firmly believe that there’s nothing more dangerous than a scorned woman. You have the right to be angry with Henry and your sister, and I want to help you use that anger to get what you want. By getting under Henry’s skin, I could take advantage of the situation and use your contributions to further my own plans.”

He paused for a bit as he searched her eyes for any sign of understanding. “I understand this is a lot to take in, but I know that I can help you get back at Henry and your sister, but I’m going to have to ask you to trust me,” he responded, but she still wasn’t satisfied.

“I’m still not satisfied. I want to know why exactly you think getting married will help us take down Henry, and how.” She demanded, needing a clearer explanation.

Ryan leaned forward, his eyes glinting with determination. “Henry has always viewed me as his biggest rival and his number one enemy. If we get married, it will show him that we’re working together, and that could give us an advantage in some situations. You better than anyone should know how emotional he is,” He explained, and she sighed.

“To put it simply, the announcement of our marriage alone would be enough to send Henry into a rage, and I intend to use your anger and his rage to dig out his weaknesses. Additionally, getting married would give you more power and authority, and believe me, you’ll need it,” he explained.

She nodded her head in agreement, but she couldn’t help but wonder if that was all there was to his plan. For some strange reason, she kept getting the feeling that his reasons for wanting to help her ran deeper than his excuse of them being rivals at work. She had a feeling he wasn’t telling her everything, but she refrained from digging too deep. At least not yet.

“What about my sister?” she asked, remembering her role in all of this.

“I don’t think your sister matters at all,” He said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Once we get Henry out of the way, she’ll have no choice but to fall in line,” he answered.

“And what if Henry finds out that our marriage is a sham?” she asked.

Ryan shrugged his shoulders and said, “We’ll deny it. I have connections that could help us get a real marriage certificate and even help us stage some photos to prove that we’re actually in love.”