Chapter 3

"How about I help you put her through a pre-wedding test and see how she reacts?

"If she passes the test, you can always marry her afterward. If she makes a scene, then we'll keep the pressure on until she accepts it."

Zach was the first to slap his thigh in approval.

"Now that's a great idea! This way, you'll end up with an obedient wife too."

Steven remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Fine. But don't take it too far."

The moment I heard those words, I couldn't even process how much they hurt.

When I first met him, the Cooper family had just gone bankrupt, and Molly left him because of it.

I was the one who quit my job to help him build his business from the ground up, running from client to client through freezing winters until my feet were covered in frostbite.

I was also the one who drank with clients until I ended up in the hospital just to help him secure major contracts.

Back then, he introduced me to everyone as his fiancée, his voice full of pride.

But after Molly came back, I became a liability to his business empire.

I admitted that I'd always been a little too blinded by love.

Even after the pain, I comforted myself with the thought that as long as I passed his test, things could go back to the way they were.

But after hearing Molly's inner thoughts, I finally understood.

The moment I gave in once, Steven would only push further and further.

What waited for me afterward would be endless suffering, and eventually, even death.

At that moment, I finally woke up.

After all, nothing was more important than my own life.

Meanwhile, Molly was internally losing her mind.

"What is going on with this female lead? Why does she look excited about this?"

"System, has the plot completely fallen apart? Because this isn't my fault..."

[Maybe she's playing the long game. Make a few more outrageous demands. She won't be able to keep up the act forever.]

Molly cleared her throat and was about to speak.

I beat her to it and linked my arm through hers.

"Miss Hart, you should move in today. It'll give us a chance to get to know each other better first."

The living room fell silent once again.

Steven studied me for a moment before turning to look at the stunned Molly.

"You accepted her that quickly? You're not angry at all?"

Molly finally snapped out of it and shook off my hand.

"Are you crazy? We're not besties. I don’t want to get to know you!"

I pressed my lips together.

"If Steven wants to have a wedding with me while making things official with you, doesn't that mean he wants two wives? How are we not besties?"

"You... I..."

In the end, she gritted her teeth and threw herself into Steven's arms.

"Steven, she's obviously pretending to be generous so she can trick me into moving in and bully me behind your back!"

Yet a trace of satisfaction flashed through Steven's eyes, and the corners of his lips even lifted slightly.

"That's enough. Nadia says what she means. She's not one for manipulation. Since she's agreed, stop being stubborn and move in today."

Molly said she'd do whatever he wanted, but I still caught her rolling her eyes and cursing him in her head.

"What a jerk. He really thinks he gets to have the best of both worlds. And somehow he's actually pulling it off."

Soon after, Steven answered a phone call and gave me a nod.

"Something urgent came up at the office. I need to take care of it. I'll arrange the wedding as soon as possible. You two... get along."

He shot Molly a meaningful look before leaving, leaving the two of us staring at each other.

A few minutes later, Molly let out a snort.