Chapter 004 Real Couple

My eyes popped open, and there was Bradyn, sitting right beside me.

I was stunned. Had he really just... kissed me?

"Morning?"

He propped himself up on the soft bedding with one hand, his deep blue eyes gazing down at me.

I couldn't help but fixate on his perfectly shaped lips.

That soft, warm touch, if it was a dream, it felt way too real.

I touched my own lips, feeling a bit unsure.

I didn't know if he actually kissed me like a real husband would, casually engaging in such intimate actions.

No, we are already real husband and wife.

From the moment I signed the papers in the city hall, I had become Mrs. Capel.

But still, I thought that maintaining a little distance between "strangers" was sort of an unwritten rule in this peculiar, mutually beneficial marriage – I married this guy on a whim to get back at Damon, and he agreed, driven by his own mad quest to forget someone he loved but couldn't have.

"What's wrong?"

Clearly, Bradyn didn't notice my conflicted state.

Seeing my distraction, he got up from the bed, and his tall shadow blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow over me.

I shook my head, "Nothing, I was just wondering... is it morning already?"

I squinted, looking towards the window.

Bradyn nodded, explaining that I had slept through the night.

"Sorry, I spent more time than I expected on yesterday's matters."

Then it hit me; I remembered that I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room.

I had no idea when he came back or if he had carried me to the bedroom.

But then a memory resurfaced. When I was fourteen, just after returning to my parents, Katherine deliberately gave me a glass of cherry wine, telling me it was cherry syrup. I ended up getting drunk and passed out on the living room couch.

On that particular day, my parents had many guests over for a party, and my sprawled-out form on the living room couch was undeniably lacking in etiquette.

I had even heard my parents discussing it multiple times, saying I was uncultured and lacked manners.

So I could hardly imagine that anyone in this world would tolerate my "indecent" sleeping appearance on the couch, carrying me to bed silently, without showing the slightest hint of disgust.

Perhaps Damon counted as one, but that was all in the past, fake, not worth remembering anymore.

I drifted back into my thoughts, until Bradyn told me to freshen up and join the breakfast with him downstairs.

I responded with a soft mumble and flushed cheeks before slowly emerging from the cozy blankets.

After freshening up, I descended the long spiral staircase to the dining room on the first floor.

Bradyn was already seated at one end of the dining table, and Maria, the maid, swiftly arranged exquisite silverware and crystal glasses in front of me.

Breakfast consisted of café au lait, toast, truffle pumpkin soup, apple pie, and yogurt with raspberry sauce. They were simple, everyday dishes, but the choice of ingredients was refreshingly high-quality.

I felt too self-conscious to offer a morning greeting to Bradyn, and I struggled to think of a suitable topic for conversation over breakfast.

Moreover, Bradyn's dining etiquette was so refined and unobtrusive that he hadn't initiated a single conversation with me from the beginning to the end of the meal.

Just when I thought this meal would conclude in complete silence, Bradyn uttered the first words of the day, leaving me utterly astounded.

"After breakfast, we'll be heading to my mother's place together."

Clang! The silver soup spoon in my hand fell to the floor.

Maria hurried over to help me pick it up.

I put down my utensils, my hands crossed in front of my chin.

He looked at me, seemingly waiting for me to provide an explanation for my unseemly reaction.

I thanked Maria and tried to calm my emotions.

To be honest, I hadn't considered meeting Bradyn's family so soon, at least not after I had accepted the reality of my marriage.

"You don't want to go?" Bradyn's voice suddenly rose, sounding a bit angry.

"I just feel like it's a bit sudden, and I'm not mentally prepared for it. Maybe we should talk about this. About your family. Do I really need to rush into meeting them? I mean, about us... our marriage. Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

"You're overthinking it."

Bradyn took off the napkin from around his collar, and a hint of shadow seemed to pass through his deep blue eyes.

"My family wants me to marry quickly, so I need a wife. You happened to appear at this time and offered to be my wife. That's your value."

After saying that, he left the dining table, "It's getting late. Finish your breakfast and get ready. You have half an hour."

I didn't know why, but he seemed somewhat unhappy.

Had my reaction been too intense?

Was my reluctance causing him to think that I didn't want to get along well with his family? But that wasn't what I meant. I was worried that our hasty marriage might make Bradyn's family think I took marriage too lightly.

I worried that I would bring him trouble. I stood up, feeling that I had a responsibility to explain things clearly to Bradyn. After all, we would be living together for some time.

As I entered the room, Bradyn was changing clothes. He had taken off his home clothes, exposing his firm eight-pack abs in full display. I swallowed hard, my embarrassment making a sound at the door. He turned to look at me. "Is there something else?"

"Bradyn... I just want you to understand that I'm not opposed to meeting your family. I know it's inevitable. But I'm just a bit concerned that your family might think we acted impulsively and caused you more trouble."

"So... you're worried about me?" He walked over, his shirt half unbuttoned, making my face instantly turn red. Even though Damon and I had been in a relationship for a long time, he had never asked for more than a kiss. He told me he wanted to wait until our wedding night to fully express ourselves. This further solidified my perception of him as a true gentleman.

But as it turned out, he had already spent his energy on Katherine, which was why he hadn't asked for more. What a jerk!

"Are you daydreaming? Thinking about your ex-fiancé?" Bradyn's voice suddenly grew cold, and he pinned me against the wall.

I lowered my head, and he forcefully lifted my chin. "In front of your husband, you're not allowed to think about any other man!" He commanded authoritatively.

His warm breath brushed against my face, sending a flurry of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. There's a faint whiff of spearmint on his breath.

What is that? His cologne? It smells so...

But just as the atmosphere began to take on an ambiguous tint, Maria's voice shattered the moment.

The next second, I ran to my wardrobe like my skirt was on fire.

Oh, for God's sake, what's wrong with me? I slap a hand over my eyes. I am actually imaging Bradyn above me, on the bed!

That is too much daydreaming! Fiona Isabella Green!

I spent some good time to calm down and get ready, and then I came downstairs to the yard.

Bradyn was sitting in the car waiting for me, and upon seeing me, he seemed quite satisfied.

"Missing a necklace," he said.

I touched my empty neck and was about to say I'd go upstairs to get it, but his large hand stopped me. "It's okay, you're still gorgeous without it."

Oh my, this man must have been with many women, right? Otherwise, how could he be so skilled at pleasing girls? When I briefly thought about Bradyn possibly being a playboy, my heart sank. But that was just a fleeting moment because what was about to happen was what I should really be concerned about.

Would Bradyn's family like me?