Chapter 4

Ken and his gang were dumbstruck.

Cyrus grinned and jogged over to Selene. "Babe, you're here!"

He made sure to yell "babe" as loudly as he could so that everyone at the delivery hub could hear him.

Selene frowned ever so slightly. She could tell Cyrus was doing this on purpose, but she didn't embarrass him by calling him out on it. She just threw him her car key.

"Get in. We're leaving."

Cyrus easily caught the Porsche's key and turned to wave it at Ken and his posse, whose faces were twisted with disbelief. "Come on, you three idiots. Why are you just standing there? Aren't you gonna get on your knees and kiss my ass?"

The onlookers all swung their gazes onto the three of them in unison. The three of them went bright red in the face, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow them whole right then and there.

Cyrus knew perfectly well those cowards would sooner die than actually kneel.

"I knew you three were losers who wouldn't keep your word, but it's fine. I'm the bigger man here, so I'll be gracious about it. Anyway, I've changed my mind about quitting for now. I'm gonna make sure you three have to watch me show off every day!"

With that, he smugly pulled open the car door and got in, starting the engine. Then, he lowered the window and stuck his head out, calling out, "Oh, right. Weren't you three clamoring about wanting to 'help a woman in need' earlier?

"Still want me to call around and set that up for you right now? I'll waive my referral fee this time. How's that for being generous?"

"Pffft—hahaha!"

"Oh my god. I can't breathe!"

"Talk about failing to act tough and getting slapped in the face instead!"

The onlookers erupted into roaring laughter. They pointed and jeered at Ken and his gang, some of them doubling over.

The Porsche 911 let out a low, throaty growl. The tires screeched on the pavement and the car shot off like a bullet, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ray looked at Ken and his gang still frozen there like statues and couldn't help chuckling. "Come on, ass-kissers. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and deliver those orders. You're never gonna measure up to Cyrus in this lifetime."

…

The car was filled with a cool, clean scent. It was cold and intoxicating at the same time, just like the beautiful Selene in the passenger seat.

Cyrus snuck a look at her. The atmosphere felt a little awkward. He cleared his throat and broke the silence. "So, uh… thanks for earlier."

"No need to thank me." Selene kept her eyes on the road ahead. "We're both just getting what we need. This is a mutually beneficial deal."

Cyrus' lips twitched. "That's different. If you hadn't shown up when you did, my reputation would've been toast today."

When he thought about how Ken and the others had looked like they'd just swallowed flies, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Selene clearly wasn't interested in his little moment of satisfaction.

"Remember that your current identity is a freelancer." She paused, then started walking him through the script. "We met while volunteering as teachers in a remote village. We admired each other, shared the same values, and decided to get married on impulse.

"Everything else, just play it by ear. If you really can't handle it, then keep your mouth shut. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you'll make."

A freelancer? Well, yeah, he did have a lot of freedom when scheduling food deliveries.

As for charity work… the greatest act of charity he'd ever done in his life was probably catching his fiancee cheating yesterday and beating the guy so badly he'd have to look at a busted face in the mirror for a while. Did that count?

Cyrus couldn't hold it in anymore and turned to Selene, blurting out, "Uh… Ms. Moore?"

"Call me Selene from now on," Selene corrected him, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Uh… Selene…" Cyrus braced himself. "Don't you think this backstory is a little too… artsy? Teaching in a remote village? I can't even afford the gas to get there…"

Selene's brows pinched together, impatience flickering across her face. "The backstory is fake. The point is for it to sound reasonable. You just need to memorize it. For everything else, just answer honestly if you're asked. Don't start making things up."

Cyrus fell silent. Fine. She was the one with the money. Whatever she said, went.

Soon enough, the car had left the noisy downtown streets behind. The scenery on both sides of the road grew more and more upscale, the landscaped greenery looking like pieces of art.

At last, the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a villa with its own sprawling garden. One look at the front gate was enough to tell anyone that whatever lay beyond it was on a whole different level.

Selene stepped out of the car. "Come in with me. Remember—keep your eyes open and avoid talking more than necessary."

Cyrus nodded and opened his door as well. The moment his feet hit the ground, he saw David barreling toward them, clutching a massive bouquet of roses.

"Selene, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you forever. What happened yesterday was my fault. I was a bastard! I drank too much and lost my head for a moment. But I'm here to apologize now. I swear I'll never—"

His words cut off the second he saw Cyrus right behind Selene. Then, he snapped, "What the hell are you doing here? You think trash from the streets like you belongs in a place like this? Get the hell out!"

Cyrus' temper flared the instant he saw David. He took a step forward, his height edging out David's by just a bit. "What I'm doing here is none of your damn business. Who do you think you are, barking at me like some stray mutt?"

"You—" David reflexively wanted to throw a punch, but the bridge of his nose still ached faintly from yesterday's beating.

His body reacted on its own, his neck shrinking back as he forced himself to hold it in. His face flushed bright red.

He turned to Selene instead. "Selene, what's going on with you? How could you let someone like this follow you home? Is he harassing you? Don't be scared. Just say the word, and I'll have security drag him out of here!"

Selene couldn't even be bothered to waste her breath on him. She pulled the marriage certificate copy and a bunch of other documents from her bag.

She first held up the copy, then showed David a document which had a photo of her and Cyrus attached. The sunlight reflected off the glossy picture and official seal, making David's eyes sting.

"See this? Cyrus Reed is my lawfully wedded husband, and it's well within my rights to bring him home. Or are you saying that I need to submit an application to you for approval first, Mr. Zeller?"

David felt like a bomb had just gone off in his head. His mind went completely blank, and his eyes bulged as he stared at the documents and photo.

The act of devotion, flowers, and heartfelt vows he had painstakingly prepared instantly turned into a gigantic joke.

"N-No way. This is fake. It has to be fake!" He shook his head hard, his voice turning shrill with panic. "Selene, I know you're just mad at me. You're doing this on purpose to get back at me, aren't you?

"Look, I know I messed up. I swear I do! I'm begging you—don't gamble with your own happiness. What is he, huh? He's just some broke delivery guy! He's not even fit to kiss the ground you walk on! What can he possibly give you, aside from being poor and a disgrace? He—"

"Shut up!" Selene snapped, cutting him off. She stared at David's self-righteous face, the disgust in her eyes so strong it was practically overflowing. "You don't believe me, do you? Fine, then. I'll prove it to you."

The next second, under David's incredulous gaze, Selene turned to Cyrus and rose up on tiptoe. Her soft lips brushed against his cheek so quickly that he didn't even have time to react.

"Did you get a good look?" Selene turned back to David, whose face had gone ashen.

She said icily, "Do you really think I'd gamble my entire future just to throw a tantrum over you? Aren't you flattering yourself just a bit too much? You're not even half the man that he is."

Her last sentence landed like a loud, stinging slap right across David's face.

Cyrus was also stunned. He couldn't believe Selene was going all-in on this act.

The color drained from David's face, leaving it as white as a sheet. His expression shifted from shock, to disbelief, and to a rage twisted by humiliation.

"Y-You… I've gotta give it to you, Selene. You're ruthless. Absolutely ruthless!"

He shook with fury, his finger trembling so hard it looked like he could barely keep it steady as he pointed at Selene.

"You'd really stoop this low and drag yourself through the mud just to piss me off? I can't believe you actually tied the knot with a piece of trash just to get back at me!"

David's gaze swung toward Cyrus, full of hatred and venom. "And you, Cyrus Reed! Just you wait, you pesky little fly. I'll crush you so hard you'll never crawl back up again!"

Instead of backing down at the threat, Cyrus stepped forward, his lips curving into a smirk. "Sure. I'll be right here waiting. But before you run your mouth, maybe check on the places I beat the crap out of you yesterday. Do they still hurt?"

"Why, you—" David almost choked on his own rage, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

"Now, take your trash and get out of here. Don't you dare sully my wife's family home!" Cyrus added.

"Fine. Fine. Fine!" David was so furious he repeated the word three times, his eyes darting back and forth between Cyrus and Selene. "You two deserve each other. You'd better pray you never see me again, or I'll make you both regret it!"

He spun around to storm off, only to step on the bouquet of roses he'd tossed aside and nearly slip. He staggered, flailing for balance, looking so pathetic that even the security guards stationed not far away couldn't help glancing over and stifling their laughter.

Their barely contained snickers only made David feel more humiliated. He shouted, "What the hell are you laughing out? Keep it up, and I'll have every last one of you fired!"

With that, he dove into his sports car and sped off in a panic.

Cyrus watched the fancy car flee down the driveway, then turned toward Selene. He touched his cheek, where the lingering warmth of her lips still remained. "Ms. Moore, that was quite a sacrifice you just made."

She didn't even spare him a glance. She just tossed out two words. "Get inside."

Cyrus blinked, then hurried to follow her.

Inside, the villa was understated yet luxurious. The living room was spacious and bright, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out on a meticulously landscaped garden.

An elderly man with silver hair sat in a wheelchair, a thin blanket draped over his legs. Even though he was in a wheelchair, his back was ramrod straight. His sharp gaze carried the natural authority of someone who had been in a position of power for a long time, pressing down on anyone who stepped into the room.

"Grandpa." Selene quickly walked over to this side and crouched down, her voice carrying a faint, nervous edge.

Harrison's eyes didn't linger on her at all. They swept straight past her and locked onto Cyrus. "He's the one you mentioned on the phone yesterday… this flash-marriage husband of yours?"

"Yes, Grandpa." Selene tried to keep her voice even. "His name is Cyrus Reed."

Cyrus hurried forward, nodding respectfully in greeting. "Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Cyrus Reed."

Harrison narrowed his eyes. "How long have you two known each other? Why did you suddenly swap out the groom right before the wedding? Marriage is not child's play! You're being utterly reckless! You…"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. His chest started heaving violently, each breath coming faster and heavier than the last.

In an instant, the color drained from his face. His body pitched forward, and he looked like he was about to topple right out of the wheelchair.

"Grandpa!"

Selene lurched forward, panicked, throwing her arms around him to steady him. Her voice rose in alarm. "Albert, hurry! Get Grandpa's medicine!"

The butler, Albert Watts, had turned pale with fright as well. He scrambled toward the cabinet where the medicine was kept.

Cyrus felt his stomach drop as he observed Harrison's symptoms. This was a bout of angina triggered by emotional stress; there was a chance it was accompanied by heart failure. It was highly likely he might not be able to catch his next breath.