Chapter Seven

She watched the man with a look of curiosity. He was still wearing his neutral expression and looking at her indifferently. He sure didn't look like he was joking.

" Here," he rolled a custom-made golden fountain pen towards her. "Go ahead," he gestured with his head, passing a careless hand through his hair.

Lydia narrowed her eyes suspiciously and lowered her voice to a low whisper. "Were you .....were you the one who did all this just so I would sign this contract of yours?"

He chuckled heartily.What was so amusing?

She shot him an even more suspicious look.

Why would he want her to sign a marriage contract just so he would help her?

" What do you think, Miss Lydia Sinclair?" 

She blinked. Her look was almost like she was trying to search for answers from his mind through his eyes.

"Do you really think you're worth the trouble? I mean, apart from your family's status and well.....your pretty face, what else do you think you could offer to push me to such an extent?" The mockery made her chest tighten.

His eyes slowly darted to her chest.He seemed even more amused,"Thing is... you're not my type."

So, even the Adrian Harold had a type? Interesting. She felt insulted though, inadvertently glancing down at her chest and shooting him insecure looks.

She didn't really possess the voluptuous body, like the 'body tea body matcha' structure. But despite her petite build, she wasn't completely flat.From someone of his person, it sure did come like a personal attack. 

" I should've sensed something was up when you claimed me to be your fiancé in front of everyone, but I just brushed it off as something unserious. "

She suddenly remembered their kiss, heat rushing unto her face.She felt embarrassed.

" Poor you right? "

" Yeah. Poor me. Now why do you really want me to sign this? "

She was defiant.She was in a pickle , yes. But she wouldn't just sign this papers carelessly. What if his motives were rotten? What if she ended up in a bigger trouble? 

He cleared his throat," As you know, the alliance would be unlocked. I know my brother is after it, but I also want it to myself" 

He spoke like he knew his brother wasn't very innocent. And he wanted it for himself? Guess he was the greedy type. 

"You're Adrian Harold. The heir to the Harold empire. You already have everything." She scoffed at his lousy excuse. 

" You're right,I'll give you that," Adrian shrugged, his eyes gleaming with the usual dark, unreadable emotion.

"But you know... I am ultimately just a fun-loving person. And I love trying out new things."

Alright, but how would she know if he was untrustworthy like his brother? What if their whole family had the blood of treachery running through them just like Henry?

"You're worried about my brother? He wouldn't dare drag a woman with me. He knows how much I hate disrespect."

 It was obvious as even yesterday, Henry sustained a deadly hit just because he tried to interfere.But Was he reading her mind?

"See, Lydia, you're screwed.For real. Besides, did you forget you asked me to be your husband just yesterday? This is it. I'm offering you a way out here" he dropped the honorifics completely.

"How do you know I'm screwed? My legal team is already working on it. In no time, I'll be cleared."

He sighed not wanting their conversation to drag any longer.

His look was confident."Doubt you would've given me this much of your time over this matter if I was mistaken"

Damn. He was perceptive .She gave him that.

"And I can tell you for free..the Gerald's wouldn't let you get off the hook so easily " 

He was making sense and knows how to play his cards well.It was a good thing.she was already finding it a divine feat to continue questioning him.

" Besides,rejecting my offer only means you're ready to dine in prison.Just so you know, the food there sucks and I don't think someone of your status would fancy that" he added smiling with his eyes.It shouldn't have looked that good on someone so insufferable.

"How sure are you that I'm innocent.That I didn't kill Thorne Gerald.A dejected smile pulled her lips."Even my mother doubt's me"

Her eyes were watering. She tried hard to push the tears in; it would be too embarrassing to cry in his presence. He had been trying to mock her to her face afterall.

She noticed him trying hard to avert her gaze,and direction altogether."You wouldn't do that," Her fingers froze mid air.She hadn't expected that.

" I'm also aware that geezer was no saint"He was right again. Lydia glanced at the contract once more. A year wasn't that long, and if he was indeed telling the truth, then this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. After all, he was right. He would be of use to her, irrespective of charges against her or not.

"Done" she signed it.

The ride to the Harold mansion was filled with silence in the car.

The contract stated that she was required to move to the Harold estate immediately,which she found unnecessary—at least, not until they officially sealed it with a formal wedding. Was that even legal?

She swallowed her anxiety.

Well, a week wasn't much anyway. Next Saturday, the deal would be put in place.

"But do you think it's okay and safe to stay at the Harold place?"

There was no response. He looked completely carried away by his device, or was he intentionally ignoring her?

Anyway, she was already exhausted from the stress.

In no time, a car drove into the Harold estate and came to a halt in front of the massive mansion.

Lydia and Adrian stepped out of the car and were hurriedly welcomed immediately by the butler. Adrian casually flung the key to him and the butler got someone to park the car 

The very first sight that greeted Lydia as she stepped foot into the grand foyer left her speechless.

"Don't worry, honey. Adrian wouldn't waste any more of his precious time on that sister of yours."

There they were—Amira and Natasha.

They were holding some kind of meeting with the Harolds.

A marriage proposal meeting?

She couldn't believe her ears.

They were arranging a marriage proposal while they believed she was locked up?

"True. Helen is right," Warren chimed in. "I personally won't hold someone else accountable for another person's sin." Warren didn't seem too bothered by the turmoil hitting the Sinclair house.

Lydia's mouth gaped at how her own family members could be doing this while they thought she was rotting in a precinct cell. Right—Isaac wasn't there. He could never be found in such a hypocritical setting.

"Oh, there's Adrian..."Helen's expression turned sour as soon as she spotted Lydia. Everybody's heads snapped towards the entrance.

Natasha's lit-up face turned pale in an instant.

The shift in the air was palpable.

Lydia's chest tightened .She felt Adrian's fingers suddenly wrap around her cold hands."What's going on here?" Adrian demanded. His voice was a sub-zero, as he guided her forward, dragging her toward the gathered pairs.

In response, everywhere went silent before Helen spoke. "And what is that loose woman doing here nephew?" Helen barked in a cautious tone, shooting her a barrage of sinister glares.

"I thought she was supposed to be in detention.For murder!"

Adrian didn't flinch.

He slowly stepped in front of Lydia, his towering frame aslo shielding her from his aunt's piercing gaze."I suggest you mind the way you speak, Aunt. My fiancée is not a crimin, and most especially, not a slut," His eyes narrowing to dangerous slits, his warning,clear.Without batting an eye.