Chapter Two

Adrian went rigid.

  He hadn't expected a daughter of the Sinclair family to be so perverted and extremely bold at it-So she believed, as the realization of what she had just blurted out hit her.

  The silence between them turned very much awkward. 

  Adrian didn't let go of her waist; instead,he continued staring down at her with an unreadable expression probably opposite to his usual sharp state of reasoning.

His eyes narrowed, pulling her closer and using his grip to steady her balance, he pushed her to stand on her own feet.Lydia wanted to disappear.

  Throwing words nonchalantly but now she's feeling like the ground underneath her should split open and swallow her whole beneath the scrutiny of his gaze that was becoming way intrusive.

  But looking at it ,she couldn't really blame him, right?

  "I’m not really sure Miss Sinclair understands what she is saying," Adrian said, his voice dropping into a smooth drawl. 

  He leaned in. "Perhaps my future sister-in-law has simply been under too much stress with her marriage preparations."The words came out lika a sigh."I get it," he continued in a light tone.

  "Today is your engagement day. So, I will choose not to take offense."

  Lydia's breath hitched. 

  Funny enough, this was the first time words had ever been exchanged between her and Adrian,and it had to happen like this. 

  Yet, despite the absurdity of her proposal, his demeanor remained calm as he spoke as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred at all, as if it were nothing worth metioning.

  She cleared her throat, forced herself to regain some composure, and muttered hoarsely, "What makes you think that?"

  Her unpredictable question stopped him in his tracks as he had already taken a step to move past her up the stairs, but now he turned slowly back around. 

  His jaw tightened, gaze steady and unreadable.”I don't quite get what you seem to be implying," he said coldly,sending a sharp shiver down her spine.

  "Never mind,"

she  turned away from him and hurried down.

  On the stairs ,he didn't move.He didn't blink while staring intently after her as a slight grin curled onto his lips."She didn't even say thanks," he murmured,amused.

  Lydia tried as hard as she could to shove brief interaction out of her mind. 

  Everything was on the line. Today, if she didn't get engaged to Henry, she was going to leave the city for good. And honestly, she would rather leave the city and disappoint her family than end up stuck with a worthless cheat.

  Suddenly, her mind kicked into high gear as she reached the bottom of the stairs. 'What if I get a powerful man to put the ring on instead?'

  It didn't really seem like a bad plan to her as it was her initial thought, but the truth was, she hadn't calculated a thing when she threw those words at Adrian. 

  Good thing he hadn't made a scene out of it. Given how everything went down, it probably looked like she was the one trying to drag things out.

  What an idiot! She thought.

  "Lydia," a gentle voice called out, a pair of hands dropped onto her shoulders.

  She got startled and turned around.it was her mother.

  'What am I supposed to do now?'

  "Darling, what are you doing here?" her mother asked.

 "The guests are already coming in. In no time your husband-to-be will be here, and his family is already waiting. You need to be ready to welcome him when he arrives, you reckless girl!"

  Poor mummy didn't know what was going on.

  Even if she spoke up, would she even be believed?

  As far as her family was concerned, they seemed to trust her elder sister way more than they did her. In just a matter of seconds, her truth would be buried and her own reputation damaged if she acted impulsively.

  Forcing a smile,"Yes mum, I was just checking up on Natasha. My sister needs to be here, right?"

  Her mother nodded compassionately, dragging her by the hands to the kitchen as she was strongly bent on the idea that she had to prepare the soup for her fiancé as to honor ancient customs for good luck.. happy marriage.

  Lydia didn't resist.

  As she stood there, she wondered what Adrian was up to but brushed it off, recalling she heard he was well acquainted with her brother, Isaac Sinclair.

  * * *

  While everyone was seated, soon after,she caught the sight of her sister approaching down the stairs making her blood run cold. 

  Natasha was fully dressed in an even more exquisite gown than Lydia, all dolled up as if she were the one getting engaged today. Their eyes locked, but Natasha's face remained blank.

  Soon, the time for the real programme arrived, but the future groom was nowhere to be found. Just then, the double doors swung open, and Henry stepped through, looking all flashy and put together.How the hell did he get out?!

  Lydia was pissed. 

  Henry walked in, greeted the guests with a polite smile, cheered, and announced that the real deal of the gathering should continue. 

  Much of the talking between the families were done with everyone satisfied with the terms.

  Before she could even react, he caught her by the hand and pulled her from where she stood into the spotlight.

  "Everyone here is aware that everything is set today," Henry announced intercepting her plans. 

  "I am officially going to get engaged to my beautiful princess." He turned to her,"You'll make me the happiest man in the world.It is an honour to get married to you my love.

  He reached for her hand, about to slide the ring onto her finger.Lydia gritted her teeth, something flared inside her.

  Just in time, someone lightly slammed into Henry.

  "I'm afraid but this lady here is getting engaged to me today little brother"