Chapter 6

When Katherine got home, Mark was sitting on her couch, flipping through the marriage certificate she had left on the coffee table.

She had put it in a protective case and kept it carefully, as if she truly treasured this marriage.

At the sound of the door opening, he turned his head to look at her.

Under his appraising gaze, Katherine still felt a little uneasy.

She thought she saw mockery in his eyes.

Maybe he had noticed how satisfied she was with what she had gained from this marriage.

And he would not be wrong.

The reason she had been so interested in protecting the marriage certificate was because he had transferred that six hundred thousand dollars to her that day.

Katherine lowered her eyes and walked into the kitchen to pour him a glass of water.

“Come home with me tomorrow,” Mark said.

He did not take the water. Instead, he got up and went to her kitchen cabinet to look for tea.

“Okay,” she said.

She had a feeling tomorrow would not be peaceful.

“Go easy on the iced drinks,” he said, glancing at the neatly arranged bottles in her fridge. “You already have poor circulation.”

Katherine looked at him in surprise. “How would you know that?”

“You’re pale. Your hands and feet are always cold, your cycle’s irregular, and you don’t look like you have much stamina,” he said casually as he made tea. “You should take better care of yourself.”

“You can tell all that just by looking?”

“It’s not hard to notice.”

Katherine immediately held out her wrist. “Then check me again.”

“I already have.”

She had no memory of it. “When?”

He did not answer.

Katherine moved closer, her bright eyes full of curiosity. “When?”

At that moment, she looked like a curious little puppy, all eager attention, waiting for him to explain.

Completely different from the clearheaded, calculating woman she became when money and benefits were involved.

“In bed,” he said, turning slightly and looking down at her.

Katherine froze for two seconds, then awkwardly pulled her hand back.

Mark said unhurriedly, “Probably after I…”

Before he could finish, Katherine instinctively knew it would not be anything decent. She raised her hand and covered his mouth.

“Don’t say it,” she pleaded, embarrassed.

The corner of Mark’s mouth curved in a mocking smile.

A woman bold enough to have a one-night stand might not be genuinely shy.

Men did not necessarily like women who acted sweet and proper on the surface but were open in bed. At the very least, they would not choose someone like that as a wife.

Katherine saw the ridicule in his eyes and quickly let go of him.

Mark handed her a cup of the tea he had made, then went to lie down on the couch.

“Are you staying here tonight?” Katherine asked.

“Mm.”

The news that he had registered a marriage with Katherine had already alarmed his family. His mother was probably at his place right now. He had come here to explain things to Katherine and, while he was at it, get a little peace and quiet.

Seeing that he had no interest in talking to her, Katherine did not ask anything else. She turned and went downstairs.

Mark naturally did not care where she was going.

He had come here instead of going to a hotel only because he had deliberately let his mother know where he was.

Katherine returned an hour later.

She rustled through the bags and said with a bright smile, “I went downstairs to buy you a few things you might need. There aren’t any high-end stores nearby, so it took me a little longer.”

He glanced over.

She had bought a new electric toothbrush. The towels and pajamas were all from nicer mid-range brands, clearly different from her usual spending habits.

“You don’t need to go out of your way for me,” Mark said calmly, cutting straight through her intention.

Katherine had not expected him to pour cold water over her like that.

The smile on her face slowly faded.

She had clearly been trying to be thoughtful, yet all he had for her was prejudice.

When people were misunderstood, their hurt could easily spiral out of control.

But in this marriage, Katherine was the one in the weaker position, so she could only manage her own emotions.

“Okay,” she said.

Then she turned to go back to her room.

“Upset?” he asked suddenly.

“No. I’m tired.”

After saying that, Katherine shut the door tightly behind her.

Early the next morning, Katherine was woken by the noise.

Living with someone else really was exhausting. Even something as simple as different schedules could disrupt her whole rhythm.

When she went into the bathroom, she noticed that Mark had used the things she had bought yesterday. The toothbrush. The towel. All of it.

“I thought you said I didn’t need to go out of my way for you?” she said after washing up, looking at him where he sat on the couch.

She took the chance to throw his own words back at him.

Mark was replying to work messages. He had just woken up, and there was still a faint laziness about him.

“If I didn’t use them, wouldn’t you be upset?”

Katherine immediately denied it. “I wouldn’t be upset. I could always give them to someone else.”

“You’re giving things like that to strange men?” Mark raised a brow, stood, and walked over to her. Then he leaned down in front of her. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll get the wrong idea?”

His breath brushed her cheek, and his voice was lazy and smooth, completely different from his usual polished, elite demeanor.

Maybe very few people had ever seen this side of him.

“Don’t forget we’re legally married, Ms. Landon,” he said. “Planning to cheat on me already?”

Katherine’s face warmed.

A man like him could make someone’s heart stir with one careless flirtation.

Losing control would be the beginning of disaster.

She turned her face away and changed the subject. “Do I need to prepare anything before going to your house?”

“No.”

The moment the Winter family was mentioned, Mark stopped teasing her.

Katherine knew she would not be welcome there.

Even so, she had underestimated just how unwelcome she would be.

The Winter family was wealthy, but that kind of luxury came with a suffocating pressure. It made Katherine feel like she could barely breathe.

Maybe that was what happened when a person stepped into a world that was never meant for them.

Mark’s mother, Grace, and his father, Marcus, both carried themselves with remarkable presence, the kind built on money, status, and years of being obeyed.

Neither of them looked pleased.

The only person who seemed genuinely welcoming was Mark’s grandfather, Luther. He wore a kind smile as he took Katherine’s hand and asked her question after question, from her family background to how she had grown up.

“Since you two are legally married, hurry up and hold the wedding,” Luther said. “Then have a child.”

He was clearly eager for a great-grandchild.

Grace glanced at Katherine and smiled. “Dad, I think this should be considered slowly. At the very least, the two families should meet first.”

A faint, mocking curve appeared at the corner of Mark’s mouth.

“Katherine’s parents happen to be in Riverton,” he said calmly. “I plan to hold the wedding soon.”

Grace said unhappily, “What’s the rush?”

“You’ve been rushing me all this time,” he replied evenly. “Doesn’t this suit you perfectly?”

Grace took a deep breath and set down her silverware.

It was a sign that she was furious, though her voice remained calm when she spoke.

“Come upstairs with me.”

Mark stood.

Katherine clearly saw the coldness in his eyes.

A short while later, an argument broke out upstairs.

Grace’s voice was icy.

“I don’t agree to this marriage. With a family like hers, are you trying to throw yourself into charity work? Other than that face, tell me what she has going for her. Would any decent woman secretly get a marriage license with a man before even meeting his parents? She might as well write gold digger across her forehead.”

Then Grace broke down crying.

“You’re doing this because you resent me for not accepting her. That’s why you found someone far worse than her, just to spite me.”

Katherine figured that “her” meant Isla.

She had rarely felt this awkward and humiliated.

Luther said, “Katherine, come take a walk with Grandpa.”

Katherine was grateful that he had stepped in to rescue her from the situation.

The Winter estate had a large garden.

She supported Luther as they walked, and he patted her hand comfortingly.

“You and Mark are the ones living this life together. Don’t pay attention to anyone else. You won’t be living with them most of the time anyway.”

Katherine’s eyes curved in a smile. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

“No matter why the two of you got together, you’ve already gotten the license,” Luther said. “From now on, live well together. Give me a healthy little great-grandbaby, and Grandpa will reward you with an apartment.”

Katherine had no idea how to respond, so she could only smile faintly.

In the end, the wedding was set for the day before Grace returned to her hometown.

Once Luther gave his approval, no one could refuse.

Katherine did not know what Mark had said to his mother.

When the two families had dinner before the wedding, Grace attended, though she was not warm. Several relatives from the Winter family came as well.

In contrast, Katherine’s parents looked uneasy and out of place.

To be honest, Katherine felt the same way.

Still, she took care of her nervous parents as best she could.

As for Mark, at least he gave her parents all the respect a son-in-law should.

After that, his cousin called him outside.

The two of them still had not returned by the time dinner was about to begin.

Luther said, “Katherine, go call your husband in for dinner.”

Katherine nodded.

When she stepped out of the private room, she saw Mark and Nancy Winter standing on the terrace at the end of the hall.

She quickly walked over and heard Nancy say, “You’re definitely going to regret this marriage.”

Mark did not deny it.

In fact, he admitted, “I regretted it the moment I signed.”

Nancy laughed. “If Isla broke up with her fiancé yesterday, would you still go through with this wedding? You still have a chance to regret it now.”