6. Get Married Quickly

***

Anastasia was very worried, it was getting late. But none of her friends helped her, even all her calls were rejected by them. Anastasia was frustrated because she had promised to give a letter when she and Max got married.

"Why don't you sleep at night? You haven't even eaten," Maximilan said. Actually, he already knew what she wanted and he also knew Anastasia's problem that was currently a hot topic in the country, but he secretly didn't know because he wanted to know what Anastasia would do.

Anastasia sighed, she was frustrated and looked at him.

"Max, we have to get married!"

"Get married? You want to marry me?"

Anastasia nodded, "Yes. I've already told them we're married. How about we get married for a while? At least two years, for example, and then we can part on good terms?"

Maximilian found what Anastasia said funny, she was offering a contract marriage?

"Hmm... what's in it for me to be your husband?"

"You don't have a family, do you? And a place to live?" Anastasia asked.

Maximilian nodded, "Yes. I'm single."

"Well, that's your advantage, Max. I'll be your family and this apartment will be your home, how about that? Do you agree?"

"Aren't you afraid?" asked Maximilian.

"Afraid of what?"

"Aren't you afraid that I might hurt you? We've only just met, and we're strangers. You trust me so easily who could do you harm. I could have taken your valuables from this apartment while you were out. You trust me so easily?"

 Anastasia smiled softly, "I don't have anything of value anymore, Max. The world seems hostile to me. Everything is destroyed, so what will you take with you? And I believe you too, I'm saying this sincerely. I believe you are a good man."

"If I were a good man, I wouldn't be a poor man living on the streets, Anastasia," Maximilian replied.

"Men who wear ties and work in big companies are usually bad, Max," Anastasia said.

"How can I help you?" asked Maximilian.

"Max, we have to get married!"

"Get married? You want to marry me?"

Anastasia nodded, "Yes. I've already told them we're married. How about we get married for a while? At least two years, for example, and then we can part on good terms?"

Maximilian found what Anastasia said funny, she was offering a contract marriage?

"Hmm... what's in it for me to be your husband?"

"You don't have a family, do you? And a place to live?" Anastasia asked.

Maximilian nodded, "Yes. I'm single."

"Well, that's your advantage, Max. I'll be your family and this apartment will be your home, how about that? Do you agree?"

"Aren't you afraid?" asked Maximilian.

"Afraid of what?"

"Aren't you afraid that I might hurt you? We've only just met, and we're strangers. You trust me so easily who could do you harm. I could have taken your valuables from this apartment while you were out. You trust me so easily?"

 Anastasia smiled softly, "I don't have anything of value anymore, Max. The world seems hostile to me. Everything is destroyed, so what will you take with you? And I believe you too, I'm saying this sincerely. I believe you are a good man."

"If I were a good man, I wouldn't be a poor man living on the streets, Anastasia," Maximilian replied.

"Men who wear ties and work in big companies are usually bad, Max," Anastasia said.

"How can I help you?" asked Maximilian.

"I'll take care of it. I've asked my best friend to marry me and I need a marriage certificate. My name will be further ruined if I'm accused of living with a foreign man," Anastasia replied.

"That's easy. I can help you, and tonight our marriage book will be in your hands," Maximilan said lightly.

"Are you sure?" asked Anastasia, looking at him skeptically.

"You doubt me?"

"I don't, even my friends have a hard time doing that," Anastasia replied.

"I am a thug and I have contacts. You can trust me, I will contact my contacts. I'll borrow your cell phone again."

"Just use it. If necessary, use it for all your needs, Max," Anastasia said.

Maximilian nodded and got up from his chair to call his assistant.

Meanwhile, Anastasia bit her lower lip, hoping that he could help her.

***

Maximilian sat in the living room chair of Anastasia's apartment with a calm expression on his face, even though his mind was racing. He had already decided that this was the best way to protect Anastasia and he also wanted to get to know her better. Marrying her in secret would give him full control over this increasingly complicated situation. However, in order to carry out this plan, he needed the help of Bryan, his most trusted assistant.

Quickly, Maximilian pulled out his cell phone and dialed Bryan's number. Within seconds, Bryan's familiar voice was on the other end.

"Mr. Max, how can I help you?" Bryan's voice sounded as serious as ever.

Maximilian took a deep breath before answering, "Bryan, I need your help to organize something very important. I need you to call the marriage guardian to Anastasia's apartment as soon as possible."

On the other side, Bryan sounded hesitant for a moment. "Sir, are you sure you want to do this now? I mean, isn't it too soon? If it's just a fake marriage license, I can help you."

Maximilian smiled slightly. He knew that Bryan always tried to think rationally, but this time his decision could not be delayed. "I have decided, Bryan. This is the only way to keep things under control. Besides, I need two marriage books with different identities. I want her to be my wife."

There was a long pause before Bryan finally answered, his voice full of caution. "Two marriage licenses with different identities? Do you wish to keep your true identity hidden from Miss Anastasia?"

"That is correct," Maximilian replied without hesitation. "I only want her to know that I am Max Stone, and no one else. This is important, Bryan. I hope you can arrange it."

Bryan took a deep breath, but finally gave in to his master's wishes. "Yes, Mr. Max. I will take care of everything. The marriage license and the marriage book will be ready in a few hours.

"Thank you, Bryan," Maximilian replied in a satisfied tone. "Make sure everything goes smoothly. I don't want any mistakes."

After hanging up, Maximilian sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating his next move. With another identity, he could protect Anastasia from any danger that might come her way, while hiding his true identity. The public had already forgotten about the eldest son of the Kingsley family. Before revealing his true identity, he also wanted to test Anastasia to see if she was worthy of being his wife.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Anastasia stood in front of the mirror, trying to make sense of her mixed feelings. Her heart was filled with doubt and confusion. She slightly regretted saying that Max was her husband, she was cornered and felt cornered at that moment.

"I can't hesitate, I have to marry Max as soon as possible and then I will save my career," Anastasia told herself.

A gentle knock on her bedroom door jolted Anastasia out of her reverie. She turned and opened her bedroom door.

"Are you ready, Anastasia?" asked Maximilian in a soft but firm tone.

Anastasia frowned, "Ready for what?"

"Marriage."

"Marriage? To whom?" Anastasia still didn't understand.

"Don't you want us to get married right away and get a marriage book?"

"Can it be that fast?" asked Anastasia in an incredulous voice.

Maximilian approached and took Anastasia's hand in his. "Just trust me, Anastasia. I'm a man of my word."

There was something in the way Maximilian spoke that made Anastasia feel at ease, even though she knew there were many things the man was hiding from her. But for now, she decided to trust him.

Moments later, the door to the apartment opened and Bryan entered with a well-dressed middle-aged man. The officiant had two marriage licenses ready, as Maximilian had requested. They both entered the living room, where Maximilian and Anastasia were waiting.

Bryan, quietly and respectfully approaching Maximilian, handed Maximilian the two marriage books. "All is arranged, Mr. Max. Here are the two marriage books with the identities you requested."

Maximilian took the books with a quick nod. He opened one of the marriage books, saw his name listed as Max Stone, and smiled with satisfaction. Everything was going according to plan.

"Bryan, keep the one with my real name. If I need it later, you can give it to me," Maximilan said.

Bryan nodded his head.

The officiant soon began the simple wedding ceremony in the living room. The tense atmosphere Anastasia felt eased a bit as the procession progressed. Maximilian responded firmly to each question posed by the marriage guardian, and Anastasia followed suit with answers that sounded almost without hesitation.

When the procession ended and they officially became husband and wife, Anastasia still felt like she was in a dream. She couldn't believe that her life had changed so drastically in just a few hours. She was marrying a stranger!

After the officiant and Bryan left, Anastasia stood in the middle of the living room, holding the wedding book that felt so foreign in her hands. Maximilian approached her and reached out to take the book.

"You look surprised," Maximilian said.

Anastasia nodded slowly, still staring at the wedding book with disbelieving eyes. "I can't believe it all happened so quickly. And... how did you get this marriage book so easily? And this man, I feel familiar."

 "I have some connections that can help expedite the process. Don't worry, Anastasia. I'll make sure everything goes well, and Bryan, he's an acquaintance of mine, he'll help me."

"Bryan... is he Bryan Evans?"

Maximilian nodded, "You know?"

"Bryan Evans, he's not just any man. You could say he is the assistant of the famous Kingsley family. How do you and he know that?"

***