Chris' voice came from the other end of the phone. "Go over to Rexton Manor and pick up some documents for me. Also, bring me that purple tie in the wardrobe.""Yes, sir," Kathryn replied respectfully as she pressed the button for the lowest floor. She hung up just as the elevator doors opened. "Lend me your car; I need to go to Rexton Manor," she said to Tally."Mr. Albert should give you a car if he's going to order you to go to Rexton Manor all the time," Tally grumbled, but she took out her keys from her bag and gave them to Kathryn.Kathryn took the keys. "I'm just going to pick up some things for him. I'll claim all the expenses for you.""Mileage and train ticket costs are very different," Tally muttered. She'd never been satisfied with the way claims were handled in Chris' company. To her, he was a miser.Kathryn laughed. "Do you want me to pay you back the difference?""How are you going to do that? You have to pay almost two thousand dollars in mortgage payments every month."

However, when Kathryn met Markus's sharp gaze, she shivered. Any thought of escape was immediately forgotten."Are you okay?" When she still remained immobile, Markus's gaze sharpened. Kathryn snapped back to attention at once."I'm fine!" she said as she made her way to his desk. Markus turned his laptop so that she could see the screen, which showed her supporting Chris. It looked like the time when she'd helped Chris back to his room.Kathryn's mind went blank again. Thankfully, before she could figure out how to react, the footage became a mess of black and white dots. Clearly, it had been damaged. Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it.Nodding, she told Markus, "That's right, that's what Tally and I saw. We watched the entire night's worth of footage, but we didn't see anyone go in." She should know because she'd been in the room the entire night.Now that the surveillance footage was well and truly damaged, no one except her, Tally, and the security guard they'd bribe

Shock after shock tested Kathryn's limits. At that moment, her mind was reeling, paralyzed with fear. She didn't think she'd be able to take this any longer. Chris, on the other hand, didn't look happy when he heard that Markus had found the best person for the job. "It's too late," he said, brows deeply furrowed.Kathryn had no idea what he was talking about, but Markus did. It had been a month since they'd left Northvale, and that woman should be finding out whether she was pregnant or not by now. Once she found out, the worst outcome for Chris would be if she turned up on his doorstep pregnant with his child."So what should we do now?" Markus asked.Chris refused to marry any woman his stepmother set him up with. "She's been planning for this for a long time," he said, smiling coldly. "We'll just have to ruin her plans." How would she set him up with another woman when he was already married?Kathryn was completely perplexed, while Markus knew exactly what Chris was talking about

Kathryn frowned and asked, "What if I don't want to?" Her grandmother had repeatedly advised her not to settle for less, let alone force it! Everything was for the sake of her happiness. This was an act, and she wasn't keen on putting up with it.Markus' mirthless expression turned even colder. "Were you listening to Mr. Albert?" If she continued to refuse, there would only be one outcome—and that was leaving Harborlean!She wanted to say more, but his sharp gaze reminded her of her predicament. She was trapped and had no choice.When he realized she had nothing more to say, he asked immediately, "Where are your identification papers?""They are with my sister," she answered with her head hung low.Markus checked the time on his wristwatch before continuing, "I'll give you the rest of the afternoon off. Go get it."She finally felt what it was like to be forced into marriage. She'd always imagined it to be a customary affair with roses and candlelight. Perhaps their families woul

Kathryn noticed how late it was getting after checking the time on her phone. She then went to seek Jessica out to get her identification papers and say her goodbyes. Jessica, meanwhile, was fixing up a bed. She looked disappointed when she heard that Kathryn was leaving. "Why are you leaving? You should spend the night here."Kathryn shook her head. "I can't. I have work tomorrow.""What do you need the identification papers for?" Jessica didn't know that she was here for the papers. After all, the civil registry was something that was rarely used."The company's annual team-building trip will be taking place abroad. I need these to apply for a passport." Not wanting her sister to worry, Kathryn made up a lie. After all, this was a marriage of convenience. Their relationship had no future, and divorce was inevitable.Jessica nodded and handed her the registry. Kathryn accepted it and said, "I'll return them the next time I visit.""Take your time!" Jessica said.Kathryn flippe