Chapter 6

Chapter 5

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Heat flooded my cheeks before I turned the kn ob and practically ran outside, bumping into the coachman who

does not look like a coachman anymore.

“Follow me, Lady Henrietta,” he said, smiling before turning his back and walking straight to the staircase.

ollowed the coachman whose name is Aiden while Andreas’ words played in my head over and over

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The array of clothes in front of me made me wonder how and why he got those clothes in the first place.

Warning bells inside my head told me that they were probably clothes from all the women he had brought in this manor. Then again, I reminded myself it was none of my business after I told him he could do whatever he pleases when it comes to his sexual frustrations.

In the end, I ended up choosing one of the most comfortable dresses in the group. It was a sleeveless dress with a decent neckline that covered a considerable amount of skin on my chest. It wasn’t something I chose because I liked it. It was just one of the two dresses that had enough fabric to cover what needed to be covered. The other one was too long for me. If ever I find the need to run, the dress I chose was the perfect choice.

I did not bother looking at myself in the mirror and went straight to the door where Aiden was waiting. I left the hideous dress in the room just so Andreas could see it again.

“You look splendid, Lady Henrietta,” he said, bowing slightly. His practiced compliment told me enough he’d said those words many times. I gave him a curt nod. Something about this man gave me the impression that he always had something up his sleeves. He looks like someone you shouldn’t trust but will convince you, anyway.

“Sir Andreas is waiting at the dining.”

I raised my brow at him. “Dining? I don’t intend to stay. I wish to go home.”

He stared at me for a beat longer before he said, “It would be much better if Lady Henrietta would tell Sir

Andreas that herself. I would be glad to take you home once he says yes.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t take me home if he says no?”

A wicked smile curved his lips but it was gone as soon as it came. “Sir Andreas would never do that, my lady.”

Before I could even answer, he gestured for me to walk down the hall where I suppose the dining hall was. Left with no choice but to oblige, I walk the hall with that fluid grace I was taught since I was young. My footsteps were quiet across the hall but the man’s footsteps ahead of me were even quieter. It made me wary of him.

He turned left and then finally, we reached the foyer, much to my relief. He continued to walk to the opposite side of the library where I was earlier and then we reached the dining where I saw Andreas already sitting with

the meals on the table..

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He was leisurely drinking his wine the moment we arrived. He stared at me over the rim of his wine glass, silently noting the dress I was wearing. He did not frown like the way he did earlier and nodded in approval. I stopped the urge to roll my eyes.

“I wish to go home,” I announced.

He gently placed his wine glass on the table and gestured to the seat beside him.

“Care to join me for a meal first?”

“That won’t be necessary, Sir Andreas. I believe our negotiation is done.”

He chuckled and I gave him a questioning look. “We are far from done, Henrietta. For one, you still need a reminder that you

should call me by my name if we’re about to wed.” He frowned.

I muttered a curse inside my head. “If that is all, then fine, Andreas. Take me home.””

He let out a dry laugh. “Sit down, Henrietta.”

His hard stare pinned me on the spot and I might have jolted when I heard how his voice was laced with that venomous tone. Clenching my fists, I started to make my way to the seat next to him and sat there.

“Wine?” he offered and I shook my head.

He was silent for a moment before he said, “Fine. Help yourself with whatever you want to have.”

“What else do you need for us to talk about?” I asked, switching the topic. I stared at him as he was slicing a piece of meat with his knife and gracefully placed the meat inside his mouth. One look at him and anyone who does not know Andreas Marfori Havilliard would think he’s not the ruthless warrior everyone feared and

admired.

I gritted my teeth as I watched him savor his food and take his time chewing. He then looked at me and said, “Acting.”

“What?”

“When and where should we act like a couple?”

“Why do we need to do that? We’re just going to marry on paper. No one in the Kingdom would expect we are in

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love since we just got arranged yesterday. We don’t need to pretend.”

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He started cutting another slice of meat and said, “I am not saying we should act like we’re in love. We have to at

least look like we’re getting closer.”

I furrowed my brows at him.

hy do we have tal

He gave me a blank stare. “Philip rejected you over your stepsister. You ought to make him see and regret his decision. See, men are territorial beings, Henrietta. Philip, especially, with that title of his. Philip once saw you as someone who belonged to him. At some point, there should be a time when he cherished you, despite his double-faced act. If he sees you doing well and getting along with another man, he’d feel like taking you back.. He’s possessive and likes to be in control. I am sure you have noticed those qualities with your time together.”

I stayed quiet because I did notice them when we were together but I was so blinded by the ecstatic feeling of love that I chose to ignore the signs.

“So you want us to pretend to get along and look like we’re getting on good terms so Philip will want me back?

Will he want me back?”

He nodded as he took another piece of meat to his mouth. “Certainly. But you’re not going back to him. You want to show him something? Show him that you were not affected by the betrayal. It gave them so much satisfaction. to betray you. You have the power to take that satisfaction back.”

I thought about it. What Andreas said is true regarding Philip’s nature. However, I don’t want to get that kind of attention from him. I loved him but he chose my stepsister as his bride. As much as I want for us to be together

again, I am not an idiot.

“How will we…act?”

A smirk formed on his lips before he placed down his fork and knife. He then looked at me. “Now we’re asking the right questions.” He rested his chin on top of his folded bands and added, “It could be you clinging your arm to mine. It could be me holding your arm. It could be us holding each other’s hands. Hugging. Kissing–”

“Absolutely not.”

“I may be branded as a ruthless warrior, Lady Henrietta, but I assure you that I am an excellent kisser–”

“That is not what I meant and I did not need to know that!”

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“I needed you to know that.” He shrugged and I wanted to grab the water and splash it on his face.

“Hold hands,” I said. “We can hold hands.”

“That’s all?” he asked, still grinning. I shot him a glare.

“That is all. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He leaned back in his seat. “Are you certain? I might not be too indulgent next time.”

“I don’t care, Andreas.”

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We stared at each other for several seconds before he crossed his arms and said, “There’s the Ritual, though. Are

you aware of that?”

My insides went cold. The Ritual is what couples who are about to marry do. It doesn’t have a specific day of when it should be done but it should be anytime before the wedding day. The Ritual is just to celebrate the upcoming union. It usually involves a special alcohol made especially for this Ritual. And with that kind of alcohol, people tend to get…wild.

“We absolutely can’t do it. We tell them we’ll have it in private.”

He tilted his head as though he was contemplating if that excuse would work or not. But then he sighed and switched the topic.

“So when do we do it? The acting?”

“When we’re in front of them–my stepmother and stepsister. Your family. Or anyone who sees us. We can only drop the act when it’s just us two.” I noted the presence of Aiden near the door. “Or three.”

“So we have to pretend to everyone.”

“And you can’t let other people see you with another woman,” I said. After hearing about his sexual frustrations and our deal for him to take it with someone else, I realized this man might be quite active in that aspect. I do not intend to sleep with the man I do not love and so, he shall be free to have his dalliances with other women.

“You can’t let other people see you with another man,” he said, his voice dark and it suddenly made me nervous.

“O-Of course. Who do you think I am?”

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“A frustrated person that just needs a little push?” he answered and I fought the heat creeping on my cheeks.

“I am not frustrated. And even if I am, I am not going to go around satisfying my frustrations with other men!” I said sternly but the man just smirked wider as though he had successfully lured me into his trap.

“So you’re going to ask me then?” He angled his head and let out that wicked grin.

“I’d rather die than ask you about something like that, Andreas.”

He chuckled before he replied, “Only time will tell, Henrietta.” His gaze did not stray from mine even as he wiped

his mouth with a napkin.

I wanted to flip the table and do all unladylike things in front of him but I stopped myself. I should not let this

I I

man affect me this much.

“Stay the night,” he suggested and I gave him a look..

“What? I need to go home-”

“Think about it. I came to your rescue and swept you away only to return you the next day. What would they

think?”

“That I am an easy woman?”

He let out a dry chuckle. “That you have moved on and you don’t give a sh it.”

I pondered upon his words and realized he was making sense. When I looked at him, the smug smile on his face told me that he knew I was considering it.

He stood and towered over me before he said, “You said you want to use me.” His piercing gaze never left mine. as he added, “So use me properly, Henrietta. Use me to your heart’s content.”

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Chapter 7