The boutique was suddenly pin-drop silent. The others looked sympathetically at the sales assistant while the latter scowled. Despite that, the manager who came eyed her, urging her to do what the customer wanted. After all, that was one expensive wedding dress.

Marcus was nonchalant, and the smile on his aloof face never did reach his eyes.

Cordelia could not help tightening her hold on his hand.

“Forget it, let’s not buy it,” she told him softly. “This wedding dress is very expensive, and we won’t have much use for it in the future…”

“Swipe the card.” Marcus sounded frosty. “No password necessary.”

Ultimately, it was the boutique manager and designer who mediated the situation.

Marcus stood by the door smoking while Cordelia had her measurements taken inside. This time, no one dared mock her. The sales assistant stood aside stoically after the manager chastised her, and the designer kept complimenting Cordelia’s figure. Even the manager treated her like she was a VIP, making her coffee and fetching her water.

When they finally left the bridal boutique, Cordelia was glum on the way back. The wedding dress was worth more than $4,000… She bit her lip and looked at the man next to her. He was indifferent and he looked as calm as an iceberg.

“Marcus.” Cordelia failed to hold herself back after some time. “I think we should talk.”

Marcus stopped walking in surprise. The girl looked at him seriously with her big eyes blinking and cherry lips pursed.

“You… were too impulsive just now.”

“What?” The man furrowed his brows.

“When we were at the boutique just now. Things didn’t have to escalate to that point… Why did you have to vent and buy the dress? It cost more than $4,000. Do you know how long that would last us?”

He genuinely did not know that. It had probably been too small of a meal to him in the past.

Cordelia sneaked a peek at him, but his chiseled face was still blank.

“I… I’m not blaming you.” She softened and said, “I just meant that we’re already married. We have to think about the future. I know that you were venting on my behalf, but hold yourself back when the time calls for it. There is lots more to spend on our home…”

Home? For some reason, the corner of Marcus’ lips ticked up automatically when he heard the word.

“Besides, I haven’t gotten my wedding gift yet. There’ll be other uses for it. We can’t splurge so lavishly.”

Cordelia’s voice went softer and softer. Worry crept up on her face once she thought of her mother, who was hospitalized, and her brother, who was still waiting for his allowance. She dared not let Marcus find out, though. She was supposed to be Yelena to him.

“Splurge so lavishly?” The man repeated the words in a murmur, hints of a smile tinging his tone of voice.

“Aren’t you the heiress of the Jenners? Why does it feel like you’re frugal with your money?”

Cordelia widened her eyes at him as her heart thumped. She frantically changed the topic of conversation. “Are you thirsty? I’ll go get us some milk tea,” she said, turning to go to a milk tea parlor by the street.

Marcus chortled while watching her frantic escape. His phone vibrated at the same time, and the smile froze in place when he saw the number.

“What’s up?”

“Mr. Z,” the person on the other end of the line answered in a pressed voice. “The investigation is almost done. Someone did tinker with the private jet on the day of your accident. We don’t have enough evidence for now, but it should be the person you guessed.”

“Good.” Marcus sounded stern. “Keep up the investigation!”

“Got it. But… How much longer will you be staying in the village in Jangasas, Mr. Z? You sure you don’t want to make a trip back to Centrolis?”

Marcus pinched the spot between his brows and looked grimmer before taking a deep breath and hanging up. He would make a trip back to Centrolis—just not now. He would only be alarming the people who thought that he had died in the plane crash and causing them to conspire again and find more vicious ways to harm him!

“Boba or grass jelly? Which one do you like?”

That question pulled Marcus out of his thoughts, and he met a pair of sparkling big eyes. Cordelia grinned at him, as sweet as the milk tea she had in her hand.

“What’s gotten to you?” Cordelia looked at him. “You don’t look quite…”

“I’m fine.” It did not feel good that someone could see past him.

Marcus’s voice was icy as he turned his back to her. “Have one yourself. I don’t like sweet things.”

Cordelia froze on the spot, holding two cups of milk tea. It was only after some time that she jogged up to him, biting her lip.

She stayed behind him, not daring to go too close. The man’s back felt like a slab of frosty wall. There was a world that only belonged to him on the other side, and she could not get over it no matter how close she was.

…

The second day after their wedding went by normally.

Marcus gave the bedroom to Cordelia and slept on the couch outside. There was only one duvet as well, which was given to her, so he made do with a thin sheet.

Cordelia felt bad about it. She stood by the bedroom door for quite a while, but the words “you can sleep in the room too” felt stuck in her throat. Perhaps Marcus was right. She needed time to get used to the fact that she now had a husband.

She let her head fall with a small smile.

People said that Marcus was a cold, bad communicator who always got into fights. She thought that he did not seem as bad, though. At least he showed her enough respect and tolerance.

…

According to custom, the bride should go back to visit her maiden family on the third day.

Cordelia’s heart had been thumping wildly since she had gotten up in the morning. To others, this was huge. The husband ought to keep the woman company, and they should bring along some sweet treats home. The family would have a hearty lunch together, and the newlyweds would return before sunset. However, this was practically going back to ask for money for Cordelia.

Her father had promised that he would give her a big monetary wedding gift as long as she got married in Yelena’s place. The money would cover her mother’s medical costs and her younger brother’s tuition.

It had been three days since Cordelia had gotten married and the Jenners’ promise felt like it had vanished into thin air. No one had brought it up again.

Cordelia contemplated it and decided that she had to go ask for the gift herself—but she could not take Marcus along, or everything would be exposed. Who knew what the man would do if he was angered.

“Marcus, I…”

She racked her mind for a convincing argument, mulling over a reasonable and logical excuse so that Marcus would not have to go with her. It took her some time, but she swallowed everything back and forced out the words: “I’ve made breakfast. Come have some.”

Marcus was working out at the front of the house. It felt like a corner of an iceberg melted off his heart when he heard her soft, sweet voice.

Cordelia had made scones and even fresh cream and jam. When Marcus stepped inside the small place, he suddenly found it to be brighter. The place no longer felt dingy after their wedding.

It was homier now. Everything felt warm and sunny thanks to Cordelia’s touch.

Marcus could not help the small smile that crept up on his face as he took a seat. The woman across from him seemed weighed down by thoughts. He considered it and asked, “You should visit your family today, right?”

Cordelia jolted before she bit her lip and stayed silent, not meeting his eyes.

After taking a guess, Marcus went on to say, sounding unfazed, “Go to the drawer in the room. There’s a box inside. Bring it over.”

Cordelia did what she was told, finding a carved wooden box in the deepest part of the drawer. The pattern carved on the box was exquisite and gorgeous, while the box had a vague refreshing scent to it.

Marcus took it from her and opened it, only to reveal a few pieces of gold jewelry: a necklace, a pair of earrings, a ring, and a bangle. The bangle was especially unique, as it was made of gold and jade. The jade that was embedded in the gold was radiant in color and cool to the touch.

Cordelia’s eyes widened as she looked at the man in confusion.

“This is…”

“I haven’t given you a decent gift for the wedding,” Marcus said as he picked up piece after piece of jewelry and looked at them nonchalantly.

“Consider these a present from me. Have a look and see if you want anything else?”

Cordelia clenched her hands under the table repeatedly. She felt rather nervous. As she peeked at Marcus’ stoic face, she somehow felt doted on.

These pieces of jewelry were perfectly beautiful. It was just that… How had he gotten them?

Marcus, who read her mind, could not help chuckling. “Don’t worry, I didn’t steal these. They were acquired the rightful way!”

Cordelia went red in an instant. How could she suspect her husband like that?

“Keep them.” Marcus closed the box and pushed it toward her, his deep eyes watching her silently.

“These are all I can produce and everything this house has. We’re already married, and you’re the woman of the household, so I’m giving all the valuables of the house to you!”

“Marcus, I—”

“One more thing.” He interrupted her. “I won’t be going back to visit your family with you today. Apologize to your family for me.”

Cordelia was surprised at first. Then, she let out an abrupt breath of relief and relaxed.

“Hmm, okay,” she replied with a smile. “Go ahead and do what you have to do. I can go back on my own!”

Marcus shook his head and chuckled inwardly, taking in how relieved the girl looked. What an interesting wife he had gotten himself. She wore her feelings on her sleeve, unable to hide even the tiniest secret. It would be strange if she managed to avoid being bullied this way!

Bullied?

Marcus paused and felt his guard go up. What if she actually got bullied by the family when she went back today? Then again, what did her being bullied have to do with him…

Frustrated with his thoughts, he shoved some food down his throat and pulled his jacket on to go out.

Cordelia did not know where he went. She cleaned up the house for a bit and went to catch the bus, receiving a call from Linda Quimby on the way. She listened to the latter grumble the entire ride, and the girl was still muttering when she got off the bus.

“Come on, aren’t you too carefree? What day is it today? You’re going back for a visit! And your husband’s missing? Does he even care about you or your marriage?!”

Cordelia was only giggling on the other end of the line.

Linda was two years her senior, and they had been best friends in school. The girl was loud and straightforward, and Cordelia had always said that if Linda had been born way earlier, she would have made a handsome female knight.

Currently, said knight was at her wit’s end as she bombarded Cordelia with words. “A broke *ss like him must’ve saved the world in his past life to be able to marry you! And he can’t even appreciate his good luck. How could he not go with you? He—”

“Alright!” Cordelia winced. “I didn’t want him to come with me anyway. I’m going to… I’m going back to ask for money today. Everything would be exposed if he came with me!”

The woman on the other end of the call went quiet momentarily. Then, Linda sighed heavily.

“Cordelia, you’re saying goodbye to lifelong happiness!”