Chapter 4 Finally Left Her Cage

"Then, go with me to get married now!"

"Huh?!" Julian was shocked. He was only trying to make her feel guilty when he heard her words.

He stood there like he had lost his mind, the words of Lauren kept on repeating in his head and suddenly, he panicked.

He didn't want to get married to her. He was just trying to coax her and then keep delaying things until they got everything they needed from her, but who knew Lauren would be so desperate to get married?

Get married? To Lauren? Hell no!

He would never get married to a fool like Lauren. She couldn't dress seductively for him, she was too uptight and all she knew was to listen to orders. He had never liked that kind of woman.

Truly, he had liked Lauren at first when he was still pursuing her. She had been young, fresh and innocent then and she had this high-class aura that made one want to worship her. She was cold but gentle, intelligent but not arrogant, and her aura brought out her beauty to the top, but, after she became obsessed with him, listening to his words like a puppet, she had lost her shine in his eyes and his woman, Celine, was much better.

Celine was soft, gentle and would throw a tantrum once in a while which made him feel like a real man, and when she was in bed...

Just thinking about Celine made him even more disgusted with Lauren and the thought of getting married to her made him want to puke, but he knew he couldn't show it, so he hid his true emotions and showed a helpless look on his face, but what he didn't know was that Lauren could see the disdain in his eyes and aside from anger and some pain and regret, she felt nothing more.

"Why?" Lauren raised an eyebrow, "You can't do it? I thought you were ready to marry me?" She asked in a strained voice that shocked Julian back to his senses.

He looked at her, then immediately kept his thoughts and rushed towards her.

"Who said so?! Why wouldn't I want to marry you, Lauren? Don't you know how much I love you? We have been together for years and you should know how loyal I am to you. I didn't even touch you just so our wedding night would be special. Hold on! Lauren," He suddenly furrowed his brow as if he was hurt, "...You don't trust me?" he asked with a choked voice.

Lauren stood speechless. If she didn't have to put up with the acting, she would have been clapping her hands for his performance. She wondered how a man could spit out nonsense and make it make sense.

As she recalled his words, she couldn't help but finally snap.

"You love me?" She asked, then laughed aloud. She looked at Julian with eyes filled with so much anger, "We have been together for years and not once did you propose to me! You keep promising me, making lousy excuses and now you tell me you love me?!" She yelled, then shook her head while looking at him incredulously.

"You know what, Julian?!" She asked sharply and Julian suddenly had a bad feeling.

He moved towards her with a frown but Lauren moved back.

"Enough Lauren! Don't cause a scene!" He finally snapped. He felt so pissed off at this moment.

He had had enough of her tantrums and was too tired to deal with this nonsense. If she thought he would relent and agree to marry her now, then she must be joking!

He sneered at his thought, and the eyes he looked at her became colder and the aura surrounding him turned sharper as he stared at her.

Lauren who noticed the dark look in his eyes and his aura felt disdainful.

He knew he couldn't sway her and now he wanted to suppress her and make her listen like she had always done, but jokes on him this time!

She looked at him pointedly, "Julian, let's give each other a break and think about what we truly want!" She spat out, and without waiting for a response from him, she turned around and dragged her bag with her.

"Lauren! If you walk out of that door, then don't bother coming back!"

Lauren paused, her hand on her bag tightened and her eyes that stared ahead grew colder and ruthless.

If not because she still had to keep acting like things were still alright, she would have torn his face and made him know that Lauren wasn't to be offended.

But...

She took a deep breath to calm her raging blood, "Calm down, Lauren. Let them continue to jump around for now, and they wouldn't know what hit them when you get started."

After the prep talk, she didn't bother with Julian again and walked out with her head raised high.

Meanwhile, Julian stood in the middle of the large sitting area in shock. He couldn't believe that the woman who had always listened to him like a robot dared to disobey him.

He had thought he had successfully threatened her when she stopped, but-

How did it become this way? Just because of the marriage?

Julian frowned then immediately brought out his phone and called a familiar number.

"Julian~"

A sticky-sweet voice sounded from the other end of the phone but this time, Julian couldn't feel it as he was worried about something.

"Celine, Lauren left. Go find out from her what the hell is happening!"

The other person on the phone was stunned, then her loud shrill voice sounded, "What?! How could that wretch leave?! That's impossible!"

Julian frowned. That was also what he had thought too, but since it had happened, he knew he needed to do something. Lauren still had something they wanted and they weren't done using her yet.

Besides, the design competition was around the corner.

***

Meanwhile, Lauren didn't know those two were planning for her but even if she knew, she would only sneer and still continue with whatever she was doing.

Here, Lauren was surprised to see the assistant of Alex and she quickened her steps to meet him.

Her eyes flashed with surprise as she looked at the car he was resting on.

"Madam!" The assistant greeted her and immediately walked towards her to pick up the box in her hand.

Lauren stood there in surprise, she narrowed her eyes, "You-"

Suddenly, the car window sliding down interrupted her words and when she saw the handsome face that appeared in her presence, shock was an understatement of what she felt.

Her eyebrow raised, and she looked at him perplexedly, "You... I thought you said you'd be leaving for a business deal?" She asked.

Alex who she was talking to looked at her from her head to her toes, then he silently heaved a sigh of relief.

After ascertaining that she was alright, he relaxed on the seat, then threw her a one-sided look, "Aren't you coming in? Or did you want to go back in?"

Lauren was stunned, then she flashed him an embarrassed smile.

"Coming! Coming!" She responded, then immediately hopped into the car and sat next to him.

As the car drove away, Lauren couldn't help but turn to look at the house that was gradually becoming smaller.

Her fist secretly clenched, and her eyes became dull.

And as if Alexander noticed her mood, he stretched out his hand to pat hers.

"You're only allowed to be gloomy now. But the moment the car stops, you have to forget that place because where we are heading to right now is your home, Mrs Ashford."