Chapter 5 05

SHANE

"Never!" Marcus's mother yelled. My eyes squinted at her. Of course, she wouldn't accept this, after all, it would affect her chances of her son inheriting the Group.

"Never?" My father queried.

"Richard, this is absurd! How can you accept someone like her into this family? She has no background and might I remind you that she has a drug scandal case to defend. What would people say when they find out a prestigious family like ours is getting married to a criminal?"

"That's enough, Rose," I blurted on impulse. "Sierra is innocent until proven guilty."

My eyes drifted to Sierra who looked like she wanted nothing more but to disappear from here.

"Unfortunately, not many people are as open-minded as you," she retorted. "You're a lawyer after all but the media seems to be saying otherwise. Even though Sierra hasn't faced trial in court yet, everyone seems to paint her as guilty."

"I'm her attorney, I have never lost a case. I won't lose this one."

My father cleared his throat, diverting all attention to him. I was at least relieved he easily accepted my marriage, I thought he was going to be my biggest obstacle tonight but somehow, Sierra had won him over.

"I trust Shane," he said. "He has always made wise decisions and since he wants her then let him be."

I didn't know whether I should be scared or feel proud, the old man rarely gives compliments.

"Richard!" she protested but my father raised his hand, ordering her to keep her words in.

"Dad, I don't think this is a wise decision, this will bring controversy to our family's name and prestige," Marcus said.

"I believe I have made myself clear," the old man's tone hardened and Marcus grunted, obviously displeased by my father's antics. "This wedding is going to be held and it is going to be a grand one. The wedding of the year!"

"Dad, I don't think that would be necessary," I said.

"Nonsense!" He waved me off. "It is high time you the world knows you are my son and your wedding is going to be the perfect occasion to show that."

I glanced at Sierra who was obviously not buying this idea of a grand wedding but then I had no choice. It was better I pleased my father for now before he changed his mind.

"I expect the both of you to give us a date soon," he added and I nodded. The dinner had ended on a sour note. Marcus and his mother were not pleased with my father accepting our marriage. Sierra on the other hand was trying so hard to hide her rage and truthfully I couldn't blame her. I was ashamed, to say the least. If I could have my way, I wished we could have skipped this dinner. Both of us didn't waste a second leaving the mansion the moment it was over.

"I'll drive you home," I said as we reached my car, and only then did she turn to me, anger sparkling in her eyes.

"I think I've had enough Tristan drama for the night, I can go by myself," she curtly replied and was about to leave me but I briskly walked and grabbed her left wrist.

"Let me go!" she flung my hand away and I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"I-I–"

"You know if I had a choice I wouldn't be here to tolerate insults from your family."

"I apologize–"

"Don't give me that crap!" she held her right palm up close to my face. "Your family is messed up and I get it that they are being protective and they have to uphold their pride and principles but what pisses me off is that you did nothing!"

I gulped down my saliva.

"You just sat there and watched your family insult me. I know I'm not supposed to take this personally after all this is just a contract but what you did inside was shitty to the core. I don't care how bad your relationship is with your family, you could have at least pretended you cared about me and defended me! If I hadn't tried to come up with something back there, your father would not have approved of this marriage. I don't know about you Shin but winning my case is very important to me so you better start taking this contract marriage seriously!"

I exhaled deeply and my eyes pulled away from hers and focused on the ground, for some reason I couldn't bear the pain and anger gleaming in her eyes. I wished I could tell her how guilty I felt, how embarrassed I was for having her face my shitty family but I knew better that if I tried to apologize, she would only get mad at me. That was how she had always been ever since high school. Whenever she was angry, she would rather rant than let you apologize.

"I really wanna know Shin, why the hell did you want to get married in the first place? Because it seems to me that you're just nonchalant about this whole thing and I swear if it turns out you're messing with me–"

"I'm not," I interjected and her chest heaved up furiously.

"I don't even give a shit, the more time I spend with you, the more I hate myself for signing this stupid contract with you. Now there's going to be a huge wedding, the paparazzi will once again have a field day, all eyes will be on us watching our every move, I'd have to attend some stupid events by your family where I'll be scrutinized by your fellow rich friends..."

I zoned out as she continued ranting. Nothing I was going to do was going to make her stop but she hated me that much. At the same time, we were still in the mansion's compound and I didn't want to drag the attention of the guards or any of my family members that might be trying to sneak on us. Tired of thinking, I opted for my last resort. I hugged her and surprisingly she went mute. I had seen this in a movie Chelsea had forced me to watch recently, the boyfriend had hugged his ranting girlfriend and she sheepishly calmed down. Judging from Sierra's quietness, I guess it worked. But then I found it hard to pull away from her, I enjoyed the way her scent basked all over me, her warmth was alluring and my mind wandered back to the time she had held my hand back at the dining table. Her touch gave me tingles in ways I've never felt before.

"W-what are you doing?" she stuttered and then pushed me away gently.

"I–I thought that was the only way to calm you down."

"Oh so now I'm ranting and you need me to shut up."

"I didn't mean it that way–"

"Start the fucking car and let's just go!" She headed to the door and tried to open it but it didn't. "Aren't you going to open the door?"

I quickly clicked the button on my car key and she furiously sauntered into the vehicle. I heaved a sigh, it was going to be hellish living with her.