Chapter 3 Get The Marriage Certificate First!

Stefan let out a relieved breath, though his expression was still somewhat strained. "That's good to hear."

Vince, still on his knees, gave a faint smile. The action aggravated his injuries, draining the color from his face.

The old butler noticed this and turned to Xenia urgently. "Miss Holt, could you help me get Vince into the wheelchair?"

Xenia, still getting used to her new role, felt a bit awkward but determinedly helped the butler lift Vince into the wheelchair.

Once seated, Vince weakly addressed Trevor's mother. "Vickie, are you happy with how things turned out?"

"Very satisfied. Vince, don't be upset with me. As a mother, I know the situation between Xenia and Trevor well. Xenia lost her virginity to you. It's only right that you take responsibility for her."

Vickie approached Xenia, taking her hand gently.

"Even though I won't be your mother-in-law, we're still family, Xenia. Come to me if you ever need anything."

Xenia, knowing the full story, felt distant. She calmly withdrew her hand. "Vickie, if I marry Vince, I'll be your sister-in-law."

Vickie's face briefly stiffened, then she forced a smile. "Of course."

She seemed calm, not upset about losing a daughter-in-law.

Xenia thought about Trevor saying his mom would look after her, and she sneered inside.

He probably didn't expect his own mom would drive her into his uncle's arms!

Vince, watching this, smiled slyly. "Seems like you're happy, Vickie. You've made a deal with the Nash family, right? Soon you'll have their second daughter in your home. Congrats in advance."

Vickie's smile vanished at his words.

Xenia and Stefan both turned their attention to her.

Vickie's face showed a flash of unease, but she quickly offered a well-thought-out explanation to Stefan. "Stefan, Vince is right. The Nash family, who own numerous golf courses, keep getting in touch with me. They're really interested in marrying into our family. They keep talking about how great Trevor is, his good nature, loyalty, and ambition, which aren't common among rich young guys. But I've always said no to them. Trevor had been engaged to Xenia after all. But now that Xenia's getting married to Vince, I'm thinking about giving the Nash family a chance."

Stefan, who was pretty sharp, got what she was hiding. He looked down, staying quiet.

Vickie, unsure of what Stefan was thinking, went on, "The Nash family's got a solid reputation. Teaming up with them could do wonders for our family."

"Vickie's got a point." Vince quickly agreed with her, making Xenia squirm uneasily.

Excited, Vickie turned to Stefan and pressed, "Stefan, you heard that. Even Vince agrees. It's a good idea, right?"

Stefan stood up, leaning on his cane, but didn't say a word.

Vince laughed and said, "Miss Nash is expecting twins. If she marries Trevor, it's like getting three for the price of one. Vickie must be thrilled."

Vickie was taken aback. "What... What did you just say?"

Stefan angrily banged his cane on the floor and stormed out.

"I've heard this from my business partners. They mentioned that the Nash family's second daughter got pregnant after a night out. She couldn't get an abortion because of her health condition. The children need a dad. But you'll have to check if it's true."

After sharing this, Vince signaled to Xenia to wheel him to the garage.

Xenia stayed silent on the way, overwhelmed with a mix of bitterness and shame.

She realized what was happening. It was obvious.

Trevor's mother had never considered her and Trevor's marriage.

When Trevor was away, she sent Xenia to Vince, who was disabled.

For Trevor's mother, this was a way to get rid of a problem.

Such a cruel woman!

Trevor's mom must be happy with the current situation. Vince, weakened by his accident, was now marrying someone not valued by her own family. His chances of rising in status seemed slim.

Feeling pity, Xenia noticed the blood on Vince's back and suggested, "Let's get you to a hospital first."

"No, we're heading to the City Hall. I need to reassure you," Vince insisted.

"What about your wounds?"

"Don't worry. I'll wear a black suit. It'll hide the blood."

Vince then called his assistant, asking for a suit jacket and all the necessary documents. He seemed anxious as he told her, "Let's get our marriage certificate first!"

Soon after, Vince's assistant, Ryland Douglas, arrived with everything.

Of course, he didn't forget to bring along a first aid kit.

Ryland expertly treated Vince's back wounds before helping him dress.

His efficiency suggested he was used to dealing with such situations.

Then, Ryland pulled up in the car and helped Vince climb in.

Xenia, still feeling like she was in a dream, got in the car too.

She gazed out at the landscape speeding by, her mind filled with mixed emotions about going to City Hall for their marriage certificate.

The car was quiet for a long time until Vince broke the silence with a flat, emotionless voice. "What's on your mind?"

Taking a deep breath, Xenia turned to face him calmly. "Can we talk?"

Vince's face clouded over, showing a flicker of vulnerability and worry. "Are you having second thoughts?"

He looked away and coughed lightly, his frail appearance making it seem like he might faint any second.

Ryland, sitting in the front, couldn't help but think that his boss was such a good actor that he could win an Oscar.

Xenia quickly shook her head, her voice low. "No, it's just... getting married is a big step. There's something I need to understand first."

Vince continued to cough but gestured politely for her to continue.

After a moment's thought, Xenia asked, "Vince, have you ever killed anyone?"

As she spoke, she instinctively touched her neck, feeling as though her head might fall off at any moment.

"No," Vince replied immediately, not missing her cute expression. He moved closer and ran his fingers gently over her neck.

"Don't worry. I would never hurt my wife. I won't harm you."

Feeling ticklish, as if there were caterpillars on her neck, Xenia shyly moved away from his touch. Clearing her throat, she asked, "What about other illegal stuff?"

"No!" Vince pulled back his hand, relishing the lingering sensation of touching her neck.

Her skin felt amazing, just like silk.

He pushed his glasses up his nose, trying to act sophisticated, and explained calmly, "When I was younger, I used to get into scraps. But I never broke the law."

Ryland, who was driving, couldn't believe his ears.

He never imagined his boss referring to those incidents as scraps.

They were more like Vince beating others up!

"The nightclubs I run are clean, no shady stuff, no drugs. That's my rule."

Xenia seemed to relax after hearing this. Still, she couldn't help but advise him like a teacher, "You should avoid fights from now on. It's not good to get physical."

"I'll keep that in mind." Vince held Xenia's hand gently, trying to appease her.

Xenia's cheeks turned pink.

Ryland felt out of place.

Maybe he shouldn't be driving, or even in the car.

Vince softly caressed her hand, not letting her pull away.

Noticing her reluctance, he asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask or say?"

Xenia blinked twice, shyly began, "I have... two conditions."