Chapter 5 No.5

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Christian glanced at the text message from Laura, his expression unchanging as he dismissed it with a nonchalant shrug. He had no intention of engaging in a conversation about their fabricated marriage, especially during work hours.

Meanwhile, Laura, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions, decided to confront Christian in person. She knew her father's manipulative tactics all too well, and she needed to confirm whether the ultimatum he had presented was indeed true.

With determination fueling her steps, Laura made her way to Asher's Conglomerate, her heart pounding with uncertainty as she prepared to face Christian.

As she entered the grand lobby of the towering building, Laura's gaze swept across the bustling surroundings until it settled on Christian's office door. Gathering her resolve, she marched forward, her footsteps echoing in the polished corridors.

Christian glanced up from his desk as Laura entered his office, her presence unexpected yet unsurprising. He met her gaze with a cool detachment, his expression betraying none of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.

"Ms. Gracias, what brings you here?" Christian inquired, his tone polite but guarded.

"I need to clarify something," Laura stated, her voice tinged with urgency. "Is it true that I have to move in with you and the kids?"

Christian's gaze flickered for a moment, a subtle acknowledgment of the truth behind her words. "Yes, it is," he replied evenly, his tone devoid of emotion. "Your father made it clear that I had no choice in the matter."

Laura's heart sank at the confirmation, the weight of her father's manipulation pressing down on her shoulders. She had hoped against hope that there might be a way out of this fabricated arrangement, but now it seemed she was trapped in a web of deceit spun by her own flesh and blood.

Christian watched her closely, his expression unreadable as he observed the turmoil playing out in her eyes.

With a heavy heart, Laura exited Christian's office, her mind swirling with unanswered questions and unresolved emotions. The truth of their fabricated marriage hung between them like an invisible barrier, a constant reminder of the tangled web of lies they were both ensnared in.

As she made her way out of the building, Laura couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom that loomed over her like a dark cloud. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, and she knew that navigating the treacherous waters of her father's schemes would require every ounce of strength she possessed.

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After leaving Christian's office, Laura felt the weight of her father's manipulation heavy on her shoulders as she made her way back to her apartment. With each step, her mind churned with the grim reality of her situation, and when she finally arrived home, she found Rian waiting for her, his expression a mix of concern and apprehension.

"Laura, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost," Rian exclaimed, rising from the couch as she entered the room.

Laura met his gaze with a heavy heart, the weight of her guilt threatening to crush her spirit. "Rian, we need to talk," she began, her voice tinged with solemnity.

Sitting down beside him, Laura recounted her encounter with Christian, sparing no detail as she relayed the ultimatum her father had presented. She watched as Rian's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, his eyes widening with shock as the reality of their situation began to sink in.

"So, you're actually going to move in with him? With his wife and kids?" Rian asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Laura nodded, her heart heavy with guilt. "I don't have a choice, Rian. My father made it clear that if I didn't comply, he would expose Christian's secret marriage and destroy both of our lives."

Rian's brows furrowed in frustration as he processed the gravity of Laura's words. "This is insane, Laura. How could your father do this to you? To us?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with anger.

Laura sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her guilt. "I know, Rian. I never wanted any of this to happen, but I feel trapped, like there's no way out," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion.

Rian reached out and gently took her hand in his, his touch a comforting anchor in the storm of uncertainty that raged around them. "We'll figure this out together, Laura. I won't let your father tear us apart," he vowed, his eyes burning with determination.

With Rian's unwavering support by her side, Laura felt a glimmer of hope begin to stir within her heart but she was still scared as she knew how much of an unwavering man her dad was.

"Do I really care about handling his company?" "I have my company" "I don't need his" "Should I elope with Rian?" "What about the kids?" These thoughts begin to play in her head.

"I have to go see dad" She muttered to herself as she got into her car.

**At Gracias Mansion**

"Where's dad?" Laura asked as she barged in at once and without even allowing her mom to reply, she walked in straight to where she knew Barry would be, his room.

"Hey darling, what's..."

"Dad!" Laura half-yelled, taking Barry aback for a split second before his face went stoic.

"What do you want?"

"I don't want to move..

"If this is about Asher, I'm not changing my mind concerning anything related between you two"

"Dad!.." She shouted before her face changed to a pleading one.

"Leave" Barry simply said.

"I.. I promise to do anything you want, just.. I don't wanna move in with him, why do I have to do that? I have a company to manage, two companies manage, moreover this isn't a real marriage or whatever, we aren't getting married for real so why do I have to move in with him? It's just a fake marriage for fuck's sake and he even has a wife, how do you think his wife would feel with me moving in with her husband?" Laura lamented.

Barry let out a light scoff and with little traces of frown on his face, "And who said it isn't a real marriage?" He said.