Chapter 5 Was She Regretting It Already

"What?" A shrill cry rang out from the other end of the phone.

Elijah gave Phillip a small hand signal to end the call, then turned his eyes toward Adeline, whose jaw had fallen open in shock.

"Meet me at the City Hall this Friday."

Adeline stood frozen, completely taken aback.

Was this really happening?

Could she truly align herself with the Lewis Group so effortlessly?

Elijah, however, didn't look the least bit moved.

It might appear that he had given in under pressure, but Elijah was no man to be cornered by two nagging women. As the CEO of the Lewis Group, he was used to controlling situations, not the other way around.

He had already seen through it.

Adeline, the heiress of the Wright family, might have fallen on hard times, but she carried a unique scent that brought calm to his unsettled mind. That alone solved a major personal issue for him. On top of that, a convenient, superficial marriage could finally put an end to his family's constant nagging about settling down.

For Adeline, her aim would be achieved.

For Elijah, it was like killing two birds with one stone.

He wasn't sure yet how complicated things would get with this woman, but one thing was certain: the Wright family was far too insignificant to threaten the power of the Lewis Group.

This marriage would cost him nothing more than a bit of time and energy, which were things he could afford to spare anyway.

......

Outside the City Hall, the summer air was heavy with the buzz of insects, as if even nature was celebrating the new couples lining up to register their marriages.

All around, life seemed vibrant and hopeful.

But Elijah did not share the mood. His sleek, limited-edition black Bugatti was pulled up by the roadside. From the driver's seat, he lowered the window slightly, gazing at the lively crowd. The heat blazed on, irritating him further.

Behind the wheel, Phillip noticed the displeasure on his face through the rearview mirror and quickly offered an explanation. "It's probably because of today's good weather. That's why the place is so crowded. But don't worry; I booked ahead. No need for you to wait in line."

Elijah lifted his eyes to the sky, only to be nearly blinded by the glaring sun.

She was late.

Elijah glanced at his watch. Ten o'clock sharp had been their agreed time. It was now ten past.

What had he expected from a woman with no sense of time, who only knew how to stir up trouble with her games?

Elijah leaned back lazily in his seat, crossing one leg over the other. He reached out, ready to take his phone from Phillip and review documents.

But then, a soft, cheerful voice floated in through the window. "Mr. Lewis, you're finally here!"

Phillip jumped so suddenly that his phone slipped from his hand with a loud clatter.

Phillip picked it up with a resigned smile, while Elijah sighed and closed his eyes. Opening them again, Elijah saw Adeline waving at him from the window.

This woman was nothing but trouble.

Yet today, she looked completely different from the bidding meeting.

Her delicate face gleamed under the morning light, her eyes sparkling like stars, her skin smooth and flawless. When she smiled, dimples appeared on her cheeks.

Her white shirt and jeans were simple but flattering, showing off her slender figure. Her long hair, loosely tied, fell in gentle waves down her back. Even compared to well-known actresses, she stood out as naturally elegant.

For once, Elijah was caught off guard.

The surprise on his face was gone in an instant as he composed himself, ready to speak, but Adeline had already reached inside, unlocking the door and letting herself in.

"Hey! I told you to wear a white shirt. Why are you dressed in black?" she asked, sounding quite disappointed as she stared at his sleek, all-black tailored suit, which contrasted sharply with her outfit.

She rolled her eyes at him. Elijah only made things worse by replying calmly, "It's only a fake marriage. No need to be so particular." He adjusted his jacket and made to rise.

But Adeline blocked him, meeting his gaze with a mischievous grin.

Elijah squinted, knowing she was up to something. Sure enough, she produced a neatly folded white shirt and a baseball cap, speaking with playful seriousness.

"Mr. Lewis, haven't you heard of putting on a convincing performance? If we're going to pretend, we should do it right. There are too many people inside. With your status, you'll attract too much attention. I even made a reservation. So please, put on the cap before we go in!"

Without waiting for his reply, she got out of the car, shut the door and turned away, waiting patiently.

To Elijah's own surprise, he didn't feel anger. Instead, he found himself going along with her.

Perhaps it was her careful planning. Or perhaps, once again, it was her scent working its influence.

Once inside, Adeline guided him into the reserved office Phillip had arranged.

"Why are you crying?" Elijah asked, startled, when he noticed Adeline's teary eyes.

Unsure how to handle it, he stepped forward instinctively, his tall frame shielding her from view.

She was the one proposing getting married, yet she was crying. Was she regretting it already?

That wasn't good.

For the past several days, after announcing his marriage plans, Elijah hadn't received a single call from his mother, and he was savoring the peace. All he needed now was the marriage certificate, and the constant pressure would finally disappear.

"It's nothing... I just feel a little sad that I'm about to be a married woman..."

To Elijah, her presence in his life felt like pure chaos.

And yet, in less than twenty minutes, the papers were signed. Their marriage was official, sealed, and stamped.

Outside the City Hall, Adeline looked at the certificate, giggling happily. Elijah shook his head and began striding toward the car.

But she quickly caught up, sounding serious. "Mr. Lewis, now that we're married, shouldn't you at least visit my family?"

Elijah stopped, ready to dismiss her outright, but then she flashed her phone screen. His mother's contact information glowed on the screen.

He glared at her dangerously.

He suddenly recalled the moment during the registration process when Adeline had asked to use his phone, claiming she needed to scan some information.

Now it was obvious she had saved his mother's number on purpose, keeping it as her bargaining chip.

Suddenly, Adeline softened again and tugged lightly at Elijah's sleeve, her watery eyes fixed on him. "Just this once, please. Help me with this, and I promise I won't disturb your mother. We'll stick to what we agreed-a marriage in name only, our lives completely separate."

Surprisingly, Elijah didn't feel the surge of irritation he expected. He was almost accustomed to her little tricks.

But there was something else.

Adeline's father was still in intensive care. So why was she so eager to take him to see the Wright family?

Could it be...