Deceptive Marriage: Who Are You, Hubby?

Xenia Holt couldn't believe her soon-to-be mother-in-law had actually sent her to another man's bed, especially right after her fiance had left.

When she came to and thought about escaping, she heard the door open in the dark room, followed immediately by an angry voice above her.

"Who gave you permission to be here?"

Before Xenia could even try to explain, her wrist was seized.

The man yanked her off the bed and coldly commanded, "Get out of here!" as if he were discarding something worthless.

Xenia hit the carpet with a thud, tears welling up from the pain.

She tried to stand up several times but couldn't.

"I... I can't get up..." she stammered, her voice sounding more like a timid kitten's mew, unintentionally flirtatious.

This left her feeling incredibly embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Feeling a headache, she worried that he might think she was flirting with him on purpose.

But suddenly, he rushed over to her, his eyes bright with excitement as he grabbed her arms. "It's you!" he exclaimed, sounding both surprised and happy.

"No, you're wrong... I mean..."

Xenia couldn't get her words out before her lips were abruptly sealed.

His breath, tinged with tobacco, overwhelmed her as he kissed her.

Quickly, he was on top of her, his movements assertive and unyielding.

Xenia tried to fight back, but he held her down even more firmly. He seemed determined to push all the air out of her lungs.

In the unending darkness, she couldn't tell when this suffering would end.

She had dodged that student's parent's sexual assault in the afternoon, but what had it changed?

Her fate was still the same.

Ouch, her shoulder ached.

The man bit her sharply and grumbled, "Pay attention."

Then he became more aggressive, overwhelming Xenia's thoughts, dragging her into the dark night.

The next morning, waking up, Xenia found herself neatly dressed, easing her awkwardness a bit.

Remembering last night, she shot up in bed and locked eyes with the man near the French windows.

Backlit by sunlight, his features were blurry, showing only a faint sickliness. His scholarly look, enhanced by gold-rimmed glasses, added a refined air.

Sitting straight in his wheelchair, he moved towards her, his noble presence unmistakable.

Seeing his face, Xenia gasped in shock. "Mr... Mr. Morrison!"

How was he her fiance's uncle, Vince Morrison?

She had just escaped a sexual assault by a student's parent last night, knocking him out in self-defense, and had gone to seek safety with her fiance, Trevor Morrison.

Trevor was going out on urgent work, leaving her in her future mother-in-law's care.

She had no idea that after drinking the milk given by the mother-in-law-to-be, she'd been moved to another room.

But why... why was it Trevor's uncle?!

Xenia was flooded with embarrassment and anger, wishing she could vanish.

"I'll take responsibility for last night's incident," Vince declared, rolling closer with a tone as soothing as a soft breeze.

His eyes shone with honesty, his words heartfelt.

Xenia, taken by surprise, glanced up. She saw Vince cover his mouth, coughing lightly. His smile was self-mocking as he said with a hint of sadness in his voice, "Only if you're okay with me being in a wheelchair, of course. If you agree, we can go sign the papers today."

"Sign the papers?" Xenia's eyes widened.

Until yesterday, she had been desperate to marry and escape her family's control and ugly tricks.

That was why she had hurried to find Trevor, wanting to get married first.

But Trevor had dismissed her concerns and refused her.

Now, hearing such an offer from Trevor's uncle, Vince, left her speechless.

"I..." Xenia clenched her teeth tightly.

For a moment, she thought about accepting the offer to leave her family.

But she quickly came to her senses and shook her head with determination.

No, she just couldn't do it. This man was more than a stranger. He was her fiance's uncle. Plus, he was rumored to be a major player in Mapnard, known for his decisive and ruthless ways!

She definitely didn't want to get mixed up with someone from such a complex background.

Noticing Xenia's refusal, Vince didn't seem shocked. He let out a self-mocking laugh, his handsome face looking pale and sickly. He turned away to cough a few times, looking like he didn't have much time left. "It's okay, I get it. Why would an ordinary person want to spend their life with someone disabled like me?"

Xenia felt an ache in her heart.

Hearing Vince's words made her uneasy. But right now, she just wanted to get out of this awkward situation. She hesitantly said, "Mr. Morrison, unless you need something else, I... I should get going."

As she finished speaking, Xenia quickly stood up, but her legs failed her, and she fell forward.

Vince's face changed subtly. He quickly wheeled himself forward, reaching out to catch her in his arms.

Their bodies pressed close, her scent filling the air around them. Vince remembered last night's intimacy, feeling a catch in his throat.

Xenia, with her face against Vince's warm chest, heard his steady heartbeat and felt incredibly awkward.

Yet her legs were so numb, she couldn't stand.

Then she heard Vince's gentle voice above her head. "Did I hurt you last night?"

Xenia's cheeks turned red instantly.

Fighting the numbness, she pushed away from Vince's chest and stood up, feeling a mix of emotions.

Just a moment ago, she had felt a sense of safety like never before.

It was comforting, but then she quickly scolded herself.

What was she thinking?!

This man was her fiance's uncle!

Xenia felt so embarrassed she wished she could vanish on the spot.

Yet, Vince seemed not to notice her discomfort. He gently took her wrist, asking in a concerned tone, "Was I too inconsiderate last night?"

Caught off guard, Xenia quickly pulled her wrist away, uncertain whether to agree or disagree.

"I'm really sorry," Vince said, his apology sounding sincere.

Xenia looked up, surprised, and found herself caught in Vince's earnest gaze.

This man... he didn't quite match the rumors about him.

Then, Vince confessed to her seriously, "I'm sorry, it was my first time last night..."

Hearing this, Xenia's face, which had started to calm down, turned bright red again.

What was she even doing?

Why was she here, talking to her fiance's uncle about last night's intimacy?

Vince noticed her downcast look and a subtle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Suddenly, there was a loud banging at the door that seemed to shake it.

"Vince, open up! Vince, you bastard! Release my daughter-in-law!"

The noise from outside startled Xenia, turning her face ghostly white.

It was Trevor's mom, her future mother-in-law!

The same woman who had arranged for Xenia to be in Trevor's uncle's bed was now accusing her of infidelity!

Xenia was mortified and at a loss for how to handle this.

Then, she noticed a man's slender hand appear before her, gripping hers firmly, offering an unexpected sense of safety.

His deep, raspy voice comforted her. "Don't worry. I'll handle everything."

Shortly after, Vince let go of her hand, moved his wheelchair to the bed, and began straightening the disheveled sheets.

He spotted a dark red stain on the sheet, his eyes darkened, and he silently covered it with the blanket.

Xenia watched Vince tidy up, feeling a surge of sadness.

Surprisingly, it was Trevor's uncle who was looking out for her dignity.

The door finally opened.

Vickie Morrison, Trevor's mother, burst in from outside.

Xenia stood there, her heart pounding, feeling completely mortified.

Vickie, on the other hand, didn't blame her. She quickly pulled Xenia behind her, seemingly protecting the latter, and shouted at Vince.

So was Vickie the person who had set her up or not? Xenia wondered.

"Vince, that's too much! Have you no shame? How could you assault my future daughter-in-law? That's just ridiculous!"

Then she turned to Xenia, who was red-faced, and said firmly, "Don't worry, Xenia. I'm here for you."

Xenia didn't say anything, just watched the older woman, confused and suspicious.

Vince, sitting in his wheelchair, just smirked. "Wow, you're early! Planning all this, did you even invite Dad?"

Xenia frowned as Trevor's mom hurried her outside, reassuring her as they went.

"Xenia, don't mind him. Don't be scared. I've got your back!"

Xenia was really confused now, not sure who the true mastermind was, so she politely declined. "Mrs. Morrison, I think I'd better go back alone for a bit."

Vickie wouldn't allow her to go, grabbing Xenia's wrist tightly and dragging her into the hall to confront Stefan Morrison, Vince's Dad.

"Stefan, Vince has defiled my future daughter-in-law! Xenia has lost her virginity to him. We need an explanation today!"

Upon hearing this, Stefan exploded with anger, yelling upstairs, "You bastard, get down here!"

Xenia, frozen in place, dug her nails into her palm, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.

She was supposed to be Stefan's future granddaughter-in-law.

With this turn of events, she wondered how she could face Trevor and Stefan now.

Stefan, clearly troubled, clutched his chest and ordered the butler, "Hurry! Bring that bastard down here!"

The butler obeyed and soon returned, wheeling Vince downstairs in his wheelchair via the elevator.

As Vince entered the living room, Stefan, enraged, banged his cane on the table and demanded, "Explain yourself, now!"

Before Vince could speak, Vickie cut in, "Stefan, Vince was drugged at a business dinner last night. He returned home, saw Xenia staying with us, and made her a target. He commanded a servant to bring her to his room!"

With her words, several guards escorted in a servant with a battered face.

The servant immediately knelt, begging for mercy. "Mr. Morrison, please forgive me! I was forced to follow Mr. Vince Morrison's orders. I couldn't disobey him!"

All evidence seemed to incriminate Vince!

But Xenia felt something was off.

Then, a realization struck her.

No, it couldn't have been Vince!

Last night, when Vince returned to his room and found a woman sleeping in his bed, he was furious at first, ready to kick her out.

He sounded like he didn't know what was going on.

But then, out of the blue, he changed his tune and slept with her, probably because of the drug.

She remembered feeling weak and sleepy after drinking milk, the same milk given by Trevor's mom!

Then it hit her. Vickie had set this up!

Realizing the truth, Xenia quickly said, "No! Stefan..."

Before she could finish, Vince cut in with a hint of sarcasm, "Whatever I say now won't make a difference. I did hurt Xenia. I'll take whatever comes."

Xenia was in shock, staring at Vince.

She couldn't believe he was admitting fault when it wasn't his fault at all!

Suddenly, Stefan angrily hit Vince's shoulder with his cane, shouting, "Bastard! You bastard!"

Vince winced but didn't complain.

Hearing Stefan's angry voice, Xenia felt her heart drop.

"What's your plan for this mess?"

"I'll marry her. I'll own up to it," Vince said straight up.

Stefan scoffed, looking at him with contempt. "Marry her? That's your solution? What a big-head. Are you sure Xenia will want to marry you?"

Then, Stefan looked at the butler. "Bring the whip."

The butler looked horrified and tried to defend Vince. "Mr. Morrison, Vince isn't strong enough. He's still hurt from the car accident. How can he take a whipping?"

"Just shut up and do it!" Stefan glared intensely, silencing the butler with just a look.

Shortly after, the butler returned, holding a long whip in his hands.

Stefan, gripping the coarse leather whip, looked at Xenia and questioned, "Xenia, do you want to marry Vince? If you're hesitant, I'll beat him till he's gone. Consider it your compensation! And you can decide the rest of the compensation yourself."

Xenia, looking troubled, caught Vince's gaze. He looked up, his face pale but managing a weak smile for her.

"If you choose me, I promise you a home. Even though I'm disabled now, I'll do everything to make you happy. If you don't want to, just walk away. You don't need to see me get beaten."

But before he could say more, Stefan ordered the butler to bring Vince to the floor, forcing him to kneel.

In a quick movement, Stefan lashed the whip across Vince's back.

Vince stiffened, pain evident, as his shirt turned red with blood.

Tears formed in Xenia's eyes, her heart aching.

She saw Vince enduring the punishment and was reminded of herself. She was falsely accused of theft by her sister years ago, with no one believing her side.

Both she and Vince were victims of others' plots.

His promise of a home resonated with her, offering an escape from her unhappy family life.

But then there was Trevor...

Her mind raced, thinking of her three-year relationship with him.

How could she possibly end things with him?

Xenia's eyes shut tightly, overwhelmed by memories of last evening when she came to seek Trevor's help.

She had confessed to Trevor about being set up by her family, suggesting they marry quickly to outsmart their schemes.

But Trevor had said, "Xenia, I can't believe a mother would harm her daughter to such an extent. Could you be misunderstanding something? Don't worry, Xenia. My mom will look after you. You're safe with her. Just relax and stay at my home. It's not that I don't want to marry you, Xenia. I just want to plan a proper proposal and then get the marriage license. This archaeological project is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I can't pass it up. Please wait for me. Once I'm back, we'll get married!"

In her mind, Trevor's soothing, almost unreal voice lingered, as if he was still speaking to her, tugging at her heartstrings painfully.

However, the harsh reality of the whip's lashes, one after another, brutally snapped her back to her current, lonely reality.

Things had changed irreversibly after last night's events. Neither she nor Trevor could go back to how they used to be.

Opening her eyes, Xenia's look was now marked by a firm resolve.

"Stefan, I've made up my mind. I'll marry him. Yes, I'm ready to marry Vince!"

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."