Cheyenne's eyes widened in shock as Raphael's words hung in the air. Wife? What was he talking about? She didn't know him, and they certainly weren't married. Cheyenne frowned, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Tina's smirk faltered, and she took a step back, clearly caught off guard. "What are you talking about, Raphael? This is ridiculous! How can a...a nobody like her be married to someone like you? She's a good-for-nothing buffoon. Impossible! She can't be your wife."
Raphael's gaze never left Cheyenne's face, his expression unreadable. "I'm talking about the fact that this woman is my wife. And I won't have her treated like a pariah. I won't tolerate any more disrespect."
Cheyenne's hands fluttered, and she signed something, but Raphael didn't react. He simply turned and walked away, expecting her to follow.
She hesitated, unsure what to do. But something about Raphael's words and the way he looked at her made her fall into step behind him.
As they walked out of the event, Raphael didn't look back. "I need your help," he said, his voice low and detached. "My mother is...persistent. She wants me to marry someone with a suitable pedigree, and I need someone to pretend to be my wife."
Cheyenne signed again, but Raphael didn't understand. He pulled out his phone and opened a notes app.
"Write your name."
Cheyenne's eyes flashed with frustration, but she took the phone and typed: "Cheyenne. And no, I won't pretend to be someone's wife. I have a life ahead of me, and I won't waste it in lies and deceit. Find someone else."
Raphael's gaze didn't waver, and he let out a cold chuckle.
"You know I can give you anything you desire, right? Money, cars, clothes...anything. You name it."
Cheyenne's anger was apparent on her face.
"Go and eat shit. I'm not materialistic, and I definitely won't marry you. Now leave me alone."
Raphael smiled, a devilish smile, when he read her response.
"Why won't you?"
Raphael had never been rejected by anyone before, and this mute was the first. He didn't even know why he was still trying to convince her. Maybe it was the way she looked. She looked so small and weak that Raphael felt like he wanted to protect her. She was unnaturally beautiful, with big round brown eyes, delicate and sweet, and pink rosy lips that felt like a weapon of seduction. Her long dark hair danced with the wind when a breeze passed by. Raphael was pulled out of his reverie when she showed him the screen.
He chuckled and said, "You don't want to pretend to be my wife because you have standards?"
He laughed, a dry, cold sound, and instantly it died down. He looked at her with a frightening cold gaze that made Cheyenne's anger disappear, replaced by fear.
"Who do you think is setting their standards low, me or you? Do you even know who I am? You're a poor little mute who doesn't even have a respectable job, and I'm a rich heir. I can have anyone I want, Cheyenne, and you should be thankful that I chose you. You know you're not on my level, right?"
He stopped when he saw her tremble. He cursed under his breath and added, "I'm not a bad person. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Marry me."
He sighed and continued, "You won't have to pretend this time. I'll put a ring on your finger."