The look on her face was priceless.
Damn!
Xavier thought it was amusing while it lasted as she moved and grabbed the first thing she had touched. Then, it was flying toward his head.
Not again.
Clash!
Luckily, his instinct was fast. His head effortlessly dodged the vase that flew by his head, missing him just by a few inches.
"Hey, Saige. Stop that. I just replaced the last vase you flung at my head." But it was too late since the new one had scattered on the floor, broken into pieces.
Nonetheless, he did not genuinely care about the piece of art. He could replace it again with a snap of his finger. But he admitted he was impressed by his wife's courage to defy him.
Not many dared to try. But then again, most women wanted his attention. Unlike her, they would do anything to please him.
"What do you mean by that?" Saige angrily demanded answers as she threatened to throw something else at him. "And why did that woman, Mrs. Pyke, keep calling me Mrs. Lockwood?"
He could see the confusion in her eyes as she realized what just happened. But then again, he believed she would not readily accept it without a fight.
"Exactly what it means." He thought it was rather apparent unless she would like to play dumb. But what if? "Don't tell me you forgot everything that happened last night."
But he already knew that it might be a possibility that she might have no recollection. Honestly, it did cross his mind since he was aware of her limit with alcohol consumption.
Nonetheless, he was guilty of using her situation to his advantage. As she had said, he was not trustworthy. But in his condition, fighting fair was out of the question.
"No!" She denied it as her eyes glazed, visibly stunned. "No! That is not possible." She stared at him as if accusing him of lying.
But he was not making this up. He wished he was, but they did get married. However, his wife did not seem to remember it.
"Think about it, after dinner and a bottle of champagne." He tried to remind her. He believed she could remember it, but she refused to.
"I offered to save your company. In exchange, you will have to marry me." He narrated the events of the other night. "At first, you said no, but eventually, you agreed."
Then, he pointed to her finger.
"No! You are lying." She still would not accept the truth. But her eyes widened when she looked down at the ring on her finger. "No, I would never have married you if I was sober." She insisted.
This time, she pulled the ring out of her finger and hurled it at him. But he caught it with his hand, enclosing it inside his palm.
"If we did get married, it would not hold up in court. I will contest it. I will have it annulled." She declared with determination in her eyes.
He knew this scene might happen once she returned to her senses. But he was prepared for this. He had already suspected she would fight him tooth and nail to escape this marriage.
But, of course, he would not let her. He had an iron-clad contract that would bind her to him for three years. He believed that was enough time for her to fall in love with him and break the curse.
"You can try, but you will just be wasting your time. It is better to accept that you are now my wife." He suggested, seeing that she had no way out of this.
Yeah! He tricked her, but it was out of necessity. But in his defense, he would compensate her by saving her company and providing her and her brother everything they needed.
He thought it was a good agreement that would benefit both parties. It was a fair contract as far as he was concerned.
"Why are you doing this to me? All I want is for you to leave me alone." She questioned. But instead of defeat, he only saw defiance in her eyes.
That was what he also wanted, but unfortunately, what he wanted did not matter. The entire Blood Redwood Pack depended on him. He could not let them down.
"I am sorry, but I can't do that." He did not want to trick her, but he had no choice. An opportunity presented itself, and he had to grab it. "I know you hate me as much as I hate you." He was not afraid to admit that.
"But let us set aside our differences and grievances and think of the bigger picture." He had to try to make her understand.
"You want to save your company and the people working for you. You want to give your brother a bright future. And I think you wish to continue the projects you already started."
He could see that he already caught her attention. "I can help you with that." This time, he became earnest, thinking this was business. He also did not want to blow his chances.
"And what do you get out of this marriage?" She questioned, still appearing skeptical about his proposal.
"I need a wife to present to my family so I can solidify my claim as their sole heir." It was a fact, but he was still guilty of omitting some details.
Of course, he could not tell her the entire truth. He believed she was not yet ready to know his identity or the role she had to play in his life.
But he was not concerned.
In time, he would tell her.
"In three years, when we accomplish all the details of our contract. Then, we can go on our separate ways." He knew he was leaving out a few crucial details about their arrangement.
But he believed she would never agree if she knew. No human in their right mind would probably want to marry him.
Definitely! Not her.
"Three years. That is a long time." She mumbled as if thinking about what he said.
"Why don't I give you some time alone? I will be outside when you are ready to discuss our situation." He also noticed that she needed some privacy. He could at least give her that.
"I will ask Penny to bring your new clothes." Then, he exited the door without waiting for her to reply.
He hoped she would eventually realize that this union would benefit them both. They might hate each other, but this marriage was still necessary, not for them but for the people who depended on them.
"What did you do to that poor girl?" Her soft and kind voice chastised him as he moved to the kitchen to put more space between him and his newly wedded wife.
Of course, Penny would see through him and his actions. She always knew what he was doing. She had always been his conscience, reminding him if he had done something wrong.
She had practically raised him with his parents, teaching him what was right and wrong. But alas, he had been a challenge to his parents and the people around him, including his Nanny.
"I married her. Is there something wrong with that?" But his Nanny did not need to say anything. He already knew the answer to that.
"Only if your marriage was not out of love," Penny responded with sadness in her eyes.
He understood what she was trying to say. He also thought that once he married his mate, it would not just because of fate but because he loved her. But that was not meant to be.
"You are a good son. And I think you will be a great Alpha. But you need a Luna that would stand by your side to support you." Penny added.
He did not dispute that. He also knew their community required that he marry. He needed a Luna to strengthen his claim, or he would appear weak.
"Don't worry, Penny. She would be a perfect Luna for our pack." He assured her that he had it under control. "Now, bring her some clothes. She must be cold by now," Remembering that she only had a skimpy towel covering her body.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Xavier." Again, the warning in her tone reminded him that she disapproved of this union.
Not because Nanny Penny did not like Saige but because he married her for all the wrong reasons.
"I promise. I know what I am doing."