Nathaniel Fu stopped in front of her, his sharp gaze slightly lowered. He said in a low, calm voice, "My mother's health isn't stable. I've been taking her abroad for treatment these past few years. Mental illness isn't something that can be cured easily—and emotional shock can make it worse."
Celia's pale fingers curled inward slightly. She already knew.
A gentle soul like Mrs. Fu must have her own pain. Celia had heard that Nathaniel was an illegitimate child. He was truly devoted to his mother—unwaveringly filial.
Suddenly, Nathaniel reached out and gently pinched her chin, tilting her face up to look at him. "My mother likes you. Do you think she could handle it if I told her the truth?"
Celia bit her soft lower lip in discomfort. "But… this still isn't a real solution."
"Celia," he said, his voice firm, "stay with me. For six more months."
"What?" Her heart skipped, and she looked up at him, stunned.
Her skin was pale and flawless like new porcelain, fragile and pure. Even the fine hairs on her skin seemed to shimmer under the office lighting.
Nathaniel's gaze landed on her slightly swollen red lips from where she had bitten them. "You didn't hear me? I want you to stay as my wife for another six months—kiss me, show up with me, play the part. I'll gradually prepare my mother for the truth."
So... he wanted her to keep being a stand-in?
"I don't want to," she said without hesitation.
His grip on her chin tightened slightly. "What did I say about you? You're an ungrateful little wolf—no matter how well you're treated, you're still wild. I gave you a Ferrari today worth twelve million, and my mother adores you. Was that all in vain?"
"That's a completely different matter—"
"Celia, are you really willing to risk upsetting my mother? You were the one who agreed to be a stand-in in the first place. Don't forget—it started with you."
Celia felt suffocated. She had never wanted to hurt anyone. And Mrs. Fu had been so good to her. If anything happened to the woman because of her, she'd never forgive herself.
But she was tired of pretending. The deal had been for a limited time, and it was supposed to end already.
The problem was, Sylvia—the person she had been pretending to be—was no longer around. So she had unwillingly become the only substitute left.
Celia looked at him seriously. "What exactly do you mean by being your 'wife' for six months? Are we going to be… together?"
Nathaniel's gaze locked on hers, intense and unreadable. "What do you think?"
That meant yes.
But what did he truly want from her?
Celia pushed him away, ready to leave.
But Nathaniel swiftly wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in. He gently lifted her and placed her on his desk.
Celia yelped at the cold surface beneath her. This was his office! She immediately squirmed to get down. "Put me down! I don't want to sit here—"
Nathaniel towered over her, holding her in place with his usual commanding air. "Celia, are you upset because of me? Apart from the official status and children, I can give you everything you want."
Celia's heart ached. She had never asked for status. Nor could she give him children or a real future.
"Nathaniel Fu, I'm beginning to think you just want to keep me under the title of 'Mrs. Fu' to—support me."
His expression didn't flinch. "Then… would you support me?" He leaned closer, his voice hoarse as he whispered against her lips, "Celia, I will love you."
He said it. "I will love you."
That devilishly handsome face was so close. Celia's mind swirled. But she gathered her will and pushed his chest lightly with both hands.
"I'll be your stand-in, but only for your mother. So you can forget about the rest. Kill the romance—keep the mother."
Nathaniel's smile instantly vanished. "Kill the romance?"
She was driving him mad.
He reached out and nearly covered her mouth. "Celia, don't force me to use other means to keep you."