Nathaniel Fu narrowed his eyes. "Shaun Wen told you?"
He guessed it right away.
"It doesn't matter who told me," Celia said calmly. "Just answer the question—was it your first time taking a girl on a date?"
"…Yes."He admitted it without hesitation.
So, it really had been his first date. No wonder he'd been so angry that day.
He leaned closer. "I already told you yes. So—are you willing to stay? To keep playing the part of my wife for another six months?"
Celia's lashes fluttered. Her voice lowered as she asked, "Why me?"
Nathaniel looked down at her, lifting her delicate, scarred face gently into his hand. She looked ethereal, fragile.
His palm cradled her cheek. His gaze blazed with intensity."Because I'm drawn to you. Isn't that enough?"
Celia's face turned crimson under the weight of his words and the heat in his eyes."You're just attracted to my looks, aren't you?"
She tried to wriggle free from his grasp, then quickly turned her face into the pillow, hiding her embarrassment.
Looking at her black hair splayed on the white pillow, her flushed cheeks, and those soft lips, Nathaniel swallowed hard. Then he reached out again, turning her face toward him with his large hand.
He'd never denied being captivated by her beauty. He'd been looking at her for so long—and yet he still couldn't look away. Every time he saw her, his heart skipped a beat.
"I won't lie to you," he said. "Yes, it started with your face. Most attraction does. You fit my type. I liked you the moment I saw you. What's wrong with that?"
He leaned in, voice low and slightly teasing."Some people believe love grows over time, but that's just another word for settling. Me? If I don't feel something from the start, it's never going to work."
His words were direct—blunt, even—but Celia could hear the fierce honesty in them. He didn't love halfway. He didn't pretend.
Her heart trembled.
"Celia," he asked again, voice quieter now, "are you staying with me?"
Celia closed her eyes.Yes.Yes.Yes.
She didn't know where he'd hidden the jade pendant. Staying close to him was the only way she'd ever have a chance to find it.
She told herself it was for the pendant.
"…Yes," she whispered.She nodded.
Nathaniel's lips curved into a slow smile, followed by a quiet, satisfied chuckle.
Then he lowered his head to kiss her.
Midway through, his voice shifted to something more serious. "If my mother has another episode, call me immediately. She has a mental illness. I don't want her hurting you."
Celia paused. "What… what happened to her?"Then quickly added, "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I understand."
Nathaniel's eyes darkened. He didn't speak for a long moment. Then, in a calm, almost detached voice, he said:
"When my mother was young… she was assaulted by her brother-in-law. It happened one night when no one else was home. I was born as a result."
Celia's breath caught.
"They used to be very close," he continued. "My aunt raised my mother after their parents passed. She protected her like her own child. But after that night… everything broke. The family split apart."
"My mother always felt like she'd done something wrong. She attempted suicide more than once. When she found out she was pregnant with me, she tried every way she could to end it. But the old matriarch—my great-grandmother—locked her up and forced her to carry me to term."
"Her mental health spiraled. After I got older, I took her abroad to seek treatment. She improved a lot, but the trauma never really left her. Any emotional trigger, even now, can still bring it all back."
He turned his eyes to Celia, steady and direct."When she has an episode, she hurts herself. Sometimes, she can become dangerous to those around her. So if anything happens—don't try to calm her alone. Just call me. Promise me you'll stay safe."
Celia didn't respond right away. She was watching him closely.
He was leaning over her, arms propped on either side, his face unreadable.
Then he tilted his head slightly, lips quirking. "Why so quiet? Are you afraid of me now?"