Snow dropped onto the edge of the bed, her body sinking into the soft mattress, but her mind wouldn't rest. Her heart was still racing from Adrian's furious glare, though her lips twitched in amusement when she remembered his final words. Three months… and a wife in name only.
"Three months is enough," she muttered to herself, brushing her fingers against the sheets. "More than enough."
She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling. The grand chandeliers glittered faintly, their cold light reminding her of the Quinn family itself… They were beautiful on the outside, but hollow and lifeless inside. Her jaw clenched as her thoughts returned to her mother, to the lifeless body she'd never forget. Her fists curled into the blanket.
The pain of losing her family burned in her chest.
The mask she had always worn fell now that there was no one watching. The tears in her eyes had dried, replaced by sharp determination in her eyes. 'I can't believe I've been reduced to nothing but a crying freak.' She sighed.
Adrian Quinn thought he was in control, and he thought he could reduce her to a pawn in his little arrangement. A decoy wife, and a shield for the woman he actually loved.
Snow let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Use me as a cover, will you? Let's see who ends up getting used."
Her plan was simple: get the Quinn family under her control, and win over Adrian's heart. She would gain their trust and destroy them from within, to the point they won't be able to believe their eyes.
She stood, pacing the room, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The silence was broken by a sharp buzz from her phone. Her brows furrowed, as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at the brightened screen of her phone.
A new message popped up with no name of the sender. She swiped her phone open, opening the message.
[You shameless bitch! Leave Mr. Quinn, or I'll paint the city with your blood!]
Snow's brows arched. For a second, she stared at the words, her thumb hovering over the screen. Then her lips curved into a cold smile.
"An anti-fan already?" she muttered.
She saved the number, naming it Clown No.1. She wasn't rattled, but her eyes darkened as she set the phone on the desk. 'Good. The more enemies come barking at me, the better.'
But she couldn't stop thinking about who the person was. 'Could it be one of the girls running after or a business partner… or just one of the X-netizens?'
Suddenly, a knock came at the door pulling her attention back.
Her brows arched as she could already tell the purpose of the visit. "So quick?" She muttered, walking to the door.
One of the servants stood, holding a black folder with both hands with his head bowed. "Young Master Adrian asked me to deliver this to you."
Snow took it, she smiled sweetly at the servant. The folder was heavier than she expected, and the leather was cool against her palm. She dismissed the servant with a smile and shut the door behind him.
She walked back to the desk, her brows arching in curiosity, and she flipped the folder open. Inside were several neatly stacked sheets of paper, each line typed in sharp black ink. At the top, bold letters glared back at her:
Marriage Rules Agreement
Her lips curved into a smirk. "So cold and formal… very typical of Adrian Quinn."
She unfolded the first page and began to read.
Rule 1: The marriage will last exactly three months from the date of signing. At the end of this period, divorce proceedings will begin immediately.
Snow bobbed her head up and down. She could almost hear his deep voice reciting the words. The syllables were cold and precise, like a judge handing down a sentence.
Rule 2: This marriage is one of convenience. No intimacy, no affection, and no claims of love are allowed.
Snow pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. No love? Oh, Adrian, you don't have to worry about me falling for you. But what if you're the one who starts chasing? Her eyes gleamed as she imagined his stoic face cracking for the first time. 'Wouldn't that be delicious?'
Rule 3: All public appearances will be handled as though this is a real marriage. You will play the role of Mrs. Quinn in front of the media, business associates, and family.
Snow leaned back in her chair, reading the words a couple of times more.
A faint smile formed on her lips. This rule was a weapon she would use to its fullness, she began swirling her legs, humming.
Rule 4: You will not interfere with my private life, and I will not interfere with yours.
Her smile faltered just a fraction. 'Private life… meaning your so-called true love, right?' A glint passed through her eyes.
She clenched the paper until her knuckles whitened before forcing her fingers to relax. 'Fine. Keep your secrets, Adrian. The more you have, the more chances I have to bring you down… however I won't let your love blossom, how would I win your heart if it already belongs to another,' She drummed her fingers on the desk.
'I don't mind being the villain in your love story.'
Rule 5: Financial support will be provided during these three months. You will have access to a set allowance for personal expenses but no authority over company funds.
Snow tilted her head, her expression almost pitying. 'Allowance? How generous.'
Rule 6: Any breach of this agreement will result in immediate termination of the contract and public exposure of your deception.
Snow's chest shook with a silent laugh. 'Exposure? Adrian Quinn, you're not the only one who knows how to play dirty.'
She reached the bottom of the page where a blank line waited for her signature. Snow traced it with her finger, her eyes narrowing. "Three months…" she whispered.
She leaned back in the chair, twirling the pen between her fingers. For a moment, she imagined Adrian's reaction if he knew she was reading every line as if it were a challenge instead of a warning.
She leaned over the table and signed the papers. "Congratulations, Snow, you have finally become Mrs. Quinn."
"Hmm, I should definitely prepare a gift for our wedding…" She muttered with a calm and serious expression like she was in deep thought. "Something that would make him speechless."