Sentenced to Marriage

Chapter 72

Honesty Neil’s words rang inside my head for the next few hours. Of course, there was no chance that I would let Aren know that I wasn’t mad at him anymore because my inner rage was still present and boiling in my veins each time I felt that I recalled his words. Yet, the situation between me and Aren was clearly exhausting both of us, and I didn’t want Aren to fire more people or trouble poor Neil…

Since my message-recovery mission brought no results this time, I ended up focusing all my thoughts on Aren anyway. Neil advised me that it would be best if I reached out to him. He was also certain that Aren would agree to any conditions. I wasn’t too sure about it, but I figured that maybe it was worth a shot. From the moment I met Aren, I literally moved into his world and played by his rules; it was time to change that. After writing and rewriting the message five times, I finally sent Aren an invitation, one without pleading and extra formalities. “Eat dinner with me. I suggest tacos at Casa Romina at 8 PM.” It was the best that I could come up with. In comparison to the fancy places that Aren took me, this one seemed like it was from another planet. It was quite cheap, always crowded and loud, and no one cared if you were wearing a suit or sweatpants. Romina, the owner, was a plump lady in her sixties who always wore colorful dresses and danced around the customers’ tables. She always made everyone welcome, although she could sometimes be nosy and irritating. Nonetheless, I used to love to come to that place, and if Aren wanted to make things right between us, he would have to step into my world for once. One minute later, I got Aren’s response. “I will inform Marcus to wait for us at 7:30.”

I smirked and texted back. “No. We will take the subway. Be at 7:30 in the entrance hall.”

Answering this message took him longer than before. I started to wonder if I didn’t go overboard with my cockiness, but then I thought that he was supposed to make an effort, not me. I waited for another minute.

“I’ll be there. 7:30. Don’t be late, sunshine.” My lips curved into a beaming smile. I missed him calling me Sunshine. Perhaps it was childish, but once he wrote it, I could feel that he was willing to make things right. A little after seven o’clock I was already shifting in my seat, inwardly giggling at the thought of the

date with my husband. I corrected my makeup and walked downstairs precisely on time. He was already waiting for me, restlessly looking at his watch and attracting the attention of every female specimen in the building. I walked slowly across the hall, enjoying him being nervous while one of the women standing at the side of the hall decided to hit on my husband. I stopped and raised my eyebrows, figuring that I would love to watch this scene.

Aren had just received a message and was too busy checking his phone to either notice me or the busty blond who walked toward him on 4.5-inch heels.

“Um, excuse me!” she sang squeakily, pushing her boobs up to Aren’s line of sight. “I’m new here. Would you like to take me out and show me some restaurants?”

I stood calmly, observing her desperate attempts to get Aren’s attention. I could notice his chest heaving as he took a deep breath. When he raised his head to meet her eyes and pierced her with his cold, indifferent gaze, I had to stifle a laugh.

“Try tourist information,” he said harshly before turning his attention back to the phone’s screen.

Unfortunately, the blond decided to try again. “I always get lost in new places. I would rather you show me around. I’ll make it worth your time…”

I nearly screamed as I saw her trying to slide her hand under my husband’s arm. Luckily, Aren’s reaction was faster than mine. He dodged her touch and as he raised his head, his eyes finally met mine. He smiled warmly, and I could see relief on his face as if he was anxious about whether I would come or not. “Good evening, handsome,” I said, slowly heading his way across the hall. He ignored the blond, striding energetically toward me and then pulling me into his arms. “I missed you today, wife.” All the anger I had accumulated throughout the day dissolved in the air. The annoying butterflies in my stomach flew around with “We forgive you!” signs stuck to their little wings. Nonetheless, I had to at least pretend that his words didn’t melt me completely. I cleared my throat and focused on the revolving door. “Shall we go?” He chuckled and gestured. “Ladies first.”

As soon as we found ourselves on the sidewalk, he grabbed my hand and tangled our fingers, keeping me close as if he was afraid to lose me in the crowd. He was even more protective as we got on the subway, shielding me all the way, like my personal bodyguard. Certainly, the number of eyes soaked in jealousy aimed my way grew by the station. I was relieved when we finally got out, and I could breathe more freely.

A minute later, we were inside the crowded space of Casa Romina with the owner, glamorously wandering between the tables and serving tacos and enchiladas. We sat in the corner of the restaurant, in the least crowded spot in the restaurant. Surprisingly, Aren didn’t complain or look uncomfortable. After the waitress took our order, we sat for a while in silence, staring at each other. I figured that I had already done my part. This time I wasn’t going to force him to talk, and I was prepared to eat in absolute silence if I had to.

“I’m sorry.” His sudden words startled me, “My life is one big mess, and I am still trying to figure out how to protect you. I screwed up.” His hand found mine, squeezing it gently.

My lips formed a faint smile. “You cannot protect me against the things you won’t tell me

about. How can I prepare myself for something I don’t know anything about? Now, I am your wife, and I am your partner. Every one of your problems is my problem as well. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed you to tell me about this Lanfen, but you seemed so agitated the other day that it got me scared. You were looking for this Lanfen when you got out of the car, didn’t

you?”

He nodded. “Yes… Lanfen is someone from my past. Someone who I never wished to see again. Yesterday, I received an anonymous email with a picture… The shot was clearly taken a few

blocks away from Lan Diamond Corporation, and Lanfen was in that photo.”

“So whoever sent you that photo wanted to mess with your head, and as I see it, it worked quite well.” I smiled wryly at him. “You need to show me that email so we can trace it back Whoever this person is, I doubt that he or she meant well. If you sent us that photo, we could also run it through New York City’s traffic surveillance, and if this Lanfen was around, we could find him,”

“Her,” Aren interrupted, “Lanfen is a woman.” I looked at him, bemused. Of course, it crossed my mind before, but perhaps I shoved that thought away since I would feel more comfortable if the person that made Aren so anxious was a man.

He smiled wryly. “Sun Lanfen, she was the daughter of my mother’s friend. She and her parents used to be my only connection to the Chinese part of my family. I thought that the Sun family could help me become independent and escape from the Wintons, but that didn’t happen. Her family used me and my ideas to please the Lan family. Once they discovered that my grandfather, Lan Jing, didn’t really care about me, they stole my business idea and presented it to him as their own.” My heart squeezed as I listened to his words. “I don’t know what to say…” “It’s an old story. It taught me a lot,” he said as a bitter smile twisted his lips. I leaned forward, locking my eyes on him. “Then what about Lanfen in all of this?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Aren took a deep breath. “We were supposed to get married.” I exhaled in a rush. This guy had way too many fiancées in his life, and finding out about another one of his ex-girlfriends now felt harder than ever.

Aren corrected his grip on my hand before continuing, “The night before our wedding, someone tried to assassinate me. The next day, I found out that the Sun family had moved back to China. A month later, I found out that Lanfen got married. She became the wife of the son of one of the richest families in China.”

“Did you love her?” The question slipped out of my lips before I could stop myself. Suddenly, panic flooded me. Was I prepared to hear his answer to that question? My lips parted as I wanted to take my words back, but it was too late. With a sad smile, he replied, “I don’t know. Perhaps…”