Chapter 2
In the dead of winter, the wind sliced like knives. Even the heat in the MPV couldn’t warm the chill in Kathleen’s heart. She was nervous, no doubt about it.
Then again, what could Shawn possibly do with his days numbered?
Steadying herself, she texted Chelsey and told her to stay calm.
The car pulled up in front of Neviton City’s largest entertainment club.
The driver opened the door with practiced politeness, but there wasn’t a hint of respect in his attitude.
Kathleen stepped out, following the man ahead through a dazzling corridor until they reached the innermost private room. The double doors swung open, and the man stepped aside.
“Mr. Vance, she’s here.” With that, he gestured for her to go in.
There was no turning back now. Having come this far, she stepped inside without hesitation.
The door shut behind her.
The confined space was heavy with tension. The air felt thin, and her heartbeat thundered in her chest.
Her eyes swept across the room and landed on a figure lounging on the couch.
He sat with one leg crossed over the other, leaning back into the leather couch. From a distance, it was hard to see his face.
A faint red glow flickered in the dim room. The smell of tobacco hung faintly in the air.
Kathleen took a deep breath and walked over, finally getting a clear look at his face.
He wasn’t photogenic. In person, he was far better looking. The only difference was that he seemed even paler than in the photos.
The shirt he wore was unbuttoned slightly at the collar, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his throat and collarbones.
That sickly pallor made his finely sculpted features look even more ethereal, but he had surprisingly good energy. He didn’t look like someone on the brink of death.
With a face like that, it was no wonder that so many women dreamed of having his children.
As she stepped closer, Kathleen finally spotted the marriage certificate in his hand.
Right, Judy had taken his copy back then. There was no way they’d keep something like that from him.
She was foolish to think she could stay hidden.
“Ever heard of people dying chasing the dollar?” Shawn stared straight at her.
Any woman willing to marry him at a time like this must be after his wealth.
Kathleen knew there was no dodging this. He was clearly warning her that she could die because of money. So, she decided to play along. Her lips curled into a charming smile.
“Who is to say that I didn’t marry you out of love? Maybe I’ve been plotting this for a long time.”
Shawn’s fingers tightened around his cigarette.
Plotting this for a long time…
There might be women like that, but not under these circumstances.
He saw right through her lies and fake smile. Stubbing the cigarette in the ashtray, he beckoned her forward with his slender fingers.
Kathleen swallowed and took another step.
Shawn dropped his leg down and sat up straighter. He suddenly seized her wrist and yanked her down onto his lap.
Caught off guard, she stumbled and fell hard against his chest. He then pushed her upright, one hand slipping around her waist.
Even through her coat, she could feel the heat of his palm.
Before she could react, he tilted her chin up with the edge of the marriage certificate. His eyes glinted with mockery as he said, “Marrying me out of love?”
Her heart thudded, but she kept her composure.
The corner of the certificate scraped her chin, but she didn’t flinch.
She looked him straight in the eye. “Pretty sure every unmarried woman in Neviton’s got a crush on you.”
He let out a cold chuckle. “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”
“I am.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Kathleen looked utterly serious. “We all die eventually. But if I get to be your wife before that, I’ll have no regrets.”
“What a load of crap,” Shawn thought.
He shoved her away and even brushed the spot on his leg where she’d just been sitting. His disgust couldn’t have been more obvious as he said, “Divorce.”
Kathleen steadied herself, her gaze falling on the marriage certificate he’d tossed aside. She calmly reminded him, “There’s a one-month cooling-off period before a divorce.”
Shawn looked up at her. Kathleen shut her mouth.
He rose to his feet.
He was tall and lean, having broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His long legs stepped forward, the hem of his trousers brushing lightly against Kathleen’s coat.
He shot her a cold glance that made her swallow whatever admiration she had for him.
“I’m not getting a divorce,” Kathleen said.
Shawn halted, a chill flashing through his eyes.
She met his gaze. “I’m not fooling around.”
Shawn narrowed his eyes.
Kathleen continued sincerely, “I thought it through. Becoming your wife is the only way I can take care of you openly and have your children. I don’t care how much time you have left. I just don’t want any regrets. Call me selfish, but as long as I can be with you, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
She spoke with deep emotion, her eyes glistening with tears. Even she was impressed by how quickly she could summon such feelings.
Shawn stepped closer, his voice icy. “You’ll do whatever it takes?”
His presence bore down on her, suffocating and sharp. But she steeled herself and nodded. “Of course.”
A faint smile tugged at Shawn’s lips. That slight curve sent a chill down Kathleen’s spine.
He sat down again, barking, “Kneel.”
Kathleen thought she’d misheard. However, his cold and dark eyes were telling her she hadn’t.
“You can’t even do that?”
Now she finally understood what Chelsey meant by “psychopath”.
The contempt in his eyes made her frown. She shrugged off her coat and tossed it onto the couch, tying her loose hair into a ponytail.
Without any hesitation, she straddled his lap.
“How about this?”
From this angle, she was slightly taller than him. When she lowered her eyes to meet his, she caught a flicker of surprise in his gaze.
The tight black sweater clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination. Her jeans hugged her hips, and her straight posture made her waist look even more supple.
She was close enough that their breaths mingled.
Their posture was intimate and suggestive—just a breath away from turning into something steamy.
Kathleen was gorgeous. She was even more stunning than the wedding photo.
Her upturned eyes gleamed playfully. That faint smile on her lips made her all the more alluring.
Shawn leaned back, arms spread across the couch. His deep-set eyes held nothing but the reflection of her seductive smile.
“Take it off.”
His pale lips moved faintly, asking her to continue.
Kathleen exhaled silently and reached for the buttons on his shirt.
Her fair, delicate fingers met the black buttons, creating a stark contrast like black-and-white chess pieces.
She kept her hands steady and began unbuttoning his shirt. Each button revealed more of his chest.
His skin wasn’t sun-kissed but pale, carrying a unique kind of allure.
One button followed by another button. More and more of his chest came into view.
Kathleen held her breath. The playful smile was starting to slip.
She lifted her eyes slightly.
Shawn glanced down at her with a cold, detached gaze.
He looked like a king on his throne—aloof and untouchable. To him, she was nothing more than a plaything trying to please him.
Kathleen gritted her teeth and continued unbuttoning his shirt. However, the moment her hand accidentally brushed against his abs, he grabbed her wrist firmly.
She looked up and met that abyss in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.
“So slow. At this rate, when will you be able to give me a child?” Shawn was displeased with her speed.
Her breathing hitched, but she didn’t want to run away.
She smiled faintly and replied, “You can’t rush these things. They say children conceived in passion turn out smarter and more beautiful, too.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Is that so?”
“Yeah.” She boldly slid her other hand beneath his shirt.
However, Shawn was quicker. He grabbed her hand and asked, “How is it fair if I’m the only one getting undressed?”
