CHAPTER 4: Money

"Honestly, I'm not sure about this marriage either. Both of us have our reasons for getting married," said Drew. He felt uncertain about the relationship he had entered into. What he was going to do with Lily had been on his mind since last night.

He was convinced that he and Lily might not be compatible. Her personality was quite different from his everyday life. He was accustomed to a lifestyle of parties, intimacy, and the company of women. Did being married mean he would have to give all of that up?

"We won't be happy if I change myself just because I'm married, Lily. If we're not happy, this relationship might end in an annulment. I may miss the life I used to have, and I'm not certain if you can live with it." He didn't want to convey to his wife that the level of tolerance he was currently showing her might be excessive.

He noticed the concern in her eyes, and she lowered her head.

"Talk, Lily," Drew frowned. He had spoken so many words that he felt like he might run out of saliva, yet his wife remained silent. She was unusually quiet. He typically appreciated silence, but not at this moment. Suddenly, he found himself wondering whether she made noise during intimate moments.

He quickly shook his head to dispel those thoughts. ‘Fucker! You know she doesn't enjoy that!’ he chided himself.

"How about we make a deal?" Lily suggested, her eyes glistening with tears.

Drew asked with curiosity, "What kind of deal?"

"I see your point. We don't really know each other. I would suggest that we take a year to get to know one another. If, after that time, I remain the same, and if we're not happy, we can part ways amicably as friends."

Lily's suggestion surprised Drew. He also acknowledged that she was right. He had considered the idea before discovering Lily's complicated family situation. Now, however, he was pondering whether his wife could be self-sufficient after a year.

The concept frustrated him. What would his friends say? Or his family? That he could only stay married for a year and had already had his marriage annulled? Considering his reputation, they would undoubtedly assume he was at fault for the separation. They might even insinuate that he had an affair with another woman or something similar.

Drew retorted, "But within a year, we have to make sure we put in the effort before making a decision. We'll be friends for a year. Every Sunday, we should go on a date. We should talk in the morning and at dinner. You'll also accompany me to the gym."

"To the gym?" It surprised Lily.

Drew looked at her petite hand, arm, and body. She was too pale, too slender, and physically fragile. A strong wind could have easily carried her away.

"I will be your trainer. I will also oversee your diet, and I won't accept 'no' as an answer, Lily. You'll need that even if we part ways."

Lily bit her lip. But she lowered her head and nodded. 

He stood up from his seat. "Now, let's go!" 

"W-where are we going?" 

"We're going on our first date because it's Sunday." 

***  

Why did Lily propose to Drew that they could separate if nothing changed between them after a year?

Lily had several goals in mind. First and foremost, she hoped to complete her schooling within the next year. Perhaps by then, she might already have secured a job. Additionally, she found Drew's response to be reasonable. Given their different lifestyles, she understood that her husband might not be satisfied if he had to abandon his previous life just because he married her. Above all, she wanted to set a time frame for herself.

She was determined to do everything in her power to avoid contemplating ending her relationship with Drew after a year. The thought of returning to the Martin Family was something she dreaded, and she was determined to prevent it. To achieve this within a year, she was willing to make every effort to ensure Drew's happiness and contentment.

***  

Lily's cheeks flushed as she walked over and wrapped her arms around Drew. It was their first date, he had claimed. While they perused the home appliance store, the female staff members couldn't help but be aware of his presence. They were undeniably drawn to her husband. She couldn't deny his undeniable attractiveness, and his scent... it felt like a warm breeze. From his strong jaw and broad shoulders extending down to his sculpted physique—

"I like this. What do you think?" Drew asked her as he examined an elegant couch.

"I-it's a bit too dark," she commented absentmindedly, her gaze frequently drifting up to his face.

“Hmm?” Drew lowered his gaze on her. 

She murmured in panic. "N-no! I mean, you can buy anything you want!" Her cheeks began to flush.

"But if you're the one buying the couch, what do you want to put in our home?" he questioned.

In our home...

She had a vision. Not far away, she spotted a light gray L-shaped couch. "That one would fit perfectly in the corner of our living room."

Drew guided her toward the mentioned item. He examined it and then turned to the woman who was following them. "You heard my wife. Please include this couch."

Lily was perplexed. The dark brown couch he had initially preferred had been replaced. They went through the entire store, selecting items for her bedroom. Afterwards, he took her to a restaurant.

"I hope you enjoyed our little date," Drew murmured.

Lily smiled genuinely. Her fear of Drew had lessened a bit because he was easy to get along with. However, it would be an overstatement to say that she should be joyful. Kenneth had always told her that everything she received was a luxury, and he wouldn't let her be happy. That was her fear.

"I've asked my assistant to find the perfect school for you. She should have an answer for me this week."

"Thank you," she replied.

"Oh, by the way," Drew pulled a gold card from his wallet and handed it to Lily. "You can go shopping or make any purchases you like with the monthly allowance provided on this card."

Her eyes blinked as she held the square gold card. Shopping? Buying anything?

"Yes, why don't we get you a cell phone later? You can use this card for the payment," Drew explained.

"A cell phone?" she asked.

"Yes, you should have a cell phone. How else will I be able to reach you if I need to get in touch with you?" He had a point. When their orders arrived, she focused her attention on the enticing meal. Drew smiled broadly as the waiter placed her chicken alfredo pasta and some of the restaurant's specialties in front of her. Her mouth watered as she tried to swallow the drool that had almost left her throat dry.

"Let's eat!" Drew declared.

She took a bite. It tasted amazing! She relished every mouthful of the food on the table.

"I never thought you could eat so well. Why don't you seem to gain weight?" Drew asked as he sipped his water.

Lily felt embarrassed because she hadn't realized she had consumed two plates of food. She had never eaten those dishes before, and they were incredibly delicious. However, she recognized that what she had done was excessive, and it almost made her lose track of her situation. It reminded her of a scene from the past.

Eat shit, b*tch! Kenneth laughs.  

Lily set her fork down and averted her gaze from Drew. Why did her stepbrother refuse to leave her thoughts?

"I'm sorry," she said. She had genuinely enjoyed the meal, but now she felt anxious again.

“Lily?”

"I'm afraid you'll have to cover the cost of the meal," she nervously replied.

"Who said I would pay?"

Her eyes widened. Was he planning to leave her and make her foot the bill? Kenneth had done that to her once, and the memory made her feel vulnerable. It had infuriated her father to the point where he had to pick her up from the police station. Tears welled up in her eyes at the painful recollection. Why did her past still hurt her so much?

Drew moved closer. "What's on your mind? Tell me."

Lily asked, "Who is going to cover the bill for the food?"

Suddenly, images of washing dishes, making a run for it from the restaurant, or ending up in jail flashed through her mind.

But when Drew burst into laughter, she was taken aback. They were drawing the attention of other diners with their loud laughter. She should have been worried, but her husband's laughter was different from Kenneth's and his friends' laughter. Drew's chuckles seemed to convey amusement, and it struck her as odd. "Oh, Lily, why are you so incredibly cute?" He wiped away the tears from laughing. When she had mentioned that she couldn't afford her tuition earlier, he had found it the funniest thing he had ever heard. He never thought that paying a lower price for this restaurant would be even funnier.

Lily blinked her eyes once more, but Drew burst into laughter again. She wanted to be angry with him, an emotion she hadn't experienced in years because she had felt too powerless to get angry. Why was he making fun of her? Was she being too naive? Was there a joke that she wasn't aware of, especially for people like him? Drew noticed her anxiety.

"I'm sorry... Your questions about money make you both funny and cute! It seems like you were unprepared when it came to money. Didn't I give you a credit card before we ate?" 

“Oh!” She picked up the card that was resting beside her.

"I won't pay because you will be the one to cover our meals from now on," she said.

She didn't, however, intend to spend her husband's money. What if he thought she was extravagant? "I-I? Do I have to pay for all of this?"

"Yes!" he replied as he placed the card in her hand. “Because you are strong, Lily!" he muttered while narrowing his eyes. “You're a Walton, Lily. And we, the Waltons, don't lack money. Swipe and pay like a queen! Do it like Mrs. Drew Walton!”

She was left speechless. No one had ever treated her this way before.

Because she had grown up as a peasant, nobody had ever advised her to act like a queen.

No one had ever suggested that she should pay for someone else's meal due to her financial limitations. She had never, ever had money in her life because her family had complete control over everything.

Most importantly, she had been married to Drew for just over twenty-four hours.

Lily reached for a tissue and wiped away her tears. The attention of other customers shifted to them, as they assumed that Drew had caused her to cry.

"Is there a problem here, sir?" asked the man who approached them.

Lily raised her head. When she realized who the man was, her eyes widened, and she seemed to recoil as a shiver spread through her body.

He, too, was surprised to find her there, but he couldn't help but smile with an odd grin. His name was Victor, and he was one of Kenneth's friends.