Calla stared blankly at the so-called wedding ring in Mercer's hand. It was a silver ring with numerous diamonds embedded in it, shimmering like stars. Though it didn't have a single large centerpiece, she knew it was quite valuable."Let me help you put it on." Mercer affectionately took Calla's hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. At that moment, Calla's heart raced. She looked up at the person holding her hand, only to see him curling his lips, giving her a gentle smile she had never seen before. Mercer had never been so gentle in front of her. Calla felt her goosebumps rise, but instantly pulled herself together. Right, they were just acting now. He was helping her retaliate against Peggy. She shouldn't be acting so foolishly.Soon, Calla's hand was intertwined with Mercer's. She playfully pouted as she said, "I thought I lost the ring. You scared me half to death.""It's my fault for not returning it to you earlier," Mercer said with a face full of tenderness. He wa
Calla knew she couldn't reason with Carol, so she turned and walked outside instead. Rudy still wore a smile as he said to Mercer, "Mercer, we should have a good chat next time.""Sure," Mercer nodded and turned to follow Calla.Calla and Carol both got into Mercer's Bentley. Simon was driving in the front, and Mercer sat in the passenger seat today. Calla and Carol sat side by side in the back.Carol glanced at the luxurious interior and smiled. She asked, "Mercer, this car is so luxurious. It must belong to your boss, right? Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to ride your boss' car? We'd better take a cab back instead, so as to not affect your work."This puzzled Mercer. He looked at Calla in the rearview mirror. She was at a loss for words herself, not knowing how to explain things to Carol.Just then, Simon turned to Carol and said with a smile, "Madam, Mr. Garland is the boss. This car belongs to him. As such, you and Mrs. Garland can sit however you like."These words le
At once, Mercer and Carol tried to push the envelope into each other's hands. Upon seeing them, Calla decided to just take it and stuff it into Carol's hands while saying, "Mom, this is his gift to you. If you don't take it, it means you don't accept him as your son-in-law." When she heard Calla's explanation, Carol begrudgingly accepted it. She mumbled, "In that case, alright then." However, she belatedly realized that the envelope was extremely thick. She opened it to take a peak before asking incredulously, "This is 20 thousand, isn't it? No way, this is too much!" Calla had let her guard down. She hadn't expected Mercer to give Carol so much money. Still, she immediately wiped the shocked expression from her face and persuaded, "Mom, you've been kind enough by not asking him for a million dollars in exchange for my hand in marriage. Just take it!" Calla grimaced inwardly at the offer—20 thousand dollars for her dignity and the child in her belly. A cynical part of her c
Half an hour later, Calla walked out of the house with Mercer, carrying a simple bag. The second they stepped outside, Calla complained, "Hey, why didn't you ask me whether I was willing before you dragged me out of the house?" Mercer glanced at Calla's angry expression. He continued striding forward as he remarked, "You're my wife. Of course you should live with me." Observing his undeniable dominance and the lack of bargaining power she had, Calla decided to just follow him. Still, she couldn't help but warn, "I'm telling you in advance. I have many bad habits. Perhaps in time, you won't be able to stand me." Mercer was unfazed. "When I was studying, countless people ground their teeth, burped, and farted all day. I eventually got used to it. I don't think you'll be more unbearable than those boys, will you?" He suddenly turned to look at her. Calla hadn't expected him to turn around so suddenly. She didn't have time to react and stop in her tracks. Thus, she collided wit
Mercer suddenly said, "Since we're going to put on a show, we might as well go all out. Plus, you're a grown woman. You shouldn't worry your mom anymore." Calla couldn't help the bitter smile that appeared on her face. Although she was mocking herself internally, she maintained her composure and said to Mercer, "Thank you for being so considerate." In truth, all of the care and concern he exhibited were merely an act. Calla chastised herself for being so moved because of him. How could she have been so presumptuous and planned a life with him? "You're welcome. We're legally husband and wife now, so we should compromise with each other." Mercer spoke as though he was talking about one of his business projects. Calla raised her chin to make herself appear more confident. She responded, "You're right." They had already walked to the car where Simon had taken the luggage from Mercer. The two of them got into the car, and they drove off within seconds. As the car sped through t
After going upstairs with her luggage, Calla realized that there were two bedrooms on the upper floor. The first one was huge, with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. Without a doubt, it was the master bedroom. The other room was a little smaller. That said, it was kept clean and tidy. Calla was conflicted. When Mercer left, he hadn't told her which room she was supposed to live in. After a moment of thought, she walked into the smaller bedroom with her luggage. After all, she was pregnant. Not only was she easily awakened at night, but she would often throw up without warning. It would definitely affect his sleep. Plus, she couldn't fulfill his nightly needs anyway. There was no need for them to sleep in the same bed. After wandering about the residence for a few hours, Calla realized that it was fully equipped, though she didn't like the choice of interior and furniture. The bathroom was stocked with products she might need, and the fridge was filled to the brim w
Mercer looked up and protested, "It's not like they're dirty or anything." Calla glared at him fiercely and insisted, "Even so, this is a bad habit. You need to make a change!" Mercer furrowed his brows and asked, "Why should I listen to you? You dare talk to me like that?"Calla grabbed Mercer's plate. "That's because I'm the one who made dinner. If you don't want to, don't eat!" Mercer looked up and stared straight at Calla. In truth, Calla was quaking in her boots. However, she'd already grabbed the plate from him. She couldn't bow to his will at this point. Thus, she glared at him while steeling herself inwardly. It would've been too embarrassing otherwise! In the next moment, Mercer stood up quietly. Calla's heart skipped a beat as she took a hasty step backward. He was tall and well-toned. Suffice to say, she wasn't his equal when it came to combat skills—or physical build for that matter. Mercer flatly stated, "I'm a good man who won't argue with a woman. I'll go
Calla mumbled under her breath, "Don't injure your hand. You just can't do anything right." Then, she walked upstairs with a hand on her hip. Calla couldn't even begin to describe how pleased she felt while lying in bed. Even Mercer had moments that she could openly criticize him for. Just thinking about it resolved any anger she had felt.That said, he had fickle emotions and was rather arrogant—but was still a good person. She hadn't expected him to wash the dishes for her and allow her to scold him like that. This was the normal life of a married couple. Calla felt like she'd assimilated into the role of a wife.Before long, the door to her bedroom was pushed open.Calla looked up to see Mercer standing over her, his icy expression chilling her to the core."What does this mean?" He glared at Calla coldly. Calla was interrogated for a reason she could not comprehend. She asked, "What does what mean?" Mercer continued questioning, "Are we not husband and wife?" Calla