Frederick held the key and pulled up to a luxurious villa complex in Jenaire City. Apparently, his fiancee had exquisite tastes. This villa was the cream of the crop. As he approached the entrance, a portly security guard with a bored expression waved him off dismissively."Soliciting isn't allowed here, buddy. Move along."Frederick glanced down at his attire, realizing the fat guard probably mistook him for someone seeking work based on his clothes. With a sigh, he clarified, "Actually, I'm not here for a job."The guard gave him a once-over and chuckled. "Yeah, you wouldn't last a day here. We need muscle, not scrawny dudes. Besides, the cleaning crew is full too."Frederick fought back the urge to strangle himself. Seriously? Did he look like a janitor?"Listen closely, I'm not here for employment. My fiancee lives here, and I need to get in."The guard's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Fiance of the cleaning lady, huh?"Frustration bubbled within Frederick. Was this some k
Frederick's heart pounded a little faster as he approached the bathroom door with the retrieved clothes.Just as he reached for the knob, it creaked open a sliver, revealing a glimpse of flawless white skin slick with water droplets.A hand, slender and elegant, extended through the gap."Hurry up and give it to me," a voice called from within. Averting his gaze, Frederick quickly passed the undergarments through the gap and retreated to the couch, a blush warming his cheeks. They were engaged, but not yet married. Anya was certainly a bold one!At that moment, the bathroom door slowly opened. "Oh dear, I had a falling out with my family and rushed over here. I didn't expect you to be back so soon."Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open, revealing a sight that stopped Frederick's breath cold.A woman emerged, clad only in her undergarments and vigorously drying her hair with a towel.Her eyes met Frederick's, widening in surprise.Frederick's eyes mirrored her shock…Th
Fiona's eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly nodded. Only then did Frederick release her. Now free, Fiona remained silent, afraid to provoke him further. She curled up on the couch, using a towel to cover herself."Please, don't hurt me. The owner of this house is my cousin. She's much prettier than I am. Go after her instead."Frederick was taken aback.This young woman was Anya's cousin? What a misunderstanding!"You've got it all wrong. I'm Anya's fiance."Relief washed over Fiona at his words. He wasn't a ruffian after all. She had heard about her cousin's arranged marriage but didn't expect the fiance to be this man.Suddenly, Fiona felt a cool breeze against her skin and realized she was only in her undergarments.Gosh! She had been seen completely naked by her future brother-in-law!She quickly dashed back to her room to get dressed.Frederick watched her retreat and helplessly shrugged. He had already seen Anya's cousin naked on the first day of living together.
Fiona's lips curled into a pout as she tucked the bills into her pocket."Hmph, you'll need to offer at least two million dollars for the hush money!"Frederick's eyebrows shot up in surprise.Two million dollars? That was an exorbitant amount.Noticing his astonishment, Fiona conceded slightly, "Fine, 200 thousand dollars will do."A wave of embarrassment washed over Frederick. He wasn't one to carry large sums of cash, most of his wealth was tied up in Ragnarok. His remaining savings barely amounted to a few thousand dollars."I don't have that kind of money on hand," he admitted sheepishly.Now it was Fiona's turn to be taken aback."You don't even have 200 thousand dollars?"She scrutinized Frederick more closely. Both she and Anya hailed from wealthy families, their social circles populated by individuals for whom 200 thousand dollars was a mere trifle.Fiona had assumed her uncle would choose a well-off suitor for Anya, hence her initial demand for two million dollars.
The biting wind howled, and the snow fell relentlessly. Large snowflakes blanketed everything in a shimmering silver, the winter's chill as unforgiving as ever.In a secluded corner of the park, a boy of seven or eight huddled on a bench, shivering uncontrollably.Frederick had lost both his parents and was overwhelmed with the uncertainty of his future at such a tender age. Perhaps there was no need to dwell on the future at all—he might not even survive the day.As he lay there, his stomach rumbled with hunger, his body grew increasingly cold, and his eyelids drooped heavily.Everything around him blurred as he could no longer endure the frigid conditions.Slowly, he closed his eyes.Just before the darkness fully enveloped him, he saw his parents. They were together as a happy family, just as it had been before.Soon, he thought that he would be in another world, reunited with his mom and dad."Wake up, wake up." Suddenly, a gentle shaking and a clear, childish voice pul
Frederick smiled and pointed at Anya. "You, of course. You're my wife."Anya was dumbfounded. This man was actually calling her his wife?To be called "'wife" by a man was a novel experience for her!As she was going to shout at Frederick, Fiona's voice chimed in from behind, "Ann, you're back."Anya was surprised to see Fiona, as she hadn't been aware of her arrival. Anya hadn't seen Fiona earlier as she was in a different room."Fiona, why are you here? Have you met him?" Anya asked, nodding toward Frederick.Fiona blushed, remembering their recent encounter where Frederick had seen her naked.The question about him only intensified her embarrassment.She managed a quiet "mm-hmm" in response. Anya was oblivious to Fiona's discomfort due to her own inexperience with relationships. She inquired, "Why are you here? Did you have a fight with your family?"Fiona suddenly embraced Anya tightly. "Ann, I ran away from home. I'm here to stay with you."Anya was stunned. "Ran away
Fiona glanced at Frederick, and a wave of bashfulness washed over her.Memories of the incident when he had seen her naked flooded back, turning her cheeks the color of blooming peonies.Anya was unaware of Fiona's inner turmoil. She saw Fiona's face erupt in a fiery blush, reminiscent of a ripe crab. Reaching out with concern, Anya touched Fiona's cheek to check for a fever.The touch sent a jolt through Fiona. She flinched, her own hand instinctively flying to her burning cheeks.Anya's brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you having a fever, Fiona?"Panic bloomed in Fiona's chest. How could she possibly explain the real reason for her flustered state?Stammering, she struggled to form a coherent response.Meanwhile, Frederick sensed Fiona's rising panic and feared she might blurt out their beach encounter.He interjected swiftly. Having just discovered his long-lost savior in Anya, the last thing he needed was a revelation that could jeopardize his newfound connection."Sweethe
The two-story villa offered ample rooms, and Fiona's suggestion struck a chord with Anya. She readily agreed and set about packing her belongings.Frederick watched them with a slight shake of his head. Living together wasn't a priority for him at this point. His focus was to be her lifelong protector, and there was no need to rush things.As he observed the two women bustling around, he sensed a touch of fatigue evident in their movements.Frederick offered, "Sweetheart, why don't I lend a hand with moving those?"Fiona, ever vigilant, immediately stepped in front of the doorway.Her gaze was wary as she replied, "We appreciate the offer, but it's alright. We can manage. Let's be honest, some men can be a little... opportunistic, especially around a woman's personal belongings. You wouldn't happen to have any designs on Anya's clothes or socks, would you?"Frederick's eyes widened at the blunt accusation. He hadn't anticipated such a young woman to be so versed in the unsavo