Chapter 006 Two-year Engagement

"Your expression looks as if the president is your father."

I asked Bradyn teasingly, testing the waters with a lighthearted tone.

Unexpectedly, this remark prompted hearty laughter from Mrs. Capel and Bradyn's aunts.

"Fiona, you're quite a clever girl," Mrs. Capel said with a chuckle.

I was taken aback; I had just been joking and making random guesses.

"My mom was joking with you too," Bradyn quickly explained, shooting a disapproving look at his aunt.

I patted my chest. "Good to know. You know, I've heard stories about the president having quite a temper. Rumor has it that once, when an office staffer accidentally spilled his tea, he ordered someone to break the poor fellow's legs. Living with someone like that would be unimaginable."

Mrs. Capel's expression turned strange again, as if she was suppressing a laugh, but Bradyn's tone suddenly became chilly. "Where did you read that news?"

I tried to recall the name of the magazine and stuttered, "I-I think it was Apple Weekly..."

"It seems like that newspaper needs to shut down for a while," Bradyn said, rising from his seat.

I remembered that Bradyn also worked at the Presidential Palace and immediately grabbed onto him. "From your expressions, it seems like the reality isn't like that."

"Of course not," Mrs. Capel explained. "That staff member happened to break his leg on his way home, and the media loves drama. That's how they get people to pay for their newspapers."

Recalling the news coverage of my wedding, I nodded in agreement. "Bradyn, so what do you think the new president will be like?"

Bradyn cleared his throat and said, "I think he's a bit reserved, but overall, he's quite competent."

"No, Bradyn, you forgot to mention a crucial detail. The new president is incredibly handsome, not to mention his great physique." Bradyn's cousin added with a mischievous wink.

"Really? Do you happen to have a picture of him? If he's both the president and good-looking, he's probably a heartthrob for many women." My curiosity about the newly elected president was piqued.

Bradyn rose from his seat, ignoring my protests, and gently pulled me away. "It's getting late, and Fiona has work tomorrow."

"Ah, time flies."

Mrs. Capel bid us farewell reluctantly. "I wanted Fiona to stay and attend the dinner."

Bradyn frowned. "I have important matters to attend to."

As they were preparing to send us off, Mrs. Capel suddenly held onto me. "Oh, Fiona, there's something I want to give you."

With that, she took out an emerald ring and slipped it onto my finger without hesitation.

"For our first meeting, I thought I should give you a little gift. Welcome to the Capel family."

I was stunned. As a jewelry designer, I could immediately tell the value of the ring.

Although its design was quite classical and dignified, not exactly in line with current fashion aesthetics.

But the value of this Rockefeller emerald was probably enough to buy our entire workshop.

I couldn't accept it.

"Please take it, Fiona. It's just a small welcome gift. I'm also looking forward to you designing a set of jewelry for me."

Mrs. Capel insisted.

"But this is too precious." She called this emerald stone small?

"Just accept it."

Bradyn added, "My mom has been looking for the right person to own this ring for a while."

Mrs. Capel smiled, "Indeed, it looks perfect on you. What elegant and slender fingers you have."

I hesitated, but in the end, I thanked her and accepted the ring. However, I didn't know at the time what significance this ring held.

Recalling the conversation I overheard about Jenny in the restroom, I thought that I should probably return this ring at some point.

During the ride back, my mood remained uneasy.

I mentally rehearsed the conversation I wanted to have with Bradyn but had no idea how to naturally initiate it.

"You seem preoccupied."

Bradyn had been busy on his phone, replying to emails, but now he looked up at me.

I couldn't keep my thoughts to myself any longer, so I decided to be straightforward.

"I want to know, how long do you think this arrangement... will last?"

I stumbled over my words, "What I mean is, you have someone you love but can't be with, and I have an ex-fiance and family that I want to get away from. After this storm passes—"

"So why did you insist on going to the city hall with me yesterday?"

Bradyn's gaze shifted, and for the first time in the whole day, his deep blue eyes seemed icy, almost like they could freeze into solid ice.

"If you just wanted to silence your family, you could have taken a staged wedding certificate photo and uploaded it."

I knew I was in the wrong, so I rushed to explain, "No, Bradyn, what I mean is, since we were strangers before all of this, our future married life might not be what we both truly want. We might not be compatible in the long run. Plus, you've always had feelings for someone else; I'm not Jenny. Despite the resemblance, I'm not her. I'm just wondering, what if our future together—"

"What if our life together ends up being even more miserable than being with your ex-fiance?"

Bradyn took a deep breath, his gaze shifting away from me to focus ahead.

"Two years."

He said it.

"Two years from now, if you want to leave, we'll get a divorce."

Two years should be enough, I thought.

Enough time for him to let go of the woman he couldn't have and start searching for someone who fits him better, to find love again.

And enough time for me to leave Damon's family business, focus on the personal design studio I had been planning for a long time, and forget Damon, to reshape my studio and my passion.

"But if within these two years, we—"

"I said two years, not even one day more."

Bradyn interrupted my words abruptly. "If you don't believe me, I'll have my assistant draft a contract for you."

I could sense his anger, but I wasn't sure why he was so angry.

Maybe my inadvertent mention of Jenny in my words had provoked his sensitive nerves.

However, I felt that some things needed to be clarified today.

When we got back home, the sun was almost setting.

After Bradyn got out of the car, he went upstairs to change and take a shower by himself.

Meanwhile, I was intercepted by his assistant.

"Mrs. Capel, Mr. Capel asked me to draft a contract for you. Please take a look."

I was amazed by Capel's efficiency.

At the same time, I realized that maybe he needed this commitment more than I did in this contractual marriage.

The agreement was pretty clear. It said that during our marriage, we wouldn't mess with each other's jobs or social lives. But to keep up the appearance of a happy couple, we couldn't get involved with anyone else, emotionally or physically.

He would provide me with a certain amount of living expenses to cover household expenses, but he wouldn't hinder my own work and pursuit of my career.

However, he did expect me to handle typical wife stuff.

This included the love and sex that should be a part of married life. He said he was a normal man with basic needs.

I thought, the romance might be fake, but the marriage was real.

We were equal to each other, each with our own needs, and that was reasonable.

After signing the agreement, I looked up and saw Bradyn's figure in the corner of the second floor.

But it was just a fleeting glimpse; he disappeared almost immediately.