Chapter 4 A Stranger

Paige stole a glance at Chris, and their eyes met. Chris caught her staring.

It was eerily silent.

Paige froze and blushed in embarrassment. She shied away from his gaze and wanted to break the silence. However, no words came out of her mouth.

“Go and take a shower,” Chris said.

Paige looked at Chris in shock. Did he just tell her to shower?

She murmured, “I…”

Chris uttered, “Take a shower.”

Paige said, “We…”

Chris insisted. “Take a shower.”

Paige had no words.

Chris said, “Go on.”

“…Oh.”

Judging by his frown, Paige believed Chris was angry.

She was a little scared of Chris.

So, Paige went into the bathroom and took her clothes off for a shower.

The hot water splashed on her, soothing her mind and body. She felt alive again after Chris led her around like a puppet all day.

She was finally herself again.

While showering, Paige reassessed her life plan.

Chris was unreadable. She could not figure him out.

This morning, Chris stormed out after receiving photos of Sierra’s cheating. Since he did not want to marry Sierra anymore, Paige had no choice but to stop him. The Jewells would not be affected if Chris’ wedding with Sierra did not go on, but it would be a major disaster for the Quirks.

Even if Chris let the Quirks off the hook for Sierra's cheating, he had friends and family who would stand up for him.

Paige could not wrap her head around why Chris would suddenly decide to marry her.

Knock, knock.

The knock on the door interrupted Paige’s thoughts.

“…Y-Yes?” Paige stuttered nervously.

“You’ve been in there for half an hour.” Chris’ aloof voice came from the other side of the door.

Paige answered, “…Girls take a while… in the shower.”

Guilt weighed on her conscience.

She waited, but there was no reply. She turned off the water and listened carefully for any sounds outside the bathroom. Paige sighed in relief and looked down at her red skin. She had scrubbed herself too hard. She toweled herself dry and realized she had left her pajamas and underwear in the bedroom.

Paige stared at the wet clothes by the sink, getting the urge to cry. How was she supposed to leave the bathroom?

She looked around the bathroom and found something on the shelf next to the sink.

Paige took a closer look and found condoms, stockings, underwear, and other things that made her blush.

She was surprised. It must have been a long time since she stayed at a hotel. She had no idea that hotels could be so well-equipped with amenities.

Paige tore open the packaging, slipped on the underwear, and wrapped the towel around herself. Standing in front of the mirror, she wiped the condensation off and checked herself out—Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, and her skin smooth…

She blushed and clutched the towel tightly around her.

The way she saw it, she could be sending the wrong message.

Surely, Chris would not try anything with her, right?

After all, Chris was like a brother-in-law to her over the past year.

Paige hoped Chris would not make a move on his supposed sister-in-law.

She prayed not.

Paige tried to convince herself that Chris could have all the women he wanted, so he would likely respect her boundaries as his ex-fiancée’s sister.

She should have more faith in Chris’ character and moral compass.

Paige drew a deep breath and braced herself before opening the bathroom door. She quietly popped her head out.

Chris was on his phone in bed with a bathrobe on. He turned to the bathroom when he heard a sound.

He caught Paige craning her neck out.

She acted like a…

Chris snickered. She was acting like a thief.

Paige nervously gripped her towel at the sight of Chris. After much hesitation, she walked out of the bathroom.

“M-Mr. Jewell…” Paige said embarrassedly.

Chris looked at Paige and said callously, “That’s Chris to you. I’m your husband.”

Paige was choked for words. She met his gaze and awkwardly said, “I shouldn’t… I know Sierra wronged you, but you only married me today out of necessity.”

It was an uncomfortable situation for Paige.

In fact, she was not close to Chris.

Chris rarely came to the house when he was engaged to Sierra. When Chris and Sierra would go out on dates, Paige could not possibly go along as a third wheel. Paige was busy with her first year of college, and Chris was busy with work. Come to think of it, Paige could count on one hand the number of times they had interacted during Sierra's year-long engagement with Chris.

He was a stranger to her.

Chris stared at Paige. He knew what Paige was thinking, but he did not care. She could think whatever she wanted. He had his own plans.

“Come here.”