Chapter 2 - Take Responsibility

Pov: Kayden

I stare at the strange woman who has skin as fair as snow, a pleasantly-small face, and a pair of big expressive eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered like a deer in headlights, but she glared at me unyieldingly.

“The person I wanted to drug was someone else. It had nothing to do with you. Do you even think you’re worthy? I don’t lay my hands on just anyone. You wasted my drug. Return me the money!”

Drugged the wrong person? My face tensed and I furrowed my brows as I stare at this woman in messy clothes. Half of her snow-white shoulder was exposed and the purplish-green bruises on it were all the more prominent like plum blossoms blooming on her tender, white skin.

The images of the previous night flashed through his mind unannounced. Heat rose to my lower abdomen as I felt the obvious arousal through my body.

I close my eyes. This damned woman… How dare she drug me? And with such a potent drug?

She took advantage of my lack of focus, jumping around pushes me away, and runs out of the room.

I was just about to turn around and grab her when I felt a wave of heat. And once again my thing was standing tall and proud.

“Damn it!” I curse loudly. I clench my fists in an attempt to curb the damned desire.

A series of sounds travel in from outside and Henry walks into the room. He looked back as he was so astonished that his mouth could not close.

“S-Sir, Master Kai called to ask if the room was satisfactory, but you fell asleep immediately after you came back yesterday night, so the subordinates did not disturb you. The assistant has informed the Governor of your schedule; he is waiting for you in the Governor’s Residence. Also… the lady I saw earlier…”

“Shut up.” I lifted my eyes at him sharply. Henry immediately swallows all the doubts that he shouldn’t be having.

I go to the bathroom and turn on the shower. I scrub my body continuously until my skin became all red and sore. Only then did I come out and look in the mirror. “Fuck!” I swear loudly.

“Sir, Madam is here,” Henry reminded me softly from outside, nervousness lacing his voice.

I freeze. My mother coming over at the moment could not be good news.

When I open the bathroom door, my mother who was standing outside was eyeing the messy bed in shock. The scattered sheets indicated to anyone exactly what had happened the night before.

My eyes darken. I grab the bathrobe and draped it over my shoulders.  “I know what you want to ask, but Mom, I’m very busy today.”

I can see my Mom can hardly hide the excitement on her face. Looking at me, she points to the bed. “Kayden, I already know. You slept with a girl.”

A frustrated sigh escapes as I push the door open and coldly reply, “Can you keep your hands off of this matter?”

“How can I not care? Kayden, you must marry this girl. You must be responsible for what you did to her.”

I knew she would say this. “Mom, I will not marry her. I’m not crazy. This is the 21^st century. Nobody cares. And she’s just a stranger. I don’t even know her name.”

“Her name is Zara Wilson. She’s 23 years old. She’s the illegitimate daughter of the Wilson Group’s Wilson family and has two elder sisters and one younger brother. Her mother died when she was young and her father does not seem to care about her. She lives in the Wilson residence, but she doesn’t get any financial support from the family…”

“Mom!” I stand rooted to the ground. Upon remembering the woman, my frustration grew more and more.

“Are you still thinking about that Monica? I’m telling you. It’s impossible between you and her. You’ve been with her for so many years, but you still couldn’t even touch her. You two are not destined to be together! Realize that!” she commented rudely.

“Mom, enough!” I cut her off.

However, my Mother was too agitated. “Kayden, you know you cannot touch a woman because of your strange illness! Your grandfather has almost finished making preparations for artificial insemination so that you can have a child. So that you can take the position of the head of the Marshall Family and your child in the future will take it from you! But see… you touched a woman today. It means that she is the cure! Even if she isn’t, she’s the most suited one for you!”

“Mom, she drugged me. She used an unorthodox method. It has nothing to do with my illness getting better!”

Mom looks at me and says, “And you think I never tried any of that?”

I look at her in shock. What?

“It never worked. Each time, we could only call for the doctor to handle it time and time again. But you touched her.”

I recall all the nights when this happened and tried to come to terms with it. But she continues, “Anyway, your subordinates said that you were very satisfied with her and did it more than once the entire night.”

“…”

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I tried to rein in my temper. “Maybe the drug this time was different. In any case, I won’t marry this crazy woman who doesn’t have an ounce of morality. Mom, you should give up on this idea.”

I’m not going to marry that loud, boisterous woman just because my family says so. My mom sees my stubborn attitude and leaves the room with a huff.

I go inside and wear the clothes Henry brought for me.

As I finished buttoning my cufflinks, Henry knocks on the door asking for permission to come in. I let him in and ask for today’s schedule.

“Um… Sir, before the schedule… Mr. Marshall is calling you back to the mansion.”

Of course, my Mother reported this incident to my Grandfather who is the current head of the Marshalls.

“Let’s go.” I nod at Henry who goes back to prepare for leaving. I arrive at the Marshall’s main residence and make my way inside to my Grandfather’s office.

He was sitting on his chair behind the mahogany table and my Mother was standing behind him. “What is the reason that you are so reluctant to marry the woman you slept with? Do you want to make us Marshalls look so irresponsible?”

I remain unwavering in my stance. I look at my Grandfather and said, “Grandfather, Mom does not understand the situation at all. That woman and I did not sleep together of our own accord. It was just an accident.”

“Kayden, why must you be so stubborn? Think about it. Would it really be unbearable for you to marry her? You have already touched her. Don’t you miss that feeling even a little bit?”

“Not at all!” I snapped.

“Kayden, I’m extremely disappointed in you.” His calm and cold eyes looked at me with his imposing aura.

I glared at Mom who was behind him; however, she was bearing a very self-righteous expression as if all this was not her fault.

“We Marshalls will definitely take responsibility for what we’ve done. Furthermore, it’s not just crucial for you to have a normal married life. She’s also the key to curing your illness. You should be more rational. In any case, you slept with the girl. You can’t just take advantage of her and then forget about everything,”

“But I do not know her at all. Grandfather, how can I agree to marry a total stranger?”

My Grandfather smirks and I see the wrinkles lift up on his face. “What if I tell you that if you don’t get married, I will make your little lover… what’s her name? Monica, right? I will make her lose her career so that she feels like it’s better to be dead than alive?” his eyes were strikingly similar to mine.

When he makes a threat, his gaze is calm, but his eyes project the hidden danger and ruthlessness.

I take a sharp breath. “You know I won’t let you do that.”

“I know that your wings have grown and I can’t control you anymore. You three brothers have all become rebellious. One became the Governor, another became a celebrity. You… you have always been mature, rebellious but mature. But even if I can’t do anything to you, I definitely have my ways of tormenting a little girl.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You won’t do that.”

He smirks. “Try me.”

I grit my teeth and turn around making my way out without looking back.