Chapter 3

Celia was startled. “A... pregnancy test...”

The man in front of her had a tall aquiline nose, thin lips, prominent brow bones, and a pair of narrow, beautiful yet cold eyes.

His angular face was incredibly handsome, and his buzz cut added to his rugged masculinity.

At that moment, his sharp gaze was like a blade, cutting into her.

Celia could not help but take a step back, feeling her heart race. “Who are you? I’m Mr. Hayes’ newlywed wife. You...”

“You don’t deserve to know who I am, let alone be Mrs. Hayes! How dare you?!” The man looked at her like she was a fly, completely disdainful.

Celia instantly felt upset, her face flushing. The next second, the man gripped her chin, his low voice filled with mockery.

“Bringing a pregnancy test kit into the bridal chamber on your wedding night. Are you just peculiar or bold? You must be tired of living! Who are you provoking? Julian? Or the entire Hayes family?”

Celia stood where she was in shock. The man in front of her clearly knew who she was, yet he was not intimidated.

His accusatory tone made her suspect that he might be Julian.

However, she quickly dismissed the idea.

Zoe said that Julian was over 200 pounds, and the butler had also said that he would not be home tonight!

“I’m not provoking anyone. It’s a misunderstanding!”

“A misunderstanding? Fine, I’ll let you explain yourself.”

“I...” Celia clenched her fists, her breaths quickening.

To explain herself would mean exposing Zoe’s plan of using her as a stand-in bride. How was she supposed to tell him?

When she did not respond, Julian pursed his thin lips, radiating a penetrating coldness. “I rarely give people a chance to explain themselves. It’s clear you don’t appreciate this chance! Get out of the Hayes’ residence and go back to wherever you came from!”

Celia shivered, her heart sinking.

For Zoe’s sake, she had to hold on for a year, but she was going to be kicked out of the Hayes’ residence on the wedding night itself!

She wanted to leave, but what would happen to Zoe if she did?

Thus, she could only refuse. “I can’t go. I must stay!”

“Taking a pregnancy test in the bridal chamber proves that you’ve been fooling around with other men. How can someone as shameless as you deserve to stay in the Hayes’ residence?”

The man’s every word cut her like a knife.

Tears welled up in Celia’s eyes as she trembled uncontrollably. “I didn’t...”

How could he insult her like this?

She had never messed around with other men before. That night had been her first time, and it was all because the man had lost control...

Julian gripped her arm roughly. “Do you want me to throw you out myself?”

In his eyes, this filthy woman was just trash that needed to be kicked out!

“Let me go!” Celia was frightened and struggled, but she could not win against the man’s strength. Just as Julian was about to drag her to the door, his phone rang.

It was his beloved grandmother calling.

He released Celia’s arm in disgust, and she instantly collapsed to the floor!

Then, he went out to take the call.

The only reason Zoe was allowed to join the Hayes was because Julian could not go against Old Mrs. Hayes’ insistence.

However, Old Mrs. Hayes had also compromised and agreed to his terms for a secret marriage. There would be no ceremony and no pressure for him, the groom, to be present.

Agatha’s voice was full of warmth. “Julian, I heard you’ve gone home. Have you changed your mind?”

“Grandma, Zoe is...”

“Yes?”

Julian heard the hopeful tone in his grandmother’s voice and frowned deeply.

If she found out that the woman she chose as her granddaughter-in-law was so despicable, it would break her heart.

He could not bear to let that happen.

“It’s nothing. Grandma, I already have someone I want to marry. I want to send Zoe back to the Joneses.”

“Nonsense! Although there wasn’t a ceremony, Zoe is already part of the Hayes family. How can you send her back? Besides, where’s the woman you want to marry? You haven’t even introduced her to me. It’s clear that it’s just an excuse.”

He had not found the woman from that night yet, so he had no way of proving himself either.

His original plan was to follow his grandmother’s wishes and marry Zoe for now but not touch her.

When he found the woman from that night, he would bring her home to meet his grandmother, then compensate Zoe and send her away from the Hayes.

However, he never expected Zoe to be so shameless!

“Julian, can you promise me not to push Zoe away too quickly? Get along with her, okay?”

Julian fell silent. In the end, he could not bear to hurt his grandmother.

“Okay.”

After ending the call, he returned to the bedroom and saw the woman sitting on the floor, hugging her knees and with her slender arms.

Her frail back trembled as she sobbed quietly.

Julian sneered, cold and mocking. “Caught red-handed, but playing the victim now?”

Celia snapped her head up, her eyes red with tears clinging to her lashes. She looked pitiful like a flower battered by the rain.

However, Julian only felt disdain. “That act won’t work on me. Whatever tricks you use to manipulate men, they won’t have any effect against me!”

Celia pressed her hands against the cold floor, slowly clenching and unclenching her fists, and stood up.

He could slander and misunderstand her however he wanted. She was going to be thrown out of the Hayes’ residence anyway.

However, what Julian said next surprised her.

“From today onward, you can stay in the Hayes’ residence on the condition that you behave yourself. The title of Mrs. Hayes must remain untarnished!

“Also, cut ties with any men you have outside immediately! If I catch you, you’d better start thinking about how you want to die.”

Julian had decided to tolerate the disgust in his heart and keep things quiet until he found the woman from that night. Then, he would throw Zoe out!

“Really? I can stay?”

Celia could not hide her joy. If she could stay at the Hayes’, she would not cause Zoe any trouble.

However, her happiness only deepened Julian’s revulsion.

This woman’s greed for the position of Mrs. Hayes was so transparent. How could someone like her deserve to be Mrs. Hayes?

He turned to leave, or else, he would not be able to stop himself from throwing her out!

“Wait...” Celia called out to him.

She met his cold gaze and mustered the courage to ask, “Can you not tell Julian about the pregnancy test?”

All she wanted was to stay here peacefully for a year. If Julian were to find out, it would only spell trouble...

“It’s just a misunderstanding. I accidentally brought the test kit, and the butler told me that Julian wasn’t home, so I used it.

“I didn’t mess around with other men. It was just an accident, and I promise that it won’t happen again. I’ll be careful and won’t tarnish the title of Mrs. Hayes!”

Her voice was gentle and sincere, especially with her pure and innocent eyes...

Julian was stunned for a moment but quickly sneered in contempt. It seemed like she was an expert at acting.

Women like her were truly disgusting.

He wanted to rip her mask off!

“I can keep it from Julian, but what’s in it for me?”

Celia lowered her head. She had nothing to her name. What could she give to him?

Suddenly, the man’s cold fingers traced her face, caressing her neck before slipping beneath the collar of her robe...

At that moment, the room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard. An intimate tension filled the air.

His lips brushed against her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.

His voice was deep and hypnotic, yet his words were despicable.

“Why don’t you use your body to trade for my silence?”