Chapter 4

The man’s cool fingertips slipped into her bathrobe collar, stopping just at the edge of her breasts. Celia’s mind instantly went blank as she froze in place.

Fortunately, he withdrew his hand the next second. However...

Click!

He pulled the belt from his waist out, gripping it in his hand. His deep and beautiful eyes were filled with icy cruelty. “Why are you standing there like a block of wood? Shouldn’t you be good at pleasing men? Be more proactive.”

Celia slowly clenched her fists, wanting to say something.

Suddenly, the man lifted her chin with the belt, his handsome face full of mockery.

“You heard the rumors about Julian, didn’t you? Yet, you refused to back out of the marriage and insisted on going through with it. That shows how badly you want to be Mrs. Hayes. Now, all you have to do is get in bed with me, and you can keep that title. Shouldn’t you be more than happy?”

Celia instantly felt humiliated. Her eyes welled up in tears as she raised her hand to slap him. “Bastard! I don’t want to!”

She did not care about being Mrs. Hayes. It was all because of Zoe’s request!

However, Julian gripped her wrist swiftly, a storm brewing in his dark eyes.

“How dare you raise your hand against me? How bold of you! Do you want to lose your hand? Or is this just your way of playing hard to get?”

The next second, he roughly pulled apart her bathrobe, revealing her fair shoulders and almost exposing her chest.

“Let me go!”

Celia struggled, but the man’s arms were strong. He effortlessly pinned her hands behind her back and forced her to the bed.

Julian looked down at her, and the scene from the surveillance footage flashed in his mind. The skin beneath his hand was soft and smooth...

A wicked fire surged up from deep inside him.

Celia saw the man’s throat bob. His gaze grew scorching, and his breathing also became heavier as if signaling impending danger.

Her small face turned pale. “Go ahead and try! I’ll die before I let you have your way!”

Julian met her gaze and sensed an alarming determination.

She was not joking!

A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes as he let her go.

He naturally did not intend to actually touch her. He just wanted her to expose her facade. Unexpectedly, the outcome was completely different...

Did she value her dignity more than the position of Mrs. Hayes?

“It seems you’re not completely irredeemable!” Julian’s expression was dark as he swiftly turned away.

Celia was stunned and suddenly realized that he had been testing her!

“Will you tell Julian?”

“No, as long as you behave!”

Julian gave her a sharp glare. “Also, don’t think of yourself as the lady of this house. You’ll leave the Hayes sooner or later!”

He walked away, turning his arrogant and indifferent back to her.

Celia collapsed on the bed in lingering fear. Who exactly was that man?

However, she could not figure it out...

The next day, she forgot to set an alarm and woke up at ten.

She had nightmares the entire night, dreaming of a 200-pound man chasing her, and that man from last night blocking her at every turn...

She washed her face with cold water and went downstairs.

A few maids were cleaning the living room, but no one paid her any attention, treating her like she was thin air.

Everyone knew that the young master did not return on their wedding night. It was clear that he did not care about his new bride at all!

Naturally, they did not feel the need to show her any respect either.

“Madam.”

A middle-aged woman approached her. Although she used an honorific, her attitude was tinged with arrogance.

“My name is Linda Lewis. I’m the housekeeper for the young master’s estate. Breakfast is served at nine, but since you are late, there’s nothing we can do.”

Celia frowned. It was clear that the servants here did not welcome her.

However, she did not mind much. After all, she was just a stand-in bride. She would not truly see herself as Mrs. Hayes.

“It’s fine. I can cook for myself.”

The kitchen was large, and the fridge was stocked with food. She took two eggs out to boil, made herself a cup of milk, and ate quietly.

Linda sat on the sofa, leisurely snacking on nuts as if she were the true lady of the house. The other maids whispered around her, occasionally bursting into mocking laughter.

Celia felt uneasy but chose to ignore them.

When she finished eating and was cleaning up, she heard Linda raise her voice deliberately, “At least, she knows her place. Why should we serve someone like her?”

Celia froze but continued to wash the dishes silently.

When she walked out of the kitchen, an elderly man with a kind face entered the house.

“Madam,” he greeted respectfully.

Celia nodded with a faint smile. This must be the butler from last night.

“Have you had breakfast?”

Before Celia could respond, Linda spoke with a wide smile, “The madam is very diligent and insisted on making breakfast herself. I couldn’t stop her.”

“Their job here is to look after you, so you don’t need to do things yourself,” said the butler.

Celia smiled. “It’s okay.”

She did not expose Linda’s lie. As the fake stand-in, it was best not to stir trouble up.

“Madam, Old Mrs. Hayes would like to see you.”

Celia followed the butler out of Julian’s villa.

After crossing a stone-paved path, they reached a wooden bridge spanning a small lake. She climbed onto the bridge and looked out, and her breath was caught in her throat.

Nearby, there was a rose garden, an outdoor pool, a large lawn, and even several elegant horses grazing leisurely...

“The young master likes riding, so he keeps a few horses at home.”

Celia’s eye twitched as she imagined Julian on a horse.

The thought of such a graceful horse being ridden by a man weighing over 200 pounds... Poor thing.

“The Hayes family estate has three villas. The main villa belongs to Old Mrs. Hayes, one is for Mr. Julian, and the last one is for his second uncle’s family...”

Celia listened to the butler’s introduction and finally grasped the reality of the legendary richest family, the Hayes. It was indeed extravagant.

They soon arrived at the main villa.

The butler said respectfully, “Old Mrs. Hayes is waiting for you inside.”

Celia anxiously walked to the door and saw a kind-faced elderly woman sitting on the sofa, waving at her with a smile. “You must be Zoe. Come, let Grandma take a look at you!”

“Yes, Old Mrs. Hayes.”

Celia walked over obediently. She was dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans and did not wear any makeup, yet she looked beautiful and refined.

“How lovely!” Agatha was very pleased.

Girls nowadays liked to overdo their makeup, but her granddaughter-in-law had a clean and refreshing appearance. She looked so obedient and beautiful!

“Zoe, aren’t you a little too plain?” the woman sitting nearby said.

The actual word she wanted to use was ‘shabby’!

Celia instinctively glanced over and saw the woman with her hair neatly pinned up, wearing exquisite makeup and a luxurious diamond necklace, looking noble and beautiful.

“This is your second aunt-in-law, Misty Oak,” said Agatha.