Chapter 8 Do You Need a Wife?
981 Words
"Steve..."
Violet didn't dare challenge Adrian, so she turned to Steve for help.
Steve's expression darkened. "Uncle Adrian, this will ruin Violet's image!"
"Ruin? Who's ruining whom?" Adrian's gaze was calm yet icy.
"The engagement isn't canceled yet. Carina is still your fiancée, and you, in front of everyone, were protecting another woman. How do you think Carina should handle this? Do you realize how many people will mock her? Steve, you're embarrassing Carina and bringing disgrace to the Lorenz family. The Lorenz family doesn't need an ingrate like you."
His final words carried immense weight. Steve clenched his jaw, feeling guilty and increasingly frustrated.
Only now was he convinced that Carina truly wanted to call off the engagement. He didn't want to believe it nor face the truth, so he refused to give in."
"She's the one who wants to call off the engagement. If people criticize her and gossip about her, it's all her own fault!"
With suppressed anger, Steve almost shouted the last sentence.
"Apologize to her? Sure! Only if you can help me marry Violet!"
There was a knock on the door.
Gavin entered and reminded Adrian that the meeting would start in five minutes.
Adrian tossed the pen aside, stood up, and leisurely adjusted his sleeves, asking Steve, "You want to marry Violet?"
Steve straightened his posture and gritted his teeth. "Yes!"
Adrian fell silent for a moment, his face stern and solemn.
"You want to marry her, huh? Fine, on two conditions.
First, you have to compensate Carina. Sell the house, and give her the money and the two buildings on Peace Road in your name.
Second, Violet must publicly admit she's the mistress."
Adrian gave him a cold glance. "This is your only chance."
Adrian went to the meeting room first, leaving Gavin to take the two of them to the guest room. After the meeting, they had to give their answer.
Gavin led them inside, but before leaving, Steve stopped him.
"Mr. Granger, what does Uncle Adrian mean?"
Why did Adrian suddenly want to help him and Violet get together?
Gavin didn't fully understand what his boss meant either, but being pulled aside and questioned, he had to try his best to maintain his boss' dignity.
"Ms. Roland keeps changing her mind, from engagement to calling it off... Mr. Lorenz probably wants to resolve it once and for all."
The sound of the door closing made Steve suddenly realize something.
So, Adrian must be annoyed by her.
Carina insisting on calling off the engagement was surely out of spite this time. She might want to marry him again once she calmed down.
Adrian wouldn't allow her to keep causing more trouble. So, when he proposed to marry Violet, Adrian had agreed to it.
Violet hugged Steve's waist. Her tone was tender, with a hint of coquetry and pleading.
"Steve, until today, I never dared to hope for anything. I love you, so even if I'm destined to be your secret lover forever, I'm willing to accept that."
Steve, however, remained silent for a long time. He wasn't too happy about being able to marry Violet. On the contrary, he was even more frustrated.
If he married Violet, he and Carina would never be.
However, in the end, his pride took control.
Carina was already planning on cutting him off; how could he still hesitate?.
Steve lowered his head and kissed Violet on the forehead, not the slightest trace of joy in his heart.
"Okay, I'll apologize with you, so you won't be alone."
The meeting lasted until 11 am, and Adrian wasn't surprised by the couple's answer. He only said one thing to Steve, "Remember, this is your choice."
After the two left, Gavin came in with a stack of documents for Adrian to sign, mentioning Steve's question in the guest room and his response.
Adrian frowned and asked, "Did I say I wanted to resolve it once and for all?"
Seeing his reaction, Gavin suddenly realized that he might have misunderstood Adrian's intention.
So, Adrian wasn't fed up with Carina's indecisiveness?
Why did he suddenly want to help Steve and Violet then?
Gavin couldn't resist his curiosity and asked these questions quietly.
Adrian casually picked up a document, glanced through it, twisted open his pen, and leisurely signed his name.
"Steve wants to be a laughingstock; Violet wants to jump into a living hell, so why not help them?"
*****
Gavin received a call from Carina at 4 pm.
"Mr. Granger, is Mr. Lorenz available now? I need to speak with him."
Gavin's mind raced. He wondered if she was regretting it? Did she change her mind after a good sleep? Did she not want to cancel the engagement anymore?
Gavin conveyed Carina's message to Adrian, worried that his boss would have wasted his time and faced criticism.
Adrian listened calmly with an indifferent expression.
"Ask her to come."
Gavin dutifully made the call.
Carina arrived half an hour later and sat on the sofa with her back straight and her hands clasped in front of her knees. Her fingertips fidgeted irregularly, which was a visible sign of her nervousness.
Adrian noticed her tension, stood up, and walked over to the sofa opposite her. He picked up a cup of coffee and handed it to her.
"For your third wish, have you already decided what you want?"
"Yes," Carina responded, placing the cup on the table without drinking it.
She felt as if her heart was going to bounce out of her chest, and she couldn't find the courage to look Adrian in the eyes.
After all, she might be chased out of this office very soon.
Adrian's impeccable manners and friendliness only added to her stress. She couldn't believe how bold she was!
After taking a few deep breaths, she mustered the courage to speak, "Mr. Lorenz, can I marry you?"
- Writer
