Paper Rings (English)

Chapter 9

The deal between Primrose and Sander has been going on for months now, but this was the first time the red-haired lady stepped inside the gentleman’s home. Her gaze circled around the modern sub-urban-themed living room.

Outside the humongous glass window was the mesmerizing view of a small garden. Watching the leaves sway with the gentle breeze brought a bit of calmness to her distraught mind. A few minutes ago, she was having trouble stopping her tears even during their short car ride to this place. Luckily, this scenery was fascinating enough to divert her attention. 

“Drink some tea first. It’ll calm you down.” He placed a cup of tea on the table and sat right across from her. 

“Thank you.” She painted a small smile on her lips and took a sip before gazing back to the garden. “You have a lovely home. I didn’t expect you to be this minimalistic.” 

“Why? You thought I’d live grandly just because my family’s rich?” 

“Not really,” his sarcastic query brought a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Maybe just a bit?”

When their gazes met, he looked as if he wanted to say something else. But it didn’t matter because the lady would rather talk about random things than speak about what happened earlier. 

Remembering how she couldn’t control her emotions in front of this man almost made her blush. The relief she felt earlier upon seeing him emerge through the door was now replaced by embarrassment. She still couldn't believe that she let this man see her in that state. 

“I mean, this house looks so traditional. I thought you'd prefer more contemporary and minimalistic interior styles.” 

“Ah, I keep forgetting that you have a keen eye with designs.” The Mortel Malls President smirked and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “You probably imagined me living in a typical bachelor pad in a tall skyscraper while overlooking the cityscape.” 

She clapped her palms together and nodded. “Ah, yes, that’s more like Lowell Sebastian. But because you two exude the same aura for some reason, I seem to perceive your preference close to his.” 

“I’m not like him,” his gaze flicked upward. “I’m not the type who likes lingering around after work. That fool lives in his own office building. How stingy.”

“Well, he is quite a character. But I think he’s changing for the better.” Her eyes sparkled while her fingers fiddled with the teacup handle. “In fact, we talked last time. He’s thinking of buying a house. I have a feeling he’ll propose to my Wendy soon.”  

“Yes, everyone in our social circle probably already heard about that. All eyes are on them now that their relationship has been revealed.” He frowned and rolled his eyes at that thought. “I can’t scroll through socials without seeing that fool’s enraging face.”

Primrose shook her head and clamped her lips to suppress her amusement. “You don’t quite like him, don’t you?”

“Not really. I just don’t have any reason to like him.” 

“I feel like he’ll answer the same way you do if I happen to ask him that question.” 

“Speaking of the smitten, he wanted to make his cheesy little proposal in our wedding ceremony.”  Sander heaved a low sigh before shifting his eyes back at her. “I told him that I’d leave the decision to you.” 

Her fingers reached for her lips while tracing a smile. There was a tingling warmth spreading in her limbs upon hearing the great news for the dearest person in her life. All the spiteful feelings stirring inside her a while ago because of Wilson Dia have been thoroughly washed away with the joyous revelation she just heard!

“That’s wonderful news. Of course, I’ll agree, one hundred percent! It’s my best friend we’re talking about.” 

“Your approval for Lowell Sebastian couldn’t be clearer than this.” 

“Why? Are you jealous?” Her eyes squinted, twinkling a hint of mischief and sarcasm. When the man raised an eyebrow, she shrugged and swatted her hands in the air. “I don’t need to like him. In fact, we’re annoyed with each other. It’s just that he treats Wendy so well, and he has changed a lot since. That’s enough reassurance for me.” 

“I can’t refute that.” He got up on his feet and walked toward the switches at the corner of the wall. After he pressed a button, part of the living room’s ceiling opened up and revealed the somber smoky skies that signaled the setting of the sun. “For him to barge into my office to ask a favor, he did change a lot.” 

“Y-yeah,” she managed to say despite being mesmerized by the view. It took a while before she noticed Sander, who was observing her comical reaction. She cleared her throat and straightened her back in an attempt to regain her composure. “And besides, wouldn’t it be nice to have one genuine event happening on our wedding day?” 

“Speaking of that, do you want to move the day of the wedding to an earlier date?” 

Before she could process what he said, Sander proceeded to step toward the direction of the other side of the living room and pressed several buttons again to turn on other lightings around his home. 

“What?” 

“I just think it’s a good idea for us to fly out to New Caledonia as soon as we can,” he explained further to address her apparent confusion.

Her eyebrows gathered together as the young man finally met her gaze again. “That’s fine with me, but can I ask why?”

“You know why,” he said and darted a knowing look in her direction. “It will get nastier if we prolong the process. As you can see, neither of our families is in a sound mind. Although I was able to taunt your father, I’m afraid it’ll only get out of control from here.”

Primrose stared down at her lap and hunched her shoulders. She didn’t want to talk about this and ruin her mood, but there was no use avoid something that was clearly biting off her face right now.

“If that’s what you want—”

“It’s not a matter of what I want,” he cut her off. “What I need to hear is your thoughts. We’re in this together, are we not?”

The commanding resolve in his eyes almost made her quiver, but not in an intimidating way. It was as if he was really eager to hear her opinion about his sudden suggestion.

“No, what I mean is that I have no reason to disagree with you.” She bit her lower lip and swallowed hard before speaking again. “You’re right. What happened today could definitely repeat itself, so it’s best we do it once and for all. When can we move the wedding ceremony?”

“Three days from now.” He immediately smirked in response to seeing her jaw drop. “Don’t worry. I’ll make the arrangements. All you have to do is show up wearing a wedding dress.”

She wasn’t able to reply right away, while the smile on the man’s lips remained unfaded. No matter how much she tried to verbalize her shock, the lady was obviously at a loss for words. No voice could emerge out of her throat.

It was baffling how fast he reached that decision just because of what her father did today. Perhaps, Sander needed this wedding more than she does?“Why do you want to run away from your family?” Those were the words she was able to knit inside her head.

He gaped at her as the smile on his face disappeared. “Why did you think I agreed to do this with you, Primrose?” 

It was a question, but it felt as if it wasn’t for her to answer, so she remained silent and continued exchanging gazes with him. She didn’t waver even if he was oozing with superiority at this moment. 

“It’s because we may have the same purpose and scars.” 

The apparent tension between them became heavier as she refused to cut off eye contact first. Luckily, he gave in and shook his head. He walked back to the sofa where he was seated earlier. As he was about to sit down, he halted all of a sudden. She tilted her head in confusion until she noticed that his sight was directed to the locket she was wearing. 

“Can I take a look at your necklace?” 

“W-why?” Her hand reached for it, tracing her fingers on its engravings. This locket was her last remembrance of her mother, so she was a bit wary, judging from how Sander intently looked at it. “Is something wrong?”

“I just need to check something.” 

Although she was reluctant, there was no reason to doubt this man now. After all, she was saved from her father because of him. She gently removed it from her neck and placed it on the tabletop. 

At first, he was just examining it. There were no words emerging from his mouth, and the look on his face was hard to read. However, when he started to pull the metal open, she almost bounced out of her seat. She was about to retaliate when a small chip burst out of the small dent of her locket.

 “W-what was that?” Bewildered, she leaned closer to see the tiny piece of metal on the table. 

“It’s a GPS chip. It can track your location.” Sander ran a hand through his hair, visibly annoyed. “I guess your father likes going to extreme lengths just to monitor you.“