Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

asked, a hint of mockery in his voice. His tone and attitude made my temple vein throb. I glanced at Aren, and I saw his eyes darken. A second later, his lips formed a cold smirk, more dangerous than a death threat.

I pulled a shaky breath into my lungs and stretched out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Winton, and happy birthday.” My words made the old man lift his eyebrows in surprise. Did he think that I would be too intimidated to speak? Unfortunately for him, I was too annoyed by him to be afraid. “Aren and I are getting married by the end of the month. We would love you to be present at our ceremony.” I shot him the most beaming smile my lips could form.

I

Both Aren and Augustus looked at me in disbelief. Did I say something wrong? Was I not supposed to invite his grandfather to our wedding? Oh, God… I had just screwed up Aren’s plan, didn‘t I?! If I did, then it was his fault for not telling me things that I shouldn’t do, but… what now?!

Between love and hate

I glanced nervously at Aren while panic rose within me, but then I saw a flash of a smile on Aren’s face. He wasn’t displeased. On the contrary, his expression showed confidence and satisfaction.

“We would like you to be at our wedding, Grandfather. Of course, I’ll send you an official invitation,” Aren stated, slightly nodding toward the still stunned Augustus.

“You’re in quite a rush with the wedding.” The old man tried to cover his grimace with a nervous laugh. “I bet you merely know each other. Why marry so soon?”

Aren glared at Augustus before turning his eyes my way. “When you meet the right person, you know it the second you meet.” He smiled at me warmly, sending pleasant shivers down my spine. “The moment I saw Cora, I knew that I would spend the rest of my life with her.”

My heart fluttered even though I told myself that it was just his act. Did I want it to be true? Or was it because I had never felt appreciated in my real relationship as much as I did in my fake one?

Augustus broke through my moment of daze, clearing his throat. “I have many guests tonight, but… Why don’t you and Cora come to the mansion for a Sunday dinner? If we’re about to become family soon, then we should know each other better…” he coaxed, forcing a smile.

“Honey?” His deep, seductive voice placed an instant blush on my cheeks.

I took a deep breath and looked at Aren’s grandfather. “We’d love to come.”

Augustus Winton clapped his hands. “Excellent! I will tell the kitchen to prepare Aren’s favorite then.”

waist as he looked at his grandfather.” Do

course I do!” He laughed nervously. “You

was my father. I hated it,” Aren said curtly, his tone

was rather awkward to stand in the middle of their fight, yet I

grandfather muttered, a grim frown painting his forehead. In this fight with his grandson, it was Augustus who was at a disadvantage. He was unable to hide how much he

gift from us?” Aren asked, instantly brightening his tone. Augustus gritted his teeth.

world such as yourself would recognize the best quality ginseng tonic

Between love and hate

in a theatrical

Augustus’s face flooded with blazing redness. He was like a mad volcano and a single push could cause its violent eruption. I couldn’t let that

gave him my best professional smile, which I practiced on the most irritating Café Dorado clients. “Drinking ginseng tonic every day will certainly keep you healthy for many

too embarrassed by my own words. I guess that my contracted fiancée liked my bold announcement since he pulled me into an even closer embrace, standing behind me, my back pressed against his chest and

heard my wife-to-be, you need to take care of yourself if you want to enjoy your great grandchildren, and we

throat. “Very well… I will drink that… ginseng. Thank you for the gift,” he said with a dry smile. “Now, would you excuse me… I have other guests to entertain,” he tossed as he was turning around to walk away from us. Aren chortled and kissed the top of my head, increasing the blush on my cheeks. “You did extremely well, my future wife.” I pulled his hands away from my waist, freeing myself before facing him. “Stop teasing me like that, or else I might think that you have really fallen in love with me from the

as I’m able to.” An abrupt, shaky breath left my throat, but no words followed. His words caused my brain to malfunction… again! His arrogance should have earned him a slap, but my body got turned on instead. I felt helpless. I could only see him straightening with a satisfactory smirk, as I struggled to contain my flusteredness. “Relax, Cora,” he said, taking two glasses of champagne from the waiter’s tray. “The old bastard invited us, and that was all I wanted. Now I only need to talk

was right. I had already met his grandfather, and Aren got access to the mansion. Nonetheless, I

heard a female nosy voice coming from behind us. Aren clicked his tongue, annoyance surfacing in his

to avoid us,

my hand before turning around to face her. She turned out to be a thin, light-brown-haired woman in her fifties, dressed in a silk navy blue gown with an Ostrich feather rim adorning her off-the-shoulder neckline. She had her

love and

quick nod

curt greeting, I realized that I was standing in front of Vanessa and

“mom”?” She laughed nervously while glancing at me, “My mother is dead, and I’m no longer a child

the woman

fine joke, father! I would die Bf starvation if it wasn’t for nanny