Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Becoming Mrs. Lan We walked upstairs and stopped at my bedroom door. Aren held my hand in his, his thumbs rubbing my palm teasingly. “Good night, Cora,” he said, reluctantly.

His hand was slipping away as he turned toward his door. Somehow, I felt a wave of anxiety.

“Wait,” I muttered. “Don’t go…” My fingers curled on his tips, unwilling to let him leave. “Beautiful, we shouldn’t.” He smiled and kissed my forehead.

“I don’t want to be alone. Just… stay with me.” I stared at him with pleading eyes, watching his resistance melt away.

He didn’t say a word as I led him inside. We lay in my bed in an embrace, caressing each other and leaving trails of soft kisses until we fell asleep. I woke up nuzzling his chest while he lay on his side with one hand on my neck and the other wrapped around my waist. I tried not to wake him up, but I failed as I tried to straighten up a bit. “Good morning, sunshine,” he mumbled with his sexy, sleepy voice. “Good morning, handsome.” I climbed a bit to kiss the tip of his nose.

“We’ve got work to do today,” he said. I sighed, my lips twisting in a wry grimace. “What kind of work?” “I contacted a famous jewelry artist. We have to pick a design for your fifty-million-dollar necklace,” he smirked.

I gasped. I was hesitant about wearing something like that before, but it was all different now. I wanted to wear that necklace with pride, proving to those bastards out there that I wasn’t afraid.

I lifted my head, supporting it on my bent elbow, and grinned. “When are we going?” He chuckled. “Right after breakfast.” I took a shower, careful not to soak the wound on my head, and then tied my hair in a bun. It was frustrating that I couldn’t wear my hair the way I wanted for now, but I kept telling myself that it was only temporary. It was a small price to pay for surviving and escaping from the vicious trap I had been locked in. I picked an elegant Giorgio Armani cream, knee-length, fitted dress with a shallow neckline. I decided that I should look presentable, standing beside my incredible husband and talking about the millions-worth necklace. “You look amazing, wife.” Aren grinned, his eyes taking me in as I walked downstairs, carrying his mother’s jewelry box with Tian Kong inside the secret pocket. His compliments meant a lot to me. After all, I was completely inexperienced in choosing high -end fashion clothing. Luckily, my intuition hadn’t failed me yet. With a jacket hung on my shoulders, I started to feel like a light version of Audrey Hepburn, and I had to admit that I sincerely enjoyed the way I looked. Aren seemed to appreciate it as well since his eyes were

locked on me the entire way to the jeweler.

My husband used every precaution; there were at least two other cars following us, securing our way to the shop. As we arrived at the back door, those cars blocked the way. We got out of the car surrounded by six bodyguards who led us inside even though there were only a few steps from the door. As soon as the door opened, the entire staff of the shop greeted us as if we were royals. The shop’s manager bowed down and swiftly led us to the artists’ workshop. “Master Gerard Auclair,” he said as he introduced us to the short, grey-haired man with an elegantly curled mustache.

“How do you do, Master Auclair?” I said, greeting him with a smile.

Aren, who stood right behind me, gave a man a brief but polite nod. The artisan responded the same way to both of us and then gestured at us to follow him to his workplace.

I see the diamond, Mrs. Lan?” he asked, sitting by his desk and taking an eyepiece

said it, the entire workshop turned silent. I could feel everyone’s eyes were on me. Every single person in the room

box on his desk and opening

to see, I heard a wave of gasps and the sounds

his fingers by rubbing them against

the moment he touched it. The rest of the artisans in the room

breath held,

Auclair exclaimed and

before commenting on the artisan’s words. “Of course it is. This is Tian Kong, one of

nodded before shifting his eyes to me. “What kind of a necklace would you like with this wonderful stone,

my lips painting an awkward smile. Aren winked at me and gave my hand a little squeeze. “How about a shining sun?” he suggested. Master Auclair raised his eyebrows. “What

the artisan. “Use Tian Kong as the heart of the

grinned. “The blue sun… I like the idea!” As he grabbed a piece of paper from his desk, he hurriedly started sketching the round pendant with tiny gems surrounding the main diamond

how

Aren asked, leaning over and placing a soft kiss on my

be gorgeous,” I said,

I’m going

adding tiny natural diamonds and lighter blue diamonds to build the crown circling the sun. It looked like his mother’s gem would get an

only a faint smile betraying his bright mood. “I hope you don’t regret turning your mother’s heritage into a

my thigh. “The diamond is yours, and I couldn’t be more glad that you