I’d rather die than marry you!

"You obviously need to get your eyes checked out Mr.Kellington. Do I look like a maid to you?!"

The words repeated over and over in Orion Kellington's head as his soon to be wife, stopped choking and he turned to face her.

How could he have made such a big mistake? Now that he thought about it, she hadn't been dressed like a maid, or even looked like one in any way, when she barged into his room.

He must have jumped into those absurd conclusions because he had been panicking. So, he wanted whoever walked through those doors to be someone beneath him, someone he could control and silence. Therefore he ignored the reality of things and chose to believe what he wanted to.

If not, how could he have reduced the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, who looked like she was taken straight out of a magazine cover, to a common housemaid.

It was not new to anyone that Orion got irritated by people's mistakes. What they didn't know was how much it irritated Orion when he himself made a mistake.

"There's no need for the introductions, we've certainly met already." She says, smiling sweetly at Orion like she had just won a world record.

"That's not possible honey, how can you two have possibly met?" Eunice asks rhetorically.

"Very true mom, there's no way I'd see a face as beautiful as yours and not remember it." Orion says sweetly, moving his hands from the small of her back to her hands where he presses a soft kiss.

Crystal immediately scoffs in disbelief. "Denial? That's the best he could do?" She thinks to herself.

"No, I'm very sure it was you I saw today." Crystal persists, finally take a sip of her drink.

"You probably feel like that because you were gawking at Orion's picture when you arrived, you two couldn't have met before." Eunice suggests, making Crystal choke on her champagne.

Orion's attention moves from his mother to Crystal, who, although tried to appear unshakened by Eunice's statement, wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

Why did Eunice have to say that now? Especially in front of Orion Kellington of all people!

"I think it would be best if you both go talk privately, somewhere else." Richard advises, suddenly contributing to the conversation.

"That's a wonderful idea darling, I'm sure they want some alone time, away from the parents to talk." Eunice adds, wiggling her brows, suggestively.

"I don't think that's necess_" Crystal starts to say but is cut short when Orion snatches the glass of champagne from her loose hold on it, downing all its content in one go and then proceeding to grab her hands, leading her out of the crowed hall.

Crystal fights to free his hold on her hands but fails at every attempt. She finally gives up and let him take her to wherever it is, he was leading her to.

They arrive at the Kellington's garden after walking for some time in an awkward silence with Orion's hold on her hands still very much intact.

As the moon shone down on the garden, it appeared different from how it had looked earlier when Crystal had passed it on her drive into the mansion during the daytime.

The grass looked so green and soft that she had to resist the urge to take off her shoes and feel the cool blades between her toes.

The lights arranged in the garden were a sight to behold, with lanterns placed in every corner, casting a warm glow across the entire area. The trees, carved into the shape of each member of the Kellington family, stood tall and proud, a testament to their wealth and status and of course, as another proof of how extra they were.

Despite her initial skepticism, Crystal couldn't help but admire the beauty of the garden and the peacefulness that enveloped her as she walked through it.

"Why did you drag me out here Mr. Kellington?" Crystal fires, glaring at where he held her hands until he lets go of them.

"Because I wanted to get to know my wife to be at least for a few minutes before we become official." Orion replies calmly.

"Are you really not going to talk about what I saw in your room? It's one thing to feign ignorance in front of your parents but it's just pathetic to keep doing it when it's just the two of us." Crystal deadpans, crossing her hands.

"You're a feisty one." He replies, smirking a little. "What's there to talk? It's not like our relationship is anything other than the consequences of a foolish business contract." He retorts, unapologetically.

Crystal remains quiet, not knowing how to respond to him. On one hand, she hated his guts and how he wouldn't let her savor the satisfaction of seeing him regret his previous actions but on the other hand, she was happy to see he didn't want the marriage, almost more than she didn't want it.

"Doesn't kissing someone else today mean that you breached the contract, therefore, I don't have to marry you, or does my family's wealth belong to the Kellingtons now?" Crystal reasons.

"That is correct." Orion says, making Crystal immediately wear a billion dollar smile, could she really be freed from this marriage?

"But, it's your word against mine." Orion adds smugly. Crystal's happy expression, immediately falls.

"I don't understand why you would try to oppose me stopping this marriage when you clearly don't love me or want this marriage as well." Crystal says.

"You're right about me not loving you but you're wrong about the latter, I do want to marrry you, very much even." Orion says, matter of fact.

"Why?!!! What will you gain from marrying someone you do not love?" Crystal cries in frustration.

"For starters, your family's name." Orion retorts as though it was the obvious thing ever, making Crystal to furrow her brows in confusion.

"I am the president of my grandfather's company and although I have increased our ratings more than fifty percent since I was reinstated, I know it's only a matter of time before Rodrick, my uncle tries to snatch the position for himself." He explains, upon noticing her confusion, but his explanation confuses her the more.

"What has any of that got to do with my family's name? Crystal questions.

"My grandfather only has two sons, my dad and Rodrick, since my father abandoned the company and decided to focus on politics, it's left between myself and Rodrick to take over the company when he retires." Orion says, pausing to take a breath.

"Rodrick fortunately has no sons which puts him at a disadvantage so, I getting married to a Pembroke, being one of the most influential family in the country and birthing an heir for my grandfather, would undoubtedly make me not only the president but also the chairman when he retires." He finishes, leaving Crystal more shocked than she had been when she caught him kissing the blondie.

"So what you're saying is that you don't care about me but need me to get married to you so that I can bear an heir to feed your narcissistic ambitions?" Crystal asks in disbelief.

"That's one way to put it, of course our marriage will be nothing more than a contract." He says.

"By it being no more than a contract, could you be implying that you would be free to mess around with any woman you like, without me having any rights to oppose?" Crystal fires angrily.

"It's not like you wanted a romantic relationship with me in the first place. It's a win win situation." Orion responds.

"No! It's a win for just you! I loose my dreams and the chance of having something real with someone who actually cares for me, and instead stay locked up in this God forsaking house, popping out children for a selfish, inconsiderate man, for the rest of my life!" She yells, angrily.

"While you have the liberty of messing around with any bimbo you deem fit?! One thing is for sure, Crystal starts to say, taking a challenging step towards him.

"I'd rather die than marry you, Orion Kellington." She says bitterly, in a dangerously low manner.

"It's quite unfortunate, because I WILL marry you, Crystal Pembroke." He retorts, equally taking a challenging step towards her, building a tension so heavy, Crystal could feel goosebumps all over her exposed arms.