Family Trouble (3)

The time on the clock continued to tick by, followed by the popping sounds of burning woods that were already dying out in the hearth. The living room appeared dim with the lights almost going out, and a figure still stood at the side of a couch.

Madeline's eyes drifted up the long stairs. She was busy guessing how many rooms would be up there, when a sudden cold air penetrated through her wet clothes. It met her skin, causing the young baroness to shiver slightly as she impulsively hugged herself.

Her wet dress was starting to get cold, and the skirt of her gown felt heavier each time she took a few steps.

Her body was itching to get out of the heavy dress, but she knew she had to wait for Lord Cassian before deciding to do anything in the Duke's mansion.

She couldn't sit down either, her wet dress would surely offer the couch some of its wetness and that is the last thing she wanted.

At the right time, Elaine and her son stepped out of the room to come meet Madeline. Seeing her situation, Elaine instantly felt guilty for leaving the young lady in a wet dress for so long. Instead, she transferred the aggression to her son who took three steps back away from her.

"Get some fresh clothes for the lady to wear."

"Huh?"

"Do you want her to freeze to death because she's married to you? Take her upstairs and help her out." She said firmly before snapping her indecipherable gaze at the young Baroness.

"For your information, I haven't accepted this marriage between you and my son. What you both did was a display of childishness. But that doesn't mean you'll be treated as less of a person in this mansion."

She explained to Madeline who nodded her head in understanding. "Thank you."

"Cassian will help you to your 'separate rooms' and we'll talk properly in the morning. It's late, so you both should get some rest."

Uttering her last words to the both of them, Lady Elaine retired to her room without bothering to spare her son a glance.

Shortly after her disappearance from the living room, Madeline quietly hurried to stand by Cassian's side, looking around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking.

"Your mother is_"

"Scary? I'm not surprised." He tsked.

"No no." Madeline shook her head before admitting, "okay she is a bit scary, but she's also very considerate about others."

From her expression, it was obvious she wasn't happy about the union and Madeline didn't hold a grudge against it. If she wanted to think logically, even she wouldn't be happy if her son got married out of the blue, so his mother's anger was justified.

What surprised her most was the fact that she didn't get thrown out of the house. Isn't she aware of her status or background? Lord Cassian wouldn't have hid something so important from her, now would he?

"Worry less about my mother, she only has a feud to settle with me" Cassian gave his conclusion in order to lessen Madeline's worries.

He was expecting a non-stop beating from his mother, but shockingly, he got away with only a slap.

"I'm equally drenched as it is, come with me."

Nodding her head in return, Madeline quietly followed him up the stairs. She still wanted to ask Cassian about his reasons for marrying her, but she would always hesitate, feeling it wasn't the right time to ask him anything.

The second floor was filled with many rooms, and Cassian opened one of the doors at her right.

"You can stay here." He moved aside, ushering her into the room, and he was about to say something when Madeline abruptly jammed the door at his face.

"Thank you!" He heard her say from inside, and his mouth was left hanging since he was at the point of saying something.

Scratching the back of his head instead, he uttered decisively. "I really need to stop being nice to women."

And he left.

Later that night, after they both changed into something comfy and had gotten rid of their wet clothes. Cassian returned to her room since he knew their conversation hadn't ended yet.

Fortunately, she didn't slam the door in his face this time.

"You know something, you actually look a lot like your mother." Madeline complimented, seeing the clear resemblance he had with his mother.

"Don't be deceived, I look more like my father." He corrected, moving over to sit at her study table. "In essence, I behave more like my father. The only difference is, he tortured people with his, I torture him with mine."

Madeline only nodded, still not convinced by the point he was trying to make. "Lord Cas-"

"Cassian or Cas would be more preferable." He remarked, and Madeline's dark orbs glinted against the burning lamp at her dressing table.

"In that case, you'll have to call me by my name, and not by Miss Albert."

"I prefer Maddie."

"And I prefer calling you by both, Cassian, Cas." Madeline had to admit silently, he has a nice name.

"By tomorrow, this house will be flipped upside down. It's surprising that the witch hasn't gone to wake her husband yet. I was expecting some drama tonight."

"Who?" Madeline's brows furrowed at the mention of a witch.

"You'll see her tomorrow, but I want us to get something straight, you're very much aware of the trouble that comes with marrying someone like me right?"

She truthfully nodded, "Yes, I do, which is why I'm surprised you still agreed to marry me." She returned her gaze to Cassian who was staring up at the ceiling.

"I have my reasons." He licked his lips before uttering, "it's late, and I don't want to keep you awake any longer, so I'll go straight to the point."

The sound of his tone went from being carefree to dead-serious. "By tomorrow, can you do something for me?"

"What?" Madeline sat properly on the king-sized bed. She didn't mind doing anything to repay the debt of him getting married to her, as long as it didn't have to result in her killing someone.

"Can you pretend to be in love with me?"

0_0

"W_what?" Her eyes grew wide in startlement. The only thing she felt after that was the tiny skip of her fragile heart.

Leaning forward, Cassian proceeded to explain. "Tomorrow is going to be intense, plus the news of our wedding will be known by tomorrow. They're a few cockroaches that will try to break us apart, so in order to stay together, you have to pretend to love me, I'll do the same."

"But we don't_"

"Act it out," his clipped tone cut her off. "I don't need you to love me, I just need you to be with me. It's that simple."

Madeline only blinked at how straight-forward he was with his intention. From the way he spoke, and how formal he looked at her, she would be foolish to think he had fallen in love with her. His tone held no sort of warmth, like he was proposing a deal.

"Who will try and_"

"We both want something from this no-love marriage. I'm not so stupid to marry someone I barely know without an appropriate reason." He asserted, clearing her doubts about her thinking he might be in love with her.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, so, are you in or not?"

Madeline shifted on the bed, there was a moment of silence between the two of them, and then suddenly, she nodded.

"I'm in."