Chapter 3 The Marriage Agreement

• From the gift box, a 39-carat sapphire gleamed in the sunlight, radiating a breathtaking brilliance.
• Oriel's sapphire bracelet suddenly paled in comparison, no match for the sheer magnificence of the gem.
• A murmuring buzz of excitement rippled through the surrounding crowd as they marvelled at the sight before them.
• The sapphire's sheer size and beauty captivated all who looked at it.
• "Oh my gosh, this jewel is breathtaking!"
• "I'd give anything to wear it, even for a moment. It's that stunning."
• Oriel's face twisted into a grimace as she observed the chaos unfolding before her eyes.
• Marc was supposed to be a nobody, a worthless individual who had just spent five years behind bars.
• So, how on earth did he possess such a breathtaking necklace?
• Feeling his moment in the spotlight slipping away, Sam seethed angrily and blurted out, "That's obviously a piece of glass, something you'd find at a flea market for a few bucks!
• "How could a former convict afford a genuine sapphire?"
• The crowd, shaken from their trance, nodded in agreement.
• How could a financially strapped ex-convict possibly acquire such a massive gem?
• It had to be a fake!
• Oriel breathed a long sigh of relief, silently scolding herself for panicking earlier. She had been so impressed by the gemstone's beauty that she hadn't even thought to check if it was real or fake. After all, Sam was the smart one.
• On the other hand, Iris didn't give any attention to the gem. Instead, what shocked her the most was Marc's sudden marriage proposal.
• Why on earth would he propose to her out of the blue?
• Had he succumbed to stress and lost his mind?
• "Um ... are you okay?" she asked tentatively.
• Marc gave a carefree smile. "I'm fine. In fact, I've never been more clear-headed in my life."
• Holding the gemstone, he stood up and said to Iris, "If you don't object, I'll put this necklace on you now. I'll take that as a yes to marrying me."
• Iris watched his careful movements, her mind racing. What should she do? Should she say yes?
• She did feel sorry for Marc, but sympathy wasn't the same as love. Still, it seemed like a better option when she thought about her situation. Her adoptive parents, in a bid for a better life, had practically "sold" her to a man three days ago. She was supposed to get married tomorrow.
• That man was four years younger than her adoptive father, sporting a big belly, a bald head, and yellow teeth. He smoked, drank, and gambled ...
• "It's on. Looks like you're willing to marry me," Marc said as he finished fastening the necklace.
• Iris's internal struggle wasn't over, but Marc had already completed his task.
• "You j*rk! You've only known Iris for two minutes and you're proposing to her?" Oriel exclaimed, witnessing the tender glance Marc shot Iris's way. Despite having no romantic interest in Marc, he had always held her in high esteem. Yet here he was, making a proposal to another woman right in front of her, igniting a storm of anger within her.
• Marc ignored Oriel and looked sincerely at Iris, saying, "Some people, you only need to see once to know they're the one."
• With that, he took Iris's hand and walked away without a backward glance.
• He chose not to dwell on the past grievances with Oriel, for he now had a bright future.
• Watching them leave, Oriel's eyebrows knitted in frustration. If Marc had left heartbroken, she wouldn't have felt anything.
• But seeing him leave so happily, especially with someone as amazing as Iris, got under her skin.
• Sam looked like he'd just swallowed something disgusting. How could a perfect woman like Iris end up with an ex-con like Marc? It was heartbreaking!
• David had stayed silent the whole time, but once Marc was gone, he muttered, "That sapphire necklace. It was so finely crafted. It didn't look fake at all."
• Oriel snapped back, "It's fake! It has to be fake!"
• Oriel's mother, Gwen, pinched her husband and grumbled, "Are you out of your mind? That guy just got out of prison, not a gold mine. Stop overthinking it! Alright, let's get on with the announcement."
• David reluctantly nodded and announced his daughter's engagement to the crowd. But the atmosphere was tense, and no one seemed very excited.
• What should have been a lively engagement party felt dull and lifeless.
• Iris was still in a daze out on the street as Marc pulled her along.
• "Could you get your creepy hands off me?" she snapped.
• Iris pulled her hand away, her demeanour turning icy and distant like she had become different.
• Marc chuckled. "Iris, let's get our marriage certificate now."
• Iris frowned. "Can you stop being so familiar? We've known each other for less than half an hour."
• Marc scratched his head and nodded. "Alright, my future wife, let's go get that certificate."
• Iris sighed. "Have you really thought this through? Do you really want to marry me?
• "I feel a bit sorry for you, but that doesn't mean I like you," she added. Iris needed someone to help her out of her situation, but she wanted to be clear about her feelings. "If you regret the proposal, you can still change your mind."
• Marc shook his head vigorously. "No regrets. As long as I can be with you, I'll do anything."
• Iris pursed her lips, her initial good impression of Marc taking a nosedive. Just a moment ago, he seemed to have nothing to live for, and now he was making grand promises.
• Men are all the same, she thought.
• "Fine, follow me," she said.
• Iris shrugged and headed to a printing place. When she came out, she had a document in hand.
• "This is the prenuptial agreement. Take a look and sign it if you're okay with it," she said.
• Marc chuckled. "I knew if you were getting divorced, you needed to sign a divorce settlement agreement, but a prenuptial agreement? That's new."
• Yet, without a second thought, he took his Montblanc pen and smoothly signed his name where indicated without bothering to read the document.
• "Since you can't be bothered to read, let me summarise," Iris said, annoyed by his nonchalance. "We're getting married to avoid another marriage. This is temporary, only for six months. After that, if the situation has settled, we'll get a divorce. And don't worry, your assets are safe with you."
• Without any reservations, Marc accepted. "Your terms are fine by me."
• Iris shook her head in exasperation, unable to understand what was going on in his mind. It seemed like he was enjoying this deal, even though it was all his downside.
• "You're only inviting trouble with no upside. Are you really not bothered by this?" she asked, making one last check.
• Marc grinned with confidence. "Why should it bother me? For all you know, you might fall for me in half a year."
• Iris made a gagging motion. "Fall in love with you? Not a chance."
• She had always admired the type of heroes akin to the legendary War God of Egerton. Marc, however, didn't quite fit that bill.
• "Here, take your necklace back." Iris pulled off the sapphire necklace and pressed it into Marc's palm.
• Marc panicked. "Iris, is it too small? Do you not like it?"
• Iris shook her head. "It's too heavy and uncomfortable. Besides, why should I accept your gifts?"
• With that, she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving Marc awkwardly stuffing the necklace into his pocket before he rushed after her.
• Together, they headed to City Hall, where they secured their marriage certificate and entered a legally recognised pretend marriage.
• Marc spoke with solemnity and strength during the oath, leaving Iris amused and exasperated. It's just for show. Why take it so seriously?
• That evening, Iris took Marc to the Grand Horizon Hotel in the city centre. It was the day of Oriel and Sam's engagement party, and Old Madam Coke had booked a private room for a lavish celebration.
• Iris didn't really want to attend these family gatherings. Being the adopted child of the Cokes, she was frequently made to feel inferior, with each event presenting another opportunity for her to face embarrassment.
• But when Mary, the matriarch of the family, called, everyone had to show up, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and go.