Chapter 3 I Agree To Be His Substitute Wife

• "Has the cat got your tongue?" He knows she is close by the scent of her perfume. "I will call my escorts."
• The silence bothers him.
• "No, sir, please don't do that," Anastasia said hastily as she brought Sebastian closer, her heart racing as she admired his azure blue eyes.
• She growled and said, "I am not a bad person. In fact, I don't know what I am doing here. All I remember is feeling really unwell and passing out."
• "Or maybe you are an imposter? And what you want is money."
• "That's not true, sir. Excuse my boldness for being here, but I don’t know how I got here. I don't know how to worry—at this very moment, I am gone."
• Anastasia passed nervously by Sebastian, but when he sharpened his sense of smell, he quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him.
• She trembled even more, perhaps because this handsome man scared her. "Let me go, please!" she pleaded, having him so close to her that she could see his perfect face clearly.
• "What is your name?"
• "Why do you want to know my name, sir? Do you want to take me to prison?"
• "Answer!" he said arrogantly.
• "Anastasia Parker," she replied. Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, she added, "Let me go. I promise I will disappear quickly."
• "The sun has not yet risen, and my hacienda is out of town." It might sound incredible, but he wanted to know more about this girl—maybe because she could be the solution to his problems.
• "Don't worry, I have faced worse things, but I really need to go home."
• "Is your husband waiting for you?" he asked boldly, softening his grip slightly.
• "I... I don't have a husband, sir. But please, let me go. I'm not running away."
• "I don't trust anyone!"
• "Well, you’ll have to, because you’re hurting me."
• Sebastian clenched his jaw. He didn’t like having to obey others' orders.
• "What are you doing?" he asked haughtily.
• The girl remained silent. She wouldn't dare tell him what she did for a living, because when she danced, she did it with a mask.
• She bit her lower lip and then told him a white lie.
• "I am a maid, sir. But..." She hesitated. "Sometimes I don't have stable work, and if that's all, I really need to leave," she hurriedly added, and Sebastian sensed something strange about her behavior.
• "I want to make you a proposition." The word caught Anastasia's attention, but dancing made her a good living—enough for her mother's medications and daily expenses. "I hate slowness, so give me a favorable answer."
• "Will you pay me?" the young girl asked cautiously.
• Sebastian raised an eyebrow with mild disgust. What intrigued him was how this humble girl was so interested in earning well.
• "I will pay you enough. I was supposed to get married in two days, but I don't want you to ask questions. I need you to take the place that belonged to my ex-girlfriend."
• "What?!" Anastasia's eyes widened.
• "You will earn a lot of money. Don’t you need it?"
• "Yes, sir, but—"
• "But nothing," he interrupted. "Just give me a concrete answer: yes or no."
• Anastasia thought for a moment. She really needed money. Seeing that he was a millionaire, maybe he could make her situation easier. She would do anything for her beloved mother.
• "Answer before I regret it!" he growled, making her panic.
• "Yes... I agree to be your substitute wife."
• "You must be full-time for me."
• "Sir, excuse me, but I can't."
• Sebastian was silent, but his silence spoke of annoyance because he wanted someone full-time.
• "But I want to do it," she added quickly. "Give me this opportunity, sir. I only ask for a few hours off, and I promise the rest of the time I will be available for you."
• "I will only give you three hours off. The rest must be for me. Everything you see or hear is confidential. Do you accept the agreement?" he asked, hoping she would say yes, as he did not intend to be mocked. Everyone was expecting this marriage, and the ceremony was approaching.
• "If I accept... Excuse me, what is your name?" she asked cautiously.
• Sebastian found this a bit silly since he was a well-known man. But he told her anyway.
• "Sebastian Parrow."
• "Mr. Parrow, I promise you will not regret hiring me." She took the audacity to shake his large hand with her small one. They both felt an electric current, and Anastasia immediately let go of his hand as she felt the strange sensation.
• "Do you mind if... I leave the house earlier? I promise I won't be long, Mr. Parrow."
• "I suggest you be here at eight in the morning. Otherwise, it will be goodbye. And while you’re here, bring me a glass of water—now!"
• Anastasia’s eyes widened. Such a handsome man, yet he had such a dominating character. She sighed and went in search of the kitchen, lost in her thoughts—like the fact that the man was blind. Had he been like this all his life? After managing to find the kitchen, which was actually the largest and most spectacular she had ever seen, the girl quickly poured a glass of water and returned to where Sebastian was.
• "Here, Mr. Parrow," she said, bringing the glass closer and surprised at how he grabbed it with such agility.
• Without saying thank you, Sebastian walked slowly to his room with the glass of water.
• Anastasia was amazed by the brief conversation she had with the man. A few words were enough for her poor, humble heart to fall in love with him.
• The next day, Sebastian Parrow felt a little anxious, perhaps because he had made a deal with the girl, but he didn’t know if she would return.
• He waited impatiently in the living room, well-dressed and perfumed, his elegant appearance capable of seducing any woman.
• "What are you doing here, my friend?" Leandro asked.
• "You deigned to appear. It turns out the intruder is called Anastasia. I offered her to be my wife. If she does not arrive by eight o'clock, do not let her in."
• "Are you crazy?"
• "I know what I'm doing. She will be useful to me for what I need."
• "I feel like you're going to hurt her. You can see she's a good girl."
• "I don't care. She will be my wife for a title, so I won’t be bothered. But she will also be my chambermaid—the servant who must do everything I tell her."
• "I disagree."
• "I'm not asking for your opinion, either."
• "You are more bitter than a lemon, Sebastian. I hope this pretty girl catches your heart."
• "Never! It's dead."
• Leandro smiled silently, thinking that Anastasia was beautiful and that she would be a good match for Sebastian. It was just a matter of getting to know each other, and the girl seemed to have a lot of patience with him.
• Even though Sebastian hadn’t had his breakfast, he was restless—a feeling he found foolish.
• "Do you like this girl?" Leandro asked mockingly.
• "Don’t make these stupid jokes!"
• "Good morning, Mr. Parrow," she greeted softly. Leandro, who knew Sebastian perfectly, could notice the slightest gesture of joy in him.