Chapter Four: It's Just A Deal

As the sleek black car slid through the busy streets of New York, Emma's thoughts raced with a whirlwind of emotions. She stole intermittent glances at Jason, the guy sat beside her, his face chiseled from stone, his eyes cold and prideful.

Unable to tolerate the stifling stillness any longer, Emma cleared her throat uncomfortably, shattering the physical tension that hung heavy in the air. "Jason, may I ask you something?" she asked, her voice faltering slightly.

Jason's eyes slid towards her, "Go ahead," he answered curtly, his tone rough and devoid of affection.

Emma stopped, her heart beating in her chest as she attempted to find the perfect words. "Why... why did you tear my blouse back there?" she ultimately managed to blurt out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jason's jaw clenched softly, a flicker of displeasure crossing his features. "Because you defied my instructions," he said fiercely, his tone dripping with hardly veiled disdain. "I provided you with clothes, and you chose to disobey me."

Emma's brows pinched in uncertainty, her mind racing as she struggled to make sense of his remarks. "But why does it matter what I wear?" she answered, her voice colored with displeasure. "We're getting married for the sake of our families, not for some fashion show."

A shadow of a smirk ran across Jason's lips, his eyes gleaming with a cold, detached amusement. "Ah, but appearances matter, Emma," he answered, his tone oozing with scorn. "Especially when it comes to marriage. And as my wife-to-be, you will represent me and the Astor family. It's crucial that you represent yourself accurately."

Emma's chest tightened with indignation, her cheeks blazing with a mixture of hatred and embarrassment. "So I'm just a pawn in your family's game?" she shot back, her voice quivering with repressed wrath. "A mere accessory to boost your image?"

Jason's mood hardened, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he studied her with a frigid detachment. "You're mistaken if you think this is going to be a real marriage, Emma," he said, his voice low and intimidating. "This marriage is a business contract, plain and simple. And it's in both our interests to uphold our half of the deal."

Emma's heart crushed at his words, the cold reality of their plight washing over her like a smothering blanket. She had imagined that there may be some type of mutual understanding between them, but Jason's statements demolished that illusion with cruel efficiency.

“So this marriage is just a deal to you?” She couldn't hold back asking.

“I don't understand, what kind of question is that? Are you joking?” Jason said as he scoffed, his voice devoid of any emotion or passion “Look Emma, I want you to be crystal clear about something. I have no love for you, nor do I ever intend to. My heart belongs to someone else, and nothing will change that. Do you understand that?"

Emma felt a flicker of grief at his statements, her aspirations of a genuine relationship crushed in an instant. She had realized all along that their marriage was actually a trade, but hearing Jason admit it so explicitly still stung.

"And yet," Jason continued, his tone firm, "despite my complete indifference towards you, I have made the decision to proceed with this marriage not out of any sense of duty or obligation, but solely because I don't want to lose my inheritance."

Emma's heart fell at his callousness, the gravity of their plight slamming down on her with painful force. She had hoped, maybe naively, that there may be some hint of sympathy underlying Jason's stony attitude. But now she realized him for what he truly was: a cold and calculating guy driven entirely by self-interest.

"As for you," Jason murmured, his look piercing. "You have a choice. You may refuse to marry me, even if the marriage has already been registered. We can divorce, and you can go your own way. But be aware, if you choose to proceed down that track, you are on your own.”

Emma's mind raced with conflicting sensations as she examined her possibilities. On one hand, the prospect of spending her life shackled to a person who cared nothing for her filled her with horror. But on the other hand, she couldn't bear the prospect of abandoning her father to financial devastation.

With a sorrowful heart and a deep sensation of surrender, Emma nodded gravely, her voice barely a whisper. "I understand," she mumbled. "I will do what must be done."

And as the truck went past the gates of her father's house to send her off , Emma couldn't help but feel a wave of fear come over her. She may have committed to this marriage to protect her father, but she knew deep down that she was going for a lifetime devoid of love or happiness. And when she had a peek at Jason's impassive face, she couldn't resist the notion that her life was about to become a living nightmare.