2

"That was quite a rude reaction, Ms Adams." Gordon frowned, but his words still held a hedge of amusement.

"I've heard of you." I breathed.

No wonder he looked familiar; he was Thomas' step-uncle. Though he looked like he was in his mid-thirties, far younger than I imagined he would be, he had the pristine, polished aura that the Graff men had, but his was more... alluring and commanding.

"Good things, I hope?" He chuckled.

No! Everything I had ever heard of Gordon Graff, the illegitimate son of Billy Graff, was never good.

The public knew him as the devilishly handsome yet controversial and scary CEO of G.C. Corps, one of the top fashion companies in the world, but his family saw him as worse: a cold, narcissistic manipulator and traitor with a devil's heart.

"What do you want?" I whispered and trembled as a cold breeze blew past me.

"Let's go to my car. It's warmer and safe from the rain." Gordon nudged at the car at the other side of the street.

"No! What do you want from me? Are you here to mock me? Insult me for being such a fool? Laugh at my misery like your family and mine? Fine, go on with it. The worst has already happened today." I yelled.

"I would never do that. You don't deserve what happened. You never deserved anything they ever did to you." He said softly as he took off his trench coat and draped it over me.

"You're... You're the only one that thinks that. Everyone turned their backs at me." I whispered.

"Because they are heartless, cruel fools. I pity you, Iris. Life has been unfair to you, putting you amongst those wolves, making you suffer endlessly with only more insults as reward. But it doesn't have to be like that anymore. You can make them pay for what they did to you. Both your family and his."

"Revenge? I can't do that. Do you know the influence they have? They would crush me."

"Not if you have me. You'd be untouchable." He smirked.

"I... I can't do that. They're still my family."

"Really? Not even when you could prove to your father that he was wrong about you?" He drawled, and I bristled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I know quite a lot about you, Ms Iris. You've always tried to impress your father, but he's always been cold, cruel even, towards you. No matter what you do, you can never get his approval, unlike your sister, who is his pride when she isn't half as good as you. Such a sad thing." Gordon shook his head.

"And now, he's certain your life is over because he kicked you out. They're probably already placing bets on how long it will take for you to bow and beg at their feet to take you back. But..." He said coldly.

"But..." I breathed.

"Imagine suddenly returning with a husband so wealthy he makes them look like paupers. Not only is he filthy rich, but he's hopelessly in love with you, spoiling you rotten. Imagine their shock, their anger, and your satisfaction that you have exceeded their expectations. Won't that be fulfilling?"

"And... who would that husband be?" I whispered.

"Me." He grinned as he caressed my cheek. "Let's get married, my dear Iris."

"That... That's crazy. I can't marry a stranger, and I've heard a lot of terrible things about you." I frowned.

"After what they did to you, I'm disheartened you still believe what they said about me. Do you think they ever told you the truth?" Gordon pouted.

"No... Yes... I... I don't know. But that doesn't mean I can trust you. You're still a stranger, and I can't get married to you." I shook my head.

"A stranger that is willing to help. You have no friends, no money, no home, except you're planning on going back to your family."

"No. I can't go back. Even if I beg, they won't let me return." I sighed.

"You see, you have nothing to lose if you take my offer, but you have everything to gain. All you need to do is act like a happy wife in love, and you're free to do whatever you want." He said.

"I don't know. This feels wrong. Especially since you and my family don't get along." I mumbled. Not getting along was an understatement. My family and his family hated him, and I didn't know why.

"That's why it will be the perfect revenge." Gordon smirked.

"But I don't want revenge. I only want to show them that I'm capable of having a good life without them. And maybe then my father will finally acknowledge that I'm not as useless as he think." I whispered, and Gordon turned quiet for a few seconds.

I gasped when he suddenly grabbed my hand and blushed when he kissed it.

"That's a foolish wish. And I can make you see there's more to life than the validation of a man who doesn't care about you. I swear." He muttered, and my heart raced as he pushed my damp hair from my face.

His words danced in my head, and though I tried to resist it, it was too tempting.

"Fine. I'll marry you."

"Perfect!" He grinned, and I squeaked when he carried me like a bride.

"What are you doing?" I blushed as I clung to him so I wouldn't fall.

"Taking my wife home. Isn’t this what grooms do?" He smirked.

"But we aren't even married yet?"

"Practice makes perfect. We have to practise how to be a loving couple if we are to fool everyone." He replied as he carried me to his car.

The drive to his home was quiet, and I was grateful that he let me have that moment because I was screaming in my mind at the impulsive decision I had just made.

My desperation was going to be the death of me because who in their right mind agreed to marry their family's enemy, who is also their ex's step-uncle and who is also more than ten years older than them? Only me, the idiot.

When we arrived at his mansion, I was in awe of how grand and beautiful it was. I could literally smell the billions they used to build it. It was the type of house my family could only afford in our dreams. We were rich, but just Gordon's house made us look like beggars.

The rest of the day went in a blur as Irene, the head maid, helped me settle in, and by the evening I was dead tired. I lay on the softest bed I couldn't believe existed as I thought about my new life.

Starting tomorrow, I would be the wife of a man I only knew bad things about. As I dozed off, I prayed that I hadn't gotten myself into a bigger mess than my family.