Chapter 4
“Besides, I’m a Verder. I lack nothing—status, wealth, or looks.”
“You’re kind of full of yourself.”
“But it’s true. Anyway, the word’s out that the man Chloe dumped is the heir to the Verder family.”
People would surely conclude that Chloe must love Dure so deeply that she’d reject even such a remarkable man.
“Looks like you really don’t want anything to do with your ex-husband.”
“……”
“You’re not seriously thinking of getting tangled up again, are you? Especially on the wedding day of your ex-husband and your younger sister.”
Her ex-husband, who had an affair with her half-sister. Their wedding. And then there was Chloe—miserable, the picture of loneliness.
Melvin would undoubtedly look at her like he’d won. He’d puff out his chest in his wedding suit, feeling proud of himself.
“Absolutely not.”
She’d rather ruin the wedding than be humiliated like that. Just imagining such a pathetic scene was horrifying.
“So, shouldn’t you take me with you? I’m handsome, capable, and younger, just like you said.”
“And from a good family too,” Kaiden added with a grin.
Aside from the fact that he was clearly unhinged, he really did seem like an ideal partner.
‘We can just say we broke up after the wedding.’
Still, there was one more reason Chloe couldn’t just accept Kaiden so easily.
“So, how much are you expecting in return for this performance?”
The Verder family was one of the five wealthiest in the empire. She couldn’t even guess how much money it would take to satisfy him. Then again, did someone like him even need money?
“You don’t seem like someone who’d care about money.”
“Sharp as ever. You’re right—I don’t intend to take money.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
Please don’t let it be something weird. Her crimson eyes, tinged with tension, locked onto his.
Kaiden met her gaze and rose from his seat. Then, he reached out and pulled her up by the hand.
“Let’s go, shall we?”
“Go where?”
“To receive my payment.”
“Wait. The wedding hasn’t even started yet.”
“Consider it an advance.”
Kaiden grinned mischievously. Chloe stared at that smile, stunned, as he led her out of the hotel.
Outside the hotel, Chloe and Kaiden walked around the busy downtown area—still hand in hand.
“Um… when are you going to let go of my hand?”
“We’re supposed to be pretending to be a couple. This kind of skinship needs practice.”
“Oh.”
Chloe nodded, accepting the plausible excuse. Kaiden smirked as he watched her.
He stopped in front of a boutique. Opening the door for her like a gentleman, Kaiden gestured her in. Chloe chuckled under her breath as she stepped inside.
“Welcome… Oh my, Master Kaiden?”
“Long time no see, Madame.”
Kaiden seemed to be on familiar terms with the shop owner, chatting easily with her.
She greeted him with the usual pleasantries—how long it had been, how much she missed him, whether he’d been well—until her eyes landed on Chloe.
“And who might this lady be?”
“My girlfriend.”
“What?!”
The one shocked wasn’t the madam—it was Chloe. Pretending to be a couple was one thing, but declaring it in front of strangers?
And didn’t he say he was just getting his payment in advance? So why had he brought her to a women’s boutique?
“Oh dear, how wonderful!”
Unlike Chloe, who was flustered and confused, the madam clapped her hands in delight.
“Such flawless skin, lovely hair… and your eyes—like wheat fields at sunset…”
“That’s enough. I already know she’s beautiful.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
The madam covered her mouth with a bashful smile.
“So, what can I do for you?”
“What else?”
Kaiden placed his hands on Chloe’s shoulders and turned her toward the madam.
“Make her a dress. From head to toe—only the finest.”
From that moment on, everything moved lightning-fast.
Before Chloe could even ask what kind of dress, five staff members surrounded her. In no time, they had taken her measurements, applied makeup, and changed her outfit.
The result was a white dress with pearl-trimmed sleeves. She wore a matching pearl necklace and earrings, and on her left ring finger—an enormous 10-carat diamond ring. Every decision, of course, was Kaiden’s.
“You look absolutely stunning!”
“White suits you perfectly!”
“You’re like an angel!”
The staff didn’t hold back their praise, but none of it registered for Chloe.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Why had a man who was supposedly collecting payment brought her to a women’s boutique? And why gift her all these luxurious clothes and jewelry?
‘This man is totally insane.’ She was just thinking that when—
“Shall we go to the next location?”
“Again?”
Chloe, drained from the fitting process, looked pale.
“You didn’t think we’d dress you up like this and then do nothing, did you?”
“You said you just wanted to collect your payment…”
“Don’t worry. I am collecting it.”
‘What do you mean collecting? All you’ve done is spend money.’
Still dazed, Chloe followed as Kaiden led her onward. He even slowed his pace a little, probably to accommodate her new shoes.
‘With manners like that, he almost seems like a gentleman…’
But that illusion shattered within the hour.
Kaiden took her all around Berrington Street, still holding her hand—florists, jewelry shops, restaurants, cafes… as if he were determined to make their presence known at every fancy place.
It was inevitable that people would stare—a striking man and a dazzlingly dressed woman walking hand in hand.
Money flowed like water at each stop. Berrington Street was where wealthy nobles came to shop and relax. Everything—clothes, flowers, food—cost several times more than anywhere else.
‘Was this “payment” just a form of torture?’
Chloe trudged along behind Kaiden, utterly exhausted. Surely this was some kind of punishment for her weak stamina after spending all day behind a desk for so long.
“Tired?”
“Was that… supposed to be a question?”
“I even fed you caffeine to keep you going. Your stamina really is awful.”
“If you know that, then hurry up and finish this.”
“Impatient, aren’t you? Fine, fine.”
Kaiden nodded and turned around. Full circle, they ended up back where they started: the hotel.
“Are you messing with me right now?”
“Calm down, Chloe. You’re just steadily paying your dues.”
“Ugh…”
Smooth talker. If this turned out to be another lie, she’d bash his head in with her heels. Steeling herself, Chloe followed him inside.
“Welcome to the Cent Hotel.”
Kaiden nodded at the bowing staff and walked across the grand lobby. He turned right—toward what would soon be the hotel’s crown jewel: a luxurious wedding hall.
“Wow…”
Chloe gasped without realizing it.
The Cent Hotel was the most luxurious in the Ocelte Empire, and the Berrington Street location was the finest of them all. Its wedding hall, still under construction, was already massive and stunning.
Getting married at the Imperial Palace had become passé. When news broke that Cent was building a wedding hall, every noble with a name dreamed of getting married here. Some couples had even postponed their weddings just to wait for its completion.
Because it wasn’t finished, the hall was empty except for a few staff members doing inspections.
“Shall we go in?”
Kaiden deliberately made some noise. The staff, focused on their work, turned toward them.
“I’m sorry, but this area is restricted to authorized personnel only. Please—”
“One moment.”
A woman who appeared to be the supervisor cut the man off mid-sentence. She had recognized Kaiden.
“M-Master Kaiden! What brings you here?”
“What else do people come to a wedding hall for?”
He lifted the hand he was holding—Chloe’s—and showed it off. On his ring finger was a diamond ring almost identical to the one on hers.
“……!”
The staff’s eyes widened in shock—about to pop out of their sockets. Chloe’s were no different.
“I-I’ll fetch the Viscount Cent immediately!”
The staff rushed off in a frenzy. Chloe took the moment to whisper to Kaiden.
“That ring… It’s not what I think it is, is it?”
“What do you think it is?”
“Stop playing games and answer me properly.”
“Hmm… You’re probably right.”
“What?!”
She had no time to press further.
Because at that moment, Viscount Cent—the owner of the hotel—burst into the hall, completely out of breath.
