Chapter 6 Husband and Wife

As soon as they met, Theodore asked, "Did you bring your ID?" Isabella nodded. She knew it was a bit hasty to register their marriage right now, but she had no choice. She had to do it before her adoptive parents stopped her, putting an end to their attempts to push her toward Nathan. "Mr. Sinclair, I might not be able to pay the full amount at once," Isabella admitted, embarrassed. She continued, "After every paycheck, I'll send you three thousand dollars. I know it isn't much, but once I've saved up, I'll increase your pay!" Theodore waited quietly until she finished, amusement flickering in his eyes with a trace of fondness. "Okay," he replied with a smile. Isabella was at a loss for words. Was he this easy to deal with? She swallowed hard, guilt pricking at her. It felt like she was taking advantage of a good-natured man. So, she added, "If… If you have any other requests, just say so. I'll do my best to meet them." At her words, Theodore's expression grew thoughtful. Isabella, on the other hand, grew tense. She feared he might suddenly change his mind. After a pause, he slowly said, "I have only one request." Isabella let out a sigh of relief and replied decisively, "Whatever it is, just tell me." "Ms. Moore, I hope that once we're married, we'll be husband and wife in every sense. That means being intimate. But of course, only if we both want it, and with respect for each other's wishes." Theodore had spoken plainly, as if it were no different from talking about dinner plans. Isabella felt a little shy, but she didn't think it was unreasonable. After all, the night before had been wonderful, though it had tired her out. Neither of them had come out worse for it. Blushing, she nodded. "Alright." Theodore's gaze remained inscrutable as he looked at her. "So, shall we go in and register our marriage?" Isabella nodded again. Suddenly, her nerves frayed once more. … Registering their marriage didn't take long. As soon as Isabella and Theodore walked in, a staff member guided them through the process. In less than half an hour, they were each holding a marriage certificate. Isabella was in a daze. She had always thought she'd tie the knot with the person she loved. She had never imagined that one day she'd get married to a stranger. At that thought, she let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Maybe Theodore wasn't a complete stranger. After all, they had slept together once. … Once they stepped out of the city hall, Theodore walked over to a Porsche parked by the curb. He then opened the passenger door and gestured for Isabella to get in. She was taken aback and stared at him in disbelief. "This is your car?" It had to cost a fortune. "Yes. I got it off a friend, so he gave me a deal," Theodore answered. As Isabella got into the car, she couldn't help but think that being a male escort wasn't easy. He had to invest heavily just to keep up appearances. For all the polished image he showed, she figured he had endured countless hardships along the way. With that in mind, she turned to him, feeling a pang of sympathy. Theodore sighed helplessly. "Mrs. Sinclair, if you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to stop myself from falling for you." Being called "Mrs. Sinclair" threw Isabella off. She wasn't used to hearing it, and it took her a moment to recover. Embarrassed, she turned to look out the window. It wasn't until then that she thought to ask, "Where are we going now?" "We'll grab something to eat first, then head back to your place. Just pack the essentials. You can buy the rest later," Theodore replied. Confusion clouded Isabella's expression as she looked at him. "Didn't we agree that once we were married, we'd live as husband and wife?" Theodore asked. "Well, Mrs. Sinclair, I have no intention of living apart right after we signed the papers. I'll help you move today." His words hit Isabella hard. She had always dreamed of moving out, but it was a thought she kept to herself and only dared entertain in her lowest moments. She had never imagined the day would actually come. Her mind went blank. In a daze, she asked, "Where would I even move to?" "Our home," Theodore replied calmly. But he didn't know that for Isabella, who had grown up an orphan, having a home had always seemed out of reach.