Chapter 801

"I kept our marriage a secret to prevent the Joyners from taking advantage of my family name to do anything outrageous," Xavier explained. Sensing that the conversation was heading into dangerous territory, he quickly added, "Besides, we didn't really know each other back then. I was worried that our marriage wouldn't last and that it might tarnish our reputation." When it came to emotions—or anything else, really—he was always composed and calculating, careful to consider every angle. "Then why did you marry me?" Lily shot back. "You knew exactly what my family was like. We barely knew each other, so why propose after just one meeting?" "Grandma had been badgering me to get married. Then I remembered our engagement and figured I might as well go through with it. Your family's reputation wasn't great, but I'd heard you were obedient and sensible—exactly the kind of wife I was looking for," Xavier admitted, laying it all out. In truth, before meeting Lily, he hadn't been entirely