Chapter 4 Does It Have to Be Tonight?

The next morning, Lila Cross was awakened by Walter Briggs. The butler, with his kind and gentle face, stood before her holding a formal women's gown. "Mrs. Cross, how did you fall asleep here?" "Hurry and get ready. The marriage registration officers will be here any moment!" Lila rubbed her aching temples. She hadn't slept well the night before, and her head still felt heavy and muddled. She frowned, staring at the butler in confusion. "Marriage officers?" "That's right!" Walter beamed. "Congratulations—you've passed the test. Master Quinn is ready to register your marriage. From today, you'll be the lady of the Quinn Estate." Lila snapped fully awake. The news came too suddenly. She stared at the butler in shock. "Are you certain? Master Quinn wants to marry me?" Last night, she'd fled in terror the moment she saw him! How could he possibly want to marry her? "Indeed, Mrs. Cross. There's no need to be surprised. Master Quinn made this decision after careful thought." Lila: "..." She didn't feel it was careful at all. They'd only met once last night, and he'd already decided? That was reckless! Still, Master Quinn's willingness to marry her was good news. First, it would satisfy the Cross family. Second, even if Master Quinn was monstrous, at least she'd have a home now. Ever since Sophia Cross returned to the Cross residence five years ago, it had ceased to be her home. After changing, the marriage officers arrived. Two officials had Lila stand in the living room for a photo, then sign the marriage consent form. Under Walter's guidance, they went upstairs. Moments later, they returned and handed Lila a red marriage certificate. "Congratulations, you are now officially Mrs. Quinn." The female officer even gripped Lila's hand with envy. "Congratulations, Mrs. Quinn. You've landed a very handsome husband." Lila's face twitched. A handsome husband...? She instinctively opened the certificate. Bride: Lila Cross. Groom: Adrian Quinn. Where their joint photo should have been, only Lila's picture appeared. She exhaled in relief. At least Master Quinn had some decency—he hadn't placed his photo on the certificate. Otherwise, Lila feared she might never dare touch this booklet again. "Mrs. Quinn, please prepare yourself," Walter said with a wrinkled smile. "Tonight is your wedding night. You must be ready to welcome Master Quinn's... vigor." "I'll have the entire household leave. The villa will be left to you and Master Quinn alone." Lila: "..." Her heart, which had just begun to flutter with faint hope, instantly dropped to the pit of her stomach. Her arms still crawled with the memory of that man's hand from yesterday—slimy, nauseating, sliding across her skin... Her face turned ashen. "Must we consummate the marriage tonight?" It was too sudden. She wasn't ready. She hadn't adjusted to Master Quinn's face yet... Walter nodded firmly. "Yes, it must be tonight." They were married. How could the lady not see the master's true face tonight? He'd gone to great lengths to convince Master Quinn to appear without his mask! Lila felt utterly defeated. After breakfast, she retreated to her room and messaged her friend Chloe Fortune: "Send me horror movies to toughen my nerves. Please!" Chloe: "Never heard such a twisted request." And so, horror films from every era and corner of the world flooded into Lila's inbox. Lila curled under the covers and watched horror movies all day—so intensely that she had to rush to the bathroom and vomit multiple times. By nightfall, she felt she'd been forged in fire, hardened into steel. Even if Master Quinn appeared before her now, she wouldn't flinch! So she went downstairs for water and turned on the TV, hoping to catch the news to calm her nerves. After a day of horror films, her heart needed respite. "Breaking news: Just now, Charles Jackson and Sylvia Evans were photographed entering and leaving a hotel together. Reporters contacted both agencies, who confirmed they are in a relationship and will soon announce their engagement." Seeing the two on screen, Lila felt physically sick. She changed the channel. "Charles Jackson and Sylvia Evans are both top contenders for this year's Golden Bull Award. Their sudden romance likely means double success in career and love..." Change again. Still them. Finally, Lila turned off the TV, threw the remote, and collapsed onto the sofa, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Charles Jackson and Sylvia Evans. One was her ex-boyfriend of six years. The other, her best friend of eight years. Five days ago, Lila had gone to the film set to surprise Charles. But when she used her spare key to open his dressing room, what she heard was their ragged breathing in the midst of intimacy. "Charles, when are you going to break up with Lila? I can't wait." "Soon. What's the rush?" "Lila's so beautiful—I'm afraid you'll change your mind." "Don't worry. How could I? She gave birth for another man five years ago. How could I marry such a dirty woman?" Each word pierced Lila's heart like a needle. Five years ago, Charles had hit rock bottom, viciously smeared by rivals. Lila had searched for evidence to clear his name while raising money to fight his battles. Around that time, Sophia Cross returned. Jonathan and Eleanor Cross ignored her completely, so she borrowed from Sylvia Evans. Sylvia offered her a way to earn quick cash: selling her eggs. But something went wrong. The clinic reneged on artificial insemination. She took ovulation drugs and was locked in a dark room. The man in the darkness tormented her for a full day and night. Later... She got the money, cleared Charles's name, and lifted him to stardom. Five years later, as Charles became a top star, he turned to her best friend, Sylvia Evans. He said she was dirty. He despised her for bearing a child for another man. But who had she done all this for? Lying on the sofa, Lila's tears fell like a storm. She had loved Charles for six years. How many six-year stretches could a woman waste? How many times could she be betrayed so cruelly? She cried for two full hours. Finally, she checked the time—past nine. Master Quinn hadn't come. Maybe he wasn't coming? Lila sniffled, her gaze drifting to the liquor cabinet. Inside were all kinds of unrecognizable bottles. She didn't know how to drink, but right now, she desperately wanted to. One drink to drown a thousand sorrows. In a surge of emotion, she grabbed a bottle, opened it, and drank straight from it. The fiery liquid burned her throat. She drank and cried. "Charles, you bastard!" "I hope you never win Best Actor! I hope you crash and burn—sink into the earth!" "Good looks mean nothing! Your soul is rotten! You're not even half the man Master Quinn is!" Outside, a man holding a key froze mid-turn.