Chapter 923

"Why did you do this?" Sidney's gaze remained fixed on Fawn, his confusion still gnawing at him.

Tears welled up in Fawn's eyes as she cried, "It's her! She's the one who ruined everything! If it weren't for her, you would have agreed to marry me! I wouldn't have to go through with this arranged marriage. I hate her!" Sidney's frown deepened. "It wasn't her. She never tried to stop anything. I was the one who didn't want to marry you."

"Why?" Fawn's voice trembled with disbelief. "Why didn't you want to marry me? When I proposed it, I saw you hesitate. You were considering it! Why would you change your mind?"

She stared at him, convinced he was lying, that he was defending Maria.

Sidney released her hand, his tone calm. "I have ambitions, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my marriage for them. It's as simple as that."

Fawn shook her head, her voice almost pleading. "I don't understand. It would've been a fake marriage! Why wouldn't you agree? How could you not?"

Sidney replied firmly, "Why shouldn't I refuse? Miss Powell, you've been trying to avoid your arranged marriage through this plan, but did you ever stop to consider what it would mean for me? Do you think your parents wouldn't start pressuring me too?" Fawn was momentarily speechless, her mouth opening and closing without finding the right words.

Maria shot a surprised glance at Sidney.

"Hmm... seems like we were both thinking along the same lines," she mused.

Sidney's tone grew colder. "Miss Powell, you owe her an apology."

Fawn bit her lip, glaring at Maria with venom in her eyes. "I will never apologize to her. Even if I could do it all over again, I'd make the same choice!"

With that, she spun around and stormed out.

"Hmph." Maria let out a cold laugh, her gaze trailing after Fawn with a steely glint.

Sidney looked at her, his brows furrowed. "What do you plan to do?"

Maria's voice was cool as she replied, "Naturally... I'll return the favor."

She wasn't the kind to just let things slide. If someone dared to target her, there was no way she wouldn't strike back.

Sidney didn't say much in response, but he was still taken aback by the lengths Fawn had gone to. Her actions were a stark contrast to the sweet, innocent image she usually projected.

en l After a quick clean-up, the two of them left the hotel. Maria didn't say a word to Sidney and headed straight home.

Once in her study, her fingers flew over the keyboard as she pulled up all the information she could find on the Powell family.

Then, she dug into the details of Fawn's arranged marriage. The man she was supposed to marry was a real estate tycoon, nearly sixty years old, who had already outlived three wives. Officially, they had all died of illness, but Maria discovered that each one had actually died from abuse.

The tycoon had a twisted hobby-he enjoyed "sharing" women with his son.

The old man from last night was none other than the real estate tycoon.

Fawn wouldn't surrender easily-she would try everything to escape this marriage.

"That won't do," Maria thought. "I'll make sure she goes through with it myself." Nightfall.

Inside the bar, the lights flashed in vivid colors, the music pounding through the air. Fawn sat with her group of friends, downing drink after drink, her face a mask of frustration.

If she couldn't find a way out soon, she'd be married to that old man.

"What now?" she wondered desperately. "What should I do?"

At that moment, one of her friends leaned in with a suggestion. "If you hate the old man so much, why not go after his son? He's about your age. You're stuck with the family either way-might as well pick the younger one."

Fawn seethed with anger, but she had no better options. "How can I achieve that?"

Her friend smirked. "I happen to know where lan will be tonight. You could confront him and explain the situation. If he agreed problem solved."

Chapter 924 lan Ford was the son of the real estate tycoon.

Fawn tightened her grip around her glass. After a moment, determination flashed in her eyes. She raised the glass, downing the last of her drink, and said, "Fine, I'll take the risk!" Marrying lan was certainly better than ending up with that disgusting old man.

Her friend's gaze flickered slightly before handing Fawn an address.

Without hesitation, Fawn went straight there.

It was a private club. A bodyguard stood at the door of the suite. She walked up confidently, saying, "I'm Fawn Powell."

The bodyguard, clearly aware of who she was, stepped aside and opened the door for her.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, and Fawn couldn't immediately see "Hello? Is anyone here?" she called out.

anyone was there.

There was no response. She took a few cautious steps forward when suddenly, someone lunged from behind, grabbing her tightly.

"Ah!" Fawn screamed, instinctively struggling, but her resistance was cut short by the sharp prick of a needle in her arm, cold liquid seeping into her veins.

"Fawn, you didn't follow through with your promise. Now, how should I punish you?"

The disgusting voice made her skin crawl.

"You... why is it you?" she stammered, recognizing the old man.

"Why wouldn't it be me?" he sneered, laughing as he pushed her onto the bed. "I'll visit your parents tomorrow to ask for your hand. But tonight... you'll behave yourself!" "No!" she cried out.

...

Outside the bar.

Maria sat in her car, sending a transfer from her virtual account before driving off.

There was no way Fawn would escape now.

By morning, her parents would walk in on her in bed with that old man.

With this matter resolved, Maria's mood lifted considerably.

Maria drove straight to the area where Sidney lived.

His apartment was in an old, run-down neighborhood, with dim, flickering streetlights-some even broken.

She sat quietly in her car, not getting out to look for him.

She needed to think things through. What was her relationship with Sidney now? And what did she want it to be in the future? Should they be together?

She found herself looking forward to it. A man who could handle himself in all aspects-whether in the kitchen, in conversation, or...

elsewhere. She liked that about him.

en l Maria pulled out her phone and called Sidney. "Hello?"

His smooth, pleasant voice instantly lifted her mood.

"Sidney, should we give this a shot?" she asked, bluntly, without any lead-up.

On the other end, there was silence.

After a long pause, he finally responded, "Maria, I think things are fine the way they are now."

"Hmm?" Maria was a bit surprised.

After everything they'd been through together, and since he hadn't exactly rejected their intimacy, she thought he might say yes. "What's so good about it?" she pressed.

Sidney replied, "Your feelings for me aren't genuine, and I don't have much emotional attachment to you either. Trying something under those circumstances doesn't really mean anything." en l The smile on Maria's lips gradually faded. "You have a point. Alright then, goodnight."

With that, she hung up the phone, ending the conversation abruptly.

Maria drove away, leaving the night behind her.

Sidney stared at the phone after the call ended, his emotions a mix of confusion and conflict.

Neither of them was truly invested. If they together now, it wouldn't last, and in the end, they'd up hurting each other.

And if he knew it would cause harm, then it was best to avoid it.

Selongs to en.kikistoriend Sidney put his phone away and turned to enter the hospital room.

Ruth looked up at him, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Sidney replied, "Nothing, just some work stuff. I'll take care of it tomorrow."

His mother watched him carefully, letting out a soft sigh. "Sidney, why don't you ever share anything with me?"