CHAPTER 239: WHO IS GETTING MARRIED?

"You are getting more demanding by the day," Zachary muttered, irritation creeping into his voice.

"This isn’t greed," Riya shot back coolly. "It’s a precaution. I’m just protecting myself. You could easily discard me once I’ve served my purpose. And if I’m caught, the Grants will disown me completely. Either way, I lose everything. I’m taking all the risks here for you. Can’t you at least grant me this one request?"

Zachary clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to explode. "And what about your marriage to Liam?" he asked sharply. "If we register ours, he’ll find out you are already married. Are you trying to expose me?"

"Don’t worry about Liam," Riya replied with calm certainty. "Our marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement. He has no interest in making it legal. He won’t ask for a certificate."

"Fine," Zachary relented. "If this makes you feel secure, I’ll go register the marriage."

Riya breathed a small sigh of relief. One work was done. Now, she would execute the next step. "Let’s meet at the civil affairs bureau tomorrow."

With that, she ended the call.

Zachary bristled, gripping the phone tightly. He didn’t like to be forced or anyone ordering him around. He answered to no one. He acted on his own terms.

"How dare she?" he muttered. "Thinking she can marry me? Not on your life."

He dialed a number. "Listen up. Prepare a fake marriage certificate. Make sure the registration looks authentic."

After a moment of pause, a deep voice said, "Understood, sir. Everything will be done according to your wish."

Zachary ended the call, a smug look crossing on his face. "Happy fake marriage, Riya."

Unaware of his deception, she went to the study with a cup of coffee in her hand. She rapped on the door.

"Come in," came Vincent’s voice.

Pulling a smile over her lips, she stepped in.

"You?" Vincent squinted at her, taken aback. "Are you not asleep yet?"

"I saw you working late, so I brought coffee," she said, setting the cup down.

Vincent’s grin was warm. "You didn’t have to, but thank you. Go get some sleep. It’s late.

Riya nodded. "Don’t stay up for long." With that, she walked out, a sneer curling her lips. As she came out of the study, she held the small pouch aloft.

She remembered Zachary saying the poison was untraceable if used in a small amount. The doctors would keep looking for the reason for the sickness, but wouldn’t be able to find out anything. Only the antidote could cure the person.

"You gave me this poison to make the old man sick. I can do the same with you, and you will not find it out."

Riya couldn’t trust Zachary completely, even though he had promised to marry her. A shrewd man like him could never be loyal to anyone.

"If you dare to double-cross me, I’ll make you pay the price," she muttered, clasping the pouch into her palm.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At Liam’s office...

Edith knocked on the door twice before entering.

Liam glanced up briefly, then returned to sketching the new design he was focused on.

"These are the new design drafts," Edith said with a smile as she put the folder on the table.

"Hmm." He only hummed but didn’t make a move to take the folder.

After a short pause, Edith spoke again. "The new dresses have arrived. I checked them. Everything is perfect. We can plan the next shoot."

"Good. Handle it yourself. I’ll be leaving in an hour."

Edith forgot what she was about to say, her smile faltering. In the past, Liam used to spend hours with her—reviewing designs, checking fabrics, giving directions. They had shared lunches, gone shopping, even laughed and joked together during breaks. But since he joined the family business, his visits to the studio had dwindled. Now he barely stayed long enough to talk.

Edith missed those moments terribly. The thought of him leaving so soon tightened something in her chest. "Um... Miss Riya called our office again," she said carefully. "She wants to speak with you."

Liam finally lifted his head and met her gaze.

Edith couldn’t stop her heart from skipping a beat. She instinctively clutched her skirt on her sides.

"No need to entertain her," Liam said. "Just ignore her calls." Before he could say something else, a knock sounded at the door, cutting him off.

"Come in."

A woman came. "Sir, I received this parcel just now." She put the envelope on the table.

Liam frowned slightly as he picked it up and flipped it. There was no name of the sender. But he knew who had sent it.

"You may go," he said without looking up. Once the door closed, he tore the envelope open.

Inside were several photographs of Riya and Zachary. In one, they stood together outside a hotel. In another, Riya was captured near Zachary’s luxurious penthouse. But the last photo made his stomach twist. They were standing together at the civil affairs bureau.

Certainly, it was Zachary’s penthouse. But the next photograph stunned him. He almost jumped in his place when he saw them together at the civil affairs bureau.

"What the hell is this?" he muttered under his breath. Could it be true? Had Riya actually gone to register her marriage with Zachary?

Her engagement invitations had already been sent. Was she planning to call it off?

Without wasting another second, Liam grabbed his phone and dialed a familiar number. As soon as the call connected, he asked, "Tell me what’s going on. Did they register their marriage?"

"They came to the civil affairs bureau to register their marriage," a voice spoke from the other end. "But..."

He went silent, not completing his sentence.

"What? Tell me clearly," Liam demanded, growing impatient.

"I couldn’t check why they were there," the man said hesitantly. "There is someone else who is also following them. I almost got caught. Luckily, I slipped away soon. I don’t know who else is after them."

Liam narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in them. Could it be Nathaniel who had been following Riya? If so, then Nathaniel must have grown wary of her. Perhaps he had seen her bribing the waitress, or maybe he had known about her secret involvement with Zachary for some time. But if that were true, why had he remained silent all along?

"I’ll let you know if I find something," the voice from the other end jolted him out of his thoughts.

"Be careful," Liam said cautiously. "Stay low and don’t let anyone know you are watching.

The call ended.

Liam grew pensive as he looked at the photos in his hands, his thoughts racing. But then he caught sight of Edith standing there, numb, looking at him with a gaping mouth. It was only at that point that he realized she was still there.

Quickly, he shoved the photos back into the envelope and slid it into the drawer.

"Who is getting married?" Edith asked.