Chapter 5

Zelda clenched her fists, her breathing growing heavy with tension. Damian lowered his gaze slightly. He noticed that Zelda's cheeks were flushed with anger. After all, she was his legitimate wife. His eyes grew cold as his sharp gaze locked onto Edric. "Today has been an eye-opener. To think that the Cantrells are so shameless as to use the life of a biological family member to coerce someone. Aren't you afraid of how ridiculous this will sound once it gets out?" Damian raised his chin slightly, a cold smile curling at his lips. Edric's anger flared. If it hadn't been for Damian's interference, the marriage between Zelda and Osbert would have already been finalized. With nowhere else to channel his fury, Edric directed it at Damian. "Who do you think you are? When did an outsider get the right to meddle in our family's affairs? People like you are a dime a dozen. Don't think that just because Zelda is a Cantrell that you're somehow climbing the social ladder. I'm telling you, she's nothing in the Cantrell family." Each word was like a sharp knife, cutting deeply and leaving Zelda emotionally wounded. The last shred of familial affection she had was completely shattered. Damian furrowed his well-defined brows. He was about to speak up on Zelda's behalf when he felt a sudden tug on his wrist. Zelda gave him a wry smile and shook her head. "It's fine. You should go back for now." Edric was adamant about having her marry Osbert. Even if Damian spoke up for her, it wouldn't bring any benefit and might only lead to trouble. Damian remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on Zelda. "He can't leave yet. You both must finalize the divorce today!" Edric took a deep breath and continued, "Mr. Ferguson likes you. If you divorce him obediently, he won't hold it against you." Edric was now solely focused on his interests. He didn't care about Zelda's feelings. "There's a mandatory cooling-off period for divorces. Even if I want to, I can't finalize it until a month later," Zelda said in a firm tone. "Then tomorrow, go with me to apologize to Mr. Ferguson and explain that today's events were all because of this man. At worst, we can go ahead with the wedding first. After a month, you can get the marriage certificate with Mr. Ferguson," Edric said. His expression softened as if he had already planned out all the details. Zelda lowered her eyes, not rejecting his plan outright. However, her voice shook as she asked, "What about Grandpa…" Edric, now considering his reputation, softened his tone. "Zelda, what I said earlier was just out of anger. He's my father. I can't actually do something so ungrateful." "Alright, I'll see him out," Zelda said without adding more. She was thoroughly disappointed with this family. Seeing that Zelda had agreed, Edric didn't stop her. His mood clearly improved. Without wasting time, Zelda grabbed Damian's hand and left the living room. As they reached the door, Damian paused. He lowered his gaze and looked at her. His voice was colder than before as he asked, "Are you really going to marry that man?" Zelda lifted her head, staring at him. His strikingly handsome face stirred a confusing mix of familiarity and distance. They had only met once before, yet their legal bond was intimate. "No. But if I refuse now, I'm afraid my dad might actually do something to hurt my grandpa. The mandatory cooling-off period for divorce is a month. I'll have enough time to settle things for my grandpa during that time." Zelda was never one to just sit and wait for fate to decide. No one could force her into something she didn't want. Hearing this, Damian's expression softened slightly. He nodded, his voice calm. "Since we're legally married now, if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me." Zelda looked at him with a mix of emotions before shaking her head. "No, you shouldn't be involved in this. After all, you're just a male escort. The Ferguson family has a strong influence here in Phoypolis. If you offend them, you could lose your job." Damian was speechless. He thought, "Do I really look that much like a male escort?" He couldn't help but curl his lips into a slight smile and ask, "What gave you the idea that I'm a male escort?" Zelda gave him a puzzled glance, wondering if she had misjudged. "You were in the bar, and you agreed to my offer. Isn't that the case?" Damian thought, "That explains it." He smiled slightly, but he didn't clarify. "We're just helping each other out. My grandma is coming to Phoypolis soon, and her health isn't great. Her biggest wish is to see me married and have children. So, I'd appreciate it if you can play along." Hearing Damian's words, Zelda nodded knowingly. "Alright, just text me ahead of time, and I'll make time." No wonder Damian had agreed so easily before. It was for his grandmother. "What are you planning to do tomorrow?" Damian asked. According to Edric's plan, he wanted to bring Zelda to the Ferguson residence to apologize. The thought of Osbert, with his shifty eyes and sleazy demeanor, only made Damian more uneasy. He certainly didn't seem like a decent man. Zelda forced a bitter smile. "I'll just go and take a look. Don't worry, I'm prepared. They won't be able to outwit me." She had no choice. If she rejected Osbert, Edric might indeed resort to some desperate measures. So, despite the treacherous nature of the situation, she had no choice but to go. Damian said nothing more, keeping his gaze on Zelda. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her weariness. "You should go. I'll head back now." As Zelda walked away, Damian didn't add anything else. He turned to leave. Just as he had taken a few steps, hurried footsteps echoed behind him, followed by a frantic voice. "Wait, stop! I need to talk to you." Damian paused for a moment and turned to look. Faye had hurried up to him and was breathing heavily. Her cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness as she gazed at the strikingly handsome man before her. Compared to Virgil's refined charm, Damian was breathtakingly attractive. He was the kind of man who captured one's attention instantly. Faye had thought that once she took Virgil away from Zelda, she would be able to crush Zelda completely. She hadn't anticipated that Zelda would have such an extraordinary man by her side. Just in terms of looks, Damian was flawless. Clearing her throat and standing upright, Faye said, "I know you married Zelda for money, but she's just a country bumpkin that the Cantrells barely spent any money on. If you're after money, you might want to consider other options." Hearing Faye's hint, Damian's lips curled into a slight, sarcastic smile. In a lazy tone, he asked, "Oh? Do you have any other recommendations, Ms. Cantrell?" With her engagement to Virgil imminent, Faye couldn't openly offer herself. However, seeing such an exceptionally handsome man, she couldn't resist her feelings. She smiled and handed him her business card. "I know many women who are more beautiful and wealthier than Zelda. If you're interested, feel free to contact me anytime."