Chapter 5

His ears flicked involuntarily. With a nod of acknowledgment, he looked up at the priest. The priest caught Oliver's gaze and immediately asked Grace again with a smile, "Grace Gulliver, do you take Oliver Jefferson to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" "I do!" Grace exclaimed, nodding vigorously. As she spoke, the hearts of Peter and Grace's parents, who had been hanging by a thread, settled. The priest then asked Oliver, "Oliver Jefferson, do you take Grace Gulliver to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" "I do." Oliver's voice sounded harsh in Grace's ears. Grace couldn't help but look up at the man beside her again. Regardless of whether it was just a deal, this man would be her husband from now on. "Please exchange the rings, newlyweds." The crowd erupted in applause. Feeling the awkwardness settle after the applause, Grace turned to Oliver and asked, "Do we have to give a speech for the ring exchange?" Oliver ignored her and grabbed her hand roughly before jamming the ring on her finger. What a rude man! Grace's impression of him plummeted. It was her turn to put the ring on him, and she also deliberately used brute force to put the ring on his left ring finger. The pain forced Oliver to scrutinize his vengeful wife. Well, she was quite vengeful despite her petite size. Grace was about to yell at Oliver when she met his gaze again. His eyes were unreadable, and his stare made Grace's heart feel jittery. She misinterpreted his silence as anger over her earlier use of excessive force when putting the ring on him. Now, she fretted that he might be harboring a grudge. It seems like he was also a vengeful man. Their wedding day finally came to an end. That night, Grace returned to the Jefferson residence. The thought of her wedding night flooded Grace's mind. Unable to face reality, she flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. She nervously bit her lip, wondering what to do. The door to the bridal chamber creaked open, jolting her awake. She quickly stood up from the foot of the bed. Upon seeing the man who entered, she gulped nervously. The thought of having to share a bed with this stranger sent shivers down her spine. Oliver walked toward the room and approached Grace. Grace backed away in fear. "Um, let's get to know each other a bit. My name is Grace. I'm 20 years old, and I'll be a sophomore in college after summer break. I… I…" "How did you convince him?" Oliver's eyes were filled with ferocity as he looked at the girl in front of him. Consumed by his desire for his father's information, he impulsively agreed to the marriage without a second thought. Given the throngs of people vying to marry into the prestigious Jefferson family, how on earth did this seemingly ordinary girl convince the stubborn old man? Grace was taken aback. "What do you mean? I don't understand what you're talking about." "Don't get greedy, Grace," Oliver muttered to himself. "What isn't yours won't stay yours. Marrying into the Jeffersons doesn't guarantee safety. It's quite the opposite, actually." Grace finally understood. He suspected that she had used some underhanded tactics to convince his father to marry her. To clear up the misunderstanding between them, Grace explained, "Oliver, you were forced into this too, weren't you? I was too." A sneer twisted Oliver's lips. "The Gullivers secured at least 15 new projects today alone. And you claim that you were forced?" His tone infuriated Grace. She had tried to explain things kindly, but he didn't believe her. "Oliver, are you mocking my father for sacrificing me for his own gain? Believe me, if your father hadn't forced mine, he'd sooner starve than sell me to your family!"