Chapter 3

Sebastian’s calm demeanor shifted to a stormy gaze. He couldn't understand what had gone wrong. Why wasn't the item there?

He spoke in fluent Criptonese, "This trip will be a waste of time if we can't find the item. I'm not going anywhere. Continue searching."

The attendant dared not dissuade him. "News of the two grooms 'accidentally' going to the wrong rooms has spread. Someone from the tenth floor is coming for you, Mr. Whitman. Be careful."

He swiftly departed, his movements deft and agile, clearly no ordinary person.

Sebastian extinguished his cigarette and closed the window, then returned to the disheveled bed. He picked up the torn nightgown, his face still emotionless, yet his gaze seemed to darken.

Eleanor emerged from the bathroom. Sebastian instantly tossed the nightgown to the floor.

Startled, she exclaimed, "What are you still doing here?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Where else would I be?"

Eleanor frowned. This lifetime was unfolding differently, leaving her perplexed. A knock interrupted her thoughts.

She opened the door to find a maid. The Sandberg and Porter families had chartered the cruise ship for their respective weddings; the ship's staff consisted of maids from both households.

The maid bowed. "Ms. Eleanor, Mr. Philip, Madam Sheila, and Mr. and Mrs. Porter request your and Mr. Whitman's presence on the tenth floor."

Eleanor narrowed her eyes, understanding their intention to resolve the groom mix-up. She smirked. "Tell Uncle Philip and Aunt Sheila I'll be there in ten minutes. I need to change."

The maid acknowledged her. Eleanor closed the door and approached Sebastian. "Let's talk, Sebastian."

They weren't close. In her past life, their encounters were few. She knew only of his existence—an illegitimate Porter son, despite their claims of adoption—and his unpopularity with the family.

Rumor had it he received no salary from Porter Group. He was worse off than she, a "sad sprout," a fact that gave her leverage.

Sebastian sat on the bed. "About what?"

Eleanor confronted him. "You mistakenly entered my room, right? You made the first move, right? Even if you mistook me for Brenda, you're still at fault, right?"

He raised an eyebrow at her rapid-fire questions. "So?"

"So, you must take responsibility. That's what you said earlier, isn't it? We'll be husband and wife from now on," Eleanor declared.

Sebastian was silent, then fixed his gaze on her. "We'll be husband and wife from now on?"

Eleanor felt a strange oppression under his gaze. She pursed her lips. "Yes. Didn't you hear the maids? Brenda's been photographed with someone else; the groom mix-up is public knowledge.

“We can only go along with the mistake. What else can we do about the situation? It’s not like we can have you and Maurice swap back.”

Could he be so loyal to Brenda that he wouldn't care about being cuckolded?

Sebastian fell silent, seemingly weighing his options. His expression was complex.

Impatient, Eleanor stepped on his foot. "Say something." She'd removed her soaked shoes after showering, her bare toes alluring.

Sebastian silently averted his gaze. Even Maurice, the legitimate Porter son, couldn't compare to his innate nobility. He grunted.

Taking this as agreement, Eleanor continued. "Since we're husband and wife, you'll support me. I don't care how much you love Brenda—you won't backstab me. If you dare…"

She grabbed his collar, leaning in menacingly. "I'll castrate you!"

She wouldn't let him repeat Maurice's betrayal from her past life.

Sebastian examined her closely. Her skin was flawless, smooth as marble. Post- shower, her scent was intoxicating. Her robe gaped slightly, revealing her full chest. She was slender, yet curvaceous.

She was gorgeous.

Sebastian's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked back at her face.

Eleanor, focused on softening her threat, continued. "Of course, I'm not a bloodsucker. Play your role well, and you'll receive $500,000 monthly."

Sebastian said, "I don't want your money. I have one condition."

She frowned, releasing him, crossing her arms. "Let's hear it."

He rose, his height now emphasizing his imposing presence. She didn't flinch.

He gazed at her solemnly. "We'll be an actual married couple."

"What?" Eleanor's mind stalled.

Sebastian spoke slowly. "What we just did—I want us to do it all the time."

She stared, stunned by his condition. She flushed, blurting out, "Are you that insatiable?"

Her head shot up as she stared at him. She would never have expected that to be his condition. She flushed and blurted out, “Are you that insatiable?”

Her heart raced. “We can’t do it every day. I’ll have my period every month, and I’ll need to go out of town on business trips now and then. I—”

He frowned. “I’m not that desperate.”

Eleanor pressed her fingers together to wake herself up. They were just talking about sex. Why did she feel so flustered?

She’d planned on getting herself a man, anyway. Since she had a husband, she would enjoy his crown jewels the best she could.

She went back to being her proud, aloof self. “Deal.”

Sebastian made a sound of acknowledgment and sidestepped her to get a glass of water. Eleanor had other matters to discuss, though. “How did you get to my room? The people on the tenth floor are going to ask about this since they want to see us.”

She could figure out everything else later. Now, she had to know how exactly Brenda had made the switch happen.

Sebastian paused. Then, he said, “I had too much to drink, and a maid helped me here. The lights weren’t on.”

Oh. That probably meant the maids had been bought over.

Eleanor got dressed while puzzling things out. Then, she gave Sebastian a once-over. “You had too much to drink? I don’t remember smelling any liquor on you, though. Your face showed nothing, too.”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he called someone and had them bring him his clothes.

Eleanor applied a red lipstick that was bold enough to make her look daunting. At the same time, she said, “Don’t say anything later.”

She didn’t want him to get bullied, the poor sad sprout. She could put this show on herself.