Chapter 36
Feeling utterly mortified, Selina woke to the realization that she had completely passed out—so much so that Trevon had carried her to bed, where she unwittingly used him as a makeshift pillow. She took a moment to steady herself, then said with sincere gratitude, "Err... Thanks."
"You're my wife. It's cool," Trevon replied.
"But Trevon," she began, but he cut her off. "I get it. You're reminding me our deal is just for a year. But remember, for that year, you're my wife in everyone's eyes, and our agreement is still in effect." Biting her lip, she nodded. "Of course."
"Goodnight then." A gentle touch brushed her hair aside as Trevon bid her goodnight and quickly left. Even after he left, his scent lingered. Curling up, Selina hugged her knees, her cheek resting on them, her gaze still hazy from sleep. I can't believe I let my guard down like that. Am I starting to trust Trevon? No, this is dangerous. I can't let it happen again, she reminded herself.
Trevon swirled a glass of red wine, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows in his study. Moonlight streamed in, casting a soft glow. He took a leisurely sip, savoring the moment. His hand, the one he'd rested under Selina's head, had lost its initial numbness. Now, he could only think about the softness of her hair and the faint scent clinging to his fingertips, making him feel restless. "Selina, what am I going to do with you," he muttered, his deep voice tinged with helplessness.
The next morning, Selina sat down for breakfast with Trevon. Their conversation remained light, avoiding deeper subjects. The atmosphere was different—she felt it immediately. Perhaps it was because she had fallen asleep next to him, or the mortifying pillow incident. Whatever it was, she knew the awkwardness would take time to dissipate.
Just then, Trevon's phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression tensing before he answered. "Hey, Dad."
Selina's fork froze momentarily, but she quickly resumed eating, pretending not to notice.
"Yeah, I got it. Did Nora tell you? Well, I was thinking about bringing her by soon, but you guys have been swamped, haven't you? Alright, catch you later." Trevon ended the call and said to Selina, "My dad and stepmother want to meet you. He wants us to have dinner tonight."
Selina dabbed her mouth with a napkin and replied coolly, "Sure."
Trevon shot Devin a meaningful look, and Devin understood. He leaned in and murmured something in Trevon's ear.
After they finished eating, Trevon whispered to Selina, "I'll be back at four to pick you up, okay? See you then."
"Okay," Selina said. Trevon produced a sleek black card. "I got this last night, hoping to surprise you," he explained. "But you fell asleep. After everything, it's only now I can give it to you."
"Actually," Selina began, but Trevon gently cut her off with a "Shh." It was as if he could read her mind. "As my wife, you're entitled to use my money," he insisted.
"Alright, thanks." Selina was beginning to appreciate the advantages of being with a wealthy man. Having someone who could casually say "spend as you wish" held its appeal.
Trevon's smile widened. "Go ahead and enjoy it," he said. "I'll be disappointed if you don't use it all."
After Trevon left, Selina's phone buzzed. It was Lydia, eager for a shopping trip. Selina mentioned her dinner plans with Trevon's parents. After agreeing on a time, Selina ended the call, got in her car, and drove to meet Lydia at the mall.
They met at Galaxy Mall in Sokovis. Lydia, sipping a vanilla milkshake, spotted Selina and waved. "Hey, Selina, over here!"
"Sorry for the wait, Lydia. Traffic was terrible," Selina apologized.
"Seriously! You? Caught in traffic? Kinda like, 'No matter how good you are, a little snag can still get you,' right?" Lydia said with a smirk as they began shopping.
"Look, Selina, your closet needs an upgrade. Your marriage to Trevon is a formality, but to everyone else, you're the real deal. You can't meet his parents in those clothes. Let's get you properly dressed," Lydia suggested. "And anything you want today is on me. Trevon gave me this black card and told me to go wild." Selina showed Lydia the card.
Lydia's eyes widened. "No way! Trevon gave you that? We're seriously set for a shopping spree! That guy's a billionaire!"
They zipped through high-end shops, buying various luxurious items. At Cartier, something in the display stopped Lydia. "Check out this stunner, Selina!" Selina examined the necklace—a gold chain with an emerald that sparkled brilliantly. Something about it felt familiar.
"You have excellent taste," the saleswoman said. "This is one-of-a-kind, a collaboration between Angel and Cartier. It's the only one in Galaxy Mall."
"Nice, this designer really knows her stuff. This necklace is amazing. Let's see... fifteen million dollars... I say we go for it. What do you think, Selina?" Lydia was clearly enthralled. But before Selina could respond, they heard a sharp voice. "Selina?!" Selina was speechless, surprised to see Madelyn and Lauren, the very two she had humiliated at the villa.
Lauren's face twisted with annoyance. "What are you doing here, Selina? Got your eye on that Angel and Cartier necklace?"
"Lauren, what I'm doing is none of your business. It's not your money I'm spending," Selina retorted. She was done being the peacekeeper, the one who hid her true self. Seeing Lauren's hostile approach, Selina wasn't going to back down, even though Lauren was Trevon's aunt-in-law. With Trevon's support and no rules broken, Selina felt bold enough to stand her ground.