<h4>Chapter 54 - Wedding</h4>


    Silence hung between them after this as Attorney Truman finished," So, in short, if you do marry Miss Mnie, you have to be a devoted husband..."


    Mnie''s hands curled into fists beneath the table. What kind of an ultimatum was this? It felt like a ridiculous decree from another era. She had expected there would beplications, but this? This was absurd. It would be better to fight things out in court than be forced into this version of marriage. Sir Collins had really yed well! The only reason she had easily epted the marriage was the arrangement to live alone. He''d nned to return to wherever he hade out from and she would live on her own.


    With the new conditions, however this would be impossible! Living with Adam for three years! No! She was about to push back her chair and walk out when, to herplete surprise, Adam''s hand closed over hers under the table.


    Startled, she turned to look at him, but his gaze remained locked on the attorney, his expression unreadable.


    Attorney Truman exhaled slowly, studying them. "So, I take it I should cancel your appointment inside?" His voice was neutral, but something about his tone made Mnie pause. There was an odd undercurrent—something more than just professional formality. Was that... satisfaction?


    Even as she was processing this, Adam suddenly threw his head back andughed. She blinked, taken bylete surprise. Did he lose his sanity due to this blow?


    Mnie''s head snapped toward him in shock. It felt almostical—like watching a tennis match, her gaze darting from one man to the other, trying to make sense of what was happening. And then, before she could react, she found herself watching—almost as if from outside her own body—as Adam lifted their joined hands and pressed a lingering kiss to the back of hers.


    She barely had time to take a breath before he spoke in a voice filled with such exaggerated love that she felt nauseous. And then he turned his head and made a ''love- filled besotted face'' that almost had her fall off the chair.


    "Uncle Truman! Why on earth would you even think of canceling our wedding?" Adamined before continuuing "The timing of the will may have pushed things forward a little, sure—but that doesn''t change the truth. Mnie and I are in love. Deeply, madly in love. Love at first sight, in fact. I was crushed when I thought she was married and on cloud nine when I realized she wasn''t." He let out a chuckle, shaking his head as if the very idea of doubting their feelings was absurd. "Devoted husband for three years? That''s not even a question. I intend to be the most devoted husband Mnie could ever ask for—for life."


    Attorney Truman blinked at him, clearly taken aback, while Mnie could only stare at him wondering, ''Hello? Did I ask for a devoted husband?And that too for life? Sorry, I don''t want this deal!!!!''


    Meanwhile, using the few shocked minutes, Adam caught Mnie''s hand and smiled at the man," Well then, Uncle Truman, if that is all, we''ll go inside and get married. There really is no reason for us to dy it any longer. I''ll have my assistant pick up a copy of the court orders from your officeter." He then tugged at Mnie''s hand as he turned towards her and said," Come on, Melon. We need to hurry inside."


    Mnie hesitated for a fraction of a second before rising to her feet, masking her wariness with a polite smile. With the attorney watching, she had no choice but to y along.


    As soon as they stepped past the doors and out of Truman''s earshot, she turned sharply to Adam, whispering, "What the hell do you think you''re doing?" She tried to yank her hand free, but instead of letting go, he did something even more infuriating.


    His hand left hers only to slide around her waist as he pulled her towards his body, making them walk like Siamese twins joint at the hip. He then turned his head and leaned close to her, pretending to whisper something in her ear, as he exined," This is a trap. If we hesitate, he''ll have the perfect excuse to im we''re doing this for the will only. And if that happens, everything will fal apart."


    Her stomach twisted uneasily, her mind racing. "What are you saying?"


    Adam sighed and exined, "There''s no way a judge would give this kind of ruling without foul y. What does thew care about intentions or feelings behind the will? They want us boxed into a corner. We need to y along and buy time—at least until we figure out a way out of this. This edict is only skating along the line of legal. So..."


    "So we y along until we can find a way out of this or prove that this is illegal?" Mnie finished his words for him as Adam nodded but then she could not help but ask," Why not just stop this wedding and go the other route? We could go for a legal battle or I could simply refuse to marry either of you and sell you, my shares."


    "You think I didn''t consider that? And they didn''t consider that? They must''ve found a way to block that option too," he said grimly. "If selling your shares was a viable way out, don''t you think they would have ounted for it? Nope. They are better prepared that this. And as for fighting it in court... it would take months, if not years. The instability would send thepany''s stocks into freefall, and neither of us can afford that right now. You know that well."


    "There has to be another way," she muttered as they walked back into the civil affairs bureau.


    "There isn''t," Adam said tly. "Not yet. That''s why we need to go through with this—for now." And then with a crooked smile, continued, "So, Melon, get ready to gain a devoted husband..."