Chapter 4

Sonia's eyes started to become misty as she turned away, shaking away her thoughts.

Daniel slid his thumb down her chin. "Look at me," he said softly. He didn't want her to feel wronged. In fact, that's the last thing he wanted her to feel. He wanted her to feel as if she was the only one in the world for him.

Hearing that, Sonia sniffled and gazed up at him innocently. "What's so attractive about you?" she murmured.

"I'm better looking than him," he snorted. His dark eyes glinted under the dim light.

"You wish." She barked out a laugh, but before she could say anything else, he leaned over and kissed her. His kiss was like a shock of electricity. She trembled against his touch as she leaned closer into his arms.

Her face reddened. She didn't expect that the cold man would have such an arrogant side. He even dared to kiss her in public!

Since Daniel was now her boyfriend, she couldn't reject his hold, but she definitely wasn't going to let go of him that easily.

Sonia lifted her foot under the tablecloth and secretly kicked him hard on the shins.

He pulled away as he leaned against her ear. "I have the right to do that," he whispered. His breath fanned against the side of her neck, and she stiffened.

"Your right lasts till the afternoon," she snapped softly. She continued to kick him, but every kick was lighter. For outsiders, it looked like they were flirting with each other.

"I can always keep that right," he said casually.

While James was walking up the crimson steps, his gaze steadied on Sonia. At the sight of her with another man, his heart crippled in jealousy. It was as if the world had decided to douse him with bitterness and sourness to last him a day.

Fabian gritted her teeth beside him. "Shameless bitch!" she spat. "She confessed her love for you the day before yesterday and now she's making out with some other man." James clenched his fists. Suddenly he stood up from his chair and stomped out of the room without saying a word.

"Where are you going? The ceremony is about to begin," she shouted, but he completely ignored her words.

Her nails dug into her palms as she thought of ways to hold him back. She would not let that bitch ruin this moment for the both of them!

Seeing that Sonia was heading to the toilet, she followed as a malicious smile threaded across her lips.

"And here I thought you were innocent. I never knew you have such an obscene side," Fabian said with a smirk.

Taking a deep breath, Sonia decided to ignore her.

Noticing this, Fabian decided to take a different approach. "Actually, I'm kind of worried for you. There must be loads of beautiful women hounding around your boyfriend. With you being so boring, I bet that he'll grow tired of you in less than two months."

Sonia scoffed, "Even if you break up with James, we won't." 

"Humph! Bitch!

You want to bet?" she taunted.

"What's the bet?" Sonia crossed her arms over her chest and turned around, wanting to see what other tricks the woman had hidden under her sleeves.

"I bet that your relationship can't last for two months. If you break up, then you lose," she said slowly.

That was the bet? It was as if she was betting with a five-year-old!

Sonia sneered and was about to leave, but Fabian's sarcastic laughter stopped her in her tracks. "What a coward! I know you wouldn't dare. You know what? I bet you can't even last a month in his arms. You probably got two weeks, and it's over before you even know it."

Taking a deep breath, Sonia turned around slowly and said, "If you're so sure of yourself, let's take a bet!"

"Okay!" Fabian smiled complacently. She had been competing with Sonia for such a long time. She knew her so well that she could easily predict her moves. Sonia was obviously inferior to her. She was like a stupid bug whom she could bait and trap easily at will. Right now, she swallowed her trick hook, line and sinker. "Today is April 3. If you don't break up with that man on June 3, you win the game. But you would lose the game if you two break up before the agreed date. As punishment, the loser would have to wear a bikini and dance in the Century Square!"

"Okay!" Sonia agreed without hesitation. She then took her cellphone out of her pocket and asked Fabian to repeat the conditions of the bet. The recording would serve as the proof of their bet, in case she planned to back out when she lost. "You just wait and see how I will punish you!" She sneered as she walked away.

Looking at Sonia's receding figure, Fabian displayed a sly smile.

June 2 was the day of her wedding with James. As long as Sonia was stuck to that young man, she wouldn't have the chance to take him away from her. She would make sure that Sonia's remaining hopes would be destroyed completely. She was not worried about the stake of the bet. After all, dancing and acting foolish was child's play for her. Furthermore, she would be on a honeymoon with James in Hawaii right after the wedding. If Sonia was to run after her, she would have to go to Hawaii.

Outside the hotel, Sonia walked ahead while deep in thoughts. She was not a fool. She wouldn't join a war that she couldn't win. She wouldn't dare lose to Fabian.

She was the one who had the final say in the outcome, so she dared to make the bet. The most important thing right now was to find a way to convince Daniel to cooperate. That mysterious man was a bit tricky to handle.

Seeing that she was silent for a long time, a mischievous smile appeared at the corners of Daniel's mouth. "You're depressed, aren't you? The truth is, you don't want to leave and divorce me, do you?"

"Don't be so smug. If I could, I would fly to the Civil Affairs Bureau to divorce you as soon as possible. But when we rode to the hotel venue earlier, I accidentally left our marriage certificate in the bus," Sonia replied in a nervous voice as she fiddled with her fingers.

"Really?" Daniel raised his thick eyebrows slightly. "So, we can't do it this afternoon, can we?"

"Yes," she replied quietly and avoided his suspecting gaze. "It's very troublesome to request for another copy of our marriage certificate. It will take at least a month," she added.

She decided to postpone the divorce for one month. After all, homeless people like him who didn't have much work to do could never last in this city. But with his circumstances, he couldn't do anything to her. Clearly, she had the upper hand in this marriage.

Daniel's lips stretched into a bigger smile. "You lost the marriage certificate? It's indeed a good excuse, but it's a pity that it's not very clever. We might as well talk about the real problem now." He transfixed her with his penetrating gaze. His sharp eyes seemed as if it could see through everything.

Feeling guilty, Sonia lowered her head and did not dare look at him.

'This guy was more shrewd than expected. It's not easy to deceive him.' She observed silently. 'I'd better tell him the truth.'

She thought for a moment before telling him about her bet with Fabian.

Daniel touched his chin thoughtfully and did not say anything. After a minute of deliberate and suspenseful silence, he replied, "To be honest, I want to help you, but I don't have a job now. It's very difficult to find a stable place to stay here. I'm afraid..." He stopped intentionally, as if he was hesitating. He sported a regretful expression on his face but a subtle hint of naughtiness was reflected on his charming dark eyes.

"You can live at my place without paying for the rent." Sonia offered. The circumstances were perfect. Her roommate had just moved away, and she could share the room with him because she hadn't found a co-tenant yet.

Hearing that, he smiled in his heart. The bet with Fabian had helped him a lot.

Yesterday, he had hoped to end this absurd marriage as soon as possible, but today, he had a new plan. Actually, he came to this city to seek refuge. He could take advantage of his marriage with this woman to solve his predicament.

He decided to temporarily stay at her house in the next two months to get a better understanding of her. If he could discover her weakness, he could make her follow him obediently.

"Okay, but I have two other conditions!" He gave her a devilish smile.