Accidental Marriage with the CEO: Unwanted Bride
Chapter 50: Introducing you

Chapter 50: Introducing you

She stared at him. "There are people around," she pointed out, reminding him that they were on board with others who didn’t know about them.

"I don’t care. Stay here tonight," he said, then disappeared into the bathroom without giving her a chance to respond. She knew the real reason he wanted her to stay was because of Syres. Though she found his behavior childish, she also recognized it was a smart move. With her stepmother on the yacht, getting caught in a scandal could do her a lot of damage, and that damage might cost her more than she was willing to pay. It had taken marrying Roman to finally get them off her back, which only proved how much they feared him.

But she was certain her stepmother wouldn’t hesitate to seize any opportunity to destroy her union with Roman. Not that it mattered much anymore, but getting a divorce on her own terms was better than letting her stepmother orchestrate it. That kind of damage would cut far deeper than any ordinary divorce.

She glanced around the room. The bed was large enough for two, but she knew she couldn’t sleep beside Roman. Looking around, she spotted a small bed tucked into one corner.

Thankfully, she was already in a nightgown, so she could manage the night in his room, even without a blanket. She walked over to the mini bed and lay down, trying to lull herself to sleep. But her thoughts kept circling back to the kiss.

Lying on her back, she brought a hand to her chest and slowly touched her lips, reliving the brief but satisfying moment. She could still feel the warmth of his lips. If they had been lovers, she might have let things go further. For a first kiss, it felt good, except she had always imagined her first kiss being with Collin, not Roman.

Flushed with embarrassment, she covered her face with her hand and let out a soft, self-conscious sound, shaking her head to push the thoughts away.

After several minutes, she finally drifted off, curled up on the mini bed. Not long after, Roman stepped out of the bathroom, a robe wrapped around him. He looked toward the main bed and frowned when he didn’t see her. Just as he was about to leave the room, he spotted her curled-up figure in the corner.

Sighing, he walked over and paused by her side, quietly watching her as she slept. For all it was worth, he wanted to see this sleepy form beside him every night, in his bed. But how could he convince her to stay when she seemed so determined to leave?

After his mother’s death, he never thought anyone could make him feel this alive again. From being irritated by her boldness to finding her irresistible, it was a turn of events he hadn’t expected. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when he began falling for her, but he knew his feelings would only grow stronger, and he couldn’t afford to lose her.

Bending down, he gently picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down carefully before tucking her beneath the duvet. After switching off the lights, he walked to the other side of the bed and lay down beside her, careful not to disturb her sleep.

The following morning.

Patricia groaned as she shifted uncomfortably against something hard, a frown forming on her face when she couldn’t seem to get away from it. Yawning, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking as her vision adjusted to the surroundings. Her gaze landed on a patch of skin. At first, she thought it was her own, but it felt too firm, too unfamiliar. Confused, she sat up and looked more closely. Her eyes widened in shock as they landed on the face beside her.

"You are awake now, huh?" He said, opening his eyes and looking at her with a gaze so gentle it left her momentarily mesmerized. The moment felt surreal and she couldn’t move, her eyes locked with his.

"Erm... I am sorry. I was..." she stammered as she climbed out of the bed, then paused, glancing at the mini bed in the corner, wondering how she had ended up beside him.

"I brought you here," he said, already sensing her confusion. Sitting up, his robe shifted slightly, revealing part of his chest.

"Oh... okay," she replied quietly, and a heavy silence settled between them.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she finally said, "Um... I will take my leave now." She turned to walk away but stopped when he spoke.

"I will be introducing you to everyone today. Come to the main deck once you have freshened up."

Her heart skipped a beat. She turned to face him, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

He was going to introduce her to everyone? As his wife? What about Michelle? What would he even tell them? If anyone asked how they got married, what would his answer be?

"What about Michelle?" She asked, her voice cautious.

"What about her?" He replied, feigning ignorance, which only irritated her more. Was he seriously playing games?

"She’s the woman you were supposed to marry, and they all know that. What are you going to tell them?" Her voice trembled slightly. She was afraid of being labeled the other woman, fully aware that no one on this yacht would support her. Zara’s approach to things might be flawed, but her instincts were rarely wrong, those people cared more about what they saw than the truth.

"I never told anyone I was going to marry Michelle. That was a family decision," he answered flatly. But it did nothing to ease her anxiety.

"But... aren’t you going to marry her eventually?" She pressed, and he fell silent, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

Patricia stood there, waiting, desperate to know what he was really thinking. If he was introducing her so easily, was it just another tactic to stop her from leaving?

Knock knock.

A sudden knock shattered the silence, and Patricia flinched. She sighed with relief when she realized it was just someone at the door.

"Come in," Roman called, getting out of bed. Kay stepped in, holding a stack of files.

"Morning, Miss Patricia," he greeted politely. She returned the greeting with a nod before Kay walked over to Roman.

Seeing as there would be no answers, at least not right now, Patricia quietly slipped away, deciding she would ask again later.