Chapter 6
Clarissa thought, she hadn’t been drinking today, had she? Yet she felt dizzy, as if walking on clouds, with a strange, unreal sensation.
It must be… Theodore who was drunk.
Clarissa pressed her lips together, her voice very low. “I, I was just speaking rashly. If President Ashford wants me to bear such a heavy responsibility for one offensive comment, I can’t handle it.”
Theodore looked at her troubled face and found her thought process quite interesting.
On a whim, he deliberately teased her, “Are you suggesting I’m bullying you?”
Clarissa thought, definitely, but said aloud: “That’s not what I meant.”
She didn’t understand how the mature and steady CEO could suddenly say something so outlandish.
Theodore took out his phone, opened WhatsApp, and played a voice message.
From the phone came the forceful yet steady and serious tone of an elderly man.
[Theodore, what exactly are you thinking? You’re almost thirty and still not married. Do you plan to spend your whole life with your company?]
[You don’t even have a woman by your side. Recently, media has been speculating about your sexual orientation, saying you don’t like women! I’m giving you a direct order now: you must find a woman to marry this year and produce an heir for the Ashford family!]
[I criticized you a bit last night, and you got upset? Leaving all those relatives and friends behind, what kind of behavior is that?]
The message ended there. It seemed the speaker was an elder in Theodore’s family.
Looking at it this way, the two of them… were in the “same boat.”
Clarissa quickly understood his intention. But she still didn’t comprehend, and after some hesitation,
16:43
Agreed to Marry for Convenience–But He Craved Me Every Night
14.39
Chapter 6
she spoke with difficulty:
“So, President Ashford, you want to find someone to appease your family? You have many options, why choose me? Don’t you need… someone from a similar background?”
Shouldn’t he find someone with better qualifications?
The man laughed briefly, his deep voice seeming almost enchanting, completely shattering Clarissa’s stereotypical impression of him.
“Perhaps when I look at you, I just feel you’re meant to be Mrs. Ashford.”
Clarissa’s heart fluttered. She tried to control her racing heartbeat as she stared at him in astonishment, finding it hard to cope.
While she remained speechless, Theodore continued to methodically list his reasons.
“I heard your conversation with your family in the elevator very clearly. I can see you’re also troubled by marriage. We both need a marriage to appease our families, so why not cooperate for mutual benefit?”
“As for your qualifications, I find them quite suitable. After all, I’m the one getting married, and if I think it’s good, that’s what matters. Your character, intelligence, appearance, and figure are all excellent–the type my grandfather and parents would like.”
She was an Oxford graduate who had achieved top grades in her field while also, incidentally, winning an unofficial “campus beauty” title.
She was kind and resilient.
She was wonderful. Just… not treasured.
Clarissa didn’t notice anything unusual in Theodore’s words; she just felt his tone suggested he was negotiating a business deal, a transaction.
Thinking of it this way, Clarissa suddenly understood.
Gradually, she began to see how the absurdity of tonight started to make sense.
16:43
AVER
Chapter 6
“Marriage to me is just a formality. After marriage, we can maintain a respectful distance.”
“If you’re unwilling, you don’t need to fulfill marital obligations with me. If you don’t want to publicize this marriage, I agree to keep it confidential, as long as you can help me deal with my family. The marriage relationship only needs to last for at least two years.”
“As for your benefits, I can help you handle the pressure from your relatives, and after marriage, you can use my cards freely. In case of divorce, half of my assets will be yours.”
He looked at her calmly. “So, Clarissa? Want to try with me?”
D(0)
