The first time we met, Quentin was the second party, while Nicole was the first party. At that time, the first party was dissatisfied with the outcome, and the second party was left exhausted and overwhelmed by the busy negotiations. Three days later, they crossed paths again. Quentin was now responsible for inspecting the hotel on a daily basis, and Nicole happened to be a VIP guest whose complaint call was routed directly to his office. Half a month after that, they met for a third time. A newly built chain hotel was in urgent need of power equipment connection, and Nicole was the very person in charge of approving such facilities. With no other option, Quentin had to go and negotiate with her in person. By coincidence, however, he walked in on Nicole's blind date. After quickly weighing the pros and cons, Nicole made a snap decision: she pulled Quentin in to pose as her boyfriend on the spot, just to get out of the awkward date. In return, she promised to give him the approval documents he desperately needed. As they spent more days together playing out this fake relationship, they gradually grew genuinely comfortable with each other. Nicole came to realize that she seemed to have finally found someone who was easy to get along with and, more importantly, someone she never grew tired of.

Chapter 1Early autumn in Danbury brought a crisp breeze and turning leaves.Nicole Collier sat in her boyfriend Harvey Griffin's car, her face pale and her chest tight.Just moments ago, she had discovered a box of Durex hidden in the glove compartment. Based on the count on the packaging, three were missing. She knew for a fact they hadn't used them, as they had agreed to wait until marriage.The conclusion was undeniable. Harvey was cheating on her.Still reeling from the shock, she waged an internal war over whether to scream at him and break things off, or swallow the betrayal and pretend nothing had happened. After all, they were planning to get married.Suddenly, the driver's side door opened, shattering her thoughts."Waiting long?"Harvey slid into the car, completely oblivious to Nicole's distress. She, however, felt a sickening chill wash over her. Even the feeling of his hand stroking her hair made her stomach churn.She flinched away. Only then did he notice something was off. His eyes filled with feigned concern as he asked, "What's wrong?"Staring at the supposedly gentle and considerate man, she felt her blood run cold. He usually played the role of a perfect gentleman, but as a seasoned lawyer, he possessed a razor-sharp, merciless tongue.In that split second, Nicole made her choice. Without concrete proof, a lawyer like him would never confess. Since both families were already prepping for the wedding, a clean break required ironclad evidence. She needed to nail him to the wall.Nicole shook her head. "It's nothing. Work has just been exhausting lately.""I told you not to push yourself so hard. The work is never-ending. Take it easy, but you never listen," Harvey chided with a patronizing, know-it-all air.The sedan pulled out of the residential area and merged onto the main road, quickly picking up speed."How many days will you be gone? When are you coming back?" he asked.If she hadn't uncovered his infidelity, she might have found his questions sweet. Now, they just made her sick.She stared blankly at the lying, cheating man, unable to fully suppress her mounting anger. Her expression darkened as she countered."Why the sudden interest in my exact return date?"Harvey paused. Her usually mild temperament made the sharp retort entirely unexpected.But recalling her comment about being tired, he brushed it off as work-related stress."I've got a mountain of cases right now," he explained smoothly. "I just wanted to coordinate our schedules. If I'm free, I'll pick you up. If not, I'll rearrange my work so I can be there."Free or not, you were always his priority. The bastard certainly knew exactly what to say to stroke a woman's ego."Don't bother," she replied. "We're all taking the DPL company car back."After graduating, Nicole had joined Danbury Power & Light, climbing the ranks to become a department manager through sheer competence. Harvey was a senior partner at Fairchild Law Group. To outsiders, they were the ultimate power couple—a perfect match of brains and beauty.But Nicole knew she was simply going through the motions, checking off societal boxes.Watching her friends walk down the aisle had pressured her into thinking it was time to settle down.They had met through a mutual acquaintance who raved about the successful young lawyer. First impressions were decent; he was polite and gentle. She didn't exactly love him, but she didn't hate him either. Compared to her other blind dates, he was merely tolerable."No way," Harvey insisted. "My girlfriend gets the royal treatment. Door-to-door service."On a normal day, she would have rewarded him with a hug. Today, the mere thought of touching a traitor repulsed her. He felt utterly tainted."By the way, when you get back, let's take a vacation for a few days," he suggested.Nicole had zero interest in his travel plans. She couldn't shake the feeling that the car reeked of sex. Images of him sweating over another woman in this confined space flooded her mind, making her stomach heave. A sour taste rose in her throat, and she covered her mouth, forcefully swallowing it down."We'll see," she managed to say."Don't say that. Put in for some time off as soon as you're back, and we'll just go. A spontaneous getaway." Harvey drove with one hand, reaching over to grab hers. Just as he brought it to his lips for a kiss, she yanked it away."You're driving. Watch the road," she warned.He chuckled, assuming she was just being shy. "You're always so reserved. We're getting married soon anyway. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."She crossed her arms and stared out the window. The glass reflected her suppressed fury. Her mind kept drifting to how that very hand had touched someone else. The vivid details made her want to pull out that box of condoms and hurl it right in his face.In the end, she held her tongue.Her tightly clenched fingers slowly uncurled. When she opened her eyes, she was perfectly calm.They had been introduced by a highly respected figure in their circle. Harvey was a master of rhetoric and networking, appearing impeccable and reliable to everyone, especially her parents. Without rock-solid proof, breaking up cleanly would be nearly impossible. Everyone would just assume she was throwing a tantrum or making excuses to focus on her career instead of marriage."Nicole."She snapped back to reality.He kept his eyes on the road, oblivious as he rambled on. "A new development just opened near my firm. Move-in ready. I checked out the model units, and there's a gorgeous two-thousand-square-foot place. Four bedrooms, two baths. It would make a perfect home for us. We could use one room as my study. I want a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. Just picturing it feels amazing. Want to check it out on your day off?"It was downright laughable. How could a man cheat behind her back and then seamlessly plan their future without batting an eye?"We'll talk when I get back," she replied.Noting her quiet tone, he glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing her pale complexion, he reached over to feel her forehead. "Not feeling well?"She tilted her head away, her voice flat. "I'm fine.""You look drained," he pressed on, playing the caring partner. "Did you catch a chill last night?""No, just exhausted from work," she answered, thoroughly annoyed.He patted her hand. "You work too hard, Manager Collier."She frowned, repulsed by his touch, but he kept blabbering on."My mom called last night. She had someone pick out a few lucky dates for the wedding. I'll text them to you later so we can start planning. We can take out a mortgage for the place near my firm, but we'll have to crash at your apartment in the meantime since mine is too small for a married couple. She also mentioned that we aren't getting any younger. She wants us to start trying for a baby right after the wedding to lower any risks. Plus, my parents still have the energy to help raise the kid. Don't worry, we'll let them handle childcare so it won't interfere with our careers or our alone time. Look at how well they raised me. The kid will be in great hands."Nicole turned to look at him. Catching her intense stare, he asked, "What is it?""Why exactly does the child have to be raised by your family?" Nicole demanded. "Do I not have parents? Did they do a terrible job raising me?"Sensing her shift in tone, he quickly backpedaled, desperate to keep the peace."That's not what I meant. Your parents are incredibly busy. Mine are out in the suburbs with a lot of free time. They hired help for the store, so their schedules are wide open."The contrast between their backgrounds was stark. The Collier family was prominent in Danbury. Harvey, on the other hand, had clawed his way up from a small town. His parents ran a modest grocery store—comfortably middle-class for their area, but nothing more.The two families were in entirely different stratospheres, leaving Harvey with a perpetual inferiority complex.His pursuit of Nicole was heavily calculated to elevate his social standing. Did he actually love her? If you weighed the facts, the only person Harvey truly loved was himself.He played the role of the devoted lover to perfection, vowing eternal devotion, while secretly using her as a stepping stone for his own ambitions and social prestige.Nicole tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and turned back to the window, clearly done with the conversation. But one lingering question gnawed at her."Harvey, why are you in such a rush to marry me?"Feeling the tension spike, he offered a slick, practiced smile. "Of course I'm in a rush. When a man finds the love of his life, he wants to lock her down as soon as possible.""Marriage requires love," she said. "Do you actually love me?"He had always flaunted his adoration, making everyone believe she was the absolute center of his universe.He didn't even miss a beat. "Yes. You know exactly how much I love you.""Then tell me, what exactly is love?"Honestly, she could handle a loveless marriage of convenience. They were at that age, and it would keep their families off their backs while they focused on their thriving careers.What she couldn't stomach was a man committing vile betrayals under the guise of true love, treating everyone around him like absolute fools.He faltered for a second. "What's with you today? You're full of questions.""Am I full of questions, or are you full of complications?" she shot back. "First thing this morning, you're bringing up houses, weddings, and babies. You even mapped out who gets custody of our unborn kid. You don't think that's a bit much?"Knowing he couldn't win when she was this sharp, he deflected. "Look, think about it. We're the right age, we match perfectly in looks and personality. Our families are perfectly aligned. You're a manager, I'm a firm partner. If we don't get married, our parents would have a fit."Nicole rubbed her temples. Who still used phrases like 'perfectly aligned families' in this day and age? And were they even aligned? The matchmaker had promised he was an upright, honorable man. Instead, she got a compulsive liar and a serial cheater.Her family valued character above all else, while he was utterly obsessed with social status. People always obsessed over what they lacked.Tuning out his repetitive nonsense, her gaze drifted to a billboard outside. It was an ad for a five-star hotel chain with a tagline that caught her attention.—Emerald Crest: A fortress loyal only to you."Harvey," she murmured softly, "are you loyal to me?"If they weren't in a moving vehicle, he definitely would have found an excuse to dodge the question. But trapped in the tight cabin, there was nowhere to hide.He fell back on his usual evasive charm. "Is it your time of the month? You seem a little on edge. We can stop by a pharmacy for some heat patches.""Have you ever lied to me?" she pressed.Seeing she wouldn't let it go, panic flared in his chest. Had she found out? No, he had been incredibly careful. Plus, if she really knew, she wouldn't be sitting here this calmly.Weighing his words, he answered with absolute conviction. "Of course not. I'm a lawyer. I have a strict moral baseline regarding honesty. Lying is a vicious cycle. You have to keep spinning new lies to cover the old ones. I'm way too smart to do something that stupid."Chapter 2Early autumn in Danbury brought a crisp breeze and turning leaves.Nicole Collier sat in her boyfriend Harvey Griffin's car, her face pale and her chest tight.Just moments ago, she had discovered a box of Durex hidden in the glove compartment. Based on the count on the packaging, three were missing. She knew for a fact they hadn't used them, as they had agreed to wait until marriage.The conclusion was undeniable. Harvey was cheating on her.Still reeling from the shock, she waged an internal war over whether to scream at him and break things off, or swallow the betrayal and pretend nothing had happened. After all, they were planning to get married.Suddenly, the driver's side door opened, shattering her thoughts."Waiting long?"Harvey slid into the car, completely oblivious to Nicole's distress. She, however, felt a sickening chill wash over her. Even the feeling of his hand stroking her hair made her stomach churn.She flinched away. Only then did he notice something was off. His eyes filled with feigned concern as he asked, "What's wrong?"Staring at the supposedly gentle and considerate man, she felt her blood run cold. He usually played the role of a perfect gentleman, but as a seasoned lawyer, he possessed a razor-sharp, merciless tongue.In that split second, Nicole made her choice. Without concrete proof, a lawyer like him would never confess. Since both families were already prepping for the wedding, a clean break required ironclad evidence. She needed to nail him to the wall.Nicole shook her head. "It's nothing. Work has just been exhausting lately.""I told you not to push yourself so hard. The work is never-ending. Take it easy, but you never listen," Harvey chided with a patronizing, know-it-all air.The sedan pulled out of the residential area and merged onto the main road, quickly picking up speed."How many days will you be gone? When are you coming back?" he asked.If she hadn't uncovered his infidelity, she might have found his questions sweet. Now, they just made her sick.She stared blankly at the lying, cheating man, unable to fully suppress her mounting anger. Her expression darkened as she countered."Why the sudden interest in my exact return date?"Harvey paused. Her usually mild temperament made the sharp retort entirely unexpected.But recalling her comment about being tired, he brushed it off as work-related stress."I've got a mountain of cases right now," he explained smoothly. "I just wanted to coordinate our schedules. If I'm free, I'll pick you up. If not, I'll rearrange my work so I can be there."Free or not, you were always his priority. The bastard certainly knew exactly what to say to stroke a woman's ego."Don't bother," she replied. "We're all taking the DPL company car back."After graduating, Nicole had joined Danbury Power & Light, climbing the ranks to become a department manager through sheer competence. Harvey was a senior partner at Fairchild Law Group. To outsiders, they were the ultimate power couple—a perfect match of brains and beauty.But Nicole knew she was simply going through the motions, checking off societal boxes.Watching her friends walk down the aisle had pressured her into thinking it was time to settle down.They had met through a mutual acquaintance who raved about the successful young lawyer. First impressions were decent; he was polite and gentle. She didn't exactly love him, but she didn't hate him either. Compared to her other blind dates, he was merely tolerable."No way," Harvey insisted. "My girlfriend gets the royal treatment. Door-to-door service."On a normal day, she would have rewarded him with a hug. Today, the mere thought of touching a traitor repulsed her. He felt utterly tainted."By the way, when you get back, let's take a vacation for a few days," he suggested.Nicole had zero interest in his travel plans. She couldn't shake the feeling that the car reeked of sex. Images of him sweating over another woman in this confined space flooded her mind, making her stomach heave. A sour taste rose in her throat, and she covered her mouth, forcefully swallowing it down."We'll see," she managed to say."Don't say that. Put in for some time off as soon as you're back, and we'll just go. A spontaneous getaway." Harvey drove with one hand, reaching over to grab hers. Just as he brought it to his lips for a kiss, she yanked it away."You're driving. Watch the road," she warned.He chuckled, assuming she was just being shy. "You're always so reserved. We're getting married soon anyway. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."She crossed her arms and stared out the window. The glass reflected her suppressed fury. Her mind kept drifting to how that very hand had touched someone else. The vivid details made her want to pull out that box of condoms and hurl it right in his face.In the end, she held her tongue.Her tightly clenched fingers slowly uncurled. When she opened her eyes, she was perfectly calm.They had been introduced by a highly respected figure in their circle. Harvey was a master of rhetoric and networking, appearing impeccable and reliable to everyone, especially her parents. Without rock-solid proof, breaking up cleanly would be nearly impossible. Everyone would just assume she was throwing a tantrum or making excuses to focus on her career instead of marriage."Nicole."She snapped back to reality.He kept his eyes on the road, oblivious as he rambled on. "A new development just opened near my firm. Move-in ready. I checked out the model units, and there's a gorgeous two-thousand-square-foot place. Four bedrooms, two baths. It would make a perfect home for us. We could use one room as my study. I want a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. Just picturing it feels amazing. Want to check it out on your day off?"It was downright laughable. How could a man cheat behind her back and then seamlessly plan their future without batting an eye?"We'll talk when I get back," she replied.Noting her quiet tone, he glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing her pale complexion, he reached over to feel her forehead. "Not feeling well?"She tilted her head away, her voice flat. "I'm fine.""You look drained," he pressed on, playing the caring partner. "Did you catch a chill last night?""No, just exhausted from work," she answered, thoroughly annoyed.He patted her hand. "You work too hard, Manager Collier."She frowned, repulsed by his touch, but he kept blabbering on."My mom called last night. She had someone pick out a few lucky dates for the wedding. I'll text them to you later so we can start planning. We can take out a mortgage for the place near my firm, but we'll have to crash at your apartment in the meantime since mine is too small for a married couple. She also mentioned that we aren't getting any younger. She wants us to start trying for a baby right after the wedding to lower any risks. Plus, my parents still have the energy to help raise the kid. Don't worry, we'll let them handle childcare so it won't interfere with our careers or our alone time. Look at how well they raised me. The kid will be in great hands."Nicole turned to look at him. Catching her intense stare, he asked, "What is it?""Why exactly does the child have to be raised by your family?" Nicole demanded. "Do I not have parents? Did they do a terrible job raising me?"Sensing her shift in tone, he quickly backpedaled, desperate to keep the peace."That's not what I meant. Your parents are incredibly busy. Mine are out in the suburbs with a lot of free time. They hired help for the store, so their schedules are wide open."The contrast between their backgrounds was stark. The Collier family was prominent in Danbury. Harvey, on the other hand, had clawed his way up from a small town. His parents ran a modest grocery store—comfortably middle-class for their area, but nothing more.The two families were in entirely different stratospheres, leaving Harvey with a perpetual inferiority complex.His pursuit of Nicole was heavily calculated to elevate his social standing. Did he actually love her? If you weighed the facts, the only person Harvey truly loved was himself.He played the role of the devoted lover to perfection, vowing eternal devotion, while secretly using her as a stepping stone for his own ambitions and social prestige.Nicole tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and turned back to the window, clearly done with the conversation. But one lingering question gnawed at her."Harvey, why are you in such a rush to marry me?"Feeling the tension spike, he offered a slick, practiced smile. "Of course I'm in a rush. When a man finds the love of his life, he wants to lock her down as soon as possible.""Marriage requires love," she said. "Do you actually love me?"He had always flaunted his adoration, making everyone believe she was the absolute center of his universe.He didn't even miss a beat. "Yes. You know exactly how much I love you.""Then tell me, what exactly is love?"Honestly, she could handle a loveless marriage of convenience. They were at that age, and it would keep their families off their backs while they focused on their thriving careers.What she couldn't stomach was a man committing vile betrayals under the guise of true love, treating everyone around him like absolute fools.He faltered for a second. "What's with you today? You're full of questions.""Am I full of questions, or are you full of complications?" she shot back. "First thing this morning, you're bringing up houses, weddings, and babies. You even mapped out who gets custody of our unborn kid. You don't think that's a bit much?"Knowing he couldn't win when she was this sharp, he deflected. "Look, think about it. We're the right age, we match perfectly in looks and personality. Our families are perfectly aligned. You're a manager, I'm a firm partner. If we don't get married, our parents would have a fit."Nicole rubbed her temples. Who still used phrases like 'perfectly aligned families' in this day and age? And were they even aligned? The matchmaker had promised he was an upright, honorable man. Instead, she got a compulsive liar and a serial cheater.Her family valued character above all else, while he was utterly obsessed with social status. People always obsessed over what they lacked.Tuning out his repetitive nonsense, her gaze drifted to a billboard outside. It was an ad for a five-star hotel chain with a tagline that caught her attention.—Emerald Crest: A fortress loyal only to you."Harvey," she murmured softly, "are you loyal to me?"If they weren't in a moving vehicle, he definitely would have found an excuse to dodge the question. But trapped in the tight cabin, there was nowhere to hide.He fell back on his usual evasive charm. "Is it your time of the month? You seem a little on edge. We can stop by a pharmacy for some heat patches.""Have you ever lied to me?" she pressed.Seeing she wouldn't let it go, panic flared in his chest. Had she found out? No, he had been incredibly careful. Plus, if she really knew, she wouldn't be sitting here this calmly.Weighing his words, he answered with absolute conviction. "Of course not. I'm a lawyer. I have a strict moral baseline regarding honesty. Lying is a vicious cycle. You have to keep spinning new lies to cover the old ones. I'm way too smart to do something that stupid."Chapter 3Early autumn in Danbury brought a crisp breeze and turning leaves.Nicole Collier sat in her boyfriend Harvey Griffin's car, her face pale and her chest tight.Just moments ago, she had discovered a box of Durex hidden in the glove compartment. Based on the count on the packaging, three were missing. She knew for a fact they hadn't used them, as they had agreed to wait until marriage.The conclusion was undeniable. Harvey was cheating on her.Still reeling from the shock, she waged an internal war over whether to scream at him and break things off, or swallow the betrayal and pretend nothing had happened. After all, they were planning to get married.Suddenly, the driver's side door opened, shattering her thoughts."Waiting long?"Harvey slid into the car, completely oblivious to Nicole's distress. She, however, felt a sickening chill wash over her. Even the feeling of his hand stroking her hair made her stomach churn.She flinched away. Only then did he notice something was off. His eyes filled with feigned concern as he asked, "What's wrong?"Staring at the supposedly gentle and considerate man, she felt her blood run cold. He usually played the role of a perfect gentleman, but as a seasoned lawyer, he possessed a razor-sharp, merciless tongue.In that split second, Nicole made her choice. Without concrete proof, a lawyer like him would never confess. Since both families were already prepping for the wedding, a clean break required ironclad evidence. She needed to nail him to the wall.Nicole shook her head. "It's nothing. Work has just been exhausting lately.""I told you not to push yourself so hard. The work is never-ending. Take it easy, but you never listen," Harvey chided with a patronizing, know-it-all air.The sedan pulled out of the residential area and merged onto the main road, quickly picking up speed."How many days will you be gone? When are you coming back?" he asked.If she hadn't uncovered his infidelity, she might have found his questions sweet. Now, they just made her sick.She stared blankly at the lying, cheating man, unable to fully suppress her mounting anger. Her expression darkened as she countered."Why the sudden interest in my exact return date?"Harvey paused. Her usually mild temperament made the sharp retort entirely unexpected.But recalling her comment about being tired, he brushed it off as work-related stress."I've got a mountain of cases right now," he explained smoothly. "I just wanted to coordinate our schedules. If I'm free, I'll pick you up. If not, I'll rearrange my work so I can be there."Free or not, you were always his priority. The bastard certainly knew exactly what to say to stroke a woman's ego."Don't bother," she replied. "We're all taking the DPL company car back."After graduating, Nicole had joined Danbury Power & Light, climbing the ranks to become a department manager through sheer competence. Harvey was a senior partner at Fairchild Law Group. To outsiders, they were the ultimate power couple—a perfect match of brains and beauty.But Nicole knew she was simply going through the motions, checking off societal boxes.Watching her friends walk down the aisle had pressured her into thinking it was time to settle down.They had met through a mutual acquaintance who raved about the successful young lawyer. First impressions were decent; he was polite and gentle. She didn't exactly love him, but she didn't hate him either. Compared to her other blind dates, he was merely tolerable."No way," Harvey insisted. "My girlfriend gets the royal treatment. Door-to-door service."On a normal day, she would have rewarded him with a hug. Today, the mere thought of touching a traitor repulsed her. He felt utterly tainted."By the way, when you get back, let's take a vacation for a few days," he suggested.Nicole had zero interest in his travel plans. She couldn't shake the feeling that the car reeked of sex. Images of him sweating over another woman in this confined space flooded her mind, making her stomach heave. A sour taste rose in her throat, and she covered her mouth, forcefully swallowing it down."We'll see," she managed to say."Don't say that. Put in for some time off as soon as you're back, and we'll just go. A spontaneous getaway." Harvey drove with one hand, reaching over to grab hers. Just as he brought it to his lips for a kiss, she yanked it away."You're driving. Watch the road," she warned.He chuckled, assuming she was just being shy. "You're always so reserved. We're getting married soon anyway. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."She crossed her arms and stared out the window. The glass reflected her suppressed fury. Her mind kept drifting to how that very hand had touched someone else. The vivid details made her want to pull out that box of condoms and hurl it right in his face.In the end, she held her tongue.Her tightly clenched fingers slowly uncurled. When she opened her eyes, she was perfectly calm.They had been introduced by a highly respected figure in their circle. Harvey was a master of rhetoric and networking, appearing impeccable and reliable to everyone, especially her parents. Without rock-solid proof, breaking up cleanly would be nearly impossible. Everyone would just assume she was throwing a tantrum or making excuses to focus on her career instead of marriage."Nicole."She snapped back to reality.He kept his eyes on the road, oblivious as he rambled on. "A new development just opened near my firm. Move-in ready. I checked out the model units, and there's a gorgeous two-thousand-square-foot place. Four bedrooms, two baths. It would make a perfect home for us. We could use one room as my study. I want a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. Just picturing it feels amazing. Want to check it out on your day off?"It was downright laughable. How could a man cheat behind her back and then seamlessly plan their future without batting an eye?"We'll talk when I get back," she replied.Noting her quiet tone, he glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing her pale complexion, he reached over to feel her forehead. "Not feeling well?"She tilted her head away, her voice flat. "I'm fine.""You look drained," he pressed on, playing the caring partner. "Did you catch a chill last night?""No, just exhausted from work," she answered, thoroughly annoyed.He patted her hand. "You work too hard, Manager Collier."She frowned, repulsed by his touch, but he kept blabbering on."My mom called last night. She had someone pick out a few lucky dates for the wedding. I'll text them to you later so we can start planning. We can take out a mortgage for the place near my firm, but we'll have to crash at your apartment in the meantime since mine is too small for a married couple. She also mentioned that we aren't getting any younger. She wants us to start trying for a baby right after the wedding to lower any risks. Plus, my parents still have the energy to help raise the kid. Don't worry, we'll let them handle childcare so it won't interfere with our careers or our alone time. Look at how well they raised me. The kid will be in great hands."Nicole turned to look at him. Catching her intense stare, he asked, "What is it?""Why exactly does the child have to be raised by your family?" Nicole demanded. "Do I not have parents? Did they do a terrible job raising me?"Sensing her shift in tone, he quickly backpedaled, desperate to keep the peace."That's not what I meant. Your parents are incredibly busy. Mine are out in the suburbs with a lot of free time. They hired help for the store, so their schedules are wide open."The contrast between their backgrounds was stark. The Collier family was prominent in Danbury. Harvey, on the other hand, had clawed his way up from a small town. His parents ran a modest grocery store—comfortably middle-class for their area, but nothing more.The two families were in entirely different stratospheres, leaving Harvey with a perpetual inferiority complex.His pursuit of Nicole was heavily calculated to elevate his social standing. Did he actually love her? If you weighed the facts, the only person Harvey truly loved was himself.He played the role of the devoted lover to perfection, vowing eternal devotion, while secretly using her as a stepping stone for his own ambitions and social prestige.Nicole tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and turned back to the window, clearly done with the conversation. But one lingering question gnawed at her."Harvey, why are you in such a rush to marry me?"Feeling the tension spike, he offered a slick, practiced smile. "Of course I'm in a rush. When a man finds the love of his life, he wants to lock her down as soon as possible.""Marriage requires love," she said. "Do you actually love me?"He had always flaunted his adoration, making everyone believe she was the absolute center of his universe.He didn't even miss a beat. "Yes. You know exactly how much I love you.""Then tell me, what exactly is love?"Honestly, she could handle a loveless marriage of convenience. They were at that age, and it would keep their families off their backs while they focused on their thriving careers.What she couldn't stomach was a man committing vile betrayals under the guise of true love, treating everyone around him like absolute fools.He faltered for a second. "What's with you today? You're full of questions.""Am I full of questions, or are you full of complications?" she shot back. "First thing this morning, you're bringing up houses, weddings, and babies. You even mapped out who gets custody of our unborn kid. You don't think that's a bit much?"Knowing he couldn't win when she was this sharp, he deflected. "Look, think about it. We're the right age, we match perfectly in looks and personality. Our families are perfectly aligned. You're a manager, I'm a firm partner. If we don't get married, our parents would have a fit."Nicole rubbed her temples. Who still used phrases like 'perfectly aligned families' in this day and age? And were they even aligned? The matchmaker had promised he was an upright, honorable man. Instead, she got a compulsive liar and a serial cheater.Her family valued character above all else, while he was utterly obsessed with social status. People always obsessed over what they lacked.Tuning out his repetitive nonsense, her gaze drifted to a billboard outside. It was an ad for a five-star hotel chain with a tagline that caught her attention.—Emerald Crest: A fortress loyal only to you."Harvey," she murmured softly, "are you loyal to me?"If they weren't in a moving vehicle, he definitely would have found an excuse to dodge the question. But trapped in the tight cabin, there was nowhere to hide.He fell back on his usual evasive charm. "Is it your time of the month? You seem a little on edge. We can stop by a pharmacy for some heat patches.""Have you ever lied to me?" she pressed.Seeing she wouldn't let it go, panic flared in his chest. Had she found out? No, he had been incredibly careful. Plus, if she really knew, she wouldn't be sitting here this calmly.Weighing his words, he answered with absolute conviction. "Of course not. I'm a lawyer. I have a strict moral baseline regarding honesty. Lying is a vicious cycle. You have to keep spinning new lies to cover the old ones. I'm way too smart to do something that stupid."