Chapter 4

Edward's eyes flickered slightly as he slowly met her gaze, though his expression remained unchanged. "What did you say?"

Seeing Edward's disbelieving look, Molly sincerely repeated herself, "I said I'm willing to marry you and have your children."

It sounded somewhat shameless, but she said it with complete frankness.

She didn't forget to emphasize again, "Don't worry, I have no interest in the Howard family fortune."

"How willing of you," Edward laughed softly, but his smile was poison-laced. "Are you willing to be with a dying man? Are you planning to be buried with me when I'm gone?"

The facts proved that no amount of explanation would help.

She had just broken up, and immediately telling a man she'd only met once that she was willing to have his children—this simply didn't make sense.

Molly felt helpless, looking at him pleadingly. "I'm telling the truth. Believe it or not, if you don't trust me, you can use a contract to bind me."

Her manner was genuinely sincere as she said this.

Unable to get the information he wanted, Edward fixed her with a cold stare. "I don't want to hear gossip about me from outsiders, especially anything you spread around. Understood?"

Molly could sense his dislike for this marriage, his reluctance to have any connection with her.

"Understood. I won't say anything inappropriate."

In truth, she didn't want Edward interfering in her life either.

This was merely the most ordinary partnership, established under circumstances where one party was coerced.

Knowing his resistance, Molly didn't want to say too much and displease him further.

But there was something she absolutely had to discuss with him.

Molly looked up at him, "There's something I need to mention. Your mother wants us to live together to develop feelings for each other."

Before she'd arrived, Edward had already received Alicia's message. He said, "Tonight you'll sleep in the master bedroom."

"What about you?" Molly asked instinctively.

His brow furrowed slightly as he dropped a cold response and turned to leave. "The study."

In the vast space, she sat alone on the sofa, the air terrifyingly quiet.

That evening, Molly went to the master bedroom.

The master bedroom was spacious, with simple yet elegant decor, clearly indicating that its owner has good taste.

Everything here felt unfamiliar to her, creating an unreal sensation, but only the feeling of being a dependent guest felt authentic.

She could understand where Edward's disgust came from. In his position, she might have gone completely mad.

Choosing to sleep in the study rather than share a room with her was already the greatest concession.

This was the path she'd chosen—no matter what, she could only persevere.

In the future, she'd simply avoid seeing Edward as much as possible.

Thinking of that cold face, she shook her head and collapsed onto the bed.

She didn't sleep well that night. Molly tossed and turned, constantly feeling something was about to happen.

Sure enough, when she woke the next morning, she saw a familiar figure and immediately lost all drowsiness.

At that moment, Alicia sat elegantly on the premium sofa directly across from her, sipping tea, with Edward beside her.

Alicia had apparently been saying something to him, judging by how his expression grew increasingly grim.

Most likely about their marriage.

Molly instinctively wanted to avoid this serious atmosphere, but just as she lifted her foot, a gentle voice stopped her.

"Molly, come here." Alicia smiled warmly, looking at Molly as if she were her own daughter.

In contrast, Edward looked at her as if she were invisible

"Mrs. Howard." Molly walked over, beaming with an obedient smile.

"Edward, look at the wife I found for you—how perfect you two are together! She's absolutely beautiful."

He couldn't agree that they were a perfect match, but he could sense Molly's beauty.

Even through his blurred vision, he could feel Molly's radiance.

"Mm." Edward squeezed out a single syllable from his throat as acknowledgment.

The air suddenly grew several degrees colder.

"Mom, I still have work. You two talk first."

After Edward turned and left, Alicia finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Molly, I need to ask you something. Did you and Edward not sleep in the same room last night?"

Molly shook her head.

"How can you develop feelings without sharing a room?" Alicia's tone grew urgent. "You two need to try harder. I'm still waiting for you to have children!"

Suddenly, Alicia seemed to think of something. "Is it that Edward doesn't want to live with you?"

"No, no." Molly quickly denied it, not wanting to cause trouble for Edward. "Edward just needs time to adjust. We'll sleep together tonight."

Hearing Molly's response, Alicia's expression immediately softened.

"I really like Edward and hope we can have a child together soon. Mrs. Howard, you don't need to worry about us."

Molly's attitude was sincere as she spoke gently, coaxing Alicia.

After chatting all afternoon, she finally managed to soothe Alicia.

Before leaving, Alicia didn't forget to give the butler a few instructions.

Molly felt helpless, glancing toward the study where the door was slightly ajar with light filtering through.

After steeling herself mentally, she walked to the study and knocked gently.

The moment the door opened, she was met with an indifferent face.

"Edward." She smiled sweetly. "Mrs. Howard hopes we can sleep in the same room. You take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor—is that okay?"

Molly took a quiet breath.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as agreement?"

Opportunities had to be fought for.

That evening, when Edward returned to the master bedroom, she was already laying out her bedding on the floor.

In the middle of the night, the cold floor radiated a chill that made sleep even more difficult.

Molly curled into a ball, hugging her knees to try to keep warm as a wave of desolation washed over her.

She woke early and made breakfast for herself, preparing Edward's portion as well.

When Edward walked into the living room, he could vaguely make out a beaming face, holding a plate of steaming scrambled eggs.

"You're here! Let's have breakfast together. I made this especially for you."

"Molly, what exactly do you want?" The moment he raised his hand, the sound of shattering dishes broke the fragile warmth.

Molly looked down, dejectedly cleaning up the fragments on the floor.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. It's just such a waste of food."

An inexplicable guilt suddenly surged through him, and Edward's tone softened considerably. "Why do all this?"

"Because," Molly looked up from her cleaning, her bright eyes sparkling with light, "I have feelings for you."

"What do you love about me?"

"You're handsome and wealthy—every woman's dream man."

"Your love is so shallow."

"Liking attractive people is only human nature."

After cleaning up the mess, Molly collapsed onto the sofa.

She picked up her phone to browse recent news.

The headlines weren't what she'd expected. She'd assumed the media would sensationalize what happened at their engagement party, but discovered that the events from that day hadn't even made it to trending topics.