Marry Me Instead

HUDSON PRIVATE JET

The following day...

Rebecca could hardly move. She could not even believe she could eat as much as she had yesterday. Perhaps her appetite was better because someone was cooking for her.

After Anton offered her to accompany him to Dream City, Elric volunteered to drop them off in Australia.

Since Anton and his team are the only ones invited to the upcoming wedding, Elric cannot enter Dream City. However, with the excuse that Anton was flying with the Hudson Private Jet, Elric was approved to land his plane at the city's international airport.

That is why they left Switzerland first thing in the morning. It was a long flight. Anton served steak, mushroom soup, and Caesar salad as side dishes. Rebecca ate every vegetable in her bowl. Seeing her relish, the former also fixed her with fruit, cheese, and champagne.

While staying in Bern, Rebecca prepared Lina's meals. However, the woman didn't give her enough food; she only gave her leftovers. Hence, as Lina hates vegetables, she would add many to have edible leftovers.

When she was enrolled at Rosetta Academy five years ago, Culinary was one of her major courses, with Lina's excuse that Aleckin was picky and only ate the food prepared by his family chef, a graduate of a prestigious culinary school.

Not knowing that Lina intends to live like a queen by enslaving her as her chef and housemaid at the same time.

Fortunately, Lina had only ordered her to clean the inner manor, and she left out the garden, leaving it covered with those vines as if no one lived there every day.

Lina tends the garden only when Aleksandr visits Bellarus. But the patriarch stays in Mirth City because the weather is warmer than in Bern.

Aleksandr would stay in the apartment he purchased in Mirth City, and then he would ask Yelena to visit him and have dinner together. 

Of course, Lina was present to ensure she would not spout nonsense while her Uncle Ruslan, disguised as her chauffeur and bodyguard, was there, too.

This explains why Lina is confident about spending the funds for the garden and the landscaper's monthly salary.

Aleksandr suggested that Lina hire more people to serve his granddaughter-in-law. That was her. She is supposed to live like a princess even though she never meets her husband. 

However, Lina embezzles the funds. She hired not servants but goons to watch her—not to keep her safe but to end her life if she tried to report to the police or leave Bern.

Therefore, she disguises herself before going out when Lina and Ruslan are on vacation with her allowance.

'I wonder what Aleksandr Ferrero would do to Lina once he learns the truth?'

Such lies on top of lies. 

Aleksandr Ferrero told her his health wasn't suitable for a colder climate. Hence, he would not visit Bern for a while—it's been a year now.

She wanted to locate his whereabouts, but Aleksandr was cautious about revealing his location. Hence, her access was Aleckin's.

But Aleckin divorced her the other day. She lost her chances of getting close to her family's murderers.

She felt guilt she hadn't avenged her family.

Hence, she must think of another way to get near Aleksandr Ferrero.

The older man has yet to pay the overdue debts of his ancestors.

"A penny of your thought?" Anton found her in a trance. He took the space beside her and placed a crystal flute wine glass on the table, pouring some from the bottle he had just taken from the chiller.

"Chardonnay!" she burst out happily. Her eyes flickered with delight. "Thanks…"

Rebecca picked up the flute wine glass and thanked Anton before she sipped on it with satisfaction.

"This is expensive. At least five thousand euros," she mumbled. 

She never enjoyed such fine wines because Lina prohibited her from touching all the wine Aleksandr had sent.

As the future matriarch of the Ferrero family, the wife of the next head of the household, she must know how the upper class socializes.

Being familiar with wines is the essential trait a wealthy lady has.

"You were lost in a trance just now. Are you worried Lina will find you?" asked Anton, snapping her out of trance. He filled his glass and offered a toast. Rebecca clinked a glass with him. 

"Not really. I'm thinking of some other things..." she replied to his question.

Anton raised a brow, jealousy flashing in his eyes. "Is it about your ex-husband?"

Rebecca turned her head at Anton, odd feelings surging in her chest. She sensed the bitterness in his voice and wondered why he sounded like that.

"I never thought of him throughout this marriage." She told the truth. 

Even though she is married to the guy, she constantly reminds herself that she is only an imposter, a stand-in wife. Eventually, she will divorce Aleckin once she burns down everything Ferrero has.

Anton does not seem to believe her. As a man, he recognized Aleckin as a qualified rival, a significant threat to his path to his pursuit. He was actually afraid of the day Rebecca would live with Aleckin. 

What if Rebecca fell in love with her nominal husband?

Hence, he was overjoyed when Elric told him the great news. Rebecca is divorced now.

"Becca…" Anton peered at her delicate face with such passion in his eyes as he lowered his head.

Rebecca didn't notice anything unusual as her gaze lingered on the content of her wineglass, lost in thought once more. Thus, Anton took this as an opportunity.

He was inches away from Rebecca's lips when a loud bang came from across the aisle.

"Pour me more wine! Come on! Hey, Anton, you bastard!"

Elric, who could not hold his liquor very well, was knocked down in his seat half an hour ago. Now, the guy is mumbling in his sleep.

Anton shot at him with a murderous glare. He's such a troubled guy, ruining the romantic atmosphere between him and Rebecca!

"This guy… why don't we put a parachute on him and throw him out of the plane?" Anton muttered under his breath. Then stood up and walked toward Elric. He noticed the guy didn't buckle up on the sofa he slept on, so he was thrown to the long table.

Rebecca chuckled, oblivious to Anton's frustration about why he made that comment.

"I will pretend I didn't hear you," she declared. This plane belongs to the Hudson family.

"Tsk!" Anton sneers as he settles Elric by fastening his seatbelt. Rebecca, sipping on her wineglass, almost spills the liquor on her mouth upon realizing what the guy did to Elric.

"How did you…" she wondered where the packaging tape came from. Now, Elric was bound to his seat. "Oh, good lord…"

Rebecca slapped her forehead. For sure, Elric will throw a fuss when he sobers up. Then, another banter between the two.

Anton dusted his hands, proud of his creation. He returned to his seat and said, "There… let's see if he falls from his seat."

Rebecca was rendered speechless. She chuckled and shook her head. 'I think I must prepare my headphones and ensure to play loud music…'

She need not guess that Elric would lament like a little kid.

"Well, I'll put a tape on his mouth…" Anton jokes. Then his face turned solemn. "I couldn't trust him. I'm worried about leaving you alone with him. Look how irresponsible he was."

Rebecca smiled, listening to Anton's concern. Her parents died in a car accident fifteen years ago, and she was the only one who survived the car crash. Hence, meeting people who treat her like a princess warms her heart.

"I can handle him," she assures him, but Anton isn't happy with her statement.

He grabbed Rebecca's hand and asked with a sincere tone.

"Becca, why don't you marry me instead?"