Chapter 8 One Step Ahead

• Staring at the marriage certificates, Gillian pressed one into Henry’s hands. She smiled at him, “Mr. Porter, the photos came out great. Especially yours. Your eyes looked so bright in them.”
• “Really?” He raised his eyebrows, but smiled disapprovingly at her, “However, shouldn’t you be calling something else?”
• Huh?
• Gillian froze. She stared at the floor. “But… I’m still not used to it yet…”
• “It’s okay. If you’re not used to calling me your husband, you can call me Henry. After all, you can’t keep calling me Mr. Porter now that we’re married.” Henry didn’t mind. He smiled gently at her. His smile warmed her like the spring sun.
• Gillian couldn’t reconcile the man before her with the rumored tyrannical Henry Porter that she had heard of. She forgot that she was supposed to be afraid of him and nodded, “Okay, Henry.”
• “Let’s go. We have to tell grandpa about the good news.” Henry said.
• Gillian nodded but didn’t reply. She bit her lip and hesitated before saying, “Henry… I fought with my family yesterday because of what happened. I… Don’t want to go home yet…”
• Henry cut her off, “You are now a madam of the Porter household. It doesn’t make sense for you to continue living at your parents. Even though we got married in a rush, grandpa has long since prepared our house. You won’t leave me alone, will you?”
• Uh…
• What kind of man spoke like this?
• Gillian decided to take it as a joke. Any hesitation she had evaporated, “Then, I’ll have to trouble you.”
• As soon as she finished her words, he grasped her hand and held it gently in his. “Gillian, now that we’re married, you don’t have to be so courteous towards me.”
• Gillian felt the strength and warmth in his hands, and her heart thawed further, “Okay.”
• Gillian pushed Henry out of the bureau when she saw Liam getting out of a car. He ran over but halted in his steps when he saw her wheeling Henry.
• “Henry, give me a second. I’ll be back.” She was afraid that Liam would say something to upset Henry. Gillian shook her head at Liam so that he knew not to approach them.
• “Okay, I’ll wait for you.” Henry nodded and patted her hand. “Be careful.”
• In Liam’s car.
• Without waiting for Liam to ask, Gillian spoke, “I’m sorry. We can help each other out anymore. I’ve married Henry.”
• “What happened?” Liam was confused. “How can you be so easily bought? Tell me, did Henry make you do it?”
• “He didn’t! He’s completely different from what I’ve been told. No one made me. I decided on my own to marry him.” Gillian shook her head. “Maybe this is fate. If marrying him is inevitable, I might as well accept it.”
• “Gillian!” Liam placed a hand on her shoulder. He couldn’t let it go, “Have you thought this through? You won’t be happy marrying him!”
• Gillian smiled gently at him. “We’re married now! Leave it be! We are still friends. I guess from today onwards, you’re my cousin-in-law.”
• Liam saw the smile she had forced out and sighed, “Gillian, you’re a good person and deserve to be loved by a good man. It’s a pity that you’re a woman. If you were a man, I would’ve married you. Family be damned!”
• Gillian couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Only you can make me laugh like this! Thank you! I wish you all the happiness in the world!”
• Gillian pushed open the door and got out of the car.
• Life had to go on. Now that things had come to this, she had to smile and carry on.