Chapter 1462
Chapter 1461:
She still hadn’t come back to herself. The words slipped out before she could think them through. “Did your family approve this? Us getting married p>
“I’m twenty-seven years old,” he replied matter-of-factly. “I don’t need approval to get married.” He leaned slightly closer, his tone firm. “Hurry up and sign. My family doesn’t tolerate relations before marriage. Last night, you crossed that line. The quickest solution is to make it official. Sign p>
Her resistance crumbled under the pressure. Her mind shut down entirely. Just as she did at work — following instructions without questioning them — her body reacted before her brain could catch up. She wrote her name and only afterward realized what she had done.
The registrars completed the remaining formalities and stamped the documents with a sharp, definitive thud.
Merlin took the certificate immediately. He reviewed it once, then again, his attention fixed on his name beside hers. A deep, steady satisfaction settled within him. This wasn’t something fleeting or emotional. It was legal. It was permanent. It was possession in its most solid form. She was no longer available. He had a wife. A major objective was accomplished. Children would come next — soon, if possible. He didn’t want too large an age gap with Cole’s. Down the road, they might even arrange a childhood betrothal.
Meanwhile, Hailee remained frozen, unable to move. Her mind was a whirlwind. She was married — to Merlin, her boss. She hadn’t even called her father to tell him! And just the day before, she had sworn to Elliana that marriage wasn’t in her plans, that her priority was independence.
The silence stretched on. The registrars frowned slightly, exchanged glances, and then looked at Merlin with visible puzzlement.
He responded with a calm, polished, disarming smile, as though nothing about the situation were unusual. “My wife is just a little overwhelmed,” he said smoothly.
As he spoke, he elegantly slipped them a generous tip he had already prepared, accompanied by a thank-you delivered with complete nonchalance.
The registrars’ eyes lit up instantly. They pocketed the money, smiled broadly, and launched into an enthusiastic shower of congratulations for the newlyweds.
Around the corner, half-hidden behind the staircase, four witnesses exchanged astonished glances in silence. Merlin’s plan had left them speechless. “Good lord,” Adah murmured under her breath. “He came fully prepared! Poor Hailee — tricked into marriage just like that p>
S𝗵𝘢𝗋e 𝘆о𝘶r 𝗍𝗁𝘰u𝗀h𝘵𝘴 𝗈𝗻
“Honestly, this deserves a case study. Merlin is something else,” Elliana chimed in.
Cole let out a restrained laugh. “Come on, ladies, let’s be fair. It was your ‘sweet and innocent’ Hailee who made the first move on him. The man is just being decent and taking responsibility. How exactly is that tricking her p>
Elliana and Adah blinked, unsure how to respond. Fine. Annoyingly, Cole had a point. Their friend had taken the first step, and luckily for her, Merlin had been interested for quite some time. A drunken misstep that, against all odds, had ended remarkably well. If he hadn’t wanted her, the situation would have been far less favorable.
After a brief, awkward silence, Adah’s mood shifted. She smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “You know what, Elliana? Now I understand why you and Hailee connected so quickly. You’re the same kind of reckless. One drink and all reason vanishes. True soulmates p>