"You heard me." he coldly uttered the words.
Verena fiddled with the edges of her filthy clothes and said in a soft voice, "Sir, this joke is not funny at all."
With a scornful smirk, Louis took off his sunglasses and turned to fix her with a piercing gaze. "Wasn't it your plan to be married to me all along?"
Louis gaze cut through Verena's thin sunken face like a sharp razor and stared into her eyes.
Verena shuddered and turned her head away, but Louis's hand squeezed her chin and forced her to look at him.
Verena then realized that this man was really Louis Heisenberg, her past scapegoat, whom she was eager to use for her revenge.
But things had changed and she didn't see there was any way she could use him anymore.
It's not like she had any feelings for him back then and why he had to come here and tell her to get married without giving a complete proposal.
Why would she get married to someone like him without love—well, she didn't want to get married after walking out of the cell just now.
His suit was well-tailored and looked luxurious. Verena could tell this man was very distinguished, but he was out of her reach four years ago.
In contrast, she had worn-out clothes covered in mold, disheveled hair, a dirtied face, and a strong odor, and she had not showered for days.
The two of them were going to get a marriage certificate?
Verena lowered her gaze and said softly, "Sir, do you think because I have been in prison for four years and have not seen any man, I would simply jump on any random ugly man, even if I had not met him before?"
Louis could not help but take another look at her. His eyes narrowed at her words, he didn't understand if she just rejected him or just disputed him as an ugly—random man.
She was quite young but had a sharp tongue, and was extraordinarily calm. His disgust towards her inevitably increased. "Are you deliberately using this method to anger me or to arouse my interest in you?"
"I will not be forced into a marriage against my will." she declared, her voice ringing with defiance.
He's the most eligible bachelor around, but despite the attention from high-society women, he's drawn to one woman who keeps saying no.
"Why?" he demanded, his hand clenched in frustration.
She had been expecting this reaction, but the spark of irritation in his eyes still caught her off guard.
"You are my cousin." She pointed out, trying to sound calm.
She held her breath, secretly pleased with herself for bringing it up. But instead of the reaction she expected, he gave her a skeptical gaze.
"Not by blood." He said curtly.
She felt flush rise to her cheeks as she realized her mistake. His mother had been adopted by her grandfather, making their familial connection more complicated than she had initially claimed. His mother is technically elder sister of her late mother.
"Why... do you want to marry me? Do you know me at all? I am a criminal!"
"It's my mother's last wish." He informed without having any emotion on his face like he was reporting a weather news.
"But why would you ruin your life with someone like me?"
As soon as he finished, he did not wait for Verena to answer but immediately ordered the driver, "To the court!"
"Let me go! I don't even know you!" Verena was horrified and wanted to get out of the car.
With a backhand motion, Louis pinned her down, his arm was resting on her upper chest as her breath hitched in shock.
He glared at her with a sinister gaze, and said in a cold voice, "Woman, listen up! If you would like to die, I could send you off now." he paused and added, "The choice is all yours."
Verena was scared. She had tears tumbling in her eyes, and she said in a weak voice, "I— don't want to die." When he released her from his grip she sat up and looked at him with angry glare.
"You are quite stubborn." He remarked as his fingers run through his blonde hair.
"I was just released from prison," she said, voice trembling but fierce. "You kidnapped me! I don't even know you! Whether I'm stubborn or not — what right do you have to judge me?!"
Her voice cracked under the weight of her rage and disbelief, but she didn't care. Let him hear it.
Louis turned his head slowly, meeting her gaze.
There was no empathy in his eyes — only cold amusement. The corner of his mouth curved into a smirk, as though her defiance was nothing more than a child's tantrum.
To him, she looked like a cornered kitten — all fury and fear, but no claws.
He exhaled slowly, and said with chilling clarity, "We'll get the marriage certificate."
Verena's heart sank.
"In six months, I'll divorce you and give you a settlement." He looked out the window as the mansion came into view, unmoved. "After that… even if you beg to stay by my side, it won't happen."
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
Every word struck her like ice water.
Verena stared at him, stunned — not by what he said, but by how little he seemed to care. About her. About any of it.
"To the court!" The man ordered again looking at the front he had thankfully let go of her.
"Young Master Louis, do we go straight to the court?" asked the assistant in the front passenger seat.
A cold whisper ran through her blood as the man in the passenger seat looked between them like he was unsure.
Louis looked puzzled as he stared at the man sitting in the front seat.
The assistant looked at Verena with disdain and said bluntly, "Young Mistress's clothes are worn and old, and she looks dirty…"
Absolutely! Here's a rewritten version of your scene with added dialogue and stronger character voice, while keeping the tension, emotional beats, and power dynamics vivid.
"Take us to the nearest store," the man ordered coolly.
"Yes, Master Louis," the driver replied, starting the engine without question.
The silence in the car stretched thin. Verena sat stiffly, her thoughts racing, every bump in the road a jolt back to the night that had changed everything.
An hour and a half later, the car finally rolled to a stop in front of a high-end clothing boutique.
Verena blinked at the store's polished glass façade, disoriented. What is this place?
Then, without warning, Louis opened her door, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her out.
"H-Hey—!" she protested.
His strides were long and forceful, and she stumbled behind him, nearly jogging to keep up — like a stray puppy he'd casually decided to take along.
To the workers at the entrance, the sight was familiar.
One of them immediately bowed. "Welcome, Young Master Louis."
Louis didn't acknowledge him. "Out of the way," he muttered, dragging Verena straight inside.
"Wait—just let me go—" Verena hissed under her breath, but Louis ignored her.
He pushed open the dressing room doors and gestured to the workers waiting inside. "Get her cleaned up. Put her in something white."
"Yes, Master Louis." Two workers bowed while they blushed looking at the most handsome men.
"What are you doing? I'm not—!" Verena tried to resist, but the female workers had already closed in.
"Please cooperate, Miss," one of them said gently, steering her toward the back.
Verena looked over her shoulder. "Louis!"
He didn't even turn around.
They began removing her clothes.
"Wait—stop! I can do it myself!" she exclaimed, grabbing at her sleeves.
One woman paused, frowning. "Miss, we're only trying to help."
"I said stop!" Verena snapped, stepping back. Her voice trembled. "I'm not… I'm not used to others touching me like this. Please—just leave."
The two women exchanged a glance. One shrugged. "As you wish."
They started toward the door.
As they exited, one muttered, "Spoiled brat. She doesn't even know how lucky she is—"
"Shh! Louis is right outside," the other whispered sharply.
The first woman blanched and fell silent.
⸻
Inside the changing room, Verena faced the mirror.
Her cheeks burned with shame. The reflection staring back at her looked more ghost than girl — hollow eyes, bruised skin.
Tears welled up without warning.
I can't do this. I won't let him cage me.
She clenched her jaw, pressing her trembling palms to the cold marble counter.
Outside, the atmosphere was tense.
Louis stood beside his assistant, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Boss, she won't last long like this," the assistant murmured.
"She doesn't need to last," Louis replied. "She just needs to follow the plan."
His jaw tightened. His thoughts slipped back to the beginning.
He had been nothing — an illegitimate child with no claim to the Heisenberg legacy. Every relative had ranked above him.
But three years abroad had changed him.
When his mother fell ill, he returned — not to mourn, but to fight. And fight he did.
He found his exiled grandfather, gained his favor, and crushed his competitors one by one. Ruthlessly.
But the old man had set terms.
"She was deceived," Louis muttered aloud, more to himself than his assistant. "She never knew he was married."
"Sir?" Joshua blinked, confused.
"My mother. She didn't deserve what happened. And now she has six months left."
His mother had never wanted to be a mistress. She had been deceived — already pregnant when she discovered the man she loved was married.
She endured years of slander, cruelty, and isolation. And when she'd finally been cast out, there had been no justice. No apology.
The assistant, Joshua was silent, he understood.
"Her last wish was simple," Louis said, voice hard. "Marry Verena Bradbury. Have you investigated her?"
"Yes. Convicted of murder. Four years in prison. But it was a farce. No real evidence. Just teenage witnesses and a rushed trial. Boss, do you think she's innocent?"
"I think she was useful." Louis smirked at the door.
Just then, a scream pierced the air.
"Master Louis!"
He turned sharply. A worker came running.
"Something's wrong!" she cried. "That woman — she jumped out the window! She's escaped!"