Ashley tried to withdraw her hand from his firm grip.
Michael did not let her. "Do you think there are no eyes around?" He murmered calmly and took a step closer.
Ashley smiled sarcastically and restrained herself from commenting further.
She already knew this wouldn't be easy. She shouldn't feel bad about it at all.
Heck! She could not even complain!
Ashley took a deep breath. "We are supposed to go to lunch, right? Let's go." She walked to where others went.
Michael did not bother replying and silently walked behind. It did not matter to him what happened around as long as his purpose was fulfilled.
Nothing mattered to him more than that.
Before she even took her seat, Ashley understood that she won't be able to eat much. The aura was just too much to digest.
For that matter, her concern was not even the lunch right now. All she hoped was for to get done with the day already.
The only thing that provided her ease was that James sat opposite her while Amelia was to her left. Michael was in right but she could ignore that for now.
All she needed to do was to avoid looking anywhere apart from her plate and these two people who were so warm to her.
Ashley waited as the maids served them all. She dare not even pour water by herself. Once everything was set, they began eating.
However, for Ashley even taking a bite was hard.
"Ashley, what happened?" Amelia asked her, "Did you not like the food? You can tell me, we'll have something else prepared."
"Eh?" Ashely realized that all eyes were upon her. "Nothing like that. I am just not hungry."
Amelia nodded understandingly. "Why don't you do one thing?" Amelia suggested, glancing at Michael. "Even he doesn't eat at this time. So he will take you around on a tour of our home."
"Yeah, that's a good idea." James spoke along. "What say, Michael?"
That's why Ashley liked them.
Even though going with Michael was also not the good idea but it was still better than staying and suffocating here.
"So now she doesn't even want to eat with us?" Sofia said contemptuously.
Michael took a pause and looked at his mother. "Mom, this is too early for us. We don't usually eat at this time." Finishing that, he spoke to Ashley, "Let's go, honey."
H-honey?
It was not just Sofia who raised a brow at the endearment, even Amelia and James exchanged a look to confirm what they heard.
Ashley thanked the stars that she hadn't yet taken another sip of water because this couldn't have stopped her from choking.
"Sure." Ashley kept the glass back on the table and pushed the chair back. She couldn't wait to get away from here.
Michael brought her out of the dining room to the elevator.
Even inside he held her hands, and continued holding them as they sauntered to a room at the end of the corridor on third floor.
Over the way, Ashley did observe the surroundings which shouted nothing but opulence. Each and every artifact here must cost millions easily!
Being rich was one thing but showing it off was simply another.
As soon as Michael closed the door behind him, he left her hand and loosened his tie.
It was his room.
It was his room—she could tell by how similar the décor was to his office.
No words were spoken, no questions asked.
Michael relaxed on his bed and closed his eyes. While Ashley was left there to look at his profile.
This was it.
The act was over for now and they were back to being strangers. This was just the demo of the life she will live for the next three years.
Ashley walked to the window and stared out at the open green field behind the backyard. There were very few masions in the surroundings.
Ashley sat on the couch.
As long as feelings were not involved, she knew she could do this. Getting along with this family was not even being included in the options.
That can never happen so she did not need to be worried about getting attached with something she never had.
Ashley could tell that this family won't even let her miss it.
Amelia and James would definitely be the exceptions but again, it was something that Ashely would need to be careful about.
Get along only to the extent that won't hurt her later on.
And as for the person she would get married to, he won't even bother about her behind the closed doors.
Michael might have spoken on her behalf outside but she was clear on this that it was only to show his family.
To show how much he loved her and how he could not bear to hear anything about her.
It was just a show put up for his family.
Her eyes shifted from the window to the man and unexpectedly it collided with his opened ones.
He was looking right at her.
Her breath picked a slightly fast pace out of fright. Wasn't he the one to just close his eyes as if nothing else bothered him anymore?
"What did you decide?" He put forth the question.
"Hasn't the decision already been made?" replied Ashley without wasting a second.
Michael did not say anything before getting up and coming to stand right before her. "It is." He spoke after a second.
"So why bother asking?" Ashley smiled. "To ensure that I don't get second thoughts?" She looked out again. "No need to worry, I don't go back on my words."
Michael simply nodded arrogantly, "Good to hear that. As long as you stay stuck to these words, it will benefit both of us."
"But if I may ask," Michael who had already turned to go stopped on hearing her but didn't turn back, "why did you choose me for this marriage?"