Chapter 842

Dailey watched their interaction with a steely gaze, his eyes cold and calculating. "I'll marry you," he declared.

Christine challenged him, "Are you brave enough to go get a marriage license with me right now?"

He shrugged, "Why not?"

Christine paused for a moment, contemplating her next move. "After we're married, I won't engage with your family. I don't like them, and I won't attend any social gatherings expected of a wife. I won't get involved in your affairs, and I certainly won't cook..."

"You don't have to," Dailey replied smoothly. "I'll handle the cooking, or if I'm not around, I'll have The Velvet Vine deliver."

His expression softened slightly. "Any other demands?"

Christine bit her lip, hesitating. "I want a billion dollars as a dowry."

"Agreed."

Christine felt like she had set a trap for herself. "But your family will definitely make things difficult for me..."

"They won't. Not with me around."

Christine looked to Jane for support.

Jane was taken aback by how rapidly things had escalated. She glanced at Gregory for his opinion.

Gregory smirked, "Honey, I'm not the city hall, not my place to interfere in marriage matters."

Before Jane could glare at him, he added, "They need to register in Vista Town. But since we've just arrived here, why don't we enjoy ourselves a bit before they go back for the paperwork? What do you think, love?"

Jane nodded in agreement.

Gregory turned to Dailey, "Christine's already agreed, everyone here heard it. She's not going anywhere."

"And that billion dollars would take some time to prepare, wouldn't it?"

"I'm married, so all the financial decisions are in my wife's hands. I can't lend you anything."

Dailey inwardly acknowledged his predicament. He didn't have enough liquid assets to cover the dowry without alerting his family. He

wanted to secure the marriage net

license first and then deal with his family's reactions. swnovel

Gregory seemed to be helping, but he was ultimately siding with his wife. Dailey realized he was at a disadvantage. They were both under their wives' influence, albeit in different ways. swnovel

"You agreed to marry me, so that makes you my fiancée," Dailey stated, holding Christine's hands firmly. "You need to keep your

distance from other men."

belongs to swnovel

Christine cursed her earlier self. She had planned on exploiting any hesitation

from him to back out. Now she was suddenly his fiancée.

"Merritt," she heard the young man's concerned yet frustrated voice. "Sister, don't agree to this. I'll figure something out..."

He sounded unsure, aware that if Jane couldn't intervene, he had little chance either.

"Bella," Jane said, "Tonight is for us girls. There's not enough room here for everyone, so why don't you and the guys go out?"

Bella took the cue, and Gregory, along with Raleigh, led Dailey out, though Dailey hesitated to release Christine's hands.

Gregory whispered to him, "If you want to get married, you need to leave now."

Reluctantly, Dailey let go but remained hesitant as they walked away.

"Merritt's still in there," Dailey noted.

"This is his house," Raleigh noted bluntly.

Dailey sighed in resignation.

Christine collapsed in distress in the garden. "Ugh, what was I thinking saying all that?!"

Jane empathized. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's not the end of the world yet. Let me ask you, do you really not like him anymore?"

Christine nodded, then shook her head, glancing at Merritt before nodding again. Jane understood. "Let me rephrase."

"You feel like you can't end up with him because of the class differences, so you want to cut ties cleanly, right?"