"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…"
"Return to the Heisenberg Residence!" The man gave another order.
"Yes, Master Louis." The driver started the engine. One and a half hours later, the car stopped.
Verena stepped out of the car and stood frozen before the grand mansion perched halfway up the mountain — the Heisenberg Residence.
She was still trapped in her restless thoughts when Louis seized her wrist without warning, dragging her forward.
His strides were long, and she struggled to keep pace, almost jogging behind him like a stray puppy he had casually picked up.
"Welcome back, Young Master Louis," the maids at the entrance bowed as they saw him.
Without so much as a glance, Louis pulled Verena through the main house, heading toward the smaller servants' quarters at the back. He shoved her toward a group of waiting maids and ordered curtly, "Get her cleaned up. Find some white clothes for her."
"Yes, Master Louis," they replied at once, leading Verena away toward the bath.
Verena's mind raced.
I have to escape.
She couldn't — she wouldn't — tie herself to a man.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely realized the maids had already stripped most of her clothes off.
The maids exchanged quiet, pitying sighs.
"Those bruises on your body… were you beaten?" one asked softly.
Startled, Verena snapped back to reality. She bit her lip and stammered, "I'm not used to others bathing me. Please — just leave. I'll do it myself."
A maid hesitated. "You are… Young Master Louis's—?"
"I will do it myself!" Verena cut her off quickly.
The maids exchanged looks, then shrugged indifferently. "Fine. Bathe yourself." They turned to leave.
As they walked out, one maid sneered under her breath, "I thought she was someone important. But if she's just a maid, it makes sense he shoved her into the servants' wing. Acting so delicate… who does she think she is?"
She fell silent immediately when she spotted Louis and his assistant standing outside, deep in conversation.
…
Inside the bathroom, Verena faced the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed with humiliation.
The image staring back at her looked like a ghost — hollow eyes, bruised skin.
Tears welled and slid silently down her face.
She squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her trembling hands against the cold sink.
Outside, the maids barely dared to breathe.
They all knew — Louis had ruthlessly seized control of the entire Heisenberg family.
They had seen firsthand how merciless he could be.
Born the illegitimate son of the Heisenberg heir, Louis had no claim to the family fortune.
Collateral relatives outranked him in the line of inheritance.
He had spent three years abroad — until his mother's sudden illness pulled him back.
In a calculated move, he found his grandfather, who had been exiled from the family, and crushed his rivals one by one, clawing his way to the top.
But the price of power came with conditions. His grandfather had not surrendered easily — and bound Louis with certain terms.
Even now, Louis could feel nothing but cold rage when he thought about it.
His mother had never intended to be another man's mistress. She had been tricked — pregnant before she discovered her lover's marriage.
After enduring years of cruelty and slander, she was cast out, abandoned, humiliated.
Now, Louis had the power she was once denied — but she had only six months left to live.
Her final wish: for Louis to marry Verena Bradbury.
He had investigated her before agreeing.
A convicted killer, imprisoned for four years — yet the court case had been rushed and flimsy. Teenage witnesses. No real evidence.
Something about it had felt off.
Louis's thoughts were interrupted by a maid's shriek.
"Something's wrong, Master Louis!"
His eyes sharpened. "What is it?"
The maid trembled. "That woman — she jumped out the window! She's escaped!"