Everyone went speechless.
Poppy smiled and started walking out, but Rowland's anger flared. "Stop right there, you imbecile!"
Poppy said nothing. She continued walking until she was out of the room.
...
Poppy was already outside when she felt a buzz on her thigh.
She pulled out the phone from her pocket and answered. "How did you know I was outside?"
"Just… instincts," Chloe, Poppy's best friend's voice came through the line. "And from the sound of your voice, I take it the snake pit didn't go well?"
"They asked me to marry Dale. As his second wife."
"WHAT?! Your Father is really something else, Poppy. Are you sure he's aware that Layla is with that bastard's child?"
Poppy frowned. "I don't care. I told him I wasn't going to do it!"
Chloe smiled proudly but her face turned serious the next moment. "I'm happy you said that, but I don't think your father would let this go. You know how he can be when he gets mad."
"I know." Rebelling against her father could be dire, but Poppy didn't care. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
"Okay," Chloe nodded. Then her face lit up. "I finally managed to trace the man you are registered as married to. It wasn't easy, but… I got his address."
"Oh my God!" Poppy shrieked in joy.
They'd been looking for ways to gain access to her mysterious husband since she was told at the registry that she was married, but all roads led to dead ends.
His records were very hidden like he didn't exist. There wasn't even any news of him online. Thankfully, Chloe finally managed to get access, proving herself as one of the greatest hackers alive.
"Send it to me. Now!"
Chloe didn't sound nearly as excited. "Wait, you're not thinking of going there alone, are you? What if he's dangerous? What if he's a serial killer? Or a mafia boss? Or worse—both?"
"I've told you to stop reading too much novels."
"I'm not being dramatic, and you know it! Wedon't know how he did it, but he managed to register a legal marriage with you without your consent, Poppy! That's not just shady, it's criminal!"
Poppy frowned. "I don't care if he's a criminal or a demon in human skin. If he's the key to ending all this madness, then I want to meet him face-to-face."
Chloe sighed. "I already sent the address to your phone. But please, promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise." She ended the call.
...
It took Poppy over an hour of driving before she reached the location Chloe had sent her.
After driving for what seemed like an eternity between a private road flanked by tall trees, she finally got to a grand iron gate.
Her car stopped just a few meters from the gate.
Poppy was about to step down when she noticed two armed men in black tactical gear walking toward her.
Her heart summersaulted.
She quickly glanced at the address Chloe sent her with trembling hands. "Please let this be wrong..."
But her face paled when she saw it was the exact location.
She had barely rolled down the window when one of the guards raised his weapon.
"Hands where I can see them!"
Poppy gasped. She raised both hands slowly as her heart drummed in her chest.
"I-I'm not here to cause trouble. I-i just want to speak to Mr. Alaric Langford!"
That was the name of her husband on the certificate, but that seemed to startle them.
"Step out of the vehicle. Now! Slowly."
Poppy nodded quickly and reached for the door handle. Her legs were trembling as she stepped out.
Tears were even beginning to gather in her eyes as she thought of what would happen if these men decided to pull the trigger!
But before anything could happen, a panicked voice crackled from the small comms device attached to one of the guards' collars.
"It has happened again! The young master has escaped! Does anyone copy?!"
Poppy blinked.
The two guard's eyes widened. They immediately turned away and ran inside the gate.
Poppy stood there confused. Every instincts in her body screamed at her to seize this opportunity and run away, but she found herself walking toward the opened gates.
She followed the direction the guards had run, only to find a massive building. She stopped just at the entrance... and froze.
"What in the name of sanity...?"
The front yard—no, the entire courtyard—was in chaos.
They were guards everywhere, chasing after one man.
And not just any man.
A tall, dangerously handsome, half-naked man with wild black hair.
He ran barefoot through the courtyard, laughing like a child who'd stolen candy, while the guards struggled to catch up.
"GET HIM!" one shouted.
"HE'S HEADING FOR THE FOUNTAIN!" another yelled.
Poppy's mouth fell open. Her brain couldn't process what she was seeing.
Why were they chasing him?
The man suddenly paused when he sensed her. And then he turned.
Their eyes met.
Poppy drew in a sharp breath at the eye contact. There was something disturbingly beautiful about him. His chest rose and fell as sweat glistened across his skin, and he looked at her curiously.
Then he smiled.
She felt her heart thunder wildly in her chest, but her face paled when she realized what he was about to do.
Without warning, he yanked off the last piece of clothing he had on.
Just like that, he was completely naked!
Poppy's body turned to stone. Against her will, her eyes flicked downward, just for a fraction of a second, and then it flew wide open at the sheer size of his member.
She quickly looked away as her face burned like it was on fire.
'What kind of lunatic runs around stark naked in broad daylight?!' she thought, flustered.
Deciding it was best to wait at the gate, she turned away. But she stopped when she heard heavy footsteps thundering behind her.
"HE'S HEADING FOR THE GATE!" A guard yelled.
"DON'T LET HIM GET OUT!" Another instructed.
The hairs at the back of her neck rose. Her heart practically dropped when she turned to where the footsteps were coming from.
He was sprinting toward her at full speed!