Bayan stared at the reflection in the mirror, showing a gorgeous diamond necklace shining brightly on a long snow-white neck.
However, it wasn't the necklace that beautified the girl, rather she brought out the beauty from that piece of jewelry. Cliched to say but the truth was men lining up for this face could run from one end of the world to the other.
Heh!
A sarcastic smile appeared on Bayan's lips, as she thought how that gorgeous look was wasted on a brainless, emotional fool. Or should she have thought that the author generously compensated the fool with the beauty. Even God himself wouldn't be magnanimous enough to pour all his best features onto one person.
All the gloom and frustration from reading that book "The Domineering CEO's Naive Little Wife." settled in her heart once again.
It was a cliched book with a so-called innocent female lead, a domineering male protagonist or rather an abusive ML and his benefactor — the classic green tea bitch.
Bayan didn't know whether to call the author a masochist or a sadist. That idiot probably gathered all the trauma-inducing plots available in this type of theme and dumped them all into this very book.
Even someone emotionally dense would potentially fly into rage after reading it.
As for her, Bayan Carter, she suffered from a heart attack and came to this world to be the very character she hated most — Bayan Miller!
She wasn't really a novel enthusiast. She just randomly bought that book to temporarily escape from her own emotional storm. Who knew that shit would bring her here!
At that moment, a subtle sound was heard in the background, followed by a cold voice stating, "That's not for you. Touching others' stuff without their permission is considered bad mannerism."
Bayan's trance was broken instantly. She spared the man a glance in the mirror, standing a few feet away from her. So, this was the male protagonist of this world — Caelum Hawthorne.
It was their first encounter. He apparently came out of the bathroom, clad in a bathrobe, freshly showered. She gave him a once-over. He looked fine. However, his scumbag-like actions overshadowed his looks in her eyes.
What did the jerk say again? The necklace wasn't for her? Obviously, it wouldn't be for her. Duh! Was his little wife ever in the scope of his consideration?
Before going to the bathroom for a shower, Caelum laid his suitcase open on the sofa. After taking his towel and a set of pajamas out, he forgot to close it.
By the time Bayan returned from the terrace and entered the room, she caught her foot on a jewelry box lying near a foot of the sofa. Glancing at the bathroom door, she figured it had prolly fallen out when Caelum was taking out a change of clothes from his luggage.
The blue velvet box featured intricate designs and elegant finishes, reflecting the value of the jewelry it stored. Seeing the premium quality box, curiosity got the better of her, hence she opened it. She didn't rifle through his luggage though.
"Take it off." Caelum Hawthorne ordered with a hint of impatience.
"Who says that?" Bayan shifted her gaze back to the necklace.
Caelum furrowed his eyebrows, clearly not expecting this response. "Says the person who has bought it with his own money." He positioned his gaze on the mirror.
Bayan held severe resentment towards this character. Hence, being nice to him was out of the question for her. Thinking about something, she turned around with a playful look. "You don't look like someone who fancy wearing jewellery though. Or are you prolly a master of disguise?"
Caelum's eyes darkened, he wasn't used to sarcasm. He marched a few steps forward, intending to snatch the necklace off Bayan's neck, before halting in his steps and closing his eyes for a second.
He rubbed his eyes, then looked at her again. "Stop spouting nonsense, and take that piece off your neck. Don't force me to be the bad guy here."
Witnessing the man's rude attitude, Bayan was now even more determined to keep the necklace for herself. The original host, Bayan Miller, was dead. And she, Bayan Carter, wasn't someone to be bullied. "Who is it for?"
Caelum was already losing his patience. "That's none of your business." He hissed.
Bayan nodded, crossing her arms across her chest. Getting frustrated? Good! Since she was in a bad mood because of him, he shouldn't have been in good spirits either. "Well, I guess it will be your grandma's business then. Should I call her?"
Caelum stared at Bayan in disbelief for a second, before a short count of laugh came out of his mouth from pure irritation. This little girl was threatening him? "Are you challenging my authority?"
Bayan pulled her forefinger out, clenched other fingers into a fist, then shook it a few times — a symbolic response to his question. "I'm giving you options, Mr. Hawthorne. Either I keep the necklace with my mouth shut or you take it from me and I'll let your grandma know. You choose,"
Caelum's voice was dangerously calm, as he asked, "Threatening me, huh?" He stepped closer, barely keeping a meter between them.
The close proximity didn't cause a ripple in Bayan's composed expression. "It's not a threat but definitely a warning you can say."
Caelum's eyes searched for a crack, a hint of fear in the exquisite doll-like face before him. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. Didn't his assistant, Robert, say his fiancee was a naive little girl? He also got the same vibe on the day they went to the civil office bureau to receive their marriage certificates.
Had the girl been pretending back then? She didn't appear timid from any angle to him at the moment.
"What will you tell grandma? That I bought a necklace for my client and I'm not letting you steal it?" He asked.
When did the white lotus become his client? Bayan let out a soft laugh, burying the question within her.