Sera stayed inside the hotel and was thankful that no one dared to bother her. Not even Chris.

Even after she turned off her phone, she didn't receive any messages from everyone. Of course, she knew his people were still following her around. She even spotted them in the hotel's lobby. This wasn't really a problem. After all, he was just trying to make sure that she would be safe.

She spent the entire day and most of the night working before she decided to sleep for her grandfather's funeral the next day. She wasn't really planning to get close. After changing into an all-black dress paired with black stilettos and a black hat, she found herself in the lobby with four tall bodyguards waiting for her.

She was thankful that she was also wearing large shades that cover half her face. At least the people watching them wouldn't immediately recognize who she was. "Mr. Quinn sent us. The car is waiting outside."

She heard the bald man to his life speak. She nodded in response. She walked inside the black sedan and wasn't really that surprised to see Chris waiting for her.

"You're not going to leave the car, right?" he asked.

She snorted. At least he wasn't asking if she was still mad? "No. I am not that childish."

"Good. Let's go."

The silence that followed was deafening, intimidating even. It was as if a huge boulder was lodged in between the two passengers at the back of the car. The atmosphere was heavy.

It took a few minutes before Chris cleared his throat. "I'm sorry…"

Sera sighed inwardly. Alright, she wasn't expecting him to immediately say sorry. To be honest, she was expecting a confrontation. He would ask her why she immediately left without even asking for an explanation. Then she would retaliate by telling him it's none of his business. Then, shouting might start. Chaos. Then probably he would leave and cool off. He would drink inside a bar, then a beautiful woman would… Alright. What the hell was she thinking?

"I just assumed that you would show your superiority as my wife and take care of her. I was wrong."

Sera turned her gaze towards him. Since she was still wearing her black shades, he could not see her expression. And a part of her felt relieved that he didn't show how surprised she was.

"Miss Hill had been bugging me for years. I just shrugged it off and made her father handle it. I work closely with her father." He added. Still, Sera maintained her silence. "I'm sorry. I didn't inform you about it. I was hoping that… you would at least— "

"You wanted me to fight another woman for you?" she asked.

"No — that— "

"That is so immature."

He pursed his lips. Perhaps her words surprised him. A part of her doesn't really care what he felt. However, another part of her was wondering if she had been too much. "If you wanted to say something. Say it." Sera said. She eyed the driver and, as if sensing her thoughts, Chris instructed the driver to find a place where they could park so he could leave them alone.

The moment the driver left, Sera removed her shades and stared at Chris' serious expression. From the information that she had gathered so far, it was obvious that Quinn Media is not really the only company that Chris owned. On this continent, he had this mysterious identity. Not even his employees saw him.

However, the fact that he was in a different time the other day was enough to prove that he wasn't in the country at that time. Then he said something about working with Mr. Hill. Maybe she was overthinking again. But does this mean that Chris has another business abroad?

"My world is different from your world, Sera. There are going to be dangerous people everywhere." Chris said with a sad tight-lipped smile. Isn't that why he couldn't tell her that he was Cross? If only she knew that he had been with her for years, maybe she would have opened up to him and even accept him. However, there are things that he couldn't just say.

"And I supposed that is enough reason for you to decide something that could ruin my own plans?" she asked, unfazed.

"Yes."

"Anything else?"

"Will you forgive me?"

"No," she answered without batting an eyelid.

"Will you trust me?"

"No."

"I see." He nodded before letting out a sigh. "You are my wife."

She snorted. "You are trying to divert the conversation." Did he think she was that stupid? With the things that she suffered in the past, did he think a simple title could give him the right to control her life? She was here because she wanted to know the truth! Not because of him!

For some reason, the anger that she felt yesterday started to resurface. She squinted at him. No, he was still lying. This wasn't just because she was his wife. Something else is going on here. "Are you really going to keep hiding the truth from me?"

"I sent her here so she could seek the Fu Family's support against you."

Sera lifted an eyebrow. So, he was indeed using her. But why would she feel disappointed? Isn't this the consequence of this marriage? He used her, and she used him. It was only fair.

She nodded before she lowered her head. "The Fu Family…"

"Are targeting you. I wanted to use Miss Hill as a reason to deal with the Fu Family and the Hill Family."

So he wanted to use her as bait. She snorted. "I understand."

"This is the only way to protect you from both of the families."

"Both of the families?"

"The Hill and the Fu Family's matriarch our acquaintance."

Usually, most women would feel thankful that he was actually doing this for their sake. But she wasn't. If anything, she felt a little irritated at being incompetent in his eyes. Right now, all of her moves had been defensive. She was just trying to defend herself from these people. She wasn't trying to be aggressive and would only act if they do something to her.

Is that the reason why he hid these things from her?

She let out a sigh. "This is a huge misunderstanding." Sera shook her head and chuckled. They are mature adults. They could obviously talk like normal adults.

"I know, and I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I was thinking about how you would feel." After all, she had been through a lot in the past. Lan Xing was right. What he did was wrong. It was just simply wrong.

Sera snorted. Of course, it was his fault. However, she had been really impulsive, too. After a night of thinking, she realized how childish she had been. For some reason, the fact that he did it without even sending her a text made her feel like she cannot be trusted. And it made her scared. Obviously, she isn't going to inform him about this.

A part of her was scared. Her mind was in chaos. After all, she felt that she already started to feel a little attachment towards him. What if he suddenly abandons her? The fact that he could not trust her meant that she isn't someone worth it! How could he stay with someone not worth it?

Sera just wanted to protect herself from all this. She was too damaged, too scarred to even think of other people aside from herself. And yes, that was wrong.

But after all the stuff that she went through in this place, Sera thought it was the only way to protect herself. "Next time you wanted to do something like that. Text me." She turned her head away from him and put her sunglasses back. Obviously, she wasn't really blaming him for not fully trusting her. After all, she was but a stranger, a tool that he could use.

And as much as she wanted the sex, the intimacy, the feeling of being touched, looked at, and admired, she shouldn't forget that she was nothing but a dirty, scheming bitch. She had been tainted, raped, embarrassed. She was not someone that deserves a happy ever after with a handsome CEO. She was just a tool, and she had forgotten about that because she had been enjoying her time with him.

After realizing that the car was not moving, she turned towards him and asked. "Did you want to say something else?" she asked. Her tone was cold, devoid of any emotion. She didn't miss the surprise in his eyes.

"What were you thinking just now?" he asked, his voice quivered.

"Excuse me?" Looking at him now, she wondered how much did he know about her past. Only Cross knew about it, and he made sure to hide everything that could threaten her secret. Did Chris find out because of his money?

That is possible.

"I want to know your thoughts." It was a demand.

"It has nothing to do with you." Why would he want to know what she was thinking? "And even if I tell you. I could just make up some lie."

Another sigh escaped his lips. "You're right." She was about to turn her gaze away when he suddenly held her hand and pulled her towards him. "I'm sorry. I really am."