Damian’s lips curled into a cold sneer.
His expression remained calm, but the chill in his voice was enough to freeze the atmosphere around them.
“Everything is wrong, Miss Quinn.
And I guess you wouldn’t want me to start mentioning them.” Sylvia nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“You are right…” Damian’s brow furrowed slightly.
He hadn’t expected her to admit it so quickly.
For a brief second, he wondered if she had decided to swallow her pride and accept defeat.
Just as he opened his mouth to continue, Sylvia spoke again before he could utter another word.
“But I think even you, Damian Evercrest, aren’t worthy of the Quinn family’s daughter.” The words fell like a bomb.
Mark nearly choked on his own breath while Damian’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly behind the dark lenses of his glasses.
Every trace of amusement vanished from the faces of the Evercrest family members.
Their faces contoured with anger as they stared at Sylvia.
How dare she?
This is all grandpa’s fault.
The Quinn’s family are really uncultured, to speak so rudely, isn’t she courting death?
I will see how she survives?
Sylvia smiled faintly before adding, “I, the Quinn family’s daughter, am only doing you a favour.” Damian’s lips curled into a cold smile even though every muscle in his body was stiff as anger surged through him like a raging fire.
How dare she?
No one had ever dared to mock him to his face.
Yet before he could retaliate, Sylvia closed the distance between them and leaned down toward him.
Her warm breath brushed gently across his face, carrying with it a delicate floral fragrance that drifted into his senses.
For the briefest moment, Damian found himself distracted by the scent before anger quickly reclaimed his thoughts but then he felt her lips hovered close to his ear.
“Mr.
Damian,” she whispered calmly, “I hope we can give each other the respect this marriage deserves.
Please don’t force my hand.
You wouldn’t want to see my other side.” Damian let out a low chuckle.
“Is that supposed to be a threat?” Sylvia merely smiled.
“Not exactly.
I’m simply stating the truth.” She paused before continuing in an even softer voice.
“Thanks to your grandfather, news of our marriage has already spread across the entire country.
Whether we like it or not, we are tied together now.” The Evercrest family members exchanged puzzled glances.
They strained their ears, trying desperately to overhear the conversation, but Sylvia’s voice remained too soft for them to catch.
And Damian’s face remained expressionless and whatever Sylvia had said had remained unclear.
Mark remained standing silently behind the wheelchair, maintaining a perfectly composed expression despite the tension hanging heavily in the air.
Sylvia slowly straightened herself before reaching out.
Without the slightest fear, she gently brushed her fingertips across Damian’s cheek.
Soft gasps echoed through the room as their stared at her while she continued.
“Don’t disappoint me, dear husband,” she said with a mischievous smile.
The muscles along Damian’s jaw tightened.
“You…” Before he could finish speaking, Sylvia turned away from him.
“Grandpa,” she said politely, “I’m sorry, but I would like to retire to my room now.
Could someone please show me the way?” Her gaze calmly swept across everyone in the living room.
Valen looked from Sylvia to Damian before glancing helplessly at Mark.
A deep sigh escaped him.
He had expected the newlyweds to need time to adjust to each other.
He certainly hadn’t expected them to begin their marriage by openly challenging one another in front of the entire family.
For the first time, he found himself wondering whether allowing them to share a room would truly be the right decision.
Mark lowered his head, pretending not to notice the old man’s questioning gaze.
At that moment, Sylvia turned to him.
“You must be Mr.
Damian’s assistant, right?” Mark looked toward Damian instinctively before giving a respectful nod.
“Yes, Madam.” “Good.” A playful smile appeared on Sylvia’s face.
“Then please take me to his room.
Husband and wife shouldn’t be sleeping separately.” Her voice echoed through the entire living room as a loud gasp echoed through the hall.
“What?” Sylvia slowly turned around, feigning innocence.
“Grandpa…
did I say something wrong?” Valen recovered almost immediately and forced an awkward smile.
“No…
not at all.” He quickly looked toward Mark.
“Mark, hurry and take Madam to her room.” “We aren’t living together,” Damian interrupted coldly.
Sylvia looked back at him with an expression filled with righteous indignation.
“We’re already husband and wife.
Sleeping in separate rooms would only invite unnecessary gossip.
Be good, okay?” Her eyes casually swept across the room.
She could clearly see several pairs of eyes waiting eagerly for her to embarrass herself.
She wasn’t foolish enough to give them that satisfaction.
She had heard countless stories about wealthy families like the Evercrests.
Every smile concealed hidden intentions, and every mistake became someone’s weapon.
If she wanted to survive in this household, she had to seize the initiative from the very beginning.
Besides…Damian was supposedly blind and confined to a wheelchair.
He probably wouldn’t be of much help.
Sylvia turned toward Mark and offered him a polite smile.
“Please lead the way.” Mark nodded respectfully before turning the wheelchair around.
He pushed Damian forward while Sylvia followed several steps behind them.
The halway was spacious and luxuriously decorated.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow across the tiled floor, while priceless paintings hung neatly along both sides of the hallway.
Every detail reflected the wealth and influence of the Evercrest family.
With every step she took, Sylvia’s heartbeat grew louder.
She couldn’t believe she had actually pulled that stunt off.
She stole a glance at Damian’s back.
Although she could only see the back of his head, she could almost imagine the murderous expression hidden behind those dark glasses.
There was no doubt about it.
If looks could kill, she would have died several times already.
She secretly let out a breath.
‘Sylvia…You have to stay alive in this family.’ The three of them arrived the second floor before stopping in front of an imposing heavy brown wooden doors.
Mark stepped aside.
“This is the master’s bedroom.” Sylvia nodded slowly before allowing her gaze to wander.
Damian’s room occupied the very center of the floor.
On both sides were two other doors, Sylvia could guess it to be bedrooms, each only a few steps away.
She pointed toward them.
“I want my own room, not his.
Which one is mine?” Mark blinked.
For a moment, he wondered if he had heard her correctly.
Damian’s brows knitted together behind his glasses.
‘What exactly is she trying to do now?’ Only moments ago she had boldly declared in front of everyone that husband and wife should never sleep apart.
Now she was asking for another room.
Mark looked between the two of them in complete confusion.
“But…
aren’t you both living together?” “Of course not.” Sylvia answered so naturally that it almost sounded ridiculous.
“Quickly show me my room.” Mark scratched his head awkwardly.
“But…
downstairs you clearly said…” Sylvia sighed before lowering her voice.
“How else was I supposed to stop those people from making me their first joke?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Didn’t you notice how everyone was watching us?
Besides, it was him who attacked me first.” Her expression became unusually serious.
“I’ve only just entered this family.
If they realize my husband doesn’t even want me in his room, tomorrow the entire mansion will treat me like a laughingstock.” Mark suddenly understood.
He couldn’t help but praise her guts to use Damian as a shield.
“I’ve had a very long day,” Sylvia continued with visible exhaustion.
“Please just show me my room.
I really need some rest.” The corners of Damian’s lips slowly lifted into a faint smile.
‘Interesting.’ She had entered the Evercrest Mansion less than an hour ago, yet she already knew how to use him to silence the family.
‘Leslie Quinn, I really want to see the stock you’re made of.’ Just when Sylvia thought Mark would bid her request, Damian’s deep voice suddenly echoed through the hallway.
“We’ll live together.”