The marriage certificate had barely cooled from the registrar’s stamp before it was tucked safely away by Leonardo.
Jasmine sat quietly in the passenger seat as the black Bentley eased back onto the road. Through the window, Madrid’s towering skyline stretched endlessly beneath the afternoon sun, but she hardly noticed it.
Everything had happened too quickly.
This morning, she was a single woman who had just arrived in Madrid and now she was married?!
Even if it was only in name, it was still pretty nerve-wracking. Were they heading for his house now?
Were they going to start acting as married couples already?
As if he read her mind, he let out. “We’re going to the ancestral residence.”
Jasmine turned to him. “Now?”
“Yes. My grandmother has been waiting.” His tone remained calm. “She wants to meet her granddaughter-in-law.”
A nervous knot tightened in Jasmine’s stomach. She had agreed to the contract.
But meeting the Madrigal family’s matriarch? That felt infinitely even more unnerving.
Just then, her mobile phone vibrated, the unfamiliar number flashing across the screen made her hesitate to answer.
But then thinking it might be an important call, she answered.
“Hello?”
The moment the call connected, a furious voice exploded through the speaker.
“Jasmine! Where the fuck is wrong with you?!”
Her entire body stiffened. It was Dante.
“You finally answered! I still can’t believe you blocked me and until now, you’re yet to unblock me! Where the hell are you?”
His anger was unmistakable.
“I’ve been calling you all morning!” He continued. Why did you block my number? Shouldn’t we talk things out?”
Her expression gradually cooled, so he had borrowed someone else’s phone to call her.
“I asked you a question! Answer me. Where are you? And isn’t it time we talk things out?”
Jasmine looked out of the window without answering.
Seeing her silence, Dante took a deep breath as though trying to restrain himself.
“Fine. I’m sorry. I’ll make things up to you but you just need to do just one little thing for me. My family’s on my neck about it.”
Do something for him?
He still had the nerves to think she’d ever do anything for him again.
Dante continued in a tone that sounded almost generous. “You just need to apologize.”
Jasmine scoffed. “Apologize? To whom?”
“My sister.” His answer came immediately. “So your hearing is really back. We really have a lot to talk about. First, we need to resolve this issue with Elle. She has been crying ever since yesterday. She really blames herself for everything. Even if you had slapped her first, she feels wrong and is even threatening to harm herself. My parents said if you sincerely apologize to her, they’ll forgive your childish behavior.”
Jasmine felt as though she had just heard the greatest joke in the world.
Forgive her?
For what?
For discovering that her boyfriend had betrayed her? For not letting Elle walk over her?
She should apologize for a slap? Has Elle ever genuinely apologized for almost taking her life a year ago?
Her voice remained surprisingly calm as she asked. “Do you actually believe I’m the one who should apologize?”
There was a brief silence before he replied.
“As long as you apologize, we can pretend nothing happened. You can come home and we’ll move on from this.”
Every word sounded as though he were granting her an enormous favor.
How ridiculous.
How utterly absurd.
“I really was blind before...”
She was blind not to see how stupid he was. To think that she thought of him as the love of her life felt embarrassing.
“What do you mean by that?!”
Before she could respond, movement beside her caught her attention.
Leon reached into the storage compartment between the seats, he removed a small silver bottle.
As he chewed on one, he found her staring at him, then he tilted the bottle toward her.
“Fancy one?”
Jasmine blinked.
That deep voice traveled clearly through her phone.
On the other end, Dante suddenly exploded.
“Who was that? Who are you with? Jasmine? What the hell is going on with you?!” His voice turned icy, his anger intensifying.
Jasmine saw no need in explaining herself and so she hung up.
Without another thought, she held down the power button and switched off her phone.
Silence returned to the car.
Leonardo glanced sideways. “Your ex-boyfriend?”
Jasmine slowly nodded.
“He seems loud.” He added.
Jasmine really didn’t want to talk about Dante.
Several seconds passed before Leon spoke again. “If we’re going to remain married for a year. We should establish rules.”
She stared at him, curiously.
“Rule one: You cannot have any extra marital affairs. Even if we’d be married on papers, there are eyes, people watching and so we must maintain a good image of our marriage.”
She nodded in agreement.
Genuinely, she didn’t have the energy of desire to be involved with another man.
“Rule two: No lies. If a problem arises, we discuss it directly.”
She considered that. “Agreed.”
“And rule three: If you wish to terminate the contract early, you should inform me clearly. No disappearing on me.”
Jasmine smiled slightly. “That’s reasonable.” Then she folded her arms. My turn.”
Leon gave a small nod. “I’m listening.”
“You have to follow the rules too.” Jasmine announced.
A trace of amusement flickered across his usually expressionless face. “You think I’d make rules only for you?”
“I don’t know. You’re a businessman. You might include hidden clauses.”
He actually chuckled.
The sound was soft, but brief. Yet it transformed his usually distant features.
“I don’t cheat in contracts.”
He extended one hand toward her. “I’ll abide by every rule.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jasmine shook his hand.
“Then so will I.”
Their agreement was simple.
No romance, no promises.
Only mutual respect.