"Relax, it's just a picture. Why are you so nervous? You look adorable in it," he said as he rubbed his chin against her hair.

Hearing his teasing tone, Ariana realized that he had tricked her. She clenched her fists furiously and hit him as she scolded, "You already saw the picture. Why are you making fun of me on purpose?"

Theodore opened the certificate and looked at him in the photo in disgust. He clicked his tongue and said, "The photo editing skill is too bad. Let's take another photo tomorrow."

Ariana looked up at Theodore and was stunned to see a doting smile flashing across his eyes. She smiled bitterly and said, "There's no need to take another picture.

After all, our marriage is a sham."

“Why is our marriage a sham? The certificate has been stamped, and we are legally a couple."

Even if their marriage was fake, Theodore wanted to make it real. He didn't intend to let her go.

Perhaps their marriage started as an unfortunate accident, but he didn't mind thinking they were destined to be together.

Ariana felt conflicted, and her throat tightened.

"You know I didn't mean that," she said slowly.

‘Theodore's eyes darkened at her words, and his smile turned into a stubborn frown.

He raised her chin and saw his reflection in her eyes.

"Don't you understand what I'm trying to say?" he asked solemnly.

Just one sentence and Ariana's heart was completely out of control. She darted her eyes in panic and stuttered, "What on earth do you mean?"

There was expectation in her voice that she didn't even realize. Maybe the answer was not so important because, at this moment, this man had completely captured her heart.

Theodore sighed silently as he touched her warm hand and said softly, “Ariana, we..."

However, there was a sudden knock on the door before he could finish his sentence.

The continuous knocks on the door were noisy, but neither Ariana nor Theodore moved and they just looked at each other.

"What were you about to tell me just now?" Ariana asked Theodore, trying to ignore the constant pounding on the door and focusing on what he was about to finish saying earlier.

Theodore began, "We..."