###Chapter 13: You Tell , How Am I Supposed to Be Mrs. Hawthorne?
After speaking with Nina Wainwright, Adrian Pemberton left in a hurry.
Just as Nina Wainwright was about to lean against the wall to catch her breath, she turned her head and saw Zachary Hawthorne standing not far away.
He was watching her with a smirk.
Nina pretended not to see him and, with heavy steps, started walking toward Raymond Wainwright’s hospital room.
"Aren’t you going to explain?" Zachary demanded in a low voice as she tried to walk around him.
"My mom was just anxious, that’s why she ntioned our marriage. But I’ve already cleared it up," Nina said, lowering her gaze. A self-deprecating look flashed across her pale face.
They had been married for three years, and he still wasn’t willing to make it public.
She had originally thought that marriage was a private matter between two families and didn’t need to be broadcast to the world.
But now, she felt there was a clear reason why Zachary didn’t want to announce it.
He needed to maintain the persona of a single man for his unforgettable love.
"And?" The explanation Zachary wanted had nothing to do with that.
He had explicitly warned her not to get too close to Adrian Pemberton.
Yet she still went to him for everything?
’Does she think I’m dead?!’
Nina look up at him, her eyes weary. "Zachary, I have a lot to deal with today. Do whatever you want. I promise my family’s debt won’t affect you."
"Won’t affect ... huh." He sneered.
The debt collectors had already called him many tis.
Seeing the mockery written all over his face, Nina couldn’t help but ask, "Have you already gotten calls from the collectors?"
Zachary was noncommittal.
Guilt washed over Nina, but then she rembered that even if he knew, he had no intention of helping.
She was glad she hadn’t asked him. It would have only made him look down on her even more.
"I’m sorry," she whispered.
An inexplicable frustration surged within Zachary. "I told you before, if you just behaved as Mrs. Hawthorne, you wouldn’t have so much trouble. Why don’t you listen?"
"How am I supposed to do that? I have to file a request with you just for a hundred thousand, only to be humiliated by you ti and ti again. You tell , how am I supposed to be the Mrs. Hawthorne you want?"
Nina asked, her face a mask of confusion.
It had been three years, and she still hadn’t gotten it right.
Now she wanted a divorce, but he wouldn’t allow it. Even she didn’t know what on earth Zachary wanted!
"Nina, I can let you spend a million, ten million, even a hundred million. But you are not to take it ho to your family," Zachary said icily, then turned to leave.
The color drained from Nina’s face, leaving her even paler.
She bit her lip, trying not to look so pathetic.
Zachary took two steps, then added, "Nina, I am your husband. But if your parents use my na to swindle people, I won’t be lenient."
He was, after all, bothered by the hospital rumors from today.
Only after he left did Nina walk numbly toward the hospital room.
"Nina... I just saw Zachary Hawthorne. Go talk to him!" As soon as Mrs. Wainwright saw her, she latched on as if to a lifeline, her eyes red.
Nina pulled her hand away, her expression cold. "He made it clear. He won’t help with the debt."
"How could he do that?!" Mrs. Wainwright imdiately began to scold. "He’s our son-in-law! His own father-in-law is lying in a hospital bed, and he won’t lift a finger to help."
Listening to her accusations, Nina couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Seeing that Nina hadn’t reacted after all her talking, Mrs. Wainwright said angrily, "I’m talking to you!"
"If you’re so capable of telling outsiders he’s your son-in-law, why aren’t you capable of asking him for the money yourself?" Nina retorted, her brow furrowed with irritation.
Hearing this, Mrs. Wainwright started crying again.
Nina turned and walked out.
When Nina got off work that afternoon, she had just stepped out of the hospital when she saw Adrian Pemberton waiting for her by the entrance in his car.
"Are you ready?" he asked, getting out of the car and opening the rear door for her.
Nina nodded. "Let’s get going then."
Just as she was about to get in, Silas Sinclair’s voice rang out. "Miss Wainwright, Mr. Hawthorne said he needs to see you about sothing."
"Whatever it is can wait until I’m finished with my business," Nina said, holding the car door as she turned to face Silas, who was standing a short distance away.
Silas’s tone was slightly insistent. "Mr. Hawthorne instructed to bring you to him, no matter what. Please don’t make things difficult for ."
Seeing them at a standstill, Adrian Pemberton spoke up. "It’s alright. You go take care of your business first. We can do this another day."
Nina desperately needed the money now. How could she give up this opportunity?
She got into the car and looked at the sowhat surprised Silas. "Tell Mr. Hawthorne that next ti he wants to see , he should give so advance notice instead of summoning at the last minute."
’Who does he think he is, expecting to be at his beck and call?’
After the car had driven so distance, Adrian Pemberton couldn’t help but ask, "Are you and... Zachary Hawthorne really married?"
Nina, who was pulling up so information on her phone, froze for a mont. "We’ll be divorced sooner or later."
Adrian sighed. "I never expected that when we t again, you’d actually be married."
"You get to a certain age, you get married. The family was pushing for it, too," Nina said nonchalantly.
Adrian didn’t say any more.
He was well aware of the Wainwright Family’s financial situation and Zachary’s background. Besides, every ti Nina saw Zachary, the awkward tension between them made it clear to him that this marriage was probably not a happy one.
But these were just speculations, and for now, he could only keep them to himself.
As they reached the residential complex for the tutoring interview, Adrian slowed the car down.
He finally stopped in front of a beautiful villa. "We’re here."
Nina got out of the car with him, feeling unconsciously nervous. "What’s the person like? Their temperant?"
"Isn’t it a bit late to be asking that now?" Adrian chuckled, a hint of subtle adoration in his eyes.
Nina was getting anxious. "Just tell , so I can be prepared."
"She was my classmate. She’ll take good care of you, don’t worry," Adrian said with a smile.
Nina envied him for still having such a good relationship with his classmates.
After getting married, she had all but disappeared from their class group chats.
Within two years, she had drifted completely out of their circle.
Now, when her classmates got together for als, they didn’t even ask her anymore.
"Let’s go." Adrian’s hand hovered just over her shoulder.
Following him into the living room, Nina’s nervousness reached its peak.
A mont later, a woman in designer loungewear ca down from the second floor, leading a little girl with a very sour expression on her face.
"I’ve prepared so brand-new dance shoes. Just have her dance a little first," the woman said with a hint of coolness as she ca downstairs.
Nina realized that Adrian Pemberton was a rather cool and distant person, and it seed his friends were the sa way.
"She’s a bit busy, so... we’re getting right down to business," Adrian explained gently to Nina.
"Okay, I understand." Nina took the dance shoes from the maid, sat down to the side, and changed into them.
The woman looked at Nina, then back at Adrian, her gaze aningful.
Adrian coughed uncomfortably and averted his gaze.
The red at the base of his ears quickly spread to his neck.
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