Chapter 3 Marriage

The next morning at ten o'clock, the arrivals terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport was packed with a surging crowd.

Cassie pulled her suitcase out of the arrival gates, the morning sun shining through the towering glass walls onto her pale, exhausted face. As soon as she turned on her phone, a text from her older brother, Cody Garner, popped up on the screen.

[Cassie, there's an emergency situation at the company that I have to handle immediately. I can't leave the office, but I've arranged for someone to pick you up.]

Cassie typed a quick "Okay" and stood near the exit, waiting patiently with her luggage.

Meanwhile, not too far away, a tall, broad-shouldered man was striding toward the pickup area. Keegan Mcguire's face was terrifyingly dark, his entire body radiating a freezing, unapproachable aura. If his grandfather hadn't threatened him with a hunger strike, there was no way in hell he would be at the airport this early to pick up a woman he had never met for a forced marriage.

Keegan pressed his thin lips together, his gray eyes flashing with deep impatience. He pulled out his phone and tapped open the photo his grandfather had sent him. It was a blurry, distant shot of a woman with a petite frame and pale skin, smiling brightly under the sun, looking docile and harmless.

Locking his screen, Keegan lifted his gaze, scanning the crowd with cold indifference. A second later, his eyes locked onto a slender figure standing by the railing. The woman was wearing a tailored black trench coat, her dark chestnut hair tied back in a messy bun. Even without a drop of makeup, her striking, amber-eyed beauty was undeniable.

Keegan stared at her for two seconds before walking straight up to her.

"Did you just fly in from the West Coast?" he asked, his voice flat and commanding.

Cassie looked up, slightly startled by the imposing man standing in front of her. Assuming this was the assistant Cody had sent, and thinking he was just confirming her origin, she gave a polite nod.

Seeing her confirm it, Keegan didn't waste another breath. "Follow me."

He dropped those two words and turned on his heel. Cassie quickly grabbed her suitcase and hurried to keep up with his long strides.

Once inside the waiting black Maybach, Keegan leaned back against the plush leather seat, closed his eyes, and remained completely silent. Cassie stared out the window, equally uninterested in making small talk. Having just ended a three-year nightmare, she was physically and mentally exhausted, only wanting to return to the home she hadn't seen in years.

In the driver's seat, Preston Miller glanced at the rearview mirror, sweating nervously. These two looked less like a couple about to get married and more like sworn enemies.

As Cassie watched the passing buildings, she suddenly froze. The car was pulling up to the New York City Clerk's Office.

She turned to Keegan in utter confusion. "Why are we here?"

Keegan had already pushed his door open. Hearing her question, he frowned sharply. "Didn't your family tell you? Given your family's current situation, marrying me is the best option you have."

Cassie's mind buzzed as if struck by lightning. *Her family's current situation?* She suddenly remembered Cody's text about an "emergency situation at the company." Did the Garner Group encounter an insurmountable financial crisis? Was Cody using this marriage to save their family empire?

Panicking, she pulled out her phone and dialed Cody's number.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable..." The automated voice repeated coldly.

Cassie's heart sank like a stone. Three years ago, she had selfishly cut ties with her family for Baldwin. Now that the Garner family was in trouble, what right did she have to run away? It was just a marriage. If it could save her brother's company, she would jump into the fire without hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, Cassie pushed the car door open. "Let's go."

Keegan shot her a strange look, finding her sudden shift in attitude odd, but he didn't ask. They walked into the building side by side.

Providing their IDs, filling out the marriage license application, standing through a brief civil ceremony with a clerk acting as the officiant, and signing the final documents. The entire process took less than twenty minutes.

Stepping out of City Hall, Keegan casually shoved the marriage certificate into his suit pocket and tossed a silver key to Cassie. "Number Eight, Upper East Side Penthouse. Move your things there yourself. I have business to attend to. We'll talk later."

With that, he got back into the Maybach and drove off.

Cassie stood on the sidewalk, speechless. *Was this how people got married nowadays?* But it was fine. It was just a commercial arrangement; there was no need to pretend they cared. She put the key in her bag and hailed a yellow cab.

"Take me to the Garner Estate on Long Island, please."

Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up to the massive wrought-iron gates. Paying the fare, Cassie stepped out and stared at the familiar stone mansion, her eyes growing hot. Three years ago, she had dragged her suitcase out of these gates, swearing she would never return because she thought love was everything. How foolish she had been.

The heavy doors opened, and Arthur Hayes, the elderly butler with graying hair, hurried down the steps with tears in his eyes. "Cassie! You're finally home!"

"Arthur, I'm back," Cassie said, hugging the old man tightly.

"Come inside, it's cold," Arthur choked out, wiping his eyes.

"Where are Cody and my other brother?" Cassie asked casually.

"Cody is busy at the company, but he ordered us to prepare everything for your arrival. Your other brother is overseas and probably doesn't even know you're back yet..."