Bondage and Marriage - 70

“What… what did you just say?”

Alicia was left speechless, unable to believe Ian’s attitude and rude tone. It was bad enough that she had been caught gossiping about someone only for them to overhear it.

“If you didn’t hear me, shall I repeat myself? You really do have a way of running your mouth.”

“You…!”

Ian’s demeanor was not just aggressive but almost threatening. He even looked slightly anxious. Regardless, his expression made it clear that he had heard everything. Alicia trembled with rage under Ian’s piercing glare but quickly lifted her chin defiantly.

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s not just wrong—it’s completely out of line.”

Their voices weren’t loud, but the tension between them was obvious enough for people nearby to start whispering and glancing their way. Alicia hesitated under the growing attention but seemed determined not to back down out of pride. She pressed on, even more aggressively.

“Act clueless all you want! Everyone knows the truth—about the sale, the place you frequent, and even that woman, Heather—”

Alicia froze, unable to finish. Ian’s cold, penetrating stare silenced her. His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Looks like the Pattersons are done for… making someone like you the heir.”

“What did you just say? Are you finished?”

Alicia, who had been trying to maintain some composure, finally snapped, her voice rising. Watching the argument unfold, Noah couldn’t help but admire the chaos. Alicia had always been vocal about inheriting her family’s legacy, and it seemed she had succeeded. Compared to her, her younger brother was far more reserved. But even Alicia couldn’t seem to get the better of Ian.

“Stop believing baseless rumors and start behaving yourself. Unless you want your father’s media company to be reduced to a third-rate tabloid full of trashy gossip.”

“Baseless rumors?!”

Alicia’s face flushed red with humiliation, but she was too flustered to form a proper rebuttal. Despite her fiery personality, Ian’s temper was worse, and he had the upper hand from the start. She was no match for him in a verbal sparring match.

“Do you have any evidence to back up what you just said?”

Ian’s calm question left Alicia fuming silently. She had spoken recklessly, intending to provoke Noah, and had let her anger toward Ian get the better of her. But this was a formal setting, and she shouldn’t have let such accusations slip. Worse, her sources weren’t exactly legal, so there was no way she could provide the proof Ian demanded. Furious, Alicia shot a glare at the onlookers, then ground her teeth.

“You think I’ll just sit back and take this insult?”

“What if you don’t? Besides, I’m the one being insulted here.”

Noah began to worry. While Ian’s support was comforting, the Patterson family’s media company was no small threat. Their unparalleled ability to gather information had given them leverage over countless other families. It was said that many people owed the Pattersons favors—or were being blackmailed by them.

“Your father won’t be too happy about how carelessly you ran your mouth today.”

But Ian didn’t seem concerned, continuing to provoke Alicia until she glared at him bitterly.

“Maybe not. But my father hates seeing me humiliated even more.”

“Then go ahead, complain to him. Just know that I don’t take kindly to anyone insulting my spouse, Alicia Patterson.”

Defeated, Alicia shot one last glare at Ian and Noah before spinning on her heel and storming off. Ian watched her go with a mocking expression but avoided looking directly at Noah. When Alicia finally disappeared and the crowd lost interest, Ian’s face twisted in frustration.

“Sigh…”

He rubbed his face irritably and stared at the floor. Only then did he glance at Noah, who watched him with concern. If what Alicia said was true, Ian had managed to anger both the Pattersons and another major family, which worried Noah. However, Ian seemed to misinterpret Noah’s worried look and lowered his gaze.

“Let’s… just go home.”

Sensing Ian’s bad mood, Noah nodded quietly and followed him. The driver looked a bit puzzled when they returned so soon after arriving at the hotel, but he said nothing as he started the car. Throughout the ride, Ian kept glancing at Noah as if he wanted to say something but never did.

Usually, Noah wouldn’t have paid much attention to Ian’s mood. But after Ian had clearly stood up for him earlier, Noah felt down as well. The household staff quickly noticed the strained atmosphere between the two and moved about cautiously.

“Noah…”

“Yes?”

Once they were in the bedroom, Ian suddenly grabbed Noah’s arm. Noah looked up at him, confused, and saw Ian’s uneasy, anxious expression. After a long silence, Ian finally spoke, but all he said was, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

Without explaining, Ian quickly added, “You must be tired. I have some work to do, so go ahead and sleep first.”

It almost seemed like Ian was afraid of what Noah might say, as he hurriedly left the room. Once the door closed, Noah sighed. While he had felt satisfied earlier when Ian completely put Alicia in her place, the lingering tension left him uneasy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Ian had suffered a serious loss because of him. Maybe he should’ve just agreed with Alicia to avoid all this.

Eventually, Noah picked up his phone and called William. It wasn’t too late at night, so William answered after just a few rings.

“Noah? What’s up?”

“Hey, Will. I have something to ask…”

After hearing the full story about what happened at the Crystal charity event, William was silent for a moment before responding with a thoughtful hum.

“Father’s definitely angry. From his perspective, it looks like Ian is completely cutting ties, just like Alicia suggested. I wasn’t going to mention this until it was certain, but I think Father will take some kind of action before the month ends.”

“Of course, that’s how it is…”

Noah looked dejected. He was aware that Ian was the type to provoke hostility, but in the case of Tanner and Alicia, wasn’t he partially responsible for turning them into enemies? Even though it wasn’t intentional, Noah felt as if he had unwittingly played a role in using Ian and leading things to ruin(?).

“Got it. Thanks for answering, Will.”

—If you have any trouble, let me know. I’ll help you as much as I can.

“Okay… See you next time.”

After saying goodnight to William, who looked concerned, Noah hung up and sank into deep thought. For hours, almost until midnight, he pondered. Finally, he reached a conclusion. Things had already reached a point where neither he nor Ian could truly be happy anymore. It was clear that Ian had feelings for him, and Noah no longer wanted to deceive Ian.

Three months into their marriage, Noah finally resolved to ask Ian for a divorce.

There were several reasons why Noah decided on a divorce. From the beginning, it had always been part of the plan. But the incident at the Crystal Charity event had added to his resolve. Moreover, Noah selfishly thought it would be better to divorce now while Ian’s feelings for him were still relatively new.

After the divorce, Noah planned to do his best to explain things to his father. He wanted to take responsibility and make it seem like the decision was largely his own. After all, Noah had enjoyed his time at the mansion, thanks to Ian. The least he could do was to take the blame. His father would probably find it easier to accept that Noah had initiated the divorce rather than being left by Ian.

However, even after deciding on divorce, telling Ian proved to be no easy task. Ian had been in a terrible mood lately, likely due to Alicia Patterson. Bringing up divorce now felt like pouring fuel on a fire. It took Noah several more days to muster the courage to visit Ian’s study.

After a knock, a voice answered, “Come in.”

When Noah entered, Ian looked slightly surprised. It made sense since Noah rarely visited Ian’s study these days.

“What’s the matter?”

“I… have something to tell you.”

Ian stood up and gestured toward the sofa. As Noah moved toward it, he glanced at Ian’s desk, where he had been working earlier. Goodbye, desk of memories… We had some fun times here. It feels like it was ages ago…

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Today, Ian seemed to be in a relatively decent mood, but Noah, who had seen just how bad Ian’s temper could be, hesitated. Though there seemed to be other reasons behind his reluctance, Noah pushed those aside and finally spoke.

“I think we… should get a divorce.”

Feeling anxious, Noah carefully shared his thoughts and nervously awaited Ian’s response.

“Is that so? You want a divorce?” Ian asked, his tone calm. Noah nodded hesitantly.

“Alright.”

“What?”

Noah, who had braced himself for Ian’s anger, doubted his ears. What did he just say? Did he agree? Or is this the calm before the storm?

Ian’s response was so unexpected that Noah blinked in surprise. Could it be that he’s actually agreeing? Maybe he’s had a change of heart. Or perhaps thinking he liked me was just my misunderstanding…

But when Noah looked up, Ian’s eyes burned with something dark and simmering. Yet, Ian said nothing further, leaving Noah drenched in a cold sweat. He tried to continue.

“Well, I mean… I heard you married me to get revenge on my father… Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Ian’s blunt admission left Noah staring in disbelief. So, does this mean he’s agreeing to the divorce or not?

Before Noah could process his thoughts, Ian struck again.

“I married you to get back at your father. So what?”

What? So what?! Noah felt his face flush with embarrassment. Was I wrong to think he liked me? Have I been deluding myself this entire time? All the guilt he’d carried suddenly felt laughable. Was I just being arrogant?

As his thoughts spiraled, Ian’s sharp gaze made Noah instinctively shrink back. Ian’s Alpha pheromones began to radiate powerfully, signaling his intense emotions.

“I told you last time. That was your last chance for a divorce.”

“Uh…”

Though Noah was somewhat accustomed to Ian’s pheromones, they felt overwhelming now, almost suffocating. Ian’s face remained expressionless, but his eyes betrayed a swirl of emotions. Noah couldn’t look away.

“Yes, I tormented you to the point where you couldn’t bear to stay in the mansion. I enjoyed watching you suffer. I cheated on you during our marriage. I trampled on you, violated you, made you cry… But so what? No matter what, you can’t get a divorce.”

Noah trembled as he swallowed hard. Standing before Ian, he felt like a prey animal cornered by a ferocious predator.

“No matter how much you hate me, despise me, or fear me… You can’t.”

Ian’s eyes, which had been dark and gleaming, became clouded with emotion. Noah found himself captivated by Ian’s gaze. He’d been ensnared like this before, unable to think straight, and now he understood why. It wasn’t Ian’s good looks or charm. It was the intensity of Ian’s emotions.

“I love you, Noah.”

Noah, unable to utter a word, listened in stunned silence to Ian’s voice, which sounded both cold and fervent at the same time.

“I regret what I’ve done to you. I don’t expect to be forgiven. If you can’t stand to see me, I’ll leave the mansion. But even if I go, you can’t leave. Got it? You can’t.”

Ian’s final words struck like a nail being driven in. Unable to meet Ian’s gaze any longer, Noah looked away, his body trembling. Ian’s pheromones weighed heavily on him, but this time, Ian didn’t force himself on Noah. Instead, Ian gritted his teeth and stormed out of the study, slamming the door so hard it echoed in Noah’s chest.

Left alone, Noah closed his eyes briefly before opening them. His thoughts raced. So… the plan has completely backfired, huh?

But strangely, he didn’t feel panicked. Instead, he wondered, Why doesn’t it feel like a disaster?