Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

The driver gave her a knowing look, clearly feeling satisfied with his earlier assumption.
As Hallie stepped out of the car, she hesitated for a moment, debating whether she should go in at all.
"What the hell are you even wearing?" The voice hit her before she even turned around. It was that familiar and irritating voice she remembered.
A flash of annoyance surged through Hallie's chest. She turned with a deep frown, her eyes narrowing.
Nelson had apparently just stepped out of his car. His handsome face twisted into a scowl as he scanned her outfit from head to toe, clear disapproval etched in his expression.
Then his gaze dropped to her hands. "And what's that you're carrying?"
Hallie instinctively looked down. In her hands were a carton of milk and a neatly packed box of fruit. Without thinking, she shifted them behind her back to hide.
"Just some gifts," she muttered.
Nelson gave a short, mocking laugh. "What, you get that from a grocery store?"
Hallie pressed her lips together. She wanted to respond but held it in. She thought bitterly, 'The jerk really never misses a chance to laugh at me. Sure, the gifts are from a grocery store, but I spent over 300 dollars on them.'
But she soon thought it through. To someone from a family like his, that amount probably didn't even qualify as real money.
She said nothing and brushed past him, heading toward the entrance.
"You're really attending the party dressed like that?" Nelson asked.
Hallie didn't even slow down. She was a doctor, not some debutante who needed a closet full of couture. She hadn't worn a formal gown in years.
"Clothes are just fabric. I'm not here for a party. I'm here to see Scott," she replied coolly over her shoulder.
Nelson let out a sharp snort. "Well, you're good at consoling yourself."
Hallie's fingers tightened around the gifts without realizing it. Then she forced herself to release the tension and kept walking.
She reminded herself, 'I'll see Scott, and then I'm leaving.'
Suddenly, she felt a hand grab her arm. Hallie paused her tracks and spun around, staring down at the offending hand. Her fury hit a boiling point.
She stared at Nelson and snapped, "Let go."
"Don't embarrass me in front of our partners and friends," insisted Nelson.
Hallie struggled. "You..."
Ignoring her protests, Nelson grabbed her firmly by the arm, dragged her to his car, and shoved her into the front passenger seat. In one swift motion, he leaned over and fastened her seatbelt.
"Nelson Blair! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hallie yelled, yanking at the belt straining across her chest.
Nelson shut the door without a word, walked around to the driver's side, and slid into his seat.
One hand on the wheel, the other releasing the brake, he glanced at her with a flat expression. "If you're aiming to die in a crash, go ahead and keep thrashing around."
Grinding her teeth, Hallie forced herself to stop struggling.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at a high-end commercial district.
Nelson tapped a button beside the wheel, and the seatbelt around Hallie's shoulders eased back.
He said curtly, "Get out."
Hallie looked up and immediately saw the name of the boutique: Maison Virelli. Delicate carvings and ornate detailing framed the sign, radiating its opulence. She only saw this brand in luxury fashion magazines.
"Why the hell did you bring me here?" asked Hallie.
Nelson cast her a sidelong glance, his voice laced with ice. "You show up at my grandpa's birthday party like that. People will think I'm abusing my wife.
"You might not care, but our family has a reputation to maintain. Do everyone a favor and at least pretend to be my wife tonight."
With things said this plainly, Hallie didn't argue. She followed Nelson through the boutique's doors without another word.
Nelson ordered the stylists with a tone of displeasure, "Clean her up. Not asking for a miracle. Just don't make her look like she came straight from bargain-bin shopping."
"Of course, Mr. Blair." The stylists and makeup artists all nodded respectfully, then gestured politely for Hallie to enter the prep room.
'Bargain bin? Did he eat crap this morning?' Hallie thought, shooting Nelson a sideways glare before stepping inside.
"Miss, you have such incredible features," the makeup artist praised, tapping her own chest confidently. "Don't worry, we'll make sure you shine tonight."
Hallie waved her hand and replied, "Just something simple. I'm not interested in being the center of attention."
She wasn't here to impress anyone. She just planned to show her face and leave.
The makeup artist exchanged a glance with one of the stylists, both silently wondering how someone could be so clueless.
'What a waste. Most girls would kill for this kind of opportunity. If Mr. Blair brought her here, he must really care about her,' one of them mused.
Unable to hold back, the makeup artist said, "Miss, you know you're the first woman Mr. Blair's brought in six years, right? Since he's letting you come to his grandfather's birthday party, you definitely mean a lot to him."
'It's only because we're married. He brought me here for his own sake, not mine. He doesn't want my dress to embarrass him,' Hallie thought with a scoff.
But then, she noticed the keywords and asked, "Six years? So Nelson brought another woman here six years ago?"
"Oh, that was ancient history," the makeup artist replied with a wave.
She explained, "Back then, the Blair family was going through a really rough patch. There was this girl named Regina. She left for another country without a word. Mr. Blair was completely devastated. If I were him, I wouldn't have forgiven her either. He deserves someone better."
Another clerk chimed in, "Exactly. By the way, you're way prettier than Regina, if you ask me."
Hallie thought, 'This has nothing to do with looks. Regina betrayed Nelson, and now she comes back playing the fragile victim, and he forgives her. That's totally true love.'
She asked herself, 'Should I just come clean with Scott and end this marriage ahead of schedule? Why keep dragging this out with a man so terrible like Nelson?'
The makeup artist spoke up, "Miss, your hair and makeup are all done. Would you like to take a look and see if there's anything you'd like to adjust?"
Pulled from her thoughts, Hallie stood up and gave the mirror a quick glance. She muttered, "Should be good enough to pass his inspection, huh?"
Meanwhile, Nelson was lounging on the sofa outside, posture effortlessly elegant. The faint crease between his brows and the way he occasionally glanced at his watch hinted that his patience was wearing thin.
Suddenly, the curtain rustled open with a soft swoosh.
Nelson looked up, and for a split second, his breath caught.
Hallie noticed his reaction immediately. Her rose-tinted lips curled with mild sarcasm as she said, "The party's starting. Too late to redo anything now."
Nelson's Adam's apple bobbed. His lips pressed together before he finally stood and turned toward the exit.
"You look good," he said, his voice low and even.
Hallie blinked in surprise. It wasn't until Nelson's tall figure was already walking away that she realized it was probably the first decent thing he had ever said to her.
Back at Scott's estate, Nelson led Hallie toward a side entrance.
Hallie looked around in confusion and asked, "Why are we going in through the back?"