The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Harrison closed the gap in an instant, his sharp features filling Gwyneth's vision until she saw her own reflection in his pupils. Before she could react, his rough fingers tilted her chin up, forcing their eyes to lock.
His lips parted. "But you're Mrs. Lopez now." His deep voice held no edge, surprisingly soft. "Time to ditch those old cards, yeah?"
Gwyneth's lashes fluttered as he released her chin. She picked up the black card again. Memories that once felt sweet now only stung. "I can handle it without your input," she snapped.
"Sure," Harrison replied flatly, hiding the storm in his eyes. 'She still hasn't let go of that man,' he thought.
Moments later, the car glided to a stop at a riverside villa. Understated yet luxurious, the property boasted a private terrace overlooking the water, flanked by lush green mountains—every detail exuded refined elegance.
Dozens of cardboard boxes sat outside, packed with Peyton's ceramics—pieces Gwyneth had just shipped over. When servants offered to help, she waved them off. "I've got this."
She'd already lost two of her mother's pieces to Zachary. She wouldn't risk a single chip on the rest. Ceramics were fragile; she didn't trust rookies with her heirlooms.
She was about to call professional movers, despite worrying whether they would take a job in a small town so quickly. If it took too long, the large day-night temperature difference here would make the ceramics more prone to damage.
Harrison had already shrugged off his jacket, rolling up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. "Free muscle right here." He arched a brow. "Too proud to put your husband to work, Mrs. Lopez?"
'He even cracked a joke?' Gwyneth looked at his strong forearms and pursed her lips. "Thank. Let's unpack together. These look like a lot, but they're just small items."
She started methodically unpacking boxes. Shredded paper and foam peanuts spilled out piece by piece.
Harrison asked no questions. He silently took the items, dismissed the surrounding servants who had crowded forward, and walked toward the designated room.
When placing them down, he placed his fingers beneath the bottom layer, being extraordinarily careful until the packages landed steadily. Though he had no idea what these items were, he sensed these meant everything to Gwyneth.
Gwyneth stood outside the door, watching him. Her gaze softened without her even realizing it. 'Maybe he's not as cold as the rumors say,' she thought.
Once everything was sorted out, she had a pretty good impression of Harrison. She figured that if the marriage could be negotiated, business should be negotiable too.
Keen to stake her claim at Jenkins Group, she mustered the courage to ask, "Want to sit and rest while we talk about the Bayview Haven project?" She'd already told the servants to set out tea and snacks.
'She just used me as manual labor, then jumped straight to the Jenkins' agenda. She doesn't have an ounce of genuine interest in me.' Harrison's face darkened. The air seemed to frost over.
Gwyneth paused. First laying down rules, now diving into business—it was all transactional. Even though she didn't like Harrison, his earlier respect made her hesitate to steamroll him. "Maybe the project can—"
"Go on," Harrison cut her off, the ice in his eyes vanishing as he smoothed his sleeves. It was as if that coldness was her imagination.
But now that he was listening, Gwyneth pressed on. "The Jenkins family has called Joracity home for three generations. No one understands this city's cultural DNA like we do.
"Lopez Group's got plenty of cash and wants to turn Bayview Haven into the crown jewel of the city. Jenkins Group will make sure every detail—from cohesive street aesthetics to cultural integration—meets perfection."
Though not officially part of Jenkins Group, Gwyneth had never forgot how Peyton's ceramics had kept them afloat. This project wasn't just business—it was a fight to preserve her mother's legacy. Years of quiet observation had fueled her resolve to land this deal.
Harrison noticed the fire returning to her once-dull eyes. A wild spirit suited her far better than being someone's trophy. Before he could stop it, a smile tugged at his lips.
Gwyneth, who was speaking eloquently, looked up and caught his almost doting smile. Suddenly, blurred memories flickered—someone had looked at her like that when she was a child. Her voice died.
Harrison seemed to snap out of it, the smile vanishing. "Why stop?"
"Have we met before?" Gwyneth frowned, searching his features. She desperately wanted to find something familiar, to piece together and recall the distant figure from her memories.
But no matter how hard she tried to recall, her memories were like weathered photographs—dusty, yellowed, and torn, with no trace of their original form. Her beautiful brows furrowed in deep frustration.
After a long silence, Harrison said, "I'll take the Bayview Haven project."
Gwyneth jerked her head up, startled. 'He agreed without hearing the full pitch? Probably it's just part of the arranged marriage bargain, and he doesn't care what I say at all.'
She thought the latter was more likely. The essence of an arranged marriage was, after all, an exchange of interests.
Shaking off the distraction, Gwyneth stepped forward and said seriously, "Thank you for partnering with Jenkins Group. In return, you can ask me to do something for you."
Harrison went still, jaw tightening. 'She couldn't recall the past, yet she remembered to draw a clear line with me.'
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door. A servant stood there, with Clyde, Harrison's assistant, following behind.
Both Harrison and Gwyneth turned toward the doorway.
Gwyneth spoke first. "Go take care of your work, Mr. Lopez. I'll be okay here." They'd just met, and she didn't want to take up too much of his time.
To Harrison, it was a clear dismissal. His help wasn't needed anymore. "Okay," he said and left without a backward glance, Clyde trailing after him.
Through the sheer curtains, Gwyneth watched as the taillights of Harrison's car disappeared into the distance. Then she bent to unpack a ceramic vase when her eyes caught the flowers by the bay window.
The blooms—fresh green leaves cradling delicate petals—were arranged in a loose, artful sprawl. They were exactly those rare flowers Gwyneth used to adore.
"Harrison's team really pays attention," she murmured, impressed.
Bella had ripped up Gwyneth's plants without a second thought. But Harrison's staff had nurtured these rare flowers just for Gwyneth.
'The student I've sponsored for years isn't even half as considerate as some random servant in my arranged husband's house. Totally misread her,' Gwyneth muttered to herself.
With no mood left for the flowers, she turned to unwrap her mother's ceramics before placing them on the polished shelves.
Suddenly, Quentin's call came, his voice sharp and urgent. "So, how's it going with Harrison? You guys had dinner yet? Met his folks? Did you two already get the marriage license or what?"