Chapter 415: Marriage Registry Office
She looked into his dark red eyes and suddenly said, “Enrico, come with me to a place.”
“…”
Enrico looked at her in confusion, his expression still grim.
“Let’s go.” Paige stepped forward, took his hand, and led him outside.
The car was parked outside the villa. Holding Enrico’s hand, Paige walked towards it. The guards were about to open the car door behind them.
“You don’t need to follow us,” Paige instructed. She then opened the driver’s door, got in, and fastened her seatbelt.
When she looked up, she saw Enrico still standing outside, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Get in the car,” Paige smiled at him.
“Where are we going?” Enrico asked.
“You’ll see when we get there.” Paige deliberately kept it vague, gesturing for him to get in again.
Enrico studied her for a moment before walking around the car to sit in the passenger seat, closing the door behind him.
Paige pressed the gas pedal, and the headlights illuminated the road ahead as the car sped forward.
…
The car cruised through the night streets of The Capital, the dim streetlights casting a glow over the windshield, briefly lighting up their faces.
Enrico sat there, propping his head up with one hand, watching her drive.
Paige drove steadily, her expression calm, her eyes clear and focused. Her fair hands gripped the steering wheel, occasionally turning it with a casual, graceful motion.
They remained silent the whole way.
As they passed through the bustling city, Paige gradually slowed down until she stopped in front of a certain building, pulling the handbrake.
Enrico finally tore his gaze away from her face and glanced around, “Why are we here…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, as the words got stuck in his throat.
The building in front of them, bathed in the night’s glow, was none other than the Marriage Registry Office.
Enrico froze, staring at the sign, as if seeing it for the first time.
At the entrance stood a few staff members in uniform, and nearby, Jaden and Carrie were looking their way.
“Let’s go. I’ve already texted Jaden and Carrie. They’ve brought our documents inside, and now they’re just waiting for us,” Paige said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. Seeing that Enrico remained motionless, she added, “Get out of the car.”
Enrico sat there, turning his gaze towards her, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
Hearing this, Paige couldn’t help but laugh, “Getting married.”
Why else would she come to the marriage registry office? She even used her influence to have Jaden get the staff here to work at night.
“…”
Enrico stared at the casual smile on her lips.
Paige withdrew her hand from the door and smiled at him. “I’ve thought about it. We don’t need to wait until after we return from Wind Island to register, there’s no need for perfect timing.”
If his headaches made him anxious, if his overthinking caused him pain, then she wanted to eliminate all of that as quickly as possible.
“Do you really want to marry me?” Enrico asked, his sharp gaze piercing through her as though he wanted to see right through her.
“Of course, don’t you?” Paige smiled.
“…”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
He did. He wanted it so badly it was driving him insane.
Enrico stared at her smiling face, his hand slowly curling into a fist at his side, digging his fingertips into his palm hard enough to feel the pain, just to stop himself from immediately getting out of the car.
Seeing him hesitate, Paige was about to urge him again when Enrico suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly.
His grip was strong, strong enough that Paige could feel the pain.
He stared at her, his breathing heavy. “Paige, do you know what marrying me means? It means you’ll never be able to have children, it means your life will revolve around me, it means that one day I’ll die before you, and you’ll be left all alone!”
Paige looked into his eyes and softly asked, “Why do you keep emphasizing all this? Are you trying to make me retreat like that bodyguard did?”
Retreat.
Just the thought of that word caused Enrico’s face to go pale.
He held her wrist even tighter, his eyes reddening further. With immense effort, he forced himself to speak, “I can give you time to think, to really think it through. I don’t need your pity.”
“Pity?” Paige laughed when she heard that. “Do you think everything I’ve done was out of pity? Going to the Medicine Curse Sect to learn, working hard to return sooner to see you, and now getting married, all out of pity?”
“Even if it’s not pity now, one day, you’ll realize that life with me is far more difficult than a normal life. You’ll regret it, and you need to consider all of that regret now!”
Enrico gripped her hand tightly and said, “You still have a chance to change your mind. Once we walk through that door, if you regret it later, I won’t let you live peacefully.”
“In my view of marriage, there’s no divorce, only the possibility of sharing a grave.”
His last words were almost a threat.
Paige nodded. “Well, that’s funny, because my view of marriage is the same. Looks like we’re perfectly matched. Now, get out of the car.”
She tried to pull her hand back, but he held on, refusing to let go.
He sat there, his reddened eyes fixed on her. He didn’t get out of the car, nor did he release her hand.
The car was eerily quiet.
So quiet she could hear how heavy his breathing was.
Paige looked at him with a hint of helplessness, “Enrico, you’re so conflicted.”
He wanted her by his side, but at the same time, he believed a normal person wouldn’t want to stay with someone like him. He probably thought it was selfish of him…
Upon hearing this, Enrico tightened his grip on her wrist even more. “Think about it again. Take some more time.”
“I’ve thought it through.” Paige said.
She had always been clear about it. From the moment she left The Capital three years ago, she had imagined this day. There was no ambiguity in her mind.
She looked into his eyes. “Enrico, what exactly are you so worried about?”
“Worried about what?”
Enrico echoed her question, then let out a bitter laugh, filled with self-mockery. “I’m worried about dragging you into my life.”
“…”
Paige pressed her lips together.
Enrico let go of her hand and leaned back against the seat, staring at the distant building. After a long while, his hoarse voice broke the silence, “I used to think just having someone by my side was enough. I never thought much beyond that. But now… I’m scared. I’m scared I’ll ruin your life.”
“…”
“And I’m scared that you really won’t want me, that one day I’ll be begging for you like that man did for his lover.”
“…”
“And worst of all… I’m terrified that even if I beg you, you’ll still leave me.”
Enrico laughed bitterly, his laughter growing deeper as his eyes misted over with unshed tears. “Paige, I’ve never hated my illness as much as I do now. I’ve never hated myself for not being normal as much as I do now. I can’t see a future for us.”
“…”
No future for us…
Those words struck Paige deeply, causing a pang of pain in her heart. She suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
In the end, when it came to marriage, Enrico was the one having second thoughts. He stared at the building and said softly, “Let’s go back.”