Orla had expected Matthew to hesitate and eventually agree, but to her surprise...
"Apologies, Governor. I refuse." Matthew shook his head firmly, rejecting Orla's request outright. He was a married man. Pretending to wed someone else was simply out of the question.
Orla's face froze in shock. "Why are you refusing me?"
Orla cast a quick glance at herself. Nothing seemed wrong with her figure or appearance.
"I'm already married."
His words left Orla momentarily stunned.
She studied him closely, scanning him from head to toe before finally speaking.
"I don't see any signs of you being married," she remarked skeptically.
Matthew only shook his head lightly, making it clear he didn't wish to elaborate.
"How about this?" Orla suggested hesitantly, her tone softening. "I'll agree to any condition you set. There won't even be a formal ceremony or anything. All you need to do is stand by my side and say nothing."
Her gaze locked on him with unwavering determination.
No matter what, she was determined to have Matthew's help.
There was no particular reason for it, except that there was no one on Ore Island more exceptional than him.
Matthew's strength, appearance, and age all placed him at the top of his class.
If she had to fake a marriage, only he would be acceptable.
Matthew fell silent.
If Orla could leverage her resources to investigate and locate the goods stolen from the Viper Crew, it would certainly be much faster than him searching alone.
His calm eyes lingered on her.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I'll agree to fake it, but I won't acknowledge it, and there will be no physical contact between us."
"Of course."
Seeing him relent, Orla nodded quickly.
Yet, beneath her composure, a hint of melancholy surfaced.
Toliver, who had been standing stoically, was caught off guard. He blinked in confusion, uncertain if he had misheard.
"I said, do I look terrifying?"
Toliver quickly shook his head in response to Orla's words.
"No, Governor, your beauty is unmatched, radiant and stunning. How could you possibly look terrifying?"
"Then, why did he run off so quickly..."
Orla's curiosity about Matthew only deepened.
As she left, Toliver stood frozen in place. He looked much like another man named Bram, completely lost in a daze.
…
After bidding farewell to Angus and Catia, Matthew prepared to return to Larch Island.
As he sat onboard one of the Lopez Mining Group's ships, his gaze fell on a map of the West Montiria Islands pinned to the wall.
How could such a large area be plundered? Who could have stolen those supplies? And who tipped them off?
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