*
Faith stared at him dumbstruck, it took her a few moments to realize that he was completely serious.
"I'm not m_marrying you! You're i_insane!" She stuttered, still in disbelief. He continued to stare at her, obviously not pleased with her response. The room felt too tight, she wanted to breathe, her lungs felt too constricted.
"W_why? why are you doing this?"
Sterling watched her emotions flicker through her eyes, the sheen of tears made him feel a twinge of guilt in his gut.
He knew that was an absolute bastard for turning the situation around against her, but he would never give her the opportunity to slip through his fingers, he wouldn't let go of this chance.
"Are you rethinking your decision now?" Sterling's tone was impassive and Faith couldn't guess whatever the hell was going through his mind.
"You said that I get to decide whatever I wanted!"
"I n_never said I would marry you! And I__I won't!" Faith couldn't even bring herself to think about it.
"So you merely wanted to use your body to get what you want without any strings attached?"
Faith flinched at his choice of words but realized he wasn't wrong.
"Yes." She gritted.
Sterling wore a grave expression as he met her stare.
"That's the issue Faith, we both know how easily you change your mind after making a decision, I can't trust that you will fulfill your end of the bargain after getting what you want, who knows, you might run away or make everyone think that I forced you, marrying you and finalizing the agreement is the only way to ensure that you won't change your mind!"
Faith shook her head at him desperately.
"I would never run away if you helped, I won't change my mind!" She spoke but Sterling's expression didn't change.
"That's what you'll say now, I'm afraid I can't trust you! You've already showed that to me not once, but twice."
Faith felt her knees would crumble if Sterling's hands on her shoulders had not held her in place.
She'd been stupid to have started off with the idea of paying with her body, now not only did he think she was trying to use him, but he was also trying to ensure that she didn't.
She tried one last desperate plea for his understanding
"My family is very important to me which is why I agreed to do whatever you wanted, I didn't want to do this, I feel disgusted with myself, I swear that I didn't think you forced me! I'm also not trying to use you if you feel that way, I was just helpless. I can still do whatever you want except for marrying you!"
Faith had always imagined red flowers, candles, and glasses of champagne for a proposal, she never would have thought it would be anything like this.
She'd already lost dignity in herself, the only thing she had left was the dreams she'd had for a prince charming, she was clasping onto it with all that she had.
Then, Sterling spoke, her dreams and imaginations were sent crashing into a million pieces with just a single sentence.
"Then I'm afraid we have no deal, you'll only get the money after our wedding!"
Sterling stared at her as she suddenly broke into sobs, burying her face into her palms.
"Why are you doing this to me? I already promised that I w_won't get away!"
Sterling caressed her face gently, of course, he knew she wouldn't get away. He wanted to marry her, to legally bind her to him, and leave her with no means to escape even if she wanted to.
She slowly met his stare with tear-filled eyes, he easily read the emotions there, she thought he was being cruel and unfair towards her.
Indeed, he was. Sterling wouldn't deny that, but it also mattered to him what she thought of him, he wouldn't allow her to think he was heartless and inconsiderate, he wanted her to know he was firm in his decision but he didn't want her to be afraid of him, or even worse despise him.
Wiping her tears with his thumb, he palmed her face with his hands.
"If you truly won't get away, then prove it to me." He whispered and saw the confusion in her gaze before she spoke.
"How?"
"We can get married, you'll have to give me reasons to think I can trust you, you can ask for a divorce any time you want, but first, I have to believe that you won't be changing your mind." Sterling whispered, feeling a slight twinge in his heart, it was wrong for him to make her think she would have the power to leave the marriage any time she wanted, but he needed to do this right now.
Making her feel as though she had the authority to end their marriage any time she wanted would make her feel safer and more relaxed, she also wouldn't feel that he was too brutal. Not only that, but Sterling was also interested to see the methods she would use in trying to gain his "supposed" trust.
He squeezed her hands gently and knew the moment her resistance eased, she no longer thought it was that much of a bad idea to marry him.
"I can leave the marriage any time I want?" She stared at him, wanting to confirm and Sterling nodded.
"Remember, only if you show me that I can trust you not to escape your side of the bargain."
Maybe it wasn't so bad after all Faith thought.
He would easily see the kind of person that she was, he would also know that she hadn't borne any intention to take advantage of him. After a few weeks___she would be free, she could do it.
"Fine, I'll marry you!" She inhaled deeply, searching for much-needed courage. Sterling's gaze lit up with triumph, he wanted to pump his fists into the air or even hug her like a maniac.
He only leaned to kiss her forehead and noticed how she stiffened lightly.
Why did Faith feel that she had just made a deal with the devil? She felt that she was making a huge mistake that she would regret.
Maybe she was just too tense, she tried to console herself by thinking that she could leave the marriage at any time, she also found comfort in thinking that she at least did not disappoint her family.
"We will be getting married in three days!" He murmured against her forehead and Faith gasped, pulling away from him suddenly.
"So soon? B_but that's not enough time!" She gasped.
Sterling ignored her look of terror and spoke yet again.
"It's enough time! We will shopping for the rings and dress tomorrow!"
Faith blanched, everything was moving too fast for her, why was he in such a hurry? She started to protest but he held up a finger across her lips
"I know what you're thinking, but the sooner we do this, the better it will be. Also, before we get married, you'll move in with me!"