Chapter 10: We're Engaged!

Words : 1731 Updated : Feb 5th, 2026

Atreus Lyson thought it over, then nodded. "Good." Winter Shirvinton studied him for a moment, eyes sharp and practical. "Do you have anything more formal to wear?" "I think I've got a suit..." Before Atreus could finish, he caught sight of the closet. Inside, a suit had been cut into long strips like shredded cloth. He tugged it out and gave it a shake, then forced an awkward laugh. "Looks like I don't anymore..." Winter nearly cracked up. She rose and said, "Tidy up. I'm taking you to buy some clothes. I'll wait outside." "Wait, Winter-what are we even going to do?" Atreus hurried after her, still confused. "You've got X-Ray Vision, don't you?" Winter said without looking back. "I'm taking you to make money. Once you've got cash, go find someone prettier and piss that little bitch off." Atreus: "???" Little bitch? Was Winter cursing out Lola Lashbrook? He did a quick cleanup and chased after her. Downstairs by the rented apartment, Winter stood in front of her Ferrari 458 and asked, "Can you drive?" Atreus answered on instinct, "Yeah..." "I drank. You're driving." Winter tossed him the keys and slid into the passenger seat. Atreus got in, patted the steering wheel like it might bite him, and said, "Winter, if I scratch this thing, I can't afford to pay for it." "Pathetic. Fine, even if you scratch it, you won't pay a cent. Happy?" Winter checked the time and urged, "Move. We don't have long. Central Mall first. Drive." At Central Mall, Winter took him straight to a men's boutique and personally picked out several suits. Atreus only glanced at the price tags, and his scalp went tight. One suit had six digits on it. He honestly couldn't tell how it was any different from a couple-hundred-dollar suit. Winter held one up against him, then shoved it into his arms. "Put it on. Let me see." Atreus changed with a stiff, reluctant air. He already had a solid build, and after the body tempering and marrow cleansing, he looked even taller and sharper. Paired with his defined features, the effect was immediate. Winter and the female clerks all lit up. "Looks good," Winter said, taking him in from head to toe. The praise sounded genuine. Atreus felt like he wasn't wearing fabric, but bundles of cash weighing down his shoulders. "Winter, this suit..." "These, and the one he's wearing. All of them. Wrap them up." Winter swiped her card without blinking, then looked back at Atreus. "What were you about to say? You don't like my taste?" As if he'd dare. "Of course I like it. It's just... the price is impressive." For a few pieces of cloth, she'd dropped over thirty grand. Even if he had money later, Atreus didn't think he'd ever spend like this. He'd rather eat it all than wear it. Winter chuckled softly, like she'd seen straight through him. "Money's meant to be spent, especially on things that make you happy. Stop wincing. Come on. We're going to check out a few more places." Atreus followed helplessly. They left the menswear store, and Winter dragged him into a high-end watch shop. Staring at the sleek designs and insane price tags, Atreus felt lightheaded. He discreetly tugged her sleeve. "Winter, let's skip the watch. I'm not used to wearing one." Winter glanced back, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Not used to it? Then get used to it. Come on. Pick one you like." Atreus couldn't win against her. He wandered the displays with a resigned expression until, under Winter's "guidance," he chose a simpler watch that was relatively cheaper. Even so, the number still made his jaw go slack. A few suits plus one watch, and they'd spent over fifty grand. Even if he landed a big deal, his commission would only be three or four grand. And in his line of work, competition was brutal. He'd started late, had no stable clients, and one big order might have to carry him for a long time. Yeah. Rich people lived in a world he still couldn't wrap his head around. They were about to leave the watch shop when a man with shoulder-length hair stepped in front of Winter. "Lanlan, please. Let me explain. What you saw last time wasn't what you think." Winter's face iced over in an instant. "Get out of my way. I don't want to see you." "Lanlan." Jameson shot a look at Atreus beside her. His expression darkened, but he forced it down. "I get it. You found this pretty boy to piss me off, right?" Atreus's gaze sank. He was about to speak when his arm suddenly disappeared into something soft. Winter had hooked her arm through his, her grip firm, her voice colder than glass. "You've got it wrong," she said. "He's my fiancé. Not your 'pretty boy.'" "Fiancé?" Jameson almost laughed from sheer anger. He looked Atreus up and down, then curled his lip in open mockery. "Bro, I'm Lanlan's boyfriend. She's just mad at me. You-" Before he could finish, Winter grabbed Atreus by the collar, rose onto her toes, and kissed him square on the mouth. Atreus's eyes flew wide. Instinct took over. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady them so they wouldn't topple. Feeling the strength in his hold, warmth rushed into Winter's cheeks. She turned her head toward Jameson and said, "Believe it now?" "No. That's impossible!" Jameson had spent a full year's salary just to chase Winter, even hiring a private investigator to dig up every one of her hobbies and preferences. He'd paid for a string of hired actors to stage "chance encounters," manufacturing the perfect way to meet her. He'd poured more than ten grand into it all before he finally won her favor. And just when they'd made it official, before he'd even had the chance to hold her hand, Winter discovered his mess with that little model. He'd planned to play around a couple more times and then dump the model anyway. Winter was rich, worth over a hundred million, gorgeous, and built like a dream. That model had youth, long legs, and a few tricks in bed. Beyond that, she couldn't compare to Winter in any way. Anyone with a brain knew which one to choose. "We're engaged," Winter said. She looped an arm around Atreus's neck, her smile soft as smoke as she looked up at him. "Right, darling?" That single word made goosebumps explode over Atreus's skin. But when he caught the warning in Winter's eyes, he forced himself to play along. His hand tightened slightly, pulling her close until their bodies pressed together. Winter hadn't expected him to be that bold. Her face flushed even hotter.

Chapter 10: We're Engaged!

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