Chapter 9: City Folks Really Know How to Have Fun!

The lie got exposed on the spot, and Desmond Cole and Adriana Hauk's faces turned ugly in an instant. Desmond's face flushed beet-red. He pointed at Terrance Lyson, teeth clenched so hard his jaw trembled. "Kid, I don't care what kind of immortal you crawled out of. If you know what's good for you, stay out of this. Otherwise, I've got plenty of ways to make sure you can't stay in Tenos!" Terrance didn't even blink. He took another leisurely bite of his apple and spoke around the mouthful, words slightly muffled. "Starting today, Adriana Hauk is my wife. If you dare set your sights on her again…" His gaze sharpened, the lazy smile vanishing. "I'll have you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life." Desmond stared at Adriana, stunned. Adriana looked just as shocked, like her voice had been stolen. It took a long moment before Adriana snapped out of it. She stomped her foot so hard the floor seemed to shake. "In your dreams! Believe it or not, I'll break your legs right here and now!" She rolled up her sleeves, revealing firm muscle in her arms, squaring up like she meant it. Terrance stayed maddeningly relaxed. "Your grandpa agreed to it himself." He turned to Anson Hauk. "Anson Hauk, you're not going back on your word, are you?" Anson let out a long sigh, then spoke to his granddaughter with solemn weight. "Adriana, if the Miracle Doctor can cure what's been tormenting your heart, then this marriage is settled." He added, voice gentler but no less firm, "The Miracle Doctor's skills are extraordinary. With my support, he'll go far. Didn't you admire what he did on the train, too?" Adriana nearly jumped out of her skin. "Grandpa! I'm not marrying that pervert!" She jabbed a finger at Terrance. "Look at him. The second he sees someone, he just stares. It's disgusting!" Terrance abruptly dropped the playful grin. His expression turned serious, almost clinical. "Paula Hauk, I understand your situation. It isn't your fault, but it does need treatment." He set the apple core aside. "Give me three months. If I can't fix you, I'll disappear immediately." Adriana snorted, stubbornness burning in her eyes. "That's not the same thing! Every man on earth is trash. If he isn't cheating outside, he's beating his wife at home!" Anson shook his head with a helpless sigh. When his granddaughter dug in, ten oxen couldn't drag her back. Terrance, on the other hand, found her more and more interesting. A girl with this much fire was worth the chase. "Looks like your prejudice against men runs all the way to the bone," he said. He patted his chest, brimming with confidence. "But in front of Skilled Hands, none of that is a problem. Sooner or later, I'll have you marrying me willingly!" "Heh. Did you ask what I think?" A cool, icy voice cut in from the doorway. Everyone turned. A breathtaking beauty walked in with unhurried grace, her aura cold and sharp. She wore thin stilettos. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, and beneath the slit of her long dress, her long legs flashed in and out of view with every step. It was Terrance's fiancée-Joy Lashbrook. Joy went straight to Adriana and looped her arm through hers, intimate as if they'd done it a thousand times. Their eyes met. It felt like a current snapped through the air. The Adriana who had been ranting about how vile men were looked at Joy with sudden tenderness, sweet enough to drown in. Terrance froze. His eyes went wide, and his jaw nearly hit the floor. Hell. So my fiancée and my future second wife just paired themselves up? That was way too wild. City folks really knew how to have fun! Adriana slid an arm around Joy's slender waist and glared at Terrance, stubborn as ever. "No one's separating us! Men are filthy creatures. Only between two women is there real love!" Joy's ice-cold face melted in an instant, soft enough to drip. "Mm. We're the real love. How could a lowly creature like a man possibly-" Halfway through, she caught sight of Terrance standing off to the side. Her expression snapped into shock. "Why is it you?!" Terrance grinned and ambled over, still chewing his apple like he had all the time in the world. "Wife, I didn't expect her little sweetheart to be my fiancée. What a perfect twist of fate." His eyes darted between them, gleaming. "I've got a brilliant idea. Anson Hauk already agreed to marry Adriana to me, and you two are so in love. Why not both marry me? That way you won't have to be apart. Perfect, right?" "Keep dreaming." Joy instantly returned to her frost-queen composure, eyes sharp as blades. "First, I'm not your wife. Call me that again and I'll tear your mouth apart." She lifted a second finger, voice cold enough to cut. "Second, stop fantasizing. Unless you go to Thailand and get a sex-change operation, don't even think about touching so much as one finger on me!" Anson, Desmond, and Adriana all stood there dumbstruck. Desmond's mouth hung open so wide his jaw nearly dislocated. He'd chased Adriana for so long he hadn't even held her hand once, yet this country bumpkin wanted to take both of Tenos's top goddesses in one gulp? Ah! Heaven! They were both men, so why was the difference this cruel? Last night, Tenos's business circle had exploded, and Desmond had been one of the many who tossed and turned. The internet had gone crazy with rumors that Joy Lashbrook had a fiancée. He'd thought it was a prank. He hadn't expected it to be real. Adriana stared at Joy, eyes wide. "He… he's the one you meant? The fiancée from that childhood arrangement?" Joy nodded, expression frosty. "Don't worry. The one I love is you." Then she looked at Terrance, contempt plain in her eyes. "You thought posting online could force me to submit? Naive." She tugged Adriana toward the room. "Ignore this toad." Desmond hurried after them, but not before shooting Terrance a vicious glare. Soon the courtyard held only Anson and Terrance. Anson asked carefully, "Miracle Doctor… Joy Lashbrook really is your fiancée?" Terrance picked up another apple and took a crunchy bite. "What, don't I look like it? You looking down on us country folk too?" "No, no, no!" Anson waved his hands frantically. "Go back three generations and whose family didn't come from the countryside?" He hesitated, choosing his words. "It's just… there's something I don't know whether I should say…" "Then don't." Terrance took an even bigger bite. Crunch. Anson choked on his own words, stunned for a beat, but he still forced himself to continue. "I only meant… matching families does matter. You've just arrived in Tenos. Why not take a position in our hospital's Traditional Medicine department? With your skill, you'll make a name for yourself quickly…" Before he could finish, Terrance stood and brushed apple crumbs off his pants. "Anson Hauk, I appreciate the offer, but…" A mysterious smile tugged at his mouth. "I've got my own plan. Three months from now, just wait to drink at the wedding banquet." He flicked his hand, looking utterly unconcerned. "You want me to go work for someone? Not a chance. I hate being managed. Bust my ass to earn money, then hand the hospital a cut?" Anson was left speechless. How was this young man so impossible to talk to? He forced his patience back into place. "Then what are you planning to do?" Terrance finished the last bite of his apple. His eyes suddenly lit up. "I've thought of a way to cure your granddaughter, but I'll need your help." "Say it! I'll cooperate fully!" Anson leaned in at once. "What does your granddaughter do for work?" "She's an associate chief physician at our hospital." "That's it!" Terrance slapped his thigh. "She got turned because she's completely lost hope in men. If you want to cure her, you have to conquer her in the field she's best at!" He crossed one leg over the other. "I'm opening a clinic. You help me get the license. As for money… I'll owe you for now. Once I cure a few patients, I'll pay you back." Anson listened in a daze. "I understand opening a clinic, but what does that have to do with my granddaughter's condition…" "Ah-!" A scream suddenly ripped through the house, followed by furious arguing. Terrance's face changed. He shot forward in a blur. "Bang!" He kicked the door open and roared, fury surging off him. "Who the hell is touching my wife?!"