Because of Dylan's embarrassing display, the wedding ended quickly.

From start to finish, the matriarch never once gave him a pleasant look.

But when she looked at me, her eyes were full of approval.

She even took my hand and said, "Sean, I'll make sure Seraphina comes home tonight to make it up to you."

And sure enough, that night, Seraphina came home.

She walked in, kicked off her high heels, and her face was etched with exhaustion.

I hurried over to get her a robe.

"Sera, you must be tired today."

She just glanced at me, not saying a word.

In my last life, the servants told me that Seraphina never came home on her wedding night.

Dylan was left alone in their room, a laughingstock to the entire household.

When he complained to the matriarch, he just got a lecture about being too weak to handle his own wife.

While Seraphina was in the shower, I made the bed and brewed her some tea.

Then, I fluffed the pillows on the sofa, preparing to sleep there myself.

When Seraphina came out and saw what I'd done, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

I quickly said, "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Sean, are you playing hard to get?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. She was wearing a bathrobe that revealed a hint of her collarbone, still glistening with droplets of water.

I had to admit, she had an incredible figure.

I quickly looked away.

"No. We don't have any feelings for each other. It would be awkward for both of us to share a bed."

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to propose a partnership."

"What do you mean?"

"This is a business marriage. A lot of couples in our situation lead separate lives in private and just keep up appearances in public. I married you for a life of security. I'm not asking for love."

Hearing my words, a smile touched her lips. "You're smart."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. I can agree to that."

I was just an ordinary guy. I didn't have the skills or the confidence to win her heart.

Besides, in the Warren family, her attitude toward me depended on the matriarch's attitude toward me.

I didn't want to end up like Dylan in our last life, with everyone against me.

That wouldn't do me any good.

And since she had emotionally abused Dylan in the last life, I didn't want to provoke her and end up in the same boat.

So, I chose to coexist peacefully with her.

This time, I just wanted to make enough money to start my own company and then build my own empire.