Episode 19

Igor was not the type to stay quiet, and when faced with that questionable answer, it was no different.

"Would there be a third reason by any chance?" he asked, analyzing the other's expression.

The ceiling light cast a shadow over Enrico's long and fine eyelashes, which somehow made people's hearts flutter, just like they were trembling in that moment. Igor noticed that he hesitated for a moment. Enrico's seemingly calm eyes hid the turbulence of emotions inside him at that moment, as he sat quietly in that chair, denying the question.

"No, just those two reasons," he paused before continuing, shifting the focus of the conversation, "Marriage is something to be taken seriously, regardless of whether it is between two people of the same sex. So, I hope you think carefully and don't regret it when the agreement comes into effect."

"Regret? Why would I do that?"

Igor leaned down slightly, guiding his fingers towards Enrico's lips. But when he was about to touch them, the wide palm of the older man's hand interrupted him.

"Mr. Igor!" he called his attention.

Enrico's palm was slightly warm and sweaty. Igor, who failed to touch it, sighed heavily before responding.

"Mr. Enrico, I am an adult capable of taking care of myself."

Igor didn't actually care about the reasons Enrico had for this fake marriage. He himself was not being entirely honest about the reasons for accepting the agreement.

"I have already accepted it, and you have already retrieved my luggage and documents. What else is there to think about?"

Brazenness could be Igor's middle name. He showed no hurry to remove his finger from Enrico's palm. On the contrary, he entwined his fingers with the other's, provoking and forcing him to respond.

"Well then, tomorrow we will have our marriage certificate. Goodnight."

Enrico responded and let go of Igor's hand, turning his chair and heading to his room. Igor watched him walk away with the corner of his lips lifted. Once Enrico was at a considerable distance, he grumbled in that corridor.

"I'll still soften your stony heart."

Igor looked into the room one more time, closed the door slowly, and returned to his own room, hoping that after all that, he would be able to sleep.

Enrico sighed after entering his room, he looked at his hand that had been held like that, ran his fingers over it, and closed his palm as if wanting to disperse the thoughts he was having, then he prepared to sleep.

The next morning, Enrico showed that he was serious. At that moment, they were sitting in a civil registry office, and Igor's mood wasn't revealing anything. He was there, thinking that his first wedding was under such circumstances, marrying someone he had met two days ago.

Society was already more accepting of same-sex marriages, so the procedures were the same. They just needed to present their identification documents, wait for about half an hour for data verification, and then they would be allowed to get married. Since it was a Friday and not a special date, there were not many couples there that day.

Enrico, sitting in his chair, observed Igor, who seemed a bit pensive.

"Nervous? There's no room for regret now," he caught his attention.

"I managed to get a handsome and wealthy fiancé, what could I regret?" he shook his head fearlessly. It was a fake marriage, it's not like he would lose a kidney over it.

A door opened, and the officials in charge of the process called out.

"Next couple for the photo, please."

In the next second, the woman who called out looked at Enrico, and the expression on her face when she saw him in that chair was clear, and Igor noticed it. The woman looked as if she were saying, "What a shame, such a handsome man in a wheelchair."

Upon noticing that gaze towards Enrico's body, Igor made sure to divert the woman's thoughts.

"Is the next number fourteen? If so, it's us," the woman asked. She looked at Igor, and then at Enrico. In her mind, she thought that those two were so beautiful, and they were getting married even though one of them couldn't move their legs. To her, it was true love.

"Yes, you can come in, take the photo, and then we'll fill out some information," the woman said. Upon hearing these words, Enrico maneuvered his wheelchair on his own and entered the room. Igor's mood had dropped, and he quickly followed. The photography set was simple, with a red curtain hanging on the wall, and the camera was already in position.

When the photographer saw Enrico's situation, he took the initiative to remove a chair from the way and adjust another one to match the height of the wheelchair. Enrico didn't say anything throughout the process, but his expression wasn't good.

Nathaniel, the assistant, and Peterson's bodyguard were also present. They glanced at each other for a moment, observing the situation, and became nervous at the same time. Enrico hated special treatment because of his condition. Even though the photographer had acted with good intentions, it was still like stepping on Enrico's toes.