The Billionaire's Mistake (Anya and Daniel)
Chapter 273: To marry quickly.

Vivian sat up straight when she heard what Mathew said.

"Marry? Marry who?" she asked.

"Me," he answered and she blinked rapidly.

"Are you drunk?" she asked. He had just walked into the room and asked to marry her. Who marries like this?

"Don't panic. I just really need an actual legal wife," he said and she trembled slightly. She was only fake married to this man and had gone through hell because of it. Why would she marry him for real?

As though he could read her thoughts, he sighed.

"Things have become complicated. Now you are known as my wife, you can't leave just yet. And being married has been really useful to me," he said and Vivian immediately opened her mouth to protest but he was faster.

"One year. I protect you, make sure Maya get treatment from the best doctors in the world. There is no limit to how much I will spend and how far my power will stretch for her health," he offered and her words died in her throat.

Maya had gotten her surgery, but she still needed care. There was no way to know if she would need more medical attention. One year and she was sure she could cure Maya with every possibility available on earth. It was a deal she could not pass up. Mathew waited a while for her answer. He could tell she was really considering it. Maya was important to her. He was sure she would not pass this opportunity up.

"Deal," she said and a small smile made its way up his face.

It was hard for Vivian to sleep all night. She could not help but wonder how she was going to get out of this situation.

The next day, Mathew sat behind his desk, engrossed in the endless stream of emails and reports that seemed to define his days lately.

All of his family had gone sight seeing that morning. He did not bother to follow since Vivian was still sleeping.

After a while he walked over to her room to wake her.

When he got to her bed room, he froze and could not help bit stare.

Even in sleep, she exuded an aura that he found both intoxicating and comforting.

Deciding it was time for a break, Mathew made a call, ordering lunch to be brought up to her room.

With a small shake of Vivian's shoulder, Mathew woke her from her sleep.

"Baby, wake up and eat," he said gently.

To this, she shuffled and refused to get up, "I am sleeping," she answered.

"Lunch is here, baby," he announced, a smile playing on his lips as she stirred.

Vivian blinked up at him, her eyes momentarily clouded with sleep before clearing as she sat up, stretching her arms above her head. "Mmm, what did you order?" Mathew's smile widened as he gestured to the food on he table. "Your favorite."

"How did you know it is my favorite?" she asked suspiciously. She did not recall every telling him.

"I know everything," he joked.

A small grin tugged at the corners of Vivian's lips as she threw him a stubborn side glance with pouted lips. He took a seat next to her and prepared to eat. "When I fought with Jane, she said that there was a mole," Vivian said and Mathew paused.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"That way she said it. Almost as though there was someone close by on the inside. Someone on their side," Vivian said.

She had been thinking about this deeply. Who could it be? It had to be someone that was not there last night. Someone that should have been there.

Suddenly, she paused. The entire family and gathered. Every single member the Shaw family was on this ship. Where was Lorenzo?

As they dug into their meal, Vivian's phone buzzed with an incoming call. She glanced at the screen, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she answered. "Hello?"

The voice on the other end was not familiar, but it filled with an energy that oddly grated on Vivian's nerves. "Vivian! Oh my gosh, it's been forever! It's Kylie, from high school!" Vivian's grip tightened on her phone as she listened to Kylie's piercing voice.

"I see, how may I help you?" she asked coldly, causing Mathew pay attention.

"How have you been, it's been really long. What, fifteen years?" Kylie asked. "Yes," Vivian answered stoically.

As though sensing that she did not wish to talk, Kylie moved on. "The whole class is meeting up in two days. You should stop by too. It is by 4pm." Kylie informed her.

When she heard her words, Vivian felt the urge to scoff. They planned a reunion and only invited her two days before time? It is obvious she was an after thought. It was fine. She did not know much about them as much as they did not know much about her. She could practically hear the excitement bubbling in Kylie's voice as she prattled on about catching up with old friends and reliving their glory days. But Vivian felt nothing but indifference.

"I'll see if I can make it," Vivian replied blandly, her voice betraying none of her inner thoughts. "Thanks for letting me know, Kylie."

After ending the call, Vivian set her phone down on the coffee table, her appetite had disappeared. Mathew noticed the change in her mood and frowned. What could have possibly spoilt the mood?

"Who was it? They have messed with the food" he asked, reaching out to touch her hand.

Vivian smiled lightly, shaking her head. "Just some classmate inviting me to the reunion they are having,"

"You don't seem to like them," Mathew commented.

"I don't. besides, it is probably Marcy trying to reach me," she answered simply.

Mathew's gaze stilled, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of her hand. "Then ignore them. Class reunions are only useful if you like each other, it is even less useful if you are walking into a trap. Why bother with your enemy?" She didn't seem to notice his actions as her mind seemed far.

Vivian's smile widened at his words, it was probably a trap, he was right. Through they couldn't be considered enemies, they most definitely were not friends. "It really is a waste of time," she answered with a slight chuckle.

Mathew couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Vivian's reaction than she was letting on. He had known her long enough to

recognize when something was net

bothering her, even if she tried to hide it behind a fake sense of indifference she would put on.

"Did they bully you, baby?" he began tentatively, breaking the quiet between them. "If they did, then you should definitely go. I will have you walk in like a star. Fifty bodyguards, twenty Moses bowing and clearing the path, shouting young Madam."

His words almost made her spit out her food.

"Twenty Moses?" she asked.

"They would pat the crowd like the red sea for you," he said.

"Why would I want that?" Vivian chuckled.

"For effect." He shrugged.

"I will look like a clown,"

"You will look like a star. So, did they bully you?" he asked.

Vivian shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Not really. I was just... ignored." "Ignored?"

"They behaved as though I did not exist,"

Mathew's heart clenched at her words, a pang of sympathy sweeping through him. "Why?" he asked.

"I grew up in an orphanage sponsored by an organization. They kept strict tabs on me. I was sent to school on the bus and returned on time. I was not allowed to deviate. When had conflicts in school, the students and their family just moved away. People stayed away. participated in theatre and some extra curricular activities, but some rumors had spread that I was being sponsored and the rich kids started acting like I was not there." Vivian said.

"Even in University?" he asked. He was aware she went to an ivy league university, "I am shocked that organization sponsored you to go. Most sponsors only last till high school,"