Chapter 21
Rowan hadn’t even had the chance to savor her sweetness properly. It seemed like something or someone was constantly interrupting their kisses. Why was it so hard to just have a serious kiss?
Stella must’ve had the same thought as she suddenly laughed. He pulled back slightly, noting the delight in her eyes. He couldn’t help squeezing her cheek. "Do you find it funny?"
She nodded, pushing him playfully and urging him to open the door. "Go open it. Once we’re married, you can kiss me however you want."
He agreed with her that getting married was his priority right now. He stroked her hair, set her down on the sofa, and got up to answer the door.
The visitors were staff from the County Clerk, whom he had phoned in the middle of the night to work extra hours. As soon as the three staff stepped inside and saw Rowan and Stella, their eyes widened with curiosity. Before arriving, they had been grumbling about which big shot dared to drag them out of bed just to register a marriage in the middle of the night. But now, they were utterly dumbfounded.
They had never thought that the ones insisting on a midnight marriage registration were Rowan and Stella. Twitter and every social media platform were speculating about their relationship. People were accusing her of seducing him and saying that he’d dump her as soon as he grew bored. But now, it seemed like many people were about to be proven wrong. Still, a tiny part of them couldn’t help but wonder if it was love or if Stella had gathered dirt on Rowan and forced him to marry her.
That question lingered until the couple sat side by side, filling out forms and getting ready to take their photo.
"Wait," Rowan suddenly said.
"What’s wrong?" Stella turned to him in confusion. The three staff members held their breath. They wondered if Rowan had changed his mind. The anticipation of watching a dramatic scene unfold was almost too much to handle.
Rowan stood up and walked over to the pile of cosmetics that had been delivered earlier. He picked out a lipstick. Then, he returned to her side, bent down, softly pinched her chin, and tilted her head upward. His sharp gaze fell to her lips as he carefully applied the color, painting it on with focused precision. After finishing, he leaned down to inspect his work. Finally satisfied, he curled his lips into a smile and pressed a feather-light kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Some of it rubbed off earlier."
She had applied little makeup after changing into the dress, but during their first kiss, part of the lipstick had faded under his kiss. Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Oh. Is it fine now?"
He chuckled and squeezed her hand. "Yes. You look beautiful." The moment he let go, she turned her head only to meet the three staff members’ wide, stunned, and thrilled expressions. Stella forced an awkward smile. The staff members smiled back. It seemed they had been way off because this doesn’t seem like blackmail at all. Rowan tenderly applied lipstick for Stella, casually kissed her in front of them, and told her she was beautiful—that was proof that he loved her. Rowan, on the other hand, remained completely composed. He put the lipstick away, sat down, and casually wrapped an arm around Stella’s waist, pulling her closer.
Stella’s face was practically glowing with happiness. To be honest, they had only ever seen these two through phone screens and TV. They did look like an attractive couple, but in real life, they looked extremely breathtaking—a simple picture couldn’t capture their allure. Before long, the staff finished all the paperwork and officially declared them a legitimate couple, though they had suspected some of that was just for show.