After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 101: Then Let’s Get Married

"What kind of solution?" Claire Mercer asked.

Adrian Sutton said, "If you were married, wouldn’t they give up on the idea of forcing you to marry someone else?"

Hearing this, Claire Mercer froze for a moment.

"Get married?"

Adrian Sutton nodded. "Yes."

"You mean... I should go find someone to marry right now?" Claire Mercer lowered her gaze, deep in thought.

"Exactly," Adrian Sutton said. "Once you have a marriage certificate, you’ll be protected by the law."

"Once you’re married, they can’t just drag you to the Civil Affairs Bureau, force you to divorce, and then marry you off again, can they?"

"As long as you refuse to get a divorce, there’s nothing they can do."

"Forcing a child into another marriage through violence or threats is a crime—violent interference in the freedom of marriage."

"So as long as you don’t want a divorce, and they don’t want to go to jail, they’ll naturally stop trying to force you to marry someone else."

As soon as he said this, the lifeless look in Claire Mercer’s eyes was instantly replaced by a spark of light.

’That’s right, why didn’t I think of that?’

’This is great, absolutely great.’

’I finally have a way to escape the clutches of those two leeches.’

’I finally don’t have to sacrifice my entire life to pay for their foolishness and cruelty.’

’As long as I’m married and they don’t want to go to jail...’

’They’ll definitely stop thinking about marrying me off to someone just to gain some benefits.’

’But where am I supposed to find someone to marry right now?’

Her face fell, a wave of melancholy washing over her.

"But who could I possibly find to marry on such short notice?"

Claire Mercer mentally ran through a list of people but couldn’t think of a single suitable candidate.

She didn’t have many male friends to begin with.

Let alone finding someone to marry.

Besides, she was only getting this marriage certificate to escape the Mercer Family’s coercion.

’I can’t ruin someone else’s life and their chance at a real marriage just for my own problems, can I?’

Seeing Claire Mercer struggling to find a marriage candidate, Adrian Sutton felt his opportunity had finally arrived.

’Although,’ he thought, ’asking her to marry me right now feels like I’m taking advantage of her vulnerability.’

’But the opportunity is right in front of me.’

’I can’t just suggest the idea and then stand by and watch her go marry someone else, can I?’

’Especially with that Ian Peyton lurking around, eyeing her like a predator.’

’What if Ian Peyton decides to stick his nose in this...’

’No!’

Adrian Sutton absolutely would not allow Claire to marry anyone else.

So, he suppressed his racing, nervous heart.

And said, "I can help you."

At his words, Claire Mercer blinked and stared at him.

"?"

Adrian Sutton said, "I can marry you."

Claire Mercer was taken aback, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

Seeing her hesitation, Adrian Sutton pressed on, trying to persuade her in one breath.

"I’m single, with no romantic entanglements."

"And my marriage is my own decision. No one can interfere."

"If you’re willing, I can get a marriage certificate with you anytime."

"But I can’t use your marriage..."

"I don’t mind. As long as it helps you, even a sham marriage is fine."

’If she were willing to marry me for real, that would be even better, of course.’

’Even if she isn’t, at least we would be husband and wife in the eyes of the law.’

’We’re already living together, and if we get that certificate...’

’At the very least, it would chase away all those unwanted suitors buzzing around her.’

’Given time, Claire will surely see how sincere my feelings for her are.’

"But..."

"Do you have a more suitable candidate in mind right now?" Adrian Sutton asked.

After asking, he watched her nervously, terrified that she might actually have someone else in mind.

But Claire Mercer just shook her head and said,

"I just don’t want to turn a perfectly fine young man like you into a divorcee down the line because of my problems."

’A divorcee?’

’We haven’t even gotten the certificate, and she’s already thinking about divorce.’

The thought wounded Adrian Sutton deeply.

’It seems she doesn’t like me one bit.’

’Otherwise, she wouldn’t be worried about whether or not this makes me a divorcee.’

But he could also understand her current mindset.

Her past with Gavin Sinclair had left her afraid of relationships, casting a long shadow over her.

It was only natural that she couldn’t jump into a new relationship right away.

’It’s okay.’

’I don’t have a chance right now.’

’But that Ian Peyton definitely doesn’t have a chance either.’

Thinking this, Adrian Sutton felt a little better.

"If we get along well in the future, and you don’t meet anyone you fall in love with, we could just make a life together."

Hearing this, Claire Mercer stared at him with a look of astonishment.

’From the way he’s talking, does he mean he wants to just... settle for a life with me?’

’Could it be true, what Roxanne Peyton and Stella Thorne said? That he... toward me...’

She was just about to ask him when she heard Adrian Sutton speak again.

"But no matter what, let’s solve the immediate problem first."

"We can talk about the future in the future."

"Even if you want to divorce me someday, I’ll be fine with it."

"I will always respect all of your choices."

Hearing Adrian Sutton say this, Claire Mercer felt something indescribable inside.

She was moved, and a complex mix of emotions toward him began to surface.

Since she had met Adrian Sutton, he had appeared just in time to save her from several close calls.

She was deeply grateful to him from the bottom of her heart.

During the time they had spent together, she’d discovered he was actually a very straightforward person.

He didn’t have any messy relationships and was very considerate in how he handled things.

After they became roommates, she found him to be a true gentleman, very thoughtful.

He had gentlemanly offered her the bedroom.

He would cook three meals a day and keep the house spotlessly clean.

When her spirits were low, he would comfort her.

When she felt lost, he would encourage her.

All these little things showed that he was a very mature person.

It seemed that, without her even realizing it, he had gradually become a part of her life.

In every respect, he was truly a good person.

At the very least, he was very good to her and was very attentive to her emotions and feelings.

But as she was now, she didn’t dare to easily accept anyone’s feelings.

’If Adrian Sutton really does like me, then I can’t get the certificate with him.’

’I don’t want to give him hope, only to let him down later.’

’That kind of sharp contrast between hope and disappointment is the most torturous thing of all.’

’When I’m not sure if I can return someone’s feelings...’

’...I should choose to decisively cut off any fantasies they might have about me.’

With this in mind, Claire Mercer decided to refuse him.

But before the words of rejection could leave her lips, she heard Adrian Sutton speak again.

"Besides, I actually have a selfish reason for proposing marriage to you."

"A selfish reason?" Claire Mercer asked. "Is your family pressuring you to get married?"

"Yes," Adrian Sutton said. "I’m twenty-seven and still single."

"And my maternal grandparents, who raised me, are getting old and have always wanted to see me start a family."

"If we get married, it’s actually mutually beneficial."

"I help you escape the Mercer Family’s forced marriage, and you help me deal with my grandparents’ nagging. It’s perfectly fair."

Hearing him put it that way, Claire Mercer felt herself breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alright. If that’s the case, then let’s get married."