I Picked Up the Trash Others Threw Away - Chapter 30.2

Chapter 30.2

Coming from a gambler who had actually been kicked out of a casino, I felt a little frightened.

He was always so carefree about everything, pretending not to be desperate, but now, he wasn’t smiling and looked serious.

In any case, I also agreed that Seraph Buchanan was a dangerous person and that I shouldn’t get too involved with him.

Trish still seemed anxious. I held his hand and whispered as if soothing a child.

“My choice to become a dealer in the casino will not have a negative impact on you and the Malekiah family, Trish. It’s my responsibility. I’ll make sure you’re not harmed in this.”

“Do you think I’m just saying this because I worry about my well-being? It’s you I’m worried about, Audrey Malekiah.”

Trish tightened his grip on my hand, intertwining our fingers together so that I couldn’t escape, and pulled me towards him.

I stumbled into his embrace, easily dragged away by the unexpected force. Trish muttered, gazing at my face.

“I’ve thought this from the beginning, but you’re a fearless woman. You walked into the underworld without any fear, sweet-talking people with your sharp mouth.”

“The same goes for you…!”

“But that boldness is also attractive.”

What? What did he say?

I couldn’t manage my facial expression due to the unexpected comment.

There was a smile on Trish’s previously grim face. I blinked, but his handsome face only glistened without a single flaw.

As I stared blankly at Trish, he flicked me on the forehead with a playful gesture.

“I guess that’s why all kinds of people flock to you? But you’re married now, so you should behave. Be careful, okay?”

“… Says the king of disorder. You have such a nerve.”

Of course. Seraph wasn’t the only man I had to be wary of.

We had a pretty amicable relationship right now, but Trish Malekiah was hardly what you’d call a good man.

He was good-looking, but I couldn’t be with someone who could ruin a family with his gambling.

‘Perhaps the biggest trial I’ll have to go through over this next year is not falling for this man.’

I shouldn’t let myself be shaken by the fake kindness he gave to all the women he met, nor by the unexpected appearance he showed once in a while.

Article 1, Paragraph 2 of the marriage contract: A and B shall never fall in love with each other.

I couldn’t break the clause I made myself.

“It’s late, let’s wash up and go to sleep.”

“You mean… together?”

Ignoring Trish’s ridiculous seduction, I pulled the rope and called out to the attendants.

The attendants, who were waiting outside with impatient faces, came in right away.

‘Just you wait. No matter how much you try to seduce me, I’m not falling for it.’

***

“Audrey, since you are not a member of the Malekiah family, we would like to gather our relatives and introduce them to you.”

“Yes, it’s a very important occasion.”

“It might sound grand, but don’t be nervous. Family gatherings are like annual events. This year, we are planning to have a meal together at our family’s villa.”

The Count and Countess had suddenly started calling me by my name. I called them Mother and Father and treated them as if they were my real parents.

The wedding was held without a hitch, and in the process, I met some of the relatives.

However, I hadn’t met everyone, and there hadn’t been time for personal conversations, so this gathering was likely meant to introduce the new and youngest daughter-in-law to the whole family.

“What can I do to prepare?”

“How about organizing this family event yourself? You can get valuable experience from hosting an event. We’ll help you with anything you need.”

The influence of nobles was absolute when it came to holding family events, from tea parties with acquaintances in small mansions to grand balls with members of the social circle.

From the schedule, location, dress code, and even the cutlery, everything had to be chosen with care, and the quality of the party was a demonstration of the host’s competence.

Rather than having hosted a proper party before, I had barely attended a few myself, so it felt daunting…

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

This was the perfect opportunity to leave my mark in the social world and show what I was capable of. I didn’t want to disappoint the two of them either.

And, since it was a family gathering, I might even get to meet Trish’s older brother, the heir of the Malekiah family, whose name I hadn’t even heard yet.