Chapter 3

That photo became a thorn in Erin's heart.

Erin used Reid Holdings' contacts to investigate, but the result left her feeling trapped in an ice cave.

Noah had once been a brilliant young painter in New York. He was also the old love Landon kept hidden in his heart.

Five years earlier, Noah had been in a serious car accident and was left in a vegetative state. He still lay in a top care facility in Seattle, and the core medical technology behind that facility came from Lynn Medical Group's research institute.

Erin was sitting in an empty room, looking at the investigation report in her hand, and suddenly felt extremely ridiculous.

No wonder Landon agreed so readily, no wonder he wanted the medical resources of Lynn Medical Group.

He was not bisexual. He was gay, completely and without question.

He married Erin only so he could use Lynn Medical Group's technology to save the person he loved. At the same time, a conventional marriage would hide his unacceptable orientation from his family and give them an explanation.

She had escaped Keller's trap, only to plunge headfirst into Landon's abyss.

"Knock knock."

There was a knock on the door, and Landon's assistant walked in pushing a row of wedding dresses.

"Mrs. Reid, these are all Paris couture. Please see which one you like," the assistant said respectfully.

Erin looked at those priceless white gauze and felt dazzled.

"Where's Landon?"

"Landon went to Seattle on a business trip and said he would be back the day before the wedding."

Go to Seattle... to see Noah.

Erin twitched her lips: "I know, let it go."

The wedding took place as scheduled.

The wedding of the century shook all of New York. Landon gave Erin the ultimate public respect: Bulgarian roses everywhere, a pink diamond ring worth over a hundred million, and an official place in the Reid family's inner circle.

At the wedding scene, Keller was escorted back from the remote overseas branch.

He was tanned and thin, and his eyes were full of unwillingness and regret when he looked at Erin who was so radiant on the stage.

He tried to rush onto the stage, but was held down by Landon's bodyguard.

Holding Erin's hand, Landon looked down at Keller. His voice was not loud, but it carried through the room. "Call her Mrs. Reid."

Keller bit his lip in humiliation and squeezed out a few words through his teeth: "Mrs. Reid."

Erin looked at Keller's humiliation, but she felt no pleasure from revenge. The large hand holding hers was warm, yet stiff as wood.

Landon was enduring physical contact with a woman.

The moment the toast was over, Landon released her hand and wiped his palm with a handkerchief.

That tiny movement was like a loud slap across Erin's face.

Wedding night.

The wedding room was decorated festively and luxuriously. Erin sat on the edge of the bed wearing red silk pajamas and watched Landon walk out of the bathroom.

He was wearing neat dark pajamas, buttoned to the top button, and was ascetic to the extreme.

He walked to the bed, did not get on the bed, but took out a spare quilt from the cabinet and walked to the sofa in the distance.

"You sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa." Landon said in a calm voice with his back to Erin.

Erin tightened her grip on the sheets: "Landon, we're getting married."

"I know." Landon turned around, his eyes clear and empty of desire. "Erin, I promised you that aside from love and physical intimacy, I can give you anything. If you feel wronged, my supplementary card has no limit. Buy anything you like."

Erin laughed angrily.

"You think money can solve everything?"

"At least it solves most troubles." Landon walked over, bent slightly, and placed a kiss on her forehead as light as a feather.

There was no warmth or emotion in it. It felt like a bedtime ritual.

"Good night, Erin."

Erin looked at his back walking towards the sofa, her eyes sore.

She had thought she could keep this as a transaction and leave feelings out of it. But the heart was made of flesh. In the past half month, Landon had shielded her from storms and backed her up when she needed it. How could she not feel anything?

Yet that feeling looked ridiculous in the face of Landon's absolute reason and the gender line she could never cross.