Chapter 3 We Are In Sync In Bed

Xandra returned to the hotel from the hospital, her delicate features worn with exhaustion.

Her mother had suffered a cardiac arrest but was fortunately resuscitated. Yet the medical bills were piling up, and she desperately needed more money.

Thinking about her current situation, she felt an invisible hand clutch her heart, making it hard to breathe.

The Cavendish family had gone bankrupt, and ungrateful as Lucius was, he wanted to call off their engagement.

She had no one to rely on anymore; her mother's medical bills, her children's formula—everything demanded money!

Xandra stood dazed at the hotel room door.

Thinking about her three adorable little ones, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced a smile, not wanting them to sense anything was wrong.

She rang the doorbell, and the door quickly opened.

Her smile froze as she saw the tall man in front of her.

"What are you doing here?"

The man at the door was Frederick.

"Nice to see you again."

Instinctively, Xandra stepped back and glanced at the room number.

She hadn’t gone to the wrong room—this was the one she had booked!

"What are you doing here?"

At that moment, three little heads appeared from behind Frederick.

"Mommy, you're back!"

"Mommy, come in!"

Elizabeth and Margaret pulled Xandra inside.

Frederick closed the door and followed them in, moving leisurely.

"Mommy, we found you a new husband! Do you like him?" Elizabeth asked cheekily, glancing at Frederick.

Xandra stood frozen, lost in thought.

Hearing her daughter's sweet voice, she almost dropped her jaw in shock.

"What? Why did you... find me a new husband?"

"Because Mr. Flores is capable!"

"Because Mr. Flores is a eunuch!"

Xandra choked on her own saliva.

Instinctively, she glanced at Frederick's lower region.

Recalling some unsettling moments from the night before, her clear eyes flickered.

A eunuch? But this man seemed every bit like a real man, didn’t he?

"Maggie, Mr. Flores may be powerful, but he's not a eunuch. That's not what it means," Charles explained, correcting the misunderstanding.

Margaret's big, round eyes widened in realization. "Oh."

Xandra understood and glanced at the three little ones, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

What was happening? Why was this man here? Had the kids really tried to find her a new husband?

"Sir, can I speak to you outside for a moment?"

Outside the room, Xandra regarded the tall man with a wary expression.

"What's going on? Are you following me?"

"I have better things to do," Frederick replied, leaning against the wall with casual elegance.

"Your three kids came to the Russell Group building, asking for Seaside City's business tycoon, Frederick Russell, to be their new dad. They wanted someone to protect you from being bullied."

Unbelievable! How did these kids even come up with such an idea?

Xandra felt a mix of amusement and emotion, a warmth tingling in her chest.

Suppressing her emotions, she asked, "You're not Frederick, right? The kids called you Mr. Flores earlier."

A glint of light shone in Frederick’s deep eyes.

"I'm Frederick's assistant. My name is Raymond Flores."

Raymond was another name he used; Flores was his mother’s surname.

His parents divorced when he was young, and he moved abroad abroad with his mother.

He had returned only six months ago to take over as president of the Russell Group.

"Mr. Flores, thank you for bringing my kids back. They say the darndest things, so please don't take it seriously."

Xandra didn’t take the kids’ words seriously, brushing them off in her mind.

Find her a husband? She had just been heartbroken by a scumbag and had no interest in any man right now.

"What if I do take it seriously?" Frederick asked.

Xandra looked up. "What do you mean by that?"

"Marry me."

Marry him?

"Are you nuts?" Xandra blurted out.

Frederick stepped closer, cornering her against the wall. "Crazy or not, you should know the truth after last night."

A faint smile curved on Frederick’s lips.

The closeness of his masculine scent brought back vivid memories of his strength and intensity the night before.

A blush slowly spread across Xandra’s cheeks and ears.

He wasn't just sane—he was remarkably strong.

If that's the case...

"Why do you want to marry me?" she asked.

Raymond was handsome and and well-established. Finding a suitable woman to marry should be easy for him—so why choose her, a single mother?

"Because it fits."

Frederick's gaze darkened as it swept over her rosy lips.

Confusion flickered across Xandra’s beautiful eyes.

"We didn't know each other before, right? So what makes you think we’d be a good fit?"

Frederick parted his lips and said, "Don't you think we were a good match in bed?"

Xandra fell utterly silent.

Physical compatibility—that was his idea of a good fit! Men truly think with their lower halves.

Xandra blushed and pushed him away; her first instinct was to refuse.

"You're so shallow."

Frederick straightened up, his tone casual. "Food and sex are basic needs. Even if it seems shallow, it’s better than being a hypocrite."

His words reminded Xandra of Lucius.

For four years, he had never touched her, giving her all the respect.

But it had all been a hypocritical farce!

Her heart ached again; she lowered her eyes and remained silent.

"Have you made up your mind?" Frederick asked.

Xandra didn't want to consider it, but thinking of her situation, she swallowed her refusal.

Her mother's medical bills needed paying, and she didn’t have much money left. On top of that, her kids were about to start kindergarten.

The best private kindergarten in Seaside City required parental qualifications.

As a single mother with no social or financial connections, her kids might not be accepted. So…

Xandra's fingers curled slightly as she regarded the handsome Raymond, setting aside all her pride.

"If we get married, how much bride price can you offer?"

Frederick glanced at her, a dark gleam in his eyes.

She was really that practical?

Thankfully, he hadn’t revealed his true identity. "How much bride price do you want?"

Xandra heard the coldness in his tone and felt slightly embarrassed, yet she pressed on, "Five hundred thousand dollars."

Frederick gave her a faint look.

"What if I can't afford it? Will you go to the highest bidder?"

He seemed to be mocking her for treating marriage like a business transaction!

A flush of shame rose across Xandra’s cheeks.

She suppressed her emotions. "Mr. Flores, there's no need for sarcasm. I'm not forcing you to marry me."

Xandra lifted her chin, a hint of annoyance flashing in her pretty eyes.

Frederick nodded. "Alright, five hundred thousand it is."

That easily?

Xandra glanced at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Any other conditions, just say them," Frederick added.

Xandra shook her head, her gaze steady.

"I don't know your real reason for wanting to marry me, but you can consider the five hundred thousand a loan. I’ll pay you back once I start earning."

"No need. Once the bride price is paid, it's yours."

Money was the least of his concerns—he simply despised worldly women.

If she weren't useful to him, he wouldn't have bothered with her.