Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 933

So Parker's sudden demand threw them for a loop. One of the clerks, after a moment of stunned silence, frantically flipped through the files and discovered that the groom who had just been there to get married was named 'Barclay', the eldest son of the Doonan family! But this heir, compared to the notorious Parker who played both sides of the law, was hardly noticeable.

The clerk took a deep breath, visibly panicked and nervously tried to joke with Parker, "Parker, you might be mistaken? The one who just registered for marriage was your brother..."

"I don't want to repeat myself. Annul their marriage."

Parker stood firm, his tall and lean figure exuding danger, intimidating the clerks behind the counter.

The clerks exchanged uneasy glances as cold sweat started to form on their foreheads.

"Parker, this seems a bit off, doesn't it? The marriage involves them, not you. Besides, the registration has been successfully completed, and the marriage certificates have been issued..."

Parker glanced at the speaker, his long fingers tapping lightly on the counter's edge. From behind his rimless glasses, his eyes, cold and sharp, slowly lifted, "The registration just happened, you haven't updated it online or with the city hall yet.

If you don't want to make this difficult for me, just do it.

As for compensation, it will be generous.

If you prefer to make this difficult, feel free to refuse."

Silence. The pressure was palpable, the threat clear and direct.

The clerks' faces turned pale, unsure of the consequences of refusing Parker today.

Just a regular city hall worker, they couldn't afford to offend Parker.

If he decided to take action right there, it would likely go unnoticed.

Under immense pressure, their fingers curled, and they reluctantly sat back down at their stations, Parker's gaze fixed on the computer, "Do it."

The computer's files were to delete the newlyweds' relationship, and it was done in an instant.

The system hadn't updated city hall or any other government records yet.

The clerks, trembling, said, "But Parker, the marriage certificate has already been issued to them, this puts us in a really tough spot!"

"What's the harm in holding onto a worthless piece of paper?"

Parker's tone was dismissive, a cold look in his eye.

Silence fell again.

The man personally shut down the computers, his voice deep, "You can leave work now."

The clerks grimaced, checking the time; there were still fifteen minutes until the end of their shift.

But with apprehensive glances at Parker, they hurriedly shut down the city hall system and gathered their things to leave the office.

Parker remained seated, his dark eyes shadowed deeply, he closed his eyes.

His subordinate, puzzled by his actions, approached hesitantly.

Just then, Parker's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered nonchalantly.

On the other end was Endora's impatient voice, "Parker, where are you? I was picking out rings, and when I turned around, you were gone. But I heard from the clerk that your car headed towards Banyan City Hall... Are you at the city hall? I might as well come over, and we could get our marriage license now!"

"Not there, and stop dreaming," he replied coldly.

"Parker, our wedding is coming up, how can we have a wedding without a marriage certificate?" Endora's voice was weak, almost crying.

Parker chuckled, "Just a wedding, no certificate. Keep nagging, and the wedding's off too."

"Parker...!" Endora, hearing his indifferent tone, trembled!

She quickly changed her approach, "Alright, Parker, I wasn't rushing you. Let's have the wedding first, and whenever you're ready, we'll get the license. The whole town will witness our wedding, we're practically married already..." Parker didn't let her finish, hanging up abruptly.

His subordinate, observing his indifferent demeanor towards Endora, noted the stark contrast to his behavior when dealing with Tiana that afternoon in the boutique. It was clear that only Tiana could stir Parker's emotions.

No wonder he had the city hall staff leave early, probably to prevent Endora from exploiting any loopholes.

But forcing the clerks to annul someone else's marriage, what was he really planning?

The subordinate, feeling uneasy, ventured, "Boss, why go through all this trouble? Tiana and Barclay's wedding is the same day as yours, and today you've nullified their marriage behind their backs. Do you want Tiana to be single again, thinking of..." "What do you care about my thoughts?" Parker, with closed eyes, leaned back in his chair, his response tinged with irritation.

The subordinate sighed deeply, realizing Parker's reluctance to see Tiana marry someone else was evident.

Did he care? Was he still concerned?

Parker's eyes, half-shut, were tinged red as he questioned himself. If he was over it, why risk breaking the law for her?

"Then what do you plan to do with Tiana, now that she's single?" the subordinate pressed.

With their wedding days approaching and no plans to legitimize his own union with Endora, Parker's intentions seemed clear. The subordinate hoped to understand his boss's heart, to perhaps hint at something to Ashton to avoid chaos at the weddings. But Parker remained silent.

Sitting there, he pondered what to do with Tiana, now that he had restored her single status.

Was it at the bridal shop, watching her cry silently in the dressing room, seeing her in that simple yet elegant wedding dress, that he lost his senses? He liked that dress; its simplicity demanded a certain grace, and Tiana, with her delicate beauty, was perfect for it. He knew her measurements, so he had lingered...

What had he been doing all afternoon?

Parker scoffed at himself, disgusted. She was ready to marry Barclay, carrying Barclay's child, and yet he was...

Why, in the end, could he tolerate so much? Always a man who couldn't stand imperfection, yet repeatedly breaking his own rules for a woman who had shown him no loyalty!

He loathed himself, but he couldn't stop. This woman was his unresolved desire, his unquenchable thirst. Even if she was just a shell, he had to have her.

-

The day before the wedding, Tiana visited Fabian in the hospital. It had been three days since her father slipped into unconsciousness, and he still hadn't woken up. Only half a dose of some miracle drug was keeping his vital signs going. The cardiology expert at the hospital said that without her dad waking up, they couldn't proceed with the heart transplant surgery.