Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Let’s Get Married “Do you miss me, babe?” “Ben, why are you so late? I’ve been waiting for a long time.” “I had to avoid Annalise before coming here.” “Hehe! Ben, what if Anna knew we were so close? What if she found out that everything you’d done for her was actually to help me get the shares her mother left her? And what if she discovered that you’re actually in love with me instead of her? Do you think she’d be angry?”

“You little rascal. Look at all the sacrifices I’ve made for you. Now, it’s time you pay me back…” When Annalise Barton heard this, she couldn’t believe her ears. If her mentor hadn’t asked her to help him get some herbs, she wouldn’t have seen her boyfriend, Benjamin Quigley, enter the hotel room, let alone hear that disgusting conversation between him and her cousin. As she listened to their disgusting and blunt words, it was obvious that this was not the first time this had happened. Half an hour ago, Benjamin just told Annalise he could hardly wait to marry her. It was June, but Annalise felt an icy chill penetrating her heart.“How can a person be so hypocritical?” she thought. At that moment, moaning sounds echoed from the room. Hearing that, Annalise was so disgusted that she got goosebumps. If it were not for the coincidence, she would still be in the dark, thinking that this man only had eyes for her.

Taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes and looked at the door. After finding a good position and determining her strength, she quickly backed away before lifting her leg and kicking the door open forcefully. Bang! The door swung open, and a woman’s high-pitched scream sounded as Benjamin asked vigilantly, “Who is it?” “It’s me, Annalise!” Annalise announced, enunciating each syllable clearly.

“Anna?!” Benjamin quickly pulled up his pants. Abigail, who was lying on the bed, pulled a quilt to cover herself, but she deliberately revealed her seductive shoulders. Annalise took out her phone and took two photos of them. “What are you doing, Anna?” When Benjamin saw her taking pictures, he tried to snatch the phone from her anxiously. Thud! Annalise kicked him. Her force was so great that he flew backward and fell onto the bed as Abigail screamed exaggeratedly. Annalise glared at him and warned, “Benjamin, we will go our own ways from now on! Remember that it is I who dumped you. Explain things accurately when you face the media, or else… I will not show you mercy.” Seeing as they were after the shares that her mother left for her, they would inevitably denigrate her in front of the media.

Then people who didn’t know the truth would think it was reasonable for her uncle’s family to take the inheritance her mother had left for her. “Anna, how could you do this to Ben? You are so rude. I initially wanted to apologize to you, but since this just happened, I guess there is nothing I can say. You should see as well that Ben and I really love each other…” Abigail lifted her chin and looked at Annalise. Deep down, Abigail could hardly wait for Annalise to expose her to the public. That way, her marriage to the Quigley family would be a solid affair. Naturally, that would mean she would not need to fulfill her marriage to the eldest son of the Parks family from Jadeborough either. She had deliberately inquired about the information concerning the eldest son of the Parks family, Julian Parks. It turned out that he was an ugly man of fifty-two who was in a wheelchair. “What kind of person needs a wheelchair? You do not need it unless you’re a cripple!” she figured. To her, it did not matter that the Parks family was powerful and influential, as Julian was just a loser that no one favored. As far as she knew, the one whom the Parks family held in high regard was Julian’s half-brother, Alexander Parks, instead. There was no way she would want to be married to an old and ugly cripple. “Haha! You two better be bound to each other for life!” stated Annalise. She gave the adulterous couple another contemptuous look before keeping her phone and leaving. “Did they expect me to go for a marriage of convenience? In their dreams!” she scoffed internally. “Anna, wait a minute!” Benjamin quickly grabbed his shirt and ran after her. He reached out and grasped her hand. “Let go of me now. One, two-” Before Annalise could count to three, Benjamin had already let go of her hand. He had no idea why, but after being kicked by Annalise, he suddenly had a strange feeling and felt rather reluctant to let her go. Somehow, he felt Annalise was completely different today. She used to be very gentle and would smile whenever she saw him, calling him affectionately by his nickname, Benny. They even used to dream about their future together, and she had even told him the kind of wedding she would like. However, on this day, Annalise was cold and straightforward. Nonetheless, Benjamin found himself fatally attracted to her. Annalise walked quickly in the direction of the elevator. Benjamin ran after her uncontrollably and said, “Anna, Abigail and I were just messing around. Forgive me this time, and our marriage would still be valid.” He suddenly realized that he wanted to marry her more than Abigail. “After I marry her, I’ll just help her get back her shares in Moonlight Group. After all, her mother left it to her when she died. It’s rightfully hers,” Benjamin thought. “Our marriage would still be valid?” Annalise flashed him a mocking smile. It was the funniest joke she had ever heard in her life.“Yes, it would.” Benjamin made it sound as if he was doing her a favor. “Do you think you are worthy of me?” Annalise looked at him disdainfully. “You should know that I am the eldest son of the Quigley family. How many women have tried every method they could think of to marry me?” Benjamin proudly reminded Annalise of his status before coaxing her, “Anna, Abigail and I were really just fooling around. I still love you. If you’re worried about such a little thing, then you are too petty.” “Little thing? Haha! I wish you an infinite number of cuckolds in your life and may you become a happy father every time. Whenever you come home, you’ll see your wife sleeping with a strange man. Remember to always be forgivable, all right? Don’t be petty.” Annalise laughed. She never knew Benjamin was so degenerate and ridiculous. Irritated by her disdainful sneer, Benjamin retorted, “Annalise, your family has a marriage contract with the son of the Parks family of Jadeborough. If Abigail does not marry him, then you will have to. You also know that he is fifty-two years old and a disabled old man who’s stuck in a wheelchair.” Julian, who had just come out of a room nearby, scoffed at Benjamin’s words. “I’m 52 years old and an old cripple who’s stuck in a wheelchair?”

Julian thought. He had just come to Horington and had just received the information about the Barton family. Before he even visited the Barton family, he was already betrayed by Abigail, whom he had never met but was engaged to him. “Now, this is interesting!” he thought to himself. Annalise snorted.

“Even if he’s a fifty-two-year-old cripple, he’s still cleaner than you! Besides, does Abigail’s engagement have anything to do with me? She has the hobby of picking up trash, but I don’t!” “Anna, I’m afraid you’ll have no choice when the time comes. After all, your uncle currently runs Moonlight Group-” “Get lost!” Annalise raised her phone. What she was implying was quite clear. If Benjamin continued speaking nonsense, she would expose the photos. Benjamin wanted to say something, but he shut his mouth and frowned. “Well, I’ll just wait until she calms down before I talk to her again,” he thought.

Annalise entered the elevator and was about to crouch down to hug herself when a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her. Thinking that it was Benjamin following her again, she was angry and wanted to vent her anger. However, when she raised her gaze, she saw a handsome man smiling at her instead. She thought there was something wrong with this man. Hence, she shifted to stand a little further away from him and turned to the side. In the next moment, the figure appeared in front of her again, and she immediately found herself trapped between him and the wall of the elevator. “Is your boyfriend cheating on you?” asked Julian, raising his tone at the end of his sentence as he stared at Annalise with deep and alluring eyes. They were in the same boat. Judging by her behavior toward Benjamin, Julian believed she was a hundred times better than Abigail. Annalise retorted furiously, “Does this have anything to do with you?” “Is your uncle taking your family fortune?” Julian continued asking loudly and clearly. Annalise was speechless. She turned aside again and ignored this self-

righteous man.“Perhaps I should marry a man I already know quickly so that my uncle will not threaten me with Mom’s shares?” she contemplated. “Are you interested in marrying me? Let’s keep the marriage for three months. I’ll help you get your family fortune back, and you’ll help me fend off the women who are pursuing me as well.” Julian withdrew his smile, and his expression was cold and serious.