Chapter 2

Back at my place, I immediately started packing to move. The farther from Adrian, the better.

The doorbell rang just then. Adrian stood outside holding a document.

"Miss Sinclair, I think we need to talk."

I was about to close the door when he jammed it open with his hand.

"About the company your father left behind—doesn't Miss Sinclair want to know its current situation?"

I stopped.

The company my father left was the only thing I truly cared about.

In my past life, after we married, he took full control of the company, and eventually it all became Gianna Smith's dowry.

I kept a straight face and let him in.

Adrian tossed the document on the coffee table.

"The company's cash flow is broken. Without capital injection within three days, it will go bankrupt and liquidate."

"And currently, only I can come up with that money."

I turned to look at him.

"What are your conditions?"

Adrian leaned in close to me.

"Marry me."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Adrian, what's in it for you?"

"I want you."

He was acting too convincing. Having died once, I would never believe this nonsense again.

I picked up the document and ripped it in half.

"Let it go bankrupt then."

"I'd rather beg on the streets than marry you."

After Adrian left, I quickly contacted the company's finance department to verify.

The situation was worse than he'd described.

Not only was the cash flow broken, but several huge debts were about to come due. Someone was obviously manipulating things behind the scenes.

Who else could it be but Adrian?

To force me to submit, he'd stop at nothing. This playbook was exactly the same as my past life.

First strike from the shadows to create a crisis, then appear as the savior to resolve it, so I'd be grateful to him.

This time I absolutely wouldn't play his game.

I listed my properties and jewelry for sale, even went to find former rivals to try to transfer shares at a low price.

Result: everyone avoided me completely.

Sebastian had spread the word behind the scenes—whoever dared help me would be openly opposing Hayes Group.

Melissa called to persuade me.

"Josie, what's wrong with just giving in a little?"

"Adrian likes you so much, he even went to beg Sebastian for you."

"If you marry him, the company is saved, you get a good home—everyone's happy, isn't that good?"

I pressed the hang-up button and blocked her.

Three days later, the court summons arrived in my hands.

I sat in the empty rental apartment.

The door was pushed open. Adrian stood in the doorway holding an umbrella.

"Josie, stop struggling."

He walked forward, looking down at me from above.

"Just nod your head, and all your current difficulties will be resolved."

I raised my head to stare at him.

"Adrian, do you think that by pushing someone to the edge and then showing a little mercy, they'll be grateful to you?"

He frowned.

"I'm just trying to help you."

"Helping me means cutting off all my escape routes?" I stood and walked toward him.

"And having Sebastian blacklist me?"

Adrian reached out and gripped my chin hard.

"Josie, my patience is limited."

"You can only marry me."

I pulled my lips into a smile.

"Fine, I'll marry you."

Adrian froze for a moment, apparently not expecting me to agree so readily.

He released his hand, his eyes filling again with that fake gentle look.

"That's right."

"I'll give you a wedding."

I didn't respond. The wedding from my past life and the homeless man on the wedding night were vivid in my mind. I couldn't possibly repeat that mistake.

Agreeing to him was just to get the capital injection.

As soon as the money arrived, I'd take the funds and run far away.

On the day we registered our marriage, Adrian was dressed impeccably.