Chapter 1

My sister, Charlotte, craved living in the moment and had no interest in marriage.

And I was greedy for money, so I took Charlotte's place and married Xavier, who was supposedly ugly and fierce.

Rumors spread that he despised me, only because his heart still belonged to his unattainable first love.

Finally, after saving enough money, I decided to fake my death and escape.

I sent a message to Charlotte, who ran a high-end club in the southern city:

"I'm coming to join you---remember to cover for me!"

One day, however, my CEO husband shaved his beard and showed up at my door.

His appearance was even more handsome than the city's acknowledged heartthrob.

I panicked and tried to flee, but due to our size difference, he caught me in his arms with reddened eyes.

It was over.

This time, I truly couldn't escape...

My husband Xavier was famous in this city as an iron-faced CEO.

He stood six foot two, just past twenty-five, his chin always covered in thick stubble.

When he looked at people, his gaze was sharp and piercing.

Anyone who caught his eye felt a survivor's fear.

When people saw me following behind him, they couldn't help but whisper.

"A man like that actually managed to get a wife?"

"He looks completely unromantic. Life with him must be boring as hell, like being a living widow! Poor Mrs. Xavier..."

I broke out in a cold sweat.

My husband truly didn't understand romance.

But in bed, he was fierce and relentless, with no restraint.

Every night he'd make me cry and beg for mercy before he'd reluctantly stop.

"Xavier, no more..."

I'd think of sad things to make myself cry, tears streaming down my face, and Xavier couldn't stand it.

He'd stop with a dark expression on his face.

He didn't know how to comfort people.

He'd grasp my trembling, snow-white ankle, gently set it down, lean over to kiss my forehead, his voice hoarse:

"Stop crying."

I was somewhat surprised, because he rarely kissed me.

Usually he just closed his eyes and went straight to work.

But the next moment, his stubble scraped against my eyelids.

The pain made tears stream down my face again.

Therefore, I often had red-rimmed eyes, looking frail and delicate.

The company was full of rumors that Xavier was abusive.

So what if he was powerful in business? Only the most incompetent men beat their wives at home.

Feeling guilty, I sniffled and got some anti-swelling ointment from the private doctor, then hurriedly fled.

This marriage wasn't originally my destiny.

The person engaged to Xavier was my sister, Charlotte.

My name is Natalie, and Charlotte is my half-sister, but we have an excellent relationship.

Charlotte had always loved living in the moment, especially fond of handsome, refined men.

She'd bet on nine young entrepreneurs who came to this city to start businesses, telling each one reluctantly:

"I'll wait for you to return successful and marry me. If it's not you, I'll never marry."

Unfortunately, Charlotte lost every bet and even invested quite a bit of money.

She was so angry she came to my room, broke my things, and cried her heart out.

I also cried tears of heartache, angry but not daring to speak.

"Natalie, what should I do? I really don't want to marry that Xavier!"

"His fierce looks are one thing, but he's dark and fierce, famous for his bad temper."

I knew Charlotte's ambition was to open a high-end club, gather all the handsome young men in the world, and live it up every night with fine wine and music.

When Charlotte had a sudden inspiration and begged me with her bright, dewy eyes to marry him in her place, I hesitated.

"How can I do something so dishonest? If Dad finds out, I'm afraid..."

She saw through my hesitation and waved her hand grandly, saying she'd give me a hundred thousand dollars after it was done, plus a share of the dividends when she opened her high-end club in the future.

"Alright then, I'll make an exception for you this once."

I finally agreed.

It was nothing more than being a careful, heartbroken lapdog---I was familiar with that role.

So we hit it off immediately.

She staged a crying bride's suicide by drowning, but actually secretly ran away, taking the money to the southern city to live carefree.

The family had no other daughters of marriageable age, so the burden of the marriage alliance successfully fell on me.