Chapter 1

"My uncle has a girlfriend, Beth!"

Bethany Porter woke up to the sharp scent of disinfectant lingering in the air.

She had just undergone an appendectomy. Before being wheeled into surgery, she had sent a message to her boyfriend, Noah Vazquez. Yet, she still hadn't received a reply.

Just then, she received a call from her best friend, Holly Vazquez.

Bethany's fingers tightened around her phone, the color draining slightly from her knuckles. Guilt seeped into her voice as she asked, "You've heard?"

"Huh? Were you aware of it as well?" Holly paused before realization dawned on her. "How could I forget? You're my uncle's secretary. Of course you'd know!

"Still, I didn't see this coming. He's been single for many years. Turns out, he was waiting for her all along."

Her? Bethany's breath hitched.

"But I seriously can't stand Ella," Holly grumbled. "She's so dramatic and fake, and she always talks in that high-pitched voice. I have no idea what my uncle sees in her."

Bethany was worried that her secret would be exposed, but when she heard that, she realized that the girlfriend Holly was talking about wasn't her. The wound in her lower abdomen throbbed painfully. Biting her lip, she asked through her pain, "Are you sure you didn't get it wrong, Hols?"

Before Noah went abroad, he had slept with Bethany in his arms every night. So how could he have fallen so easily for someone else?

Holly clicked her tongue. "I didn't get it wrong. Here, let me video call you."

The call ended without warning, abruptly switching to video. "The one in the pink ski suit is Ella, Beth. The one in black is my uncle.

"Look at how lovey-dovey they are. My uncle is warming her hands and eating her face right in front of me. I'm going to throw up!"

The camera was far away, but Bethany recognized Noah at a glance.

Noah had promised her that he would make their relationship public when she turned 25. Her birthday was only five days away. Instead of receiving the acknowledgement she was promised, she witnessed Noah with the woman he truly loved at her most vulnerable moment.

Right then, a nurse walked in and took a look at the chart in her hand. "It's time to change your dressing."

"Huh. Beth, are you in the hospital?" Holly asked.

Bethany swallowed the lump in her throat. "No. I'm visiting someone. I have to go, Hols. Let's talk later."

"Oh, alright. I'll text you!"

Bethany's phone buzzed. Instinctively, she tightened her grip and unlocked the screen, only to see another message from Holly. "I thought my uncle was into men, Beth. Who knew he'd fall for such a cutesy, clingy woman? I swear, she kind of looks like you."

Bethany had heard that sentence countless times before. She and Ella Reid weren't related by blood. After her father, Jack Porter, passed away, her mother married into the Reid family, and Ella became her stepsister.

Bethany closed her eyes for a moment, exited the chat, and noticed a notification pop up from Instagram.

It was a post from Ella. "Teehee, my personal trainer!" Attached was the picture that she and Noah had just taken together.

Bethany had been in a clandestine relationship with Noah for three years. No matter how much she begged, he had never agreed to post a single photo of them. It hit her then that he was fine being seen, just not with her.

Noah wasn't looking at the camera when the picture was taken. Instead, he gazed down at Ella with unmistakable tenderness, her reflection filling his eyes.

Within seconds, a new comment appeared below the post.

NV: "My princess."

Bethany's nails dug into her palm as she tapped on the familiar profile, as if she were punishing herself. It was his Instagram, as she had expected.

Valentine's Day, Christmas, New Year's… Every time he said he was working overtime, on a business trip, or at a social event, he had been with Ella.

Each word on the screen felt like a dense cluster of needles piercing into her chest. The cold seeped into her bones, leaving her unable to breathe.

In a heartbeat, a metallic tang filled her mouth. Why did it have to be Ella?

Bethany had never gotten along with her stepsister, and Noah had been well aware of their history. Bethany wondered whether she had been nothing more than Ella's substitute when Noah was with her.

She didn't want to dwell on that train of thought. Thus, she picked up her phone and texted her mother, Diana Reeves. "I'll go on the blind date, Mom."

Diana, who was usually cold toward her, replied almost instantly. "I'm glad you've come to your senses. I've sent you the address. Private room 1012. Remember to be agreeable, alright?"

A wry smile curled at Bethany's lips. Diana sure was eager to sell her off for a good price.

After finishing her IV, she raised her hand, hailed a cab, and headed to the restaurant.

…

Diana would never set Bethany up with someone decent. Bethany's blind date was Cyrus Brannon, an infamous playboy who went through women faster than he went through clothes.

Ever since she remarried, Diana had been kind only to Ella. Bethany had long grown used to her mother's favoritism.

Bethany took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the private room. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly. The man wore a flamboyant burgundy suit that made him stand out in a crowd.

He held a glass of wine in one hand and had his other tucked into his pocket. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy.

When he heard the door creak open, he lifted his gaze. His eyes were dangerously captivating.

"Mr. Brannon?"

Bethany had to admit that the heir of the Brannon family possessed a flawless face. He had the looks to play the field, and he clearly did.

The private room was filled with both men and women. It seemed that he truly didn't discriminate.

The man cocked his brow. "You are…"

"May I have a word with you?" Bethany asked.

The man set his wineglass down and motioned for the others to leave. Silence settled in the private room in no time.

Bethany pressed her lips together and walked up to him. "I'm Bethany Porter. I'm here for the blind date. If you like what you see, we can skip ahead straight to marriage."

Noah's heartlessness had stripped away her illusions about men. It didn't matter who she married. She now believed that it was just a partnership to get through life.

The man's lips curled slightly. His lazy, indifferent voice reached her ear. "Marriage?"

Bethany composed herself. "Of course. Since this is an alliance between our families, marriage is the end goal. You can do whatever you want on the outside, but I won't be responsible for any illegitimate children you have. At most, I won't mistreat them.

"Ideally, I'd like our marriage to last a year. I'll play the role of your wife, and when the year is up, we'll go our separate ways. Don't worry. Since it's only in name, I won't take a single cent from your family.

"If you want, we can sign a prenup. And if you're okay with this arrangement, we can put everything in writing. How does that sound?"

Bethany believed that she had shown more than enough sincerity. For a notorious playboy like him, having a virtuous wife as a shield would only benefit him.

Yet, his gaze was deep and unreadable, like the deep sea on a winter night. The way he studied her made her chest tighten.

"Alright," he drawled. Then, he changed his tune. "It's still early. Why don't we go register our marriage now?"

Chapter 2

Bethany walked out of the city hall with the man at 5:30 pm with her marriage certificate. Without sparing it a glance, she tucked it into her bag.

Even after leaving the building, it all still felt unreal. Just like that, she was married. Hadn't it all happened a bit too fast?

A faint smile tugged at the man's lips. "What, are you having second thoughts?"

Bethany shook her head. "No. I have something to take care of, so I'll take my leave now."

"Hold on." The man reached out to stop her. "What's your number?"

Oh, right. They were married. It would be strange not to exchange phone numbers.

Bethany gave him her number, and he called her on the spot. She hadn't caught his name earlier. "Cyrus—"

"Silas."

"Which one?" Bethany handed her phone to him.

His cool fingertips brushed against her skin, making her feel faintly uneasy.

After reading his name clearly, she nodded. "Alright. Shall we head our own merry way, then?"

Bethany still had to rush to Noah's place to move her belongings.

Silas Brennan nodded. "Would you like me to give you a ride?" he asked indifferently.

"I'm good. I'll just take a cab."

With that, the newlyweds parted ways. Not long after, she received a friend request on WhatsApp from her husband in name.

His direct message was blunt. It read, "Your husband." Her cheeks burned a little as she accepted the request.

When she saved his contact, she hesitated for a moment before keying in "Dear."

They had agreed to play the role of a loving couple for one year. He had helped her out of her predicament, so she would play her part appropriately.

It was merely a contact name. It didn't mean anything.

That said, Bethany still hadn't received a response from the man she had pinned to the top of her chat list for three years. She let out a derisive chuckle before unpinning his chat and blocking him. Noah was now out of sight and out of mind.

…

Bethany fiddled with the marriage certificate in her hand and called Diana. "I've met him, Mom. I'll go through with the marriage alliance if that's what you want. But I'd like to change what you promised me before about joining Dad's company."

Jack had been an only child. He didn't have any cousins to speak of. Hence, upon his passing, the hotel he founded was managed by his mother on his behalf. After Diana remarried, she lost interest in running the hotel and handed it over to her younger brother's family, though she still retained control.

"What do you want?" Diana frowned.

A trace of mockery curled at Bethany's lips. "I want all the shares of the hotel under your name. Also, Ella has to move out of Bellecourt."

Bellecourt was the small villa her parents had lived in when they were first married. It held all of her childhood memories. Later, she moved into a small apartment in the city with her grandparents, and Bellecourt sat vacant for several years.

Then, two years ago, Diana had actually given Bellecourt to Ella to use as a practice studio. It was now filled with Ella's belongings.

Bethany wanted to reclaim everything her father had left behind for her.

Diana didn't care about the small villa. After all, the Reids weren't short on money. She merely thought that Bellecourt had a nice view, nestled among the mountains and waterfalls.

"I can transfer Bellecourt to your name, Beth. But aren't you being a little greedy with the shares?"

Bethany let out a mirthless chuckle. "Grandma and I both have a rightful share of Dad's inheritance, Mom. How does that make me greedy?"

Diana's expression shifted, and she couldn't be bothered to argue further. "I'll transfer them to you once your marriage into the Brannon family is finalized!"

Bethany hung up on her, not at all worried that Diana would go back on her word. If she did, Bethany wouldn't hesitate to divorce her husband in name.

…

Silas drove his flashy Bugatti back to the Brennan residence. The moment he walked in, he saw his father, Jeremy Brennan, standing there with a grim expression, waiting for him.

Jeremy flung a gossip magazine at his feet. "Last time, it was a no-name model. This time, it's a celebrity. Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"

Silas chuckled, bent down to pick up the magazine, and dusted it off. "Not at all. If you drop dead from anger, who's going to keep hounding me to get married?"

Jeremy gritted his teeth. "What did I ever do to deserve this? You little scoundrel!"

He wasn't furious about Silas' scandals. He was furious because his rumored partners were men. Silas could do anything he wanted, as long as it wasn't with a man.

The Brennan family first rose to prominence through distinguished military achievements before entering business, laying the foundation for the empire they presently command. Brennan Group's operations spanned real estate, technology, finance, healthcare, and several other industries.

Whenever Jeremy thought about his son, whom he had late in life, possibly being gay, his blood pressure spiked. "I don't care about what you want. You're getting married this year!

"I hear that the heir of the Vazquez family is about to form an alliance with the Reid family. What about you? Are you really going to let me lose to the Vazquezes?"

The Brennan and Vazquez families had been at odds for decades.

Jeremy's late wife had been Morris Vazquez's first love. From that moment on, the two families became lifelong rivals. The Brennans and the Vazquezes competed over whose businesses were larger, whose families had more children, and now even over which troublemaker would get married first.

Jeremy had always managed to stay one step ahead of Morris. He had no intention of letting his youngest son ruin that record.

Silas smirked and drawled. "Well… I've already gotten married. My marriage certificate is fresh out of the city hall. Would you like to take a look?"

Jeremy's expression changed drastically. "You're married?"

His eyes widened as he demanded, "Where's the certificate? Let me see it!"

Silas handed over the freshly issued marriage certificate. "Can you see it, or do you need me to get your reading glasses?"

"Go away," Jeremy huffed. "Keep your mouth shut while you're at it!"

It was an actual marriage certificate. The photo looked freshly taken, and Silas was wearing the same clothes he had on now.

"You didn't get a fake certificate to fool me, did you?" Jeremy was still skeptical.

Silas responded, "I don't have time for that. If you don't believe me, I'll introduce her to you later."

"Alright. She's a looker. It's a shame she ended up with you."

Silas smiled meaningfully. "You'll need to put on your best behavior when you meet her, Dad. Don't scare my wife away."

The only question was how long it would take for Bethany to realize that she had married the wrong man.

Chapter 3

Bethany dragged two suitcases out of Noah's villa. Judy Jordan, the housekeeper, had just returned from grocery shopping and froze when she saw her. "Are you going on a business trip, Ms. Porter?"

Bethany chuckled. "Yeah."

"Oh dear, I just bought groceries. Let me know when you're back, and I'll cook your favorites for you!"

Bethany smiled. Soon, there would be a new lady of the house. So, she would never be back again.

Nevertheless, she said, "Thank you, Judy! I'll get going now."

Judy watched Bethany walk away and felt that something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. When she went back into the villa, she noticed that quite a few things were missing. All the soft, pastel pink decorations were gone.

Judy hurried upstairs to the walk-in closet and opened the wardrobe. Fortunately, Bethany's clothes were still there.

Little did she know that everything Bethany had left behind had been given to her by Noah. Bethany had not taken a single one of those items with her. The only things she took were the ones she had bought herself.

Judy still felt uneasy, so she called her employer, who was in Montvera. "Ms. Porter came back today and took quite a few things with her, Mr. Vazquez."

Noah was caught off guard. His brows drew together as he inquired, "Where did she go?"

"She told me that she's going on a business trip for a few days."

A business trip? He wasn't even in the country. As his personal secretary, what kind of business trip could she possibly be on?

Their chat history was still frozen on messages from several days ago. He noticed multiple missed calls on his phone and froze. Just as he was about to call back, Ella hissed in pain.

Bethany was perfectly fine back home. What could possibly have happened to her? He figured that she was probably just upset because he hadn't answered her calls these past few days.

Noah set his phone down and hurried over. "What's wrong, Ella?"

Ella was cutting fruit in the kitchen when she accidentally nicked her finger. "I'm such a klutz, Noah. I just wanted to cut some fruit for you."

He immediately brought over the first-aid kit and bandaged it for her. Then, he affectionately patted her head. "I like this side of you."

She lowered her head bashfully and pouted. "You're so annoying… Noah, when we get home tomorrow, can I invite my sister over?"

His eyes flickered. He was well aware that Bethany was, in name, Ella's sister.

He asked, "Aren't you on bad terms with her?"

Ella's long lashes fluttered. "We aren't on good terms, which is exactly why I want to mend things with her. Mom and Beth don't get along because of me, so I should do something for her."

"You're so kind, Ella." Noah's eyes crinkled. "But let's leave that for another time. We're flying back tomorrow, and I don't want anything to ruin your welcome dinner."

Ella's gaze dimmed. "Alright then." She had always known that Bethany was nothing more than her substitute.

When Noah's phone was left unlocked, she saw Bethany's message and realized the two of them had been secretly seeing each other. From then on, with just a little manipulation, Noah would always rush to see her. Even the post she had made the day before yesterday had been deliberate.

Tomorrow, when she returned home, she would make sure that Bethany was gone.

…

The next day, Bethany went to the company to hand over her responsibilities.

Mandy Sinclair looked at her regretfully. "Are you sure you don't want to stay, Beth? If it's about pay or benefits, I can talk to management for you."

Talk to whom? Noah? Bethany smiled wryly. "That won't be necessary, Mandy. I have personal reasons."

Bethany was the only woman among Noah's secretaries. In the past, the female candidates who had applied all harbored ulterior motives, hoping to use the job as a stepping stone.

In the end, Noah kept only Bethany. She was meticulous, quick on her feet, and handled everything with ease, saving Mandy a great deal of trouble.

As Noah's personal assistant, Mandy genuinely admired Bethany. Bethany was beautiful, knew her place, and followed the rules. However, she could not force her to stay.

Mandy said, "Alright then. I'll approve your resignation. Mr. Vazquez, on the other hand… We'll have to wait until he returns from his trip to see if he signs off on it."

Bethany's lips twitched at the corner. "Thank you. I'll get back to work then."

Then, she went to the pantry and overheard employees from the administrative department gossiping.

"Hey, did you hear? Mr. Vazquez didn't go on a business trip this time. He went to pursue his young girlfriend!"

"Seriously? I thought he wasn't interested in women. I've been here for years and never heard any rumors about him."

"Of course, that wasn't the case. The Vazquezes and the Reids had been allied for generations. Mr. Vazquez had been waiting for her to graduate and come of age.

"The paparazzi even caught photos of them, but he suppressed the news to protect her. I'm shipping them so hard!"

Bethany failed to notice that the cup in her hand was not aligned with the spout. Boiling water poured onto the back of her hand, causing her to hiss and withdraw it. In the blink of an eye, a large red patch bloomed across her skin, and excruciating pain shot through her arm.

"Jesus, Beth, you need to be more careful! Hurry up and go to the restroom to rinse it under cold water, or it'll blister," someone urged, noticing her scalded hand.

Bethany nodded lightly. "Yeah, I'll do just that."

She stood at the sink, letting cold water run over her hand, her chest tightening unbearably as she replayed their conversation. So… Noah and Ella were already talking about marriage. And she had been foolishly waiting for him to make their relationship public.

Her phone lit up on the counter. It was a message from her best friend, Holly. "My uncle is throwing a welcome dinner tonight for his girlfriend, Beth. I don't want to go. Will you accompany me?"

Bethany swallowed the lump in her throat, realizing that Noah was already back in the country. "I can't, Hols. I have to work overtime tomorrow night."

Chapter 4

Bethany had just finished changing her bandages and stepped out of the hospital when she received an urgent call from Mandy.

Mandy asked, "Beth, are you done with your dressing change? My daughter has a fever, but there's a document that urgently needs Mr. Vazquez's signature. Can you come back to the office and deliver it on my behalf? I owe you one!"

After hearing that, Bethany could not bring herself to refuse. "Sure, Mandy. I'll head back to the office to pick it up right now."

…

Bethany stopped in her tracks outside the private room with the document in her hand. The door was slightly ajar, and laughter spilled out from inside.

"Ms. Reid, now that you're back, we should start calling you Ella. After all, Noah is clearly into you!"

Noah lounged casually against the back of his chair, one arm draped possessively over the back of Ella's seat.

Ella poked his abdomen and covered her face in embarrassment. "Cut it out! Look at them, Noah—they're all teasing me!"

Noah lowered his gaze and chuckled. "They're not teasing you. Or is this your way of saying that you don't want to be their close friend?"

Bethany stiffened when she heard that. She had thought that she was already numb, but it still hurt. Nevertheless, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" someone inquired, turning around.

Bethany pushed the door open and walked in, one step at a time. Looking calmly at the man seated at the head of the table, she said, "This document urgently needs your signature, Mr. Vazquez."

Right then, a scion remarked, "Damn, this is your secretary, Noah? She's way too pretty to be doing desk work." The way his gaze roamed over her made Bethany sick to her stomach.

Noah's pupils contracted. He clearly hadn't expected to see her. However, a second later, his expression returned to indifference. "Come here. Give it to me."

Bethany handed him the document. He signed his name with steady strokes, showing not a hint of embarrassment at being caught. His tone remained apathetic as he said, "Here, you can head back to the company now."

Ella eyed Bethany warily before saying softly, "Noah, let my sister stay and join us."

A smile crept onto her face as she grasped Bethany's injured hand. "It's been so long since we've seen each other, Beth. Why don't you stay and hang out with us?"

Bethany sucked in a sharp breath. The pain from her injury nearly brought tears to her eyes, and she flung her hand away. "Don't touch me. Enjoy yourselves. I need to get back to the office."

Everyone was caught off guard by her reaction.

Noah frowned and said lowly, "Ella was just trying to be nice. What's with that attitude? Apologize to her right this instant!"

Bethany dug her nails into her palm to keep her tears at bay. "I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm not apologizing. If this costs me my job, so be it, Mr. Vazquez."

Right after saying that, she hurried out of the room. She felt like she was going to lose it if she stayed there another second.

For some reason, Noah felt irritated. He rose from his seat and said, "I'll be right back. Enjoy yourselves without me." With that, he followed her out.

The others looked at one another.

Then, someone tried to ease the tension. "It looks like Noah's secretary is in trouble. Why did you call her your sister, though, Ella?"

Ella forced a smile, but she wasn't in the mood to explain herself.

…

Noah grasped Bethany's arm from behind in the hallway. "Stop right there, Bethany!"

Bethany forced herself to sound calm. "Do you need something else, Mr. Vazquez? If not, you should head back in. I wouldn't want your girlfriend to get the wrong idea."

His brows knitted, and his tone softened. "I told you not to call me that in private. What happened to your hand?"

So, he had followed her out because he noticed the injury on the back of her hand. "That's none of your business. After all, we broke up, didn't we?" she sneered.

"Broke up?" Noah scoffed. "Who told you that we were ever in a relationship?"

Pain exploded from her chest, spreading through her entire body. Bethany bit down hard on her lip. "I understand. Don't worry. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

His expression hardened as he watched her walk away. He was about to chase after her when a woman's gentle voice sounded behind him. "Noah… aren't you coming back in?"

Noah took a deep breath, turned around, and smiled. "I'm coming, Ella."

…

As soon as Bethany turned the corner, she could no longer hold it in. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, almost as if the last wall she had built around her heart had crumbled.

She stood outside the hotel, leaning weakly against a stone pillar, her shoulders trembling. She didn't even notice the shadow that was slowly approaching her.

Silas braced one hand against the pillar beside her and leaned in close. His lazy, low voice brushed against her ear. "It looks like my wife just got her heart broken, huh?"

Chapter 5

Silas bent one knee, resting his hand beside Bethany in the dim light. He tilted his head slightly and leaned closer, his ear hovering near her lips as he waited for her reply.

The woman, who had been weeping moments ago, was caught off guard by her husband's sudden appearance. Bethany didn't dare to cry, yet she couldn't stop herself from sniffling. Her small nose twitched as she tried to hold it in, making her look oddly adorable.

With a heavy nasal tone, she changed the subject. "What are you doing here?"

Silas' dark eyes flickered, and a devilish smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Well… I saw a beautiful woman cry, and I couldn't bring myself to walk away. So, I came to see who hurt her so badly."

He paused before continuing lazily, "I didn't expect it to be my own."

Her brows knitted as she eyed him warily. "I would appreciate it if you respected my boundaries, Mr. Brannon. We're just in a marriage of convenience. We're not that close."

As soon as her words fell, the air went still.

Silas lost interest and took a step back. His ink-black eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "Marriage of convenience or not, you're still my wife."

He pulled open the door of his outrageously flashy purple Bugatti and beckoned to Bethany. "Where to? Get in."

Bethany pursed her lips. The dull ache in her chest was now gone. "I'm good, thanks."

Silas clicked his tongue. "Hurry up. I don't want to end up in the news because my wife is crying over another man. That would piss me off."

She had no choice but to climb into the passenger seat. Besides, she wasn't in the best state of mind.

Bethany had never ridden in a sports car before. Noah was the composed, no-nonsense type, so he usually drove sedans or SUVs.

Naturally, his garage probably had one or two sports cars. However, she had never been worthy of sitting in them.

Bethany turned to look out the window, and Silas glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her eyes were still wet, the corners tinged red.

"Were you dumped?" he asked solemnly this time.

When Bethany looked at him, she noticed a faint tattoo peeking out at his collarbone. "Yeah, sort of. But don't worry, he's already an ex. He won't cause you any trouble.

"Besides, we agreed to stay out of each other's personal lives. So, you're free to do whatever you want."

If anyone was famous for his love life, it was the heir of the Brannon family.

Silas pulled up in front of Bethany's apartment building. "Is an hour enough? Pack up your belongings and come home with me."

"Huh? You want me to come home with you?" Bethany was dumbfounded.

"Yeah. Or what, you want to live separately?"

Realization dawned on her. "This can wait, no? I'll move in after our families meet," she responded indifferently.

Bethany was in no hurry to move because she hadn't yet gotten her hands on the shares.

Silas pressed his tongue against his right cheek. "Alright. Suit yourself."

As soon as she hopped out, the flashy sports car sped off and vanished from her sight. "Was he… upset?" she wondered.

…

Noah was driven back to the villa at Cerulean Cove at 11:00 pm. He had settled Bethany there.

He hadn't expected the driver to bring him here. A single light was left on in the entryway.

He loosened his tie and instinctively called out Bethany's name. "Beth, make me a cup of hangover remedy!"

After a while, no one answered. It hit him then that he had driven her away earlier that day.

He leaned back on the couch, covering his eyes with his hand. When he heard soft footsteps, his lips curled slightly.

No matter how harsh Bethany's words had been, it seemed that she still could not bring herself to leave him. Yet, when he opened his eyes and saw who it was, his expression turned cold. "What are you doing here?"

Judy stiffened. "Of course it's me, Mr. Vazquez. Ms. Porter is on a business trip and hasn't returned yet. I heard footsteps and knew that you must have returned home.

"You're drunk, Mr. Vazquez. Let me make you some hangover remedy."

"That won't be necessary, Judy," Noah cut her off impatiently. "Go back to your room and get some sleep. I'm heading upstairs."

Judy pursed her lips. She was well aware that he only drank Bethany's hangover remedy.

However, all hangover remedies tasted the same to her. Judy couldn't understand his strange habit.

Noah massaged his temples and fished out his phone, pulling up his chat with Bethany. Most of the messages were from her. He had read them and never replied.

He pressed his lips together in a thin line and typed, "Where are you?"

In a heartbeat, his irritation flared, and he deleted the words one by one. Then, he turned off his phone and tossed it aside.

It seemed that he had spoiled her rotten. That must be the reason she had forgotten her place. It was just an argument, yet she had the nerve to stay away from home.

…

The next morning, dark circles sat heavily under Bethany's eyes. With those dark shadows, she entered the office prepared to treat the day as her last.

"My mom's been pushing me to go back home to get married, Mandy. Today might be my last day. I've already sent you all the handover files by email."

Mandy was surprised that Bethany was leaving in such a hurry. "Do you not want your salary?"

Bethany tugged at her lips. "Yeah."

Mandy pondered for a moment. "Give me half a day. I'll talk to HR and help you get a resignation letter. It'll be easier for you when you join another company then."

Bethany considered it and figured that half a day wouldn't hurt. So, she said, "Alright, thank you."

So, she sat at her desk and packed up her personal belongings. To her surprise, Noah showed up to work that morning.

Bethany focused on what she was doing. Even when she felt his gaze burning into the back of her head, she didn't look up until a pair of black leather shoes came into view.

Noah towered over her, tapping her desk with his finger. "Come to my office, Ms. Porter." With that, he turned and walked away coldly.

Bethany wanted nothing more than to smash the cactus on her desk into his face. Yet, she thought better of it. After all, they were both adults. There was no need to make a scene.

Hence, she pushed open the door to Noah's office. "What did you want to see me about, Mr. Vazquez?"

Noah lifted his chin and nodded at the door behind her. "Close it and come here."

Bethany left the door slightly ajar and stopped several steps away from him. "What do you need, Mr. Vazquez?" she repeated.

Noah curled his lips into a mocking smile. "You used to beg me to hold you while you slept. Why are you standing so far away now?"

"I've resigned, Mr. Vazquez," she responded calmly. "I won't be your employee for much longer. What's wrong with keeping my distance?"

"You've resigned?" A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Who gave you permission to resign?" He sneered, "Your little trick won't work on me, Bethany."

Bethany plastered a smile on her face. "I don't have time to play games."

Noah demanded, "In that case, why are you resigning? Was I not paying you enough? Or do you really think there's a company out there that can pay you more than me?"

A smile crept onto her face. "It's not about the pay. My family set me up on a blind date. I'm going home to get married, Noah."

Chapter 6

"You're getting married?" Noah's gaze hardened. "You were in my arms just a few days ago, refusing to get up. Yet, now you're telling me that you're getting married? Do you seriously think I'd buy a story like that, Bethany?"

He was well aware of how much Bethany liked him. If she didn't, she would never have agreed to stay in a clandestine relationship with him for three years.

He figured that she was only saying this because she was jealous and trying to get a reaction out of him.

Bethany curled her lips coldly. "If you don't believe me, I can show you my marriage certificate."

His gaze darkened, but before he could respond, a pleasant voice sounded from outside the door. "I made some desserts for you, Noah!"

Ella froze for a moment when she saw Bethany. Then, she beamed. "You're here as well, Beth! Are you discussing work with Noah?"

Bethany sneered, "Nope. I'll leave you two to it. We're done here. I'll take my leave then, Mr. Vazquez."

Noah pressed his lips together, his expression unreadable. He still wanted to say something, but with Ella there, he couldn't bring himself to pop the question. After all, he didn't want anyone to know about his relationship with Bethany.

Ella called after her, "Mom said you haven't been home in a while, Beth. Why don't you come back tonight for dinner? Mom and Leo miss you."

Then, she turned to look at Noah bashfully. "My father asked you to come over tonight to discuss our marriage, Noah. You're free, right?"

Noah's low, magnetic voice sounded cheerful as it rang out from behind Bethany. "I always have time for you, Ella."

Right after saying that, he took a quick look at the pale curve of Bethany's neck in front of him.

Bethany swallowed the lump in her throat. "I won't be joining your family dinner." With that, she opened the door and walked out.

Ella smirked, but when she looked up, she noticed Noah staring intently at the already closed door. "Noah?"

He snapped back to reality when he heard that. "Yeah?"

"Hurry up and have a bite of the dessert I made, Noah!"

Noah had never cared much for sweets. However, when he met her hopeful eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

Thus, he took a small bite of the strawberry on top. "It's really good, Ella."

"Really? In that case, I'll make you something else next time!" she chirped before asking, "What were you and Beth talking about just now, Noah?"

"Nothing much; just work. Let's not talk about her."

Ella wasn't deaf. Before she came in, she was fairly sure she had heard something about a marriage.

Who was getting married? Was it Bethany?

…

Before long, Ella went home.

Diana greeted her with a smile. "You're back, Ella. Tina, bring out the royal jelly for her!"

Unlike how she treated Bethany, Diana was always warm and attentive toward her stepdaughter. After marrying into the Reid residence for nearly 20 years, she had truly treated her husband's child from his previous marriage as her own.

Ella, on the other hand, felt lukewarm toward Diana. Still, just to spite Bethany, she was more than willing to play the role of a close, loving mother and daughter.

"Noah's coming over tonight to discuss our marriage, Mom. Don't forget to have Tina prepare more good food!"

"I know. I already told them to get ready." Diana was all smiles as she pulled Ella to sit down. "Ella, now that you're back, don't you think Bellecourt is a little dated? Your father and I were thinking of getting you a bigger place to use as your piano studio."

Ella looked at her, puzzled. "Why? That villa may be old, but the view is beautiful, Mom. I really like it."

Diana's brows drew together, obviously troubled. She was well aware that Bethany was determined to take Bellecourt back, so she tried to persuade Ella. "There are plenty of villas with beautiful views out there, Ella. I'll take you to pick a new one another day. I don't mean anything by it. I just want you to have the best."

The smile on Ella's face faded. "Did Beth say something to you, Mom? I'm not going anywhere. I want Bellecourt."

Diana looked troubled as she gently explained, "Beth did ask me for Bellecourt. After all, it was the villa her father had left behind. That place is old and run-down, Ella. It wouldn't hurt to let her have it."

Just then, a young man came down from the second floor and let out a cold snort. "Since when did that older sister of mine become so greedy, Mom? She never asked for it before; she only wants it now, right when Ella comes back.

"I told you she's calculating. You should stay away from her, Mom."

Leo Reid was Diana's child from her second marriage. He was closer to Ella and instinctively disliked Bethany, who didn't share their last name.

Every time Bethany stayed at the Reid residence during the summer holidays, she was often picked on by the siblings. Yet, Diana would only ask her to be more magnanimous since she was older.

Gradually, Bethany no longer wanted to stay at the Reid residence. Even during long breaks, she preferred staying with her grandparents.

Diana frowned. "Leo, she's your older sister as well. Don't be rude!"

Leo scoffed. "In any case, she's not allowed to take anything that belongs to my sister!"

Gary Reid, who had been silent all this time, shot his son a hard look. "Watch your manners! That's enough. Bellecourt belongs to your mother and her ex-husband.

"We don't need it. I'll buy you a larger villa, Ella. Be good."

He had ultimately made the final decision. He wasn't defending Bethany—he simply didn't want anything to jeopardize the marriage alliance she had already agreed to.

Ella bit her lip, resentment burning in her chest. She thought that this was all Bethany's fault. She had only just returned, and Bethany had already upset her.

However, in that house, her father's word was final.

Nevertheless, she couldn't swallow this resentment.

…

The first thing Bethany did after resigning was reclaim what Diana had promised her. She deliberately hired three burly men to help with the heavy lifting. Yet, when she arrived at Bellecourt, she found the housekeeper, Cassandra Park, in a fluster.

Cassandra had always managed Bellecourt on her own.

"I'll be living here from now on, Cassandra. I'm here to clear the place out."

Cassandra looked troubled. "Ms. Reid is here as well, Ms. Porter. Why don't you come back another day?"

A mocking smile crept onto Bethany's face. "So what if she's here?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar Bentley parked in the carport. In an instant, her expression darkened.

Ignoring Cassandra's attempts to stop her, Bethany walked straight inside. Bellecourt no longer looked the same. Ella had remodeled it beyond recognition, filling it with her own belongings.

Bethany looked up at the second floor, her expression unreadable. Then, she took a deep breath and went upstairs, one step at a time.

The moment she reached the bedroom, a soft, breathy moan drifted out. "That hurts, Noah. Don't be so rough."

Bethany's hands curled into fists. Her expression hardened as she spun on her heel and went into the bathroom nextdoor, filled a bucket with water, and walked back to the bedroom door.

The very next second, she kicked the door open and stormed toward the half-naked couple, emptying the bucket over them. "I want both of you to get off my bed. Right now!"

Chapter 7

Ella let out a piercing scream, despite the fact that most of the water had splashed onto Noah.

Noah shot to his feet, and when he saw who it was, his expression changed drastically. "Have you lost your mind, Bethany?"

Ella's long hair was completely soaked and plastered to her scalp, making her look utterly disheveled. She, too, jumped to her feet and stared at Bethany in disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with you, Bethany? Why would you dump water on us?"

Bethany snorted. "You're messing around in my room. Don't you think you deserve it? Are you that cheap, Mr. Vazquez? Can't you even afford to get a room elsewhere?"

Noah's eyes flashed with anger. "What nonsense are you on about? Ella didn't see what was on the floor and tripped."

There was a triumphant glint in Ella's eyes as she grasped his hand timidly. "You've got the wrong idea, Beth. How could we possibly do… that kind of thing here in broad daylight? He was just trying to help me up, and I accidentally pulled him down."

Bethany wasn't interested in their explanations. "I don't have time to listen to your stories. Get out, both of you!"

"Bethany Porter!" Noah gritted out.

"Stop yelling. Save your energy. You'll need it to scream in bed tonight."

Three burly men followed in behind her.

Bethany pointed downstairs. "Do you see that piano? Get rid of everything within ten feet of it. Oh, and that couch as well."

Then, her cold gaze swept across the room. "Don't forget to throw out this bed, too. It's filthy!" she sneered.

Ella panicked. "Y-You can't throw away my piano! That's my first piano! You can't do that!"

Bethany crossed her arms and let out a cold chuckle. "My house is not a recycling center. Throw everything out!"

Ella had never suffered this kind of humiliation before. She burst into tears, clutching Noah's sleeve. "Noah, I… Beth, she…"

The veins at Noah's temple throbbed. "Are you sure you want to make an enemy out of me, Bethany?"

Bethany plastered a smile on her face. "Mr. Vazquez, you seem to have forgotten that I resigned yesterday. I'm not your employee anymore. Why would I be afraid of you?"

A mirthless smile crept onto Noah's face. "I hope you don't come to regret this in the future."

He bent down and swept Ella into his arms. "Don't expect me to be this reasonable when you come crying to me next time!" With that, he carried Ella out of Bellecourt.

Looking at the mess in the garden, a flash of malice crossed Ella's eyes. "I'll remember this humiliation, Bethany!" she brooded.

…

Bethany calmly directed the helpers she had hired. In under an hour, all of Ella's belongings had been cleared from the villa.

"Good work," she said, paying them generously before calling in a waste removal crew to clear out the garden as well.

Bethany felt refreshed and lighthearted. It had only been an hour, yet her phone screen was already flashing wildly with incoming calls.

"Have you lost your mind, Beth? What did you do to Ella? She nearly cried herself unconscious!

"I told you Bellecourt was yours. Did you really have to move into it in such a rush?"

Bethany pressed her lips together. "I am in a rush. This was mine to begin with. How could I not be in a rush to reclaim it?"

Diana was stumped. Then, she threatened, "Do you not want the hotel's shares anymore?"

Bethany shrugged. "That's entirely up to you. If you want me to take you to court, feel free to keep them. But Grandma is still around, Mom. How much do you really think you'll have left once everything is divided?

"I didn't fight for it before, but that doesn't mean it wasn't mine. I hope you understand that."

The color drained from Diana's face. She had never expected her obedient daughter to talk to her in this manner. "What has gotten into you, Bethany?"

Bethany sneered, "I was weak before. That's why you played me like a fool. I just don't want to be an idiot anymore."

Bethany vaguely heard Gary's voice on the other end of the line, though her expression remained stoic.

As expected, his voice came through a moment later. "Beth, it's me, Gary. Your mother's a little emotional right now. Let me apologize to you on her behalf.

"How about this? Since your engagement with the Brannon family is set in stone, let's meet with them this Saturday to discuss the wedding. I promise you won't lose anything that belongs to you."

"Alright. Saturday it is."

After hanging up, Gary shot Diana a hard look. "How could you not even handle your own child?"

Diana was at a loss for words. "I-I didn't expect her to turn out like this."

His expression hardened. "She's grown up. Of course she has a mind of her own. Don't fall out with her just yet.

"Let's wait until the marriage is finalized. Also, keep this from Ella for now."

Diana pursed her lips. "I understand."

…

Bethany brought a bag of supplements to the nursing home. Her grandfather, Otis Porter, had passed away three years ago, and her grandmother, Sarah Lawson, had suffered a stroke.

Bethany had intended to have a full-time caregiver at home to look after her, but Sarah insisted on staying at a nursing facility to avoid being a burden. So, Bethany chose a place with excellent conditions and visited her grandmother every weekend.

Above all, Sarah's greatest concern had always been her marriage.

"Grandma, your precious granddaughter is here again!" Bethany beamed as she walked over.

The kind elderly woman smiled warmly at Bethany. "You're here, Beth."

"Does your leg still hurt these days, Grandma? Should I ask a traditional medicine practitioner to perform acupuncture for you?"

Sarah waved her hand. "I'm fine. These old bones of mine don't need all that."

Bethany then took out her pristine white marriage certificate. "I'm married, Grandma."

Sara was taken aback for a moment before her face lit up. "Is it that tall boyfriend you mentioned before?"

Bethany's gaze dimmed. She had only mentioned her relationship with Noah to Sarah in passing. She hadn't dared to reveal his face to her. She had only showed her a secretly taken photo of his side profile.

Bethany didn't want Sarah to worry. "Yeah. We're married, Grandma. I don't want a grand wedding, so we'll keep things simple. Once he's done with work, I'll bring him to see you."

"That's wonderful news!" Sarah led Bethany back into her room and rummaged through layers of clothing, then pulled out a small box. "Here, Beth. This is the wedding gift I saved for you. I don't have much money, but this is what your grandfather and your father left me."

Bethany's eyes misted over as she looked at the credit cards Sarah handled so carefully. "I don't want these, Grandma. Save them for yourself."

Sarah glared at her. "I live in this nursing home. How much money could I possibly spend? This bank card contains the money your dad sent me every New Year. Altogether, it's about a million dollars.

"Here, take it! Do you want to go back to work at your dad's hotel? If you do, I'll talk to your mother."

Holding her hand, Bethany responded, "That can wait, Grandma. I'll definitely return to Dad's hotel. I'll let you know when I need your help!"

"Alright. We'll have it your way."

…

"Mr. Brennan, the Brannon family and the Reid family have scheduled their meeting for this Saturday."

Silas narrowed his eyes. "Which club are they meeting at?"

"They're meeting at one of our properties—Velarium."

Silas curled his lips in amusement. "Clear my schedule for that day and reserve a private room for me next door."