Married a Secret Billionaire

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"It's getting late. Go to bed."

The man's deep, husky voice pulled Cordelia Jenner out of her reverie abruptly. When she looked up and met his deep eyes, there was an emotion that she could not decipher in them.

She clung to the hem of her dress nervously and could not help feeling the pace of her heartbeat picking up.

Since she had entered the room, she had been sitting by the edge of the bed. She had stayed in the position for so long that her back was numb from being so tense and straight. She had not even changed out of her wedding dress.

It was not until the man had taken a shower and exited the bathroom that realization had struck her. She was going to spend the night with this man as a newlywed. However, she had no idea how to interact with him. What was more, she had gotten married as a substitute.

She was the illegitimate daughter of a rich family, so she had married this broke man in place of her elder sister-just to fulfill a marriage pact made by the last generation of the two families and receive a substantial amount of money.

Cordelia knew that her mother would only get treatment and her younger brother would only continue studying with that sum of money. It was how their family would be able to survive.

She took a deep breath and inched toward the bathroom like a frightened bunny.

"I... I'll take a shower too."

The man's gaze darkened.

Cordelia darted into the bathroom. Just as she was about to lock the door, she discovered that the run-down wooden door did not even have anything that resembled a lock. This made her enter a daze. No matter how bad life had been in the past, she had not been this impoverished.

Her eyes went red around the rims as she stood there, hesitating in the bathroom and not taking off anything.

The man outside the door seemed to read her mind, as he suddenly informed her, "I'll have a smoke outside. Take your time."

Cordelia tensed up. Putting her ear against the door, she heard the man's footsteps going farther away and the door creaking before she heard nothing else.

The bright décor on the peeling wall looked withered. A typhoon had ransacked the city a day before the wedding, so broken billboards and snapped trees were everywhere along the roads. Cordelia had gotter married amidst a disaster.

There had been no decked-out wedding car to pick her up. She had walked a long way before getting into an inconspicuous van and spending more time than she could keep track of to reach the village. The muddy road had soiled her shoes and wedding dress.

The elders had always said that people who got married in weather like this would not end up happy, but Cordelia had long given up on her own happiness.

She came out of the bathroom, patting her hair dry. Her husband was not back yet. It seemed that he really took his time smoking.

Cordelia looked at the two-room cottage, where rain leaked in through some spots. The place was pretty bad, but it would make a cozy home with some cleaning up. She smiled and started simply tidying up around the house before the man came back.

When she was on her knees pulling the sheets off the bed, the man walked in. Cordelia turned back-a big move-and the only thing she had on her, her towel, slipped off. Gasping, she wrapped her arms around herself instinctively, but the man had already seen everything.

Cordelia frantically tugged at the sheets to cover herself, blushing as red as a tomato.

The man swallowed, and his gaze grew darker and harder to read. He strode over to her, his deep, impassive voice a little husky and tempting.

"It's getting late. Let's go to bed."

He emphasized the word "let's" this time.

Cordelia's heart was very close to leaping out of her throat. With her eyes shut tight, she suddenly felt a strong force wrap around her waist and then fell into the man's arms before getting pinned against the bed...

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Cordelia's mind went blank. She felt a warm chest press against her back. She could even hear strong, rhythmic heartbeats. The man above her kept her securely within his arms, and she tried taking a deep breath but still could not stretch out her frozen limbs.

The man stopped abruptly.

"Do you know who I am?"

Cordelia paused.

The man wanted to say that he was her husband and this was their wedding night. It was more than justified for them to do this as husband and wife.

In spite of this, Cordelia took his question literally and timidly answered, "I do... You're Marcus Grist."

The man squinted and gave her a light smirk. Marcus Grist... Hah, should he be glad that she knew the name? It was too bad that he was not Marcus Grist-and she was not Yelena Jenner.

From the moment she had stepped through the door, he had been able to tell that she was only a substitute. He did not know why, but the temper of the Jenner heiress would never allow her to marry a countryside villager.

It was fine, though. She was a stand-in bride, and he was marrying her by pretending to be another man. It was a fair deal.

"Marcus..."

That snapped the man out of his thoughts. As soon as he looked down, he met her shiny eyes. The girl's soft, shy expression felt like a hand clutching something at the bottom of his heart.

"I'm sorry, I'm too nervous." Cordelia bit her lip and tried to hook her arms around his neck.

"You're my husband. There's nothing wrong with you doing anything to me... W-We can start."

Tiny beads of sweat dotted the tip of her dainty nose. She inched closer to him clumsily but she was shaking like a leaf.

Marcus' heart jolted. Just when Cordelia was about to kiss his lips, despite being clueless about what she was doing, he suddenly held her hand and put some distance between them. Cordelia was stunned. Her blush was still evident on her cheeks as her eyes brimmed with confusion.

"Forget it," he said, looking at her. "You're tired today as well. Let's sleep early."

"Marcus, I-"

"I think you need some time to adjust. Until you're adjusted to having a husband, I won't put you in a tough spot," he said before he turned away.

Cordelia was in a trance while watching his naked back. Then, when the man's light snores filled the room, she studied him carefully.

He was handsome when he was asleep. His profile was sculpted, and his straight brows were manly. His muscled arm was cushioned under his head, and his chiseled body made Cordelia pink in the ears. Cordelia felt her heart skip a beat and quickly turned away. Sleep soon muddled her consciousness, and her mind was filled with her stepmother and Yelena's mockery before her wedding.

They had told her that the Grists were family friends with them and there was truly a marriage pact. However, the Grists had been hiding in the countryside village since their fall and had not been doing well. The Grist son was a useless, infamous thug and was said to frequent the police station...

"How could I possibly get married to a thug?" Yelena had huffed. "You'd do better. Your mother's been with countless men anyway, and your brother's a b*stard!

"Someone like you only deserves a thug!"

"Cordelia, think about it," Cordelia's father had said coldly. "I'll give you some money as long as you marry Marcus Grist in Yelena's place, and you'll be able to treat your mother."

Cordelia's stepmother had insulted her. "It's an honor for you to marry someone as the second heiress of the Jenners, you little wh*re! Don't be ungrateful!"

Cordelia woke up with a startle, discovering that the sun had long risen and the man next to her was nowhere to be seen.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Cordelia draped a light robe over herself and went out to the front of the house, where Marcus was working out.

The man's upper body was bare while he held two dumbbells in his hands. As the morning sun shone on his pronounced muscles, it felt like he was Helios, who had descended from heaven. Cordelia's cheeks burned a little as she greeted him softly. "You're up early!"

Marcus turned around to glance at her.

Cordelia scanned her surroundings. The front of the house was not too spacious. It was rather messy, and there were sandbags, boxing gloves, baseball bats, weights, and similar things lying around. Her heart squeezed. She dared not claim that the rumors were true, but Marcus must fight often.

She wondered about the man's temper. She had heard that people in this area were severely masochistic and it was not uncommon for drunk men to beat their wives up.

Cordelia bit her lip and stepped closer, asking him with almost bated breath, "Um... Have you had breakfast?”

"No." The man's answer was curt and icy.

"Go make some."

Cordelia nodded and darted into the kitchen.

She worked fast and soon made a pot of soup, some pancakes, and even pushed a plate of bacon toward Marcus.

Marcus looked up, only to meet her beaming eyes. Feeling a jolt, he put some bacon on her plate.

Cordelia was about to say no after her initial surprise, but she heard the man say in his deep voice, "Eat more. You're very thin!"

"Oh..."

She pressed her lips together. She actually had a lot to tell Marcus-such as apologize for last night. It was more than normal for newlyweds to do it, but it had ended up feeling like he was forcing her. She also wanted to ask him about their future plans. They were husband and wife now, so there should be some sort of plan in place.

In addition, she still did not know what his job was and how he was going to take care of the family...

They needed to get to know each other better.

However, when Cordelia saw Marcus digging in and noticed the visible calluses on his fingers as he lifted his hand, she knew that those were from punching and striking sandbags. Whatever had been about to roll off the tip of her tongue was swallowed back down.

The first meal after their wedding was long and silent. Cordelia was upset about it, but there was no place for her to turn back to.

"Right, do you have anything to do today?" she asked.

Marcus paused. "What's the matter?"

"I'm going to town to return the wedding dress," she answered with a smile.

Marcus froze. He had not given any thought to the wedding and had no idea that she had rented the wedding dress. It was the dress of a lifetime for other women, and they all bought their wedding dresses merrily. The situation left a strange taste in his mouth.

"I'm not asking you to accompany me!" Cordelia explained when she noticed his silence. "I'll return the dress myself. Go about your business. Don't mind me."

"Mm," the man hummed in response.

Both of them were polite to each other, as though they were mere roommates.

Cordelia cleaned the wedding dress and bagged it in the plastic, just like it had been when she had gotten it. She took several buses and only arrived at the bridal boutique when it was almost noon.

The Jenners had prepared nothing for her aside from the promised monetary gift when she had gotten married. She had only searched the town herself and finally found this boutique with dress styles and price points she was happy with. The boutique was not huge, and the staff was used to being arrogant. Customers like Cordelia, who got married with rented dresses, were looked down on.

"Miss, are you sure we'll still be able to rent this dress in the future?" The sales assistant raised her voice in disdain.

"Look at it yourself. See what you've done to it!"

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"I washed it!" Cordelia said hurriedly. "I promise it's clean! There's nothing wrong with it!"

"Hah, you washed it?" the sales assistant scoffed. "Miss, why'd you wash it when you only rented it for a day? You rented it to get married, not to farm, right?" Cordelia, who was embarrassed, flushed.

The conditions during her wedding had actually not been too different from farming conditions. She had walked the muddy village paths in the rain, soiling her white wedding dress and shoes, as well as chafing her feet.

The sales assistant flipped the skirt of the wedding dress repeatedly and threw Cordelia dirty looks.

"Miss, even if you wash this washing dress, you have to dry wash it!

"Do you even know what dry washing means?"

The sales assistant intentionally mocked her upon seeing how naïve she was. "Sigh, our wedding gowns have been sold one after another since we opened for business. This is the first time we rented one... Hah, don't get married if you can't even afford a dress!"

"Can't one get married without buying a wedding dress? Is there a law against it?"

Cordelia turned around in surprise upon hearing the sudden stern voice and saw Marcus walk in. It was as if the air had frosted around his eyes, and he oozed an authoritative presence.

There was a slight frown on his face as he approached Cordelia and naturally wound an arm around her. He snorted at the sales assistant, "Do you think people are blind enough to miss the huge 'wedding dresses for rent' sign in your shop?"

"You-"

"Besides, the styles you have here are average, and the quality is not exactly fine. There's no need to buy one back!"

The sales assistant nearly rolled her eyes. "Just admit that you can't afford one! Picking a fight with us is... Hah... We have designer haute couture too!"

Marcus raised a brow and caught a glimpse of the wedding dress on the mannequin in the center of the hall. It was a fishtail dress that would accentuate one's figure. There was golden thread sewn discreetly in it, as well as scattered diamantes in the chest area.

The design stood out relatively but could not be compared to the nice things he had seen in the past.

"Pft, stop eyeing the dress!" the sales assistant snapped, "You won't be able to afford it no matter how much you look! Sigh, miss, I feel bad for you. You're so pretty, yet you didn't pick properly before you got married. What a waste of this pretty face!"

"Whatever's between me and my husband is nothing for an outsider like you to comment on!"

Marcus jolted. The little woman had always been docile and nice, but she was currently arguing aggressively.

Cordelia took a step forward, glaring at the sales assistant. "I can take the wedding dress to the dry cleaner and bring it back. But you have to apologize to my husband for what you said!"

"What?"

Cordelia was nice-depending on the person speaking to her. She could endure it when others bullied her, but if people around her were bullied, she would fight with everything she had-even when that was her husband, who she had never met and had just gotten married to.

Her face was flushed as she repeated herself. "I said, apologize to my husband!"

The sales assistant rolled her eyes at her and ignored her.

"I don't need an apology," Marcus said with a smirk as he looked at her.

"Do you like that wedding dress?"

"Huh?"

Cordelia followed the direction of his finger and saw the wedding dress glimmering in gold right in the center of the boutique. She was enchanted, but she did not understand what the man wanted to do. Marcus still had a smirk on his face when he pulled out a card and placed it on the counter. "My wife likes that dress. I'll take it."

It felt like the air suddenly froze. The sales assistant stared at them wide-eyed, and Cordelia was at a loss.

"Marcus, what are you doing..." Cordelia tugged at the man's sleeve and reminded him softly, "We're already married!"

"We can still get one as a keepsake," Marcus replied. "That's designer haute couture, so it requires a fitting. Does your place have specialized staff for that?"

Then, the sales assistant broke out of her reverie and put on a pandering grin. Her hands clenched each other as she bowed respectfully.

"Sir, are you really taking it?"

"Yes, take my wife's measurements now."

"I'll call the designer then..."

"Miss," Marcus said with a raised eyebrow. "Can't you do it?"

The sales assistant went rigid.

"I don't want it if you're not the one taking the measurements."

The sales assistant started panicking a little in front of this man with the powerful presence. A purchase like this was rare, and she had a duty to measure the customers, so she went over to Cordelia after retrieving the measuring tape.

"Miss, I'll "

"Will you be able to measure the skirt like this?" Marcus scoffed as he trained his dark gaze on the sales assistant.

"To measure the skirt, you have to get on your knees!"

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The boutique was suddenly pin-drop silent. The others looked sympathetically at the sales assistant while the latter scowled. Despite that, the manager who came eyed her, urging her to do what the customer wanted. After all, that was one expensive wedding dress.

Marcus was nonchalant, and the smile on his aloof face never did reach his eyes.

Cordelia could not help tightening her hold on his hand.

"Forget it, let's not buy it," she told him softly. "This wedding dress is very expensive, and we won't have much use for it in the future..."

"Swipe the card." Marcus sounded frosty. "No password necessary."

Ultimately, it was the boutique manager and designer who mediated the situation.

Marcus stood by the door smoking while Cordelia had her measurements taken inside. This time, no one dared mock her. The sales assistant stood aside stoically after the manager chastised her, and the designer kept complimenting Cordelia's figure. Even the manager treated her like she was a VIP, making her coffee and fetching her water.

When they finally left the bridal boutique, Cordelia was glum on the way back. The wedding dress was worth more than $4,000... She bit her lip and looked at the man next to her. He was indifferent and he looked as calm as an iceberg.

"Marcus." Cordelia failed to hold herself back after some time. "I think we should talk."

Marcus stopped walking in surprise. The girl looked at him seriously with her big eyes blinking and cherry lips pursed.

"You... were too impulsive just now."

"What?" The man furrowed his brows.

"When we were at the boutique just now. Things didn't have to escalate to that point... Why did you have to vent and buy the dress? It cost more than $4,000. Do you know how long that would last us?" He genuinely did not know that. It had probably been too small of a meal to him in the past.

Cordelia sneaked a peek at him, but his chiseled face was still blank.

"I... I'm not blaming you." She softened and said, "I just meant that we're already married. We have to think about the future. I know that you were venting on my behalf, but hold yourself back when the time calls for it. There is lots more to spend on our home..."

Home? For some reason, the corner of Marcus' lips ticked up automatically when he heard the word.

"Besides, I haven't gotten my wedding gift yet. There'll be other uses for it. We can't splurge so lavishly."

Cordelia's voice went softer and softer. Worry crept up on her face once she thought of her mother, who was hospitalized, and her brother, who was still waiting for his allowance. She dared not let Marcus find out, though. She was supposed to be Yelena to him.

"Splurge so lavishly?" The man repeated the words in a murmur, hints of a smile tinging his tone of voice.

"Aren't you the heiress of the Jenners? Why does it feel like you're frugal with your money?"

Cordelia widened her eyes at him as her heart thumped. She frantically changed the topic of conversation. "Are you thirsty? I'll go get us some milk tea," she said, turning to go to a milk tea parlor by the street. Marcus chortled while watching her frantic escape. His phone vibrated at the same time, and the smile froze in place when he saw the number.

"What's up?"

"Mr. Z," the person on the other end of the line answered in a pressed voice. "The investigation is almost done. Someone did tinker with the private jet on the day of your accident. We don't have enough evidence for now, but it should be the person you guessed."

"Good." Marcus sounded stern. "Keep up the investigation!"

"Got it. But... How much longer will you be staying in the village in Jangasas, Mr. Z? You sure you don't want to make a trip back to Centrolis?"

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Marcus pinched the spot between his brows and looked grimmer before taking a deep breath and hanging up. He would make a trip back to Centrolis-just not now. He would only be alarming the people who thought that he had died in the plane crash and causing them to conspire again and find more vicious ways to harm him!

"Boba or grass jelly? Which one do you like?"

That question pulled Marcus out of his thoughts, and he met a pair of sparkling big eyes. Cordelia grinned at him, as sweet as the milk tea she had in her hand.

"What's gotten to you?" Cordelia looked at him. "You don't look quite..."

"I'm fine." It did not feel good that someone could see past him.

Marcus's voice was icy as he turned his back to her. "Have one yourself. I don't like sweet things."

Cordelia froze on the spot, holding two cups of milk tea. It was only after some time that she jogged up to him, biting her lip.

She stayed behind him, not daring to go too close. The man's back felt like a slab of frosty wall. There was a world that only belonged to him on the other side, and she could not get over it no matter how close she was.

The second day after their wedding went by normally.

Marcus gave the bedroom to Cordelia and slept on the couch outside. There was only one duvet as well, which was given to her, so he made do with a thin sheet.

Cordelia felt bad about it. She stood by the bedroom door for quite a while, but the words "you can sleep in the room too" felt stuck in her throat. Perhaps Marcus was right. She needed time to get used to the fact that she now had a husband.

She let her head fall with a small smile.

People said that Marcus was a cold, bad communicator who always got into fights. She thought that he did not seem as bad, though. At least he showed her enough respect and tolerance.

According to custom, the bride should go back to visit her maiden family on the third day.

Cordelia's heart had been thumping wildly since she had gotten up in the morning. To others, this was huge. The husband ought to keep the woman company, and they should bring along some sweet treats home. The family would have a hearty lunch together, and the newlyweds would return before sunset. However, this was practically going back to ask for money for Cordelia.

Her father had promised that he would give her a big monetary wedding gift as long as she got married in Yelena's place. The money would cover her mother's medical costs and her younger brother's tuition. It had been three days since Cordelia had gotten married and the Jenners' promise felt like it had vanished into thin air. No one had brought it up again.

Cordelia contemplated it and decided that she had to go ask for the gift herself-but she could not take Marcus along, or everything would be exposed. Who knew what the man would do if he was angered. "Marcus, I..."

She racked her mind for a convincing argument, mulling over a reasonable and logical excuse so that Marcus would not have to go with her. It took her some time, but she swallowed everything back and forced out the words: "I've made breakfast. Come have some."

Marcus was working out at the front of the house. It felt like a corner of an iceberg melted off his heart when he heard her soft, sweet voice.

Cordelia had made scones and even fresh cream and jam. When Marcus stepped inside the small place, he suddenly found it to be brighter. The place no longer felt dingy after their wedding.

It was homier now. Everything felt warm and sunny thanks to Cordelia's touch.

Marcus could not help the small smile that crept up on his face as he took a seat. The woman across from him seemed weighed down by thoughts. He considered it and asked, "You should visit your family today, right?"

Cordelia jolted before she bit her lip and stayed silent, not meeting his eyes.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After taking a guess, Marcus went on to say, sounding unfazed, "Go to the drawer in the room. There's a box inside. Bring it over."

Cordelia did what she was told, finding a carved wooden box in the deepest part of the drawer. The pattern carved on the box was exquisite and gorgeous, while the box had a vague refreshing scent to it.

Marcus took it from her and opened it, only to reveal a few pieces of gold jewelry: a necklace, a pair of earrings, a ring, and a bangle. The bangle was especially unique, as it was made of gold and jade. The jade that was embedded in the gold was radiant in color and cool to the touch.

Cordelia's eyes widened as she looked at the man in confusion.

"This is..."

"I haven't given you a decent gift for the wedding," Marcus said as he picked up piece after piece of jewelry and looked at them nonchalantly.

"Consider these a present from me. Have a look and see if you want anything else?"

Cordelia clenched her hands under the table repeatedly. She felt rather nervous. As she peeked at Marcus' stoic face, she somehow felt doted on.

These pieces of jewelry were perfectly beautiful. It was just that... How had he gotten them?

Marcus, who read her mind, could not help chuckling. "Don't worry, I didn't steal these. They were acquired the rightful way!"

Cordelia went red in an instant. How could she suspect her husband like that?

"Keep them." Marcus closed the box and pushed it toward her, his deep eyes watching her silently.

"These are all I can produce and everything this house has. We're already married, and you're the woman of the household, so I'm giving all the valuables of the house to you!" "Marcus, I-"

"One more thing." He interrupted her. "I won't be going back to visit your family with you today. Apologize to your family for me."

Cordelia was surprised at first. Then, she let out an abrupt breath of relief and relaxed.

"Hmm, okay," she replied with a smile. "Go ahead and do what you have to do. I can go back on my own!"

Marcus shook his head and chuckled inwardly, taking in how relieved the girl looked. What an interesting wife he had gotten himself. She wore her feelings on her sleeve, unable to hide even the tiniest secret. It would be strange if she managed to avoid being bullied this way!

Bullied?

Marcus paused and felt his guard go up. What if she actually got bullied by the family when she went back today? Then again, what did her being bullied have to do with him...

Frustrated with his thoughts, he shoved some food down his throat and pulled his jacket on to go out.

Cordelia did not know where he went. She cleaned up the house for a bit and went to catch the bus, receiving a call from Linda Quimby on the way. She listened to the latter grumble the entire ride, and the girl was still muttering when she got off the bus.

"Come on, aren't you too carefree? What day is it today? You're going back for a visit! And your husband's missing? Does he even care about you or your marriage?!" Cordelia was only giggling on the other end of the line.

Linda was two years her senior, and they had been best friends in school. The girl was loud and straightforward, and Cordelia had always said that if Linda had been born way earlier, she would have made a handsome female knight.

Currently, said knight was at her wit's end as she bombarded Cordelia with words. "A broke *ss like him must've saved the world in his past life to be able to marry you! And he can't even appreciate his good luck. How could he not go with you? He-"

"Alright!" Cordelia winced. "I didn't want him to come with me anyway. I'm going to... I'm going back to ask for money today. Everything would be exposed if he came with me!"

The woman on the other end of the call went quiet momentarily. Then, Linda sighed heavily.

"Cordelia, you're saying goodbye to lifelong happiness!"

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Cordelia's smile went stiff as a spark of sorrow flickered in her heart.

Linda was right. Marriage was for life, and she had gotten married mindlessly. She had not even gotten to date properly. It was true that she was letting go of her happiness for life. However...

She pressed her lips together before chuckling. "It's not so sad. I actually want to thank Marcus. If he hadn't married me, I wouldn't have gotten $40,000!"

As long as her mother recovered and her younger brother was able to study and live well, that would be her greatest joy.

"Okay, I'll stop here!" Cordelia was in a hurry to hang up. "I'm going back today for the money. I'll tell you the good news when I get it!"

Cordelia carefully tucked her phone back into her bag and soon reached the busiest street in Jangasas. As she stood on the street and watched the bustling life before her, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

"Oh, you're back, Cordelia!" Yelena's shrill voice dripped with mockery as she came downstairs and scanned Cordelia haughtily.

Yelena wondered if Cordelia had had it easy in the past few days. Once she thought of the fact that Cordelia was married to a broke man, who was also an infamous thug, she could not help the glee that filled her up.

She had lost to Cordelia in almost everything since they were kids. Even when the latter had worn old clothes, people had complimented her beauty.

Cordelia had a mild temperament, and people liked her. She was even good at studying.

She had been like a sore thumb to Yelena since forever. Even when Cordelia had no intention of harming her, she took every opportunity she had and resorted to every means possible to make the former's life difficult.

Yelena thought that Cordelia had deserved to replace her and marry Marcus. It was just that she did not find it satisfying. She wanted to see Cordelia do worse and live even more miserably.

"Cordelia, does it feel great being married?" Yelena tugged at Cordelia's hand in feigned friendliness, her smile deceitful.

"I heard that the older generation used to get married at their parents' orders and didn't see each other before their wedding night... Hah, you went retro too, huh!"

Cordelia laughed dryly and lightly pulled her hand out.

She felt nothing for this family. All she wanted was to leave as soon as she got the money and have nothing to do with the Jenners from now on.

"I heard that my brother-in-law's been behind bars several times for fighting in the past?" Yelena's gaze was offending as she smirked.

"What does he do now? Does he have a proper job? How is he taking care of you otherwise?!

"If he really can't find a job, I can help him! Heh. I can recommend him for some good jobs, you know, like construction work or port labor. It would fit him, right? Or he could join the company. The security guards need a dog. He can take the spot!"

Cordelia's eyes snapped up to her.

Yelena felt her heart give a squeeze. The impression she had of Cordelia was that she was a pushover. It seemed that there was something different in the girl's gaze today.

Cordelia took a deep breath and kept her eyes on Yelena as she said clearly, "My husband has some flaws, but this doesn't affect his ability to be the breadwinner of the family. Besides, even if he really wanted to look for a job, we wouldn't come to you. You can keep the good jobs you mentioned for my future brother-in-law!"

"You-"

Affronted, Yelena scowled. "Cordelia, who do you think you're talking to?"

"What?" Cordelia asked flatly. "Working construction, port labor, or as a security dog... You think these are great jobs, don't you? You're helping us by asking my husband to do them, so isn't it considerate of me as a sister to ask you to keep them for your future husband?"

Yelena was annoyed. She had never known Cordelia to have such a sharp tongue.

"Hah, only you'd defend a man like that like he's some gem!"

Yelena rolled her eyes with a purse of her lips and sashayed up the staircase, scoffing as she walked up. "Don't think I don't know what you wanted by coming back today... Heh, dad's not home, though. Coming here was a waste of your time!"

"What did you say?"

Cordelia's heart thumped as she immediately had a sense of premonition.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"I said—dad's not home!" Yelena smirked victoriously.

"Dad forgot all about your visit today! I mean, given the kind of man you got married to, is it really necessary for dad to welcome you back? Please, it's embarrassing enough as it is!"

"I don't need any welcoming!"

Cordelia sprang up to stop Yelena. "I want my wedding gift!"

"Wedding gift?"

Yelena arched a brow and smirked vilely at her. "What wedding gift? Never heard of it!"

Cordelia was stunned, but her heart beat fast. At that moment, all the reluctance, indignation, and resentment she felt rushed through her. She knew that she did not have a high starting point. The second she had come to this world, she had been stamped with the label of an illegitimate daughter.

That was not what she would choose, however. Despite the darkness she had experienced all these years, she had worked hard to chase after the light.

No ordinary girl would agree to the absurd request to marry a man in place of someone else! She had just wanted to save her mother. Why were they ripping this sliver of hope away from her too?! Yelena scoffed and turned around to go upstairs, but Cordelia pulled her back.

"Don't leave yet. Explain this!"

"Explain what?" Yelena pinched Cordelia's arm.

The pang of pain made Cordelia stumble back and knock the back of her head against the wall, causing her to hear a loud buzz in her ears. She looked up to see Yelena's growingly vicious smirk. "Cordelia, you're married now. You live in some deserted part of the countryside. Don't even think about associating yourself with the Jenners!"

"But... dad promised!" Cordelia gritted her teeth. "As long as I got married in your place, he said he'd give me a good amount of money as a wedding gift so my mom—"

"So your mom could stay in a better hospital ward and use imported medicine?" Yelena cackled. "My silly sister, do you remember why dad kicked you and your mother out of the house back then?" Cordelia stayed quiet as a chill crept in.

"Your wh*re of a mother got pregnant with some b*stard and made dad angry!

"Cordelia, sl*ts go to hell! You think dad will save her? Pft, dad wants nothing more than to see her die out there!"

"No..." Cordelia's eyes were red around the rims as she tried her best to rein her emotions in, but tears were already falling down her cheeks.

"My mom isn't like that. Someone framed her..."

"You mean my mom framed her?!" Yelena raised her voice as she glared at Cordelia.

Cordelia's gaze was cool. She remembered her mother telling her that the guiltier someone's conscience was, the more they pretended to be aggressive.

"I didn't say that," she said, wiping her tears. "You and I have no idea what happened among them, so watch your words. I won't let you go if you dare disrespect my mother like that again!"

"Hah, if only you were capable of it!" Yelena snorted and flicked her hair back to flash the diamond necklace she had just bought.

"What do you think? Pretty?" She looked at Cordelia provocatively. "I just bought it. It's not cheap, you know? Cost me $40,000!"

Cordelia froze.

Yelena spat sadistically, "It was bought using the money for your wedding gift!"

"You-"

"Let me be honest. Dad didn't even think about giving you a gift. It was an honor that you replaced me! Be thankful!"

Cordelia bit her lip and shook from rage, but there was nothing she could do. She kept her eyes on Yelena's triumphant face as the servant politely "asked" her to leave.

As she left glumly, the sky was gray and emanated a damp scent. The weather changed erratically in this season, and heavy rains came when one least expected it. She could only hurry over to the bus station.

"Mr. Z, Ms. Jenner is out."

"Mm." Marcus took off his boxing gloves and tossed them aside before he unwrapped the layers of gauze wrapped around his hands. "How's she doing?"

"Doesn't look... very good."

The man frowned.

"Ms. Jenner doesn't look happy. She's probably upset with her family. I asked around. The Jenner's servant said that she didn't manage to ask for her wedding gift and was insulted by her elder sister." Marcus clenched his fists as an icy glint flashed across his eyes.

"How much was her wedding gift supposed to be?"

"$40,000 more or less."

"How much is the plot of land the Jenners are bidding for worth?"

"$150,000,000."

"Very well," Marcus snorted. "Use the plot of land to make them realize their stupidity!"

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

When Marcus opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Cordelia coming out of the kitchen with two plates.

She originally had worry etched on her face, but she swapped it for a smile the moment she saw him. Unfortunately, the smile looked a bit forced.

Marcus sat at the table after washing his hands. He had trained the whole day, so he was famished. The steaming dishes looked very appetizing. He picked up his cutlery and started to eat, while Cordelia sat unmoved opposite him.

"What happened?" He looked up at her.

Cordelia jumped but shook her head lightly.

"Then eat up." Marcus put some meat on her plate. "Will you get full just by looking?"

Cordelia dipped her head with pressed lips. She really did not have much of an appetite. Her phone rang with a ding, and it was her brother, Carter Irwin.

[Sis, when will we get mom's treatment money? The doctor will stop giving her medication otherwise!]

She felt her heart squeeze as she subconsciously looked toward the drawer in the bedroom. She had put the gold jewelry Marcus had given her there. That gold and jade bangle should be worth plenty... "What's got you distracted?" A deep voice interrupted her train of thought suddenly.

Cordelia broke out of her trance and abruptly met the man's deep eyes. She could not help jolting. For some reason, the unusual vibe Marcus exuded gave her a strong sense of pressure every time she met his eyes.

"Nothing..." she answered softly.

Marcus put down his cutlery, his gaze cryptic. "Do you have something to tell me?"

Cordelia shook her head frantically, but Marcus was in no hurry. He kept his eyes on her for a while before chuckling and going back to eating. Since she did not want to tell him, he was not going to ask. One day, the girl would lose her composure.

That night was torture for Cordelia. She read Carter's text over and over and thought of countless ways to make money, but nothing would save them in time. It was impossible to go back to the Jenners and ask for money now, so the only solution might have to be...

She closed the door quietly and pulled the drawer open to retrieve the carved wooden box. The jewelry glittered under the moonlight. She picked the bangle out and hesitated for a long time. Finally, she wrapped it up carefully and tucked it into her pocket.

"Hmm, it's not bad," the employee at the jeweler's said, smiling with a nod. "Miss, your bangle's design is a bit old, but it's a classic one and it's fine quality. It's rare to find a piece with such good-quality gold and jade nowadays."

"How much is it worth then?" Cordelia looked at him hopefully.

"You mean to pawn it?" The employee smiled and took her to a room inside.

There were several professional devices on the table, and the employee left right after asking her to wait in the room.

Cordelia sat down and scanned the place. She had not expected this jeweler's to be so luxurious. Actually, she had not been exactly hopeful before coming. The bangle did look kind of old, and Marcus could not have given her anything too fancy given his situation.

It was a surprise that the employee had asked her to stay.

As she held the bangle in her hand, she toyed with it and stood up to pace around the room in hesitation.

Unbeknownst to Cordelia, each of her moves was monitored clearly by the surveillance camera.

"Mr. Bayer, this is the Hamerton family's heirloom... Do you want me to bring the lady over right now?"

A pair of eyes was watching the computer screen closely behind the spacious work desk. The smile on the handsome face was sardonic, and the man leaned back and crossed his legs on the table. With squinted eyes, he said with a smirk, "There's no hurry. Let's wait and see!"

"But what if she stole it?"

"Unlikely." Josiah Bayer toyed with his lighter and lit up a cigarette.

"I heard that Z got married. This is most likely his darling wife. Heh, leaving something so precious to her... Z can't have thought that she would bring it here!"

"What should we do next, Mr. Bayer?"

"Ask the guy to give her a price. Let's start with $150,000!"

Cordelia was greeted back by the employee amidst her distress. The employee cracked a grin as he told her, "Miss, after our professional assessment, there would be no problem pawning this bangle for $150,000."

There was a buzz in Cordelia's ears as she was stupefied for ten seconds.

$150,000? She clutched the bangle and looked caught in a dilemma.

The price was more than she had expected, and it had not crossed her mind that the piece of jewelry would be worth so much! With $150,000, she would not just pay her mother's current medical fees but her future ones too. She could even afford to send Carter to a better school...

That said, this was Marcus' wedding gift to her.

Cordelia frowned slightly. She suddenly recalled how Marcus had looked when he had passed the jewelry box to her.

"This is all I have, and I give it all to you. You're in charge of the household from now on."

Biting her lip, she was overwhelmed with guilt. The man had given her everything he had, and this was how she was repaying his sincerity?

"Miss, are you not happy with the price?" the employee asked with a careful smile. "We can negotiate the price. Why don't I show you our record, and you can consider it before-"

"I'm not selling it!" Cordelia sprang up and shoved the bangle back into her bag swiftly.

"Uh..."

Before the employee could react, she had fled out of the jeweler's and blended into the bustling street.

"Huh, she didn't sell it?" A teasing voice came from the upper floor of the jeweler's.

The employee turned around immediately to bow and greet the man respectfully. "Mr. Bayer!"

The man squinted. There was a playful expression on his handsome face as he sat down on the couch and made a call.

"Z, do you know that your darling came to me to pawn your family heirloom?"