Chapter 10Aurelia opened the door slightly, extending a hand to push out a copy of the agreement without stepping out from her room.“Sorry about your coat. My wet hair got on it. I’ll wash and return it tomorrow.”“And the clothes you left on the sofa should be done in the washing machine. Dry them yourself.”“Oh, if you have any secrets you find hard to share, I’ve organized events for hospitals before so I know many doctors. I can introduce you.Leslie hesitated. A hidden secret? Did he seem like the kind of person involved in such matters?Just as he was about to inquire, Aurelia’s bedroom door had already closed.Well, should he bother explaining to her what a hidden secret meant?Leslie turned towards the laundry room on the balcony, opened the washing machine, and found it filled with clothes Daniel had bought to create chaos.Displeased, Leslie took out the clothes, preparing to throw them away, and a pair of underwear fell out.Leslie finally understood what Aurelia meant by a hidden secret.It seemed Daniel was asking to be fired.Leslie angrily threw all the clothes into the trash bin.On his way back to the room, he passed the guest bathroom.Earlier, Aurelia mentioned the shower in the guest bathroom was broken, and he always felt she was just making excuses.Leslie, almost involuntarily, entered the guest bathroom, turned on the shower, and found not drop of water coming from the overhead.After inspection, he realized there was a problem with the water pipe. Such an issue couldn’t be intentional, so Aurelia didn’t lie to him.Which of her statements were true, and which were false?At 6:00 am, Aurelia reflexively woke up to her alarm. She stretched and quietly headed to the kitchen after a quick wash–up.Aurelia habitually opened the fridge to minimize her presence and avoid encounters with Leslie. However, she was puzzled by its sparse contents–just a few eggs and half a bag of toast.Leslie seemed unlike an ordinary person. He was sustaining himself on such a meager fare, which was a testament to that.Unable to prepare a proper meal, she settled for a simple egg sandwich.While taking a bite, Aurelia found Leslie’s ethereal face unexpectedly crossing her mind.Without much thought, she prepared breakfast for him, acknowledging the struggles of a working person who had taken Linda’s money.Ready to leave by 7:30 am, Aurelia briskly made her way to the subway with her bag.Half an hour later, Leslie Phim to pause.out of the room. The lingering scent of food in the air causedHe then realized there was an additional presence in the house, but seeing the vanished shoes at the doorway, he knew Aurelia had already left.Well, he appreciated women who knew when to leave.Putting on his shoes, Leslie left the house without a backward glance.As Aurelia entered the office, the company was still relatively empty.Thinking about the stagnant strategic plan for One Technology, she quickly sat down and opened her computer to gather her thoughts.After pondering for a while with a head full of only those few words from the materials, she decided to check which companies had their proposals rejected last night.Surprisingly, they were some of the top advertising agencies in Seacester, with over a decade of planning experience and a history of managing various events.They had all been turned down by the owner of One Technology.What kind of opening banquet did the owner want?While flipping through the documents, Aurelia noticed that the liaison for this collaboration was Jason, the manager from One Technology.She immediately went online to look up Jason’s information.Since Leslie didn’t want to provide details, but he didn’t stop her from seeking information from someone else, Aurelia, noting the time was 8:30 am, a suitable time to start the workday, decided to call Jason.However, no matter how many times she called, it went unanswered. At this moment, colleagues started trickling into the office, laughing and chatting, with Kimberly being the happiest.“Aurelia, you’re up so early? There’s no need to push yourself so hard. You make me feel like I’m lazy!”“Oh, Kimberly, you’ve outdone me. You swiftly secured Mr. Lynch, the manager in charge of this collaboration. I heard he’s leading this project, and you managed to clinch it with just one dinner, making it look effortless.”“Just like you said. Mr. Lynch and I both studied abroad, so we had a lot to discuss. You guys wouldn’t understand. We chatted until midnight, still feeling like there was more to discuss. It seems conversations flow easily with people on the same wavelength.”Kimberly, leaning on Aurelia’s desk, laughed flirtatiously.Her pristine cleavage drew attention.Aurelia smiled back and, using the excuse of wiping the desk, gently pushed Kimberly’s soft body away.“Mr. Lynch’s already taken, I heard. Staying late chatting with him–his wife must be pretty chill?” Her words suggested that Kimberly might have crossed a line.Colleagues nearby shared amused glances with a hint of mischief.Kimberly, known for her love of flaunting, had fans and critics. Some of them adored her, while others enjoyed watching the drama unfold.Kimberly cast a disdainful glance at Aurelia. “Aurelia, I know you feel uneasy, but that’s how the world works. Connections are resources. So, I think you better not waste your time. Spare some time to accompany your mom, okay?”Aurelia lifted her cup and replied, “Whether it’s a waste of time or not, the final moment will reveal it all.”“Excuse me!” She said, pushing past Kimberly. Heading to the water dispenser, she poured herself a cup of coffee and stood at the pantry, gazing into the distance.It would be deceiving to say that it wasn’t urgent to come up with a proposal.Kimberly had her influential uncle backing her up, doing everything a step faster than Aurelia.With nothing comparable, Aurelia must put in extra effort to secure this collaboration.With that in mind, she took a sip of her coffee, energizing herself, ready to meet this manager, Jason, in person.But Aurelia didn’t anticipate that she was still a step behind Kimberly.At noon, she continued calling Jason, the manager at One Technology, but no one answered, as if he intentionally avoided her.Meanwhile, Kimberly joyfully answered a call, glancing deliberately at Aurelia before raising her voice.“Mr. Lynch? Well, I’m not a fan of Japanese food. It has too much carbs. I’ve been on a diet lately.”“French cuisine? Okay, see you later.”After hanging up, Kimberly retrieved her makeup from her bag to touch up her face.Curious colleagues gathered around.“Kimberly, is the manager from One Technology treating you to lunch?” “Yes, at the newly opened French restaurant,” Kimberly replied casually, reapplying her lipstick.“Wow, Kimberly, you’re amazing. I’ve never heard of clients inviting someone to dinner, and he even changed the restaurant for you.”“Honestly, I don’t even want to eat. It’s just for the collaboration. Today is a diet in vain.” Chapter 18After speaking, Kimberly stood up to fix her neckline.Colleagues looked on with envy and jealousy.However, instead of heading towards the office door, Kimberly walked over to Aurelia’s desk.“Aurelia, I saw you making calls all morning. Who were you calling?” She asked with a triumphant smile.“No one important.”“That’s good. I thought you were also looking for Mr. Lynch. He really dislikes people whoactively pester him. Be careful not to make him think our company is too eager. It would be embarrassing for me.” Kimberly taunted.“Rest assured, I won’t actively pursue a married man.” Kimberly was left speechless.Her lips curled, and she left awkwardly.Once she departed, Millie slid over.“Aurelia, you still haven’t reached Mr. Lynch?”
Category: Married in a Flash Embarking on the Journey to Wealth
Read Novel Married in a Flash Embarking on the Journey to Wealth
Married in a Flash Embarking on the Journey to Wealth – Aurelia Simmons wants to borrow money from her boyfriend to pay for her ailing mother’s hospital bills. To her dismay, she finds out that her boyfriend’s waiting for her mother to die so that he can take advantage of her when she’s all alone. She breaks up with him without hesitation and instead marries a friend’s Sen.Aurelia initially thinks her husband is a workaholic programmer with a cold personality and a steady job. She expects them to keep their distance from each other after marriage.
Who would’ve expected him to become increasingly clingy the more time they spend with each other? In every important meeting, Aurelia sees her husband there. Did computer programmers have such wide job scopes nowadays? It’s only when an incredibly important president of a company goes on stage to give a speech at Seacester’s most prestigious business conference that Aurelia realizes the president looks exactly like her husband. When faced with another woman’s blatant seduction, the president shows off his wedding ring in front of all the cameras focused on him. “I’m married, so leave me alone.”Aurelia glared at his ring. Wasn’t that the one she’d given to him?It looked like she’d have to teach him a lesson for lying to her!
Chapter 11 Aurelia, though a bit restless, patiently shook her head at Millie.Millie, on the other hand, faced the situation like encountering a formidable opponent.“Could it be true that Mr. Lynch is really involved with Kimberly?”Aurelia covered Millie’s mouth with her hand, glancing around to ensure nobody was paying attention to them since everyone had gone for lunch.“Don’t spread baseless rumors. The office despises gossip,” Aurelia advised.Millie, however, lowered her voice, filled with resentment.“Why not? The moment she arrived, we became nothing more than decorations. She already has everything. Why does she need to compete with us? Just because she has money doesn’t mean she can win a man’s heart! All she does is show off her cleavage, doesn’t she?”Aurelia tilted her head, finding Millie’s reaction somewhat extreme.“Millie! Don’t speak without evidence! Life is inherently unfair. Having money as an advantage in winning people’s favor. It’s her prerogative. We don’t need to compare ourselves. to such people.”“I just can’t stand her smug look. What’s so impressive about her? She’d be nothing if it weren’t for a wealthy uncle!” Millie complained.Aurelia watched Millie bite her lip, sensing beneath the verbal criticism, there lingered an undeniable envy towards Kimberly.Indeed, whether it was luxury brands, men, or work, Kimberly had it all at her fingertips.Even when it came to their jobs, Kimberly could effortlessly close deals with a lunch and a few sweet words, while they needed extensive negotiations to sign contracts.Yet, Aurelia believed that work required a process of experience to be skillful.Even if Kimberly could charm her way through now, what about the future?Aurelia comforted Millie, saying, “Don’t dwell on it. Let’s focus on working diligently.”Reluctantly, Millie nodded, staring at the high heels under Kimberly’s desk, lost in thought.Aurelia paid no mind, pulling her up from her seat. “Come on, let’s go for lunch.”Millie snapped back to reality, surprised. “Don’t you bring your own lunch?”Aurelia sighed, “These days have been a bit hectic. I might skip bringing lunch.”Millie thought Aurelia was preoccupied with her mother’s illness, so she didn’t inquire further. She followed Aurelia into the elevator.In reality, Aurelia was contemplating finding an appropriate time to talk with her husband, Leslie, about their future life.Perhaps the empty refrigerator had startled her early in the morning.Considering their inability to pursue a quick divorce, it was essential for them to grasp amutual understanding for a peaceful life together.Exiting the elevator, Aurelia and Millie coincidentally witnessed Kimberly getting into a Ferrari.The onlookers‘ eyes displayed a spectrum of emotions–envy, admiration, disdain…“This month alone, it’s already the tenth different luxury car. Truly jealous of Kimberly, remarked one bystander.“You have no idea. She posts about her favorite designer brands in the morning, and a courier delivers them by noon. She claims they’re all gifts from admirers. I can’t fathom when I’ll experience such treatment,” another voice chimed in.“Jealous? Well then, why don’t you try it? Remember to reveal half of your chest,” a mocking voice teased.Upon hearing this, Millie clenched her fists, and turned to Aurelia in frustration.“Aurelia, look at her! She’s already hitching rides with someone else. Can you stomach this? What if she seals the deal? She’ll become the assistant director,” Millie voiced her concerns.“Am I supposed to not eat lunch because of her? Besides, he rejected offers from the top five advertising companies in Seacester, I don’t think the boss is that trivial,” Aurelia affirmed.“Shouldn’t we do something instead of just waiting?” Millie said through gritted teeth.“Don’t worry; I have a plan. Besides, even if I follow her now, it would only annoy her. Our effort wouldn’t pay off,” Aurelia explained as she led Millie away.She was starving, having only eaten a sandwich early in the morning.Millie, wearing a frustrated expression, followed Aurelia to lunch.After they finished their meal and returned to the office, once everyone was back, they drew the curtains in preparation for an afternoon пар.Aurelia had just settled down when the unmistakable sound of high heels, accompanied by Kimberly’s sweet voice, echoed from outside the door.“I’ve arrived. Thank you for the ride. We’ll chat again next time.” At the sound of Kimberly’s voice, the drowsiness of the office staff vanished, each craning their necks to catch a glimpse at the doorway.Kimberly entered carrying a massive Louis Vuitton paper bag, wearing a self–satisfied expression.Despite making quite a loud entrance, she pretended to be apologetic, saying, “Sorry, did I disturb you? How about I treat everyone to afternoon tea today?”No one paid much attention to the offer of afternoon tea. All eyes were fixed on the Louis Vuitton bag.“Kimberly, what’s this?” someone inquired.“It’s a welcome gift from Mr. Lynch. I declined, but he insisted. After all, he’s our client, and I couldn’t refuse. But I already have so many bags,” Kimberly explained, her hands swiftly unwrapping the box, revealing the bag amid the envious gazes of onlookers.Chapter 11“Wow, it’s the Louis Vuitton Onthego! That’s easily 24,000 dollars! Did Mr. Lynch really give this to you?” A discerning colleague exclaimed.“It’s not that expensive,” Kimberly casually remarked, slinging the handbag over her arm and turning around.Aurelia couldn’t fathom how Kimberly managed to turn in her direction. “Aurelia, is it nice?” She asked.“It’s beautiful.” Aurelia smiled, offering a friendly reminder, “Kimberly, as a potential business partner, the company prohibits accepting gifts. Plus, Mr. Lynch is married.”A few colleagues in the office, particularly the ones who disliked Kimberly, chuckled at Aurelia’s comment.Especially those who were already married, they rolled their eyes directly.Imagine one’s husband taking another woman out for lunch and presenting her with an expensive bag.Who could tolerate such a situation?Kimberly gritted her teeth. “Aurelia, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve already said that Mr. Lynch. and I clicked instantly. This is a personal gift he gave me as a friend.”“Oh, a personal gift,” Aurelia repeated.The looks exchanged among the colleagues became even more profound.Yesterday, they were strangers. Today, they were suddenly good friends with a gift of a high- end bag.Who would believe that nothing happened between them?However, Kimberly’s entourage immediately jumped to her defense.“Some people turn bitter when they miss out on things, you know? Kimberly here has dealt. with all kinds of people. When someone gives a gift, they’re just trying to build good connections. It’s called networking, and some people don’t have it yet.”“You’re right. In this day and age, it’s all about sharing resources. Without connections, you end up buried in proposal writing, unlike Kimberly, effortlessly securing collaborations for the company,” remarked one colleague.Kimberly waved off the comment, smiling. “It’s not that exaggerated. Aurelia works so hard. It’s not easy. Don’t talk about her like that. We’re all working for the good of the company. It’s just a pity she’s wasting her efforts. From now on, I’ll make sure to treat everyone well.”At first, her words seemed harmless. But upon closer scrutiny, Kimberly had already placed herself in a superior position.Unfazed, Aurelia responded, “So…. when did Mr. Lynch say he would sign the contract with you?”“Huh?”Kimberly’s smile faltered.“Weren’t you worried about me wasting my efforts? You must have already sealed the deal,right?” Aurelia pressed on.“Well… Mr. Lynch said he needs to report back to the company first, considering it’s such an important collaboration.”Kimberly hesitated.“Oh, so it’s not confirmed that he’ll sign with you?” Aurelia clarified.Kimberly was at a loss for words.At that moment, Kimberly’s phone rang. She glanced at it, relieved, and immediately smiled. Then, she teasingly shook her phone in front of Aurelia.“Aurelia, looks like you’re out of the running this time. My uncle says Mr. Lynch values me a lot. He even mentioned introducing me directly to the boss of One Technology.”Before Aurelia could respond, colleagues surrounded them, each chiming in with their thoughts.“One Technology’s boss? The hottest topic in Seacester right now?”“Who is this guy? So mysterious. I heard many bigshots are queuing up to meet him.”“Kimberly, you’re about to become famous again. Not only will you get a promotion and a raise, but you also won’t have to wait in line to meet such an influential figure.”After a round of flattery, Kimberly’s disdainful gaze towards Aurelia became even more profound.Aurelia’s heart sank a little.Kimberly hadn’t even presented a proposal yet and had seemingly secured the deal with One Technology.
Chapter 6This proposal was crucial for Aurelia, concerning her promotion and salary increase, and influencing her and her mother’s future.Despite being married to Leslie, judging by his attitude, she had to plan for her future.Hesitation aside, Aurelia didn’t care whether she was familiar with Leslie.After all, clients went from being unfamiliar to familiar, right?She opened Leslie’s WhatsApp.“Mr. Leslie, are you busy?”The message seemed to vanish into a black hole with no response in sight. Leslie might be occupied.Half an hour later, Aurelia sent another message.“Mr. Leslie, are you at One Technology?”The message was accompanied by a picture of Leslie’s employee ID.A minute later, Leslie’s reply appeared on the screen, still concise.“What’s the matter?”“Do you know your boss’s preferences? Like, what he likes and dislikes.”Aurelia was straightforward to avoid wasting Leslie’s time.“Are you interested in our boss?” Leslie’s reply came after another long minute.“Yeah.”Who wouldn’t be interested in the boss?After waiting another lengthy minute, Leslie replied, “He doesn’t like someone like you.”Huh? Aurelia stared at the chat, momentarily confused.What did he mean by “someone like her“? Just as she was contemplating, she caught her reflection on the glass window.Suddenly, she understood Leslie’s implication. Her most prominent feature was probably… being a woman.“I got it.”“Leslie replied with ellipses.“Don’t worry. I won’t casually!Leslie might not believe her.your boss’s dislike for women,” Aurelia added, fearing“Nowadays, things are quite open in the country. There’s no need to pay too much attention to such matters,” Aurelia’continued.Leslie remained silent.”Aurelia rolled her eyes. This man was truly indifferent. If he chose not to respond, he wouldn’t.At his office in One Technology, Leslie put down his phone with a gloomy expression.He couldn’t help wondering what on earth was on Aurelia’s mind and how she ended up thinking he liked men.Daniel asked softly, “Mr. Synder? Will the meeting still proceed?” Leslie’s thoughts returned.He had wasted three minutes on Aurelia, of all people.“Continue,” he said expressionlessly.On his left, Jason said, “Mr. Synder, Young Advertising would like to collaborate with us. They said they would send over the proposal for the opening ceremony next week.”“Young Advertising?” Leslie furrowed his brow, recalling his mother’s constant praise for Aurelia’s abilities, labeling her as Young Advertising’s ace planner, and so on.He suddenly understood Aurelia’s subtle intention in approaching him.She aimed to leverage his status as a One Technology employee to shortcut securing collaboration between Young Advertising and One Technology.The gold–digging woman sure had her tricks. However, he was curious to see what kind of proposal someone like her could come up with.“Mr. Synder, any issues?” Jason cautiously asked.“None, continue reporting,” Leslie replied composedly, setting a serious atmosphere in the office.An hour later, the meeting concluded, and Leslie waved his hand, prompting everyone to rise. As his gaze swept over the room, he noticed everyone in the group was men. For some reason, he recalled Aurelia’s misunderstanding about him liking men.His slender fingers tapped his forehead twice as he glanced at Jason.“Jason, come here.”“Mr. Synder, what do you need?” Jason inquired.“Hire a few female employees.”Jason was taken aback. “Didn’t we specify in recruitment that we don’t want women?”“I said hire,” Leslie said nonchalantly.As others in the meeting room heard this, they all stopped, seemingly frozen.It was as if the grumpy boss who hated women had suddenly seen the light.They all spoke in unison, “Thank you, Mr. Synder!” Aurelia stared at the screen with no new messages and sighed, putting down her phone.Indeed, relying on others was less effective than relying on herself.She began researching, but this was her first time delving into a tech–oriented proposal, andChaptersmany specialized terms left her baffled.The entire day passed, and she hadn’t written anything except for the two words, One Technology.Not until Millie reminded her did she realize it was almost 5:00 pm.Millie leaned on her desk, staring at Aurelia’s computer in astonishment. “Aurelia, have your not come up with a proposal yet?”Aurelia sighed, “No.”Millie immediately panicked. “Aurelia, you can’t lose to Kimberly! She has always been a bitch to you. If she becomes the vice director, she’ll make your life miserable.”“Why the rush?” Aurelia stood up to pack her things.“I heard from Kimberly’s follower that she has already obtained firsthand information about One Technology!”“That quickly?” Aurelia exclaimed.“Word is her uncle knows someone at One Technology. It’s just a matter of pulling some strings. Now, they’re all waiting in a restaurant to celebrate Kimberly’s promotion,” Millie whispered.Hearing this, Aurelia frowned but worrying wouldn’t help. She wouldn’t admit defeat until the end.“Don’t overthink it. We can worry about her after we submit the proposal.”“Okay, let’s go.”Nonchalantly, Millie and Aurelia began talking about other things.Just as Aurelia exited the elevator, her phone rang.It was a call from Seth, waiting for her to regret her decision to break up.Without answering, she swiftly blocked his number.She was already married, and getting entangled with an ex–boyfriend was not something Linda would approve of.After reaching the intersection, Aurelia bid farewell to Millie.To save time, Aurelia opted for a taxi ride to the hospital, where she settled the outstanding fees, resulting in a remaining balance of three hundred thousand dollars. This amount proved to be sufficient for covering her mother’s surgery and the subsequent treatment.This allowed her to catch her breath finally.Later, in the hospital room, Aurelia met the caregiver she had arranged to interview. The caregiver was Karen Jones, approximately fifty years old. She spoke with a slight accent but greeted her with a warm smile and displayed efficiency in her mannerisms.Aurelia negotiated the terms with her and decided to hire her, then proceeded to the doctor’soffice.Aurelia’s mother had experienced an unexpected cerebral hemorrhage, causing her to become comatose. The examination revealed a tumor in a precarious position of her brain.The only solution was a craniotomy, but the surgery was very risky, with only a thirty percent chance of success.Yet, if they didn’t perform the surgery, her mother was certain to die.Her mother was now her only family, and Aurelia was determined to try even with a ten percent chance.“Ms. Simmons, the surgery carries significant risks, and we can’t predict when your mother will wake up after. Are you sure you want to proceed?” The doctor confirmed again.“Yes, we must proceed.” Aurelia nodded with determination.“Alright, I’ll arrange the surgery for you immediately.”“Thank you.”In the end, the surgery was scheduled for a week later.This gave Aurelia a glimmer of hope.Perhaps due to the relaxed mood, she could hear her stomach growling.She had only eaten a piece of bread the entire day.She took the remaining bread from her bag and took a bite, but she wrinkled her face and spatit out.“It’s gone bad!She blamed herself for keeping the bread in her bag all day in this hot weather.Aurelia sighed, throwing the bread into the trash bin.Just as she was about to go to a nearby convenience store for food, her phone rang. It was Linda.“Miss…. Mom, what is it?”
Chapter 7“Aurelia, have you moved in with Leslie? I called because I was afraid Leslie might have scared you away,” Linda half–jokingly remarked.“Mom, I promised you, and I won’t go back on my word. Don’t worry. I’ll go back and pack up right away.”Aurelia could sense Linda’s keen interest in her marriage to Leslie.She didn’t want to disappoint the person who had saved her life. However, she wasn’t sure what Leslie thought about their marriage.“Okay, be careful on the way. If anything happens, just look for Leslie,” Linda said as she finally smiled.“Okay.”After hanging up the phone, Aurelia dismissed the idea of buying something to eat and decided to take a taxi home.The evening hadn’t set in, and she had to act swiftly.Upon reaching home, she started packing her bags.Besides daily necessities, she had only a few sets of work clothes and casual wear. After packing a large and a small suitcase, she looked around her home.A family photo from several years ago still hung on the wall. She was held in her parents‘ arms, and they all smiled with squinted eyes.Unfortunately, those carefree days were gone.She walked to the table and touched her father’s memorial tablet.“Dad, rest assured, I will save Mom and take care of our home.”“Oh, by the way, Dad, I’m married now. Not to Seth. So, you don’t need to give him your blessings anymore. It’s not worth it. My husband is a… handsome programmer. Don’t worry. He’s not bald. He’s quite decent.”As she finished speaking, her phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number.After a moment of hesitation, she answered, only to hear Seth’s reproachful voice.“Aurelia, you actually blocked me? Are you feeling guilty?”Hearing this, Aurelia rolled her eyes.“Seth, I made myself clear yesterday. We no longer have any connection.”“Aurelia, come on, isn’t it just about the hundred thousand dollars? I have my own challenges, too. I’m the only child in my family and bear the weight of everything. If I hand over the money to you, what about my parents?” Seth explained.“That’s why I don’t want it anymore. I’m hanging up. Don’t call me again.”“Aurelia, what happened at the social event was just a misunderstanding. What I said was out of anger. I do have feelings for you. You know that, right?” Seth softly coaxed.Aurelia tightened her grip on the phone, irritated by his voice, wanting to get rid of him quickly.“Seth, I don’t know that. How about you transfer the car ownership to me, and I’ll believe you.“Aurelia! Are you deliberately doing this? Do you think I can’t find someone else without you? Just wait and see!”When Seth had to make a significant sacrifice, he reacted explosively, displaying heightened sensitivity to the situation.Previously, she thought love shouldn’t be about gains and losses, but now she realized she was the only one adhering to this principle.Aurelia didn’t want to hear him babble, so she hung up and blocked the number.At the same time, footsteps approached behind her. Turning around, she saw Leslie push open. the half–closed door.“Why are you here?” She asked in surprise.“My mom told me to pick you up.‘Leslie’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.“Wait a moment, I’ll go check the windows and gas,” Aurelia said.After saying that, she entered the kitchen. She had claimed it was to check things, but in reality, she wanted to compose herself.She didn’t want others to witness her in a chaotic state.In the room, Leslie’s gaze coldly scanned the house.The decor was a bit dated, but this house was small yet valuable as it was in a good school. district.Despite living in such a place, Aurelia still seemed unsatisfied, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of money.Had Leslie not overheard Aurelia asking her ex–boyfriend for a car, he wouldn’t have believed that a woman could be such a gold digger–asking for money and a car.He couldn’t help but admire how well she played her role before him and his mother. At that moment, Aurelia emerged from the kitchen, reaching out to grab her two suitcases.“Alright, let’s go,” she said.“Okay,” Leslie responded coolly. Turning, he saw her struggling with the suitcases and extended his hand to take them.Even though he disliked her, as a grown man, he saw no need to make things difficult for a woman deliberately.Aurelia watched as he took the suitcases and expressed her gratitude, “Thank you.”Leslie ignored her and walked directly to the elevator. Wanting to avoid any trouble, Aurelia silently followed him into it.3-4The fluctuating emotions throughout the day and not eating anything made Aurelia’s body uncomfortable.Nevertheless, she persevered until they reached Leslie’s car.Seeing Leslie help her with the suitcases, she immediately stepped forward.“I can do it myself…” A sudden dizziness overwhelmed her before she could finish her sentence, and her body fell heavily into warm arms.Aurelia wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she regained consciousness.The intense light above her head made it difficult to open her eyes.After adjusting, she rubbed her eyes and saw her surroundings. She was in the hospital.“You’re awake.”Leslie sat beside her, editing something on his phone, not bothering to look at her.“What happened?” Aurelia asked.“Hypoglycemia,” Leslie replied, glancing at his phone with a slight frown.Aurelia unintentionally glanced at the screen. It was filled with work data she couldn’t comprehend.It was evident that Leslie was genuinely busy, making her wonder why he was still here.Initially, she thought about asking Leslie to help fetch her a glass of water, but she dispelled the idea and tried to do it herself.However, her body hadn’t fully recovered. Weak in the limbs, she collapsed before making it past the edge of the bed. Fortunately, Leslie’s quick reaction prevented her fall.Aurelia, detecting Leslie’s tobacco scent, promptly adjusted her position.Leslie’s gaze turned cold. Was he a virus?“What do you want?” he asked indifferently.“Water.”Aurelia bit her lip, her voice softer than usual.Leslie was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, as if someone had blown a breath in his ear, causing a tingling sensation.Aurelia’s usual sweet voice took on a weakened tone, resembling a cherry that had been bitten -sweet and sentimental.Leslie placed his phone on the bedside table before heading to the water dispenser to pour her a glass.Aurelia accepted the water, bowing her head to take a sip. The thick black lashes cast shadows. on her pallid face, intensifying her appearance of vulnerability.After drinking the water, just as Aurelia was about to sigh in relief, her stomach inopportunely grumbled.Both of them stared at each other.Aurelia lowered her head, thinking, why did awkward things always happen in front of Leslie?In the eyes of her colleagues, she usually appeared very competent.“Wait here,” Leslie said briefly before exiting the ward.Leaning against the bedside, Aurelia sighed as she observed the remaining half–filled IV bag.Nearby, an elementary school student, multitasking between putting up with the IV drip and doing homework, suddenly looked up and smiled at her.“Miss, my mom says your boyfriend is really handsome.Aurelia couldn’t help but chuckle, surprised at the directness of a young child these days.The woman beside the child quickly covered the youngster’s mouth, offering an apologetic smile to Aurelia.“Apologies, children are often expressive. I hope you don’t mind.”“No problem,” Aurelia replied with a smile.“I envy you so much. Your boyfriend pushed aside several work calls just to stay with you. He even went to ask the doctor about your condition. It’s rare to find someone so handsome and considerate.“Unlike me, after getting married and having a child, it’s like my husband disappeared. I work during the day, care for the child at night, and when the child is sick, I stay up all night…”The woman continued to share her struggles, but Aurelia was stuck on the first part of herstatement.Did Leslie do all that?
Chapter 8Leslie always emitted an air of aloofness, cold and detached, perpetually enveloped in a mist that obscured any clear perception of him.Surprisingly, he turned out to be quite considerate. At least he didn’t leave her alone in the hospital.Recalling the past, there was a night when she stayed up late working on a proposal until her stomach ached.Afraid to let her parents know, she had called Seth to take her to the hospital.However, upon arriving, he mentioned having to meet a client and left her alone in thehospital without completing the check–up.Later, she learned that the so–called client was just Seth’s friend, and they spent the afternoon playing board games.Seth explained that friends could help him introduce clients.She empathized with Seth’s ambition to climb the corporate ladder and didn’t argue much.After all, men needed to have career ambitions.Looking back now, perhaps Seth never even took her seriously back then.Fortunately, she saw through it.Ding! The ringing of the call bell above her head brought Aurelia back to the present.A nurse removed the needle from the little student across the room, and the mother–son duo waved at her before leaving.Aurelia returned the wave and looked outside, wondering where Leslie had gone.Her phone on the bedside table rang as she was thinking about it.Seeing an unfamiliar number and worried it might be a new client, she answered immediately, “Hello, may I ask who’s calling?”“Who are you?” Came a hesitant voice from the other end.“Aren’t you looking for me? I’m…”Before Aurelia could finish her sentence, the phone was forcefully taken away and abruptly hung up.Holding the phone, Leslie pressed hard enough that his fingertips turned white, indicating hisanger.“Aurelia, please get your identity straight. Marrying you was just to make my mom happy. Don’t attempt to meddle in my affairs.”His voice was cold. Each word sent a chill through Aurelia.“No, I…”“Here are the car keys. The car is in the parking lot downstairs. Go back on your own. I’mheading back to the office.”With a snap, the car keys and a bowl of porridge were placed on the table.Aurelia’s heart trembled, and she began searching for her bag when she regained her senses.She continued to explain as she reached for it on the adjacent chair.“Mr. Synder, you misunderstood. I truly didn’t know that was your phone. Our phones areidentical. I thought it was my client. If you don’t believe me, look.”Struggling to find her phone, she discovered that Leslie had already left.She sighed, realizing the phones were indeed identical.Whose fault was it for leaving their phone lying around without any labels?But who was that woman?Why was she so angry upon hearing Aurelia’s voice?Aurelia didn’t dwell on it, though.The aroma of the porridge caught her attention, and she was famished.Starving, she decided to eat first before worrying about Leslie’s mood.Leslie hailed a cab back to the office. Daniel swiftly approached as he arrived.“Boss, the work permit you requested is ready,” Daniel said, handing over the programmer’s work permit.“Good, tell the people below not to reveal my identity. Also, go find a few individuals to stopby my place,” Leslie instructed.“The mansion?” Daniel inquired.“No, the temporary apartment I’m staying in. Get someone to make sure it becomes. uninhabitable,” Leslie clarified.Daniel hesitated for a moment, curious, “Boss, why?”Leslie replied, “You don’t need to worry about that. Just do as I say.”Daniel nodded, “Alright, I’ll go now.”Leslie turned and entered the office, leaning against the window as he lit a cigarette.The white smoke enveloped him, accentuating his dark eyes.As Leslie pondered Aurelia’s unexpected intrusion, anger sparked in his gaze. He wouldn’t allow such a woman to stay with him. He hoped Aurelia would be sensible enoughto retreat.Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone.“I called earlier because I wanted to ask you a few technical questions just now but a woman answered the phone. Did she pick up your lost phone?”The inquiry was tentative, each word carefully chosen, intimate, and cautious.Chapter 1“What questions did you have?” Leslie responded in a formal tone.“I’ve already resolved it,” came the reply.“Okay,” Leslie hung up the call, ending the conversation.The other person’s status on the screen could be seen as typing, but no message was sent in the end.Aurelia finished her porridge, waited for another half–hour, and finally completed the IV drip.Pressing a cotton ball against her arm, she descended the stairs.The early summer night carried a chill, making her shiver as she headed towards the parking lot, searching for her car key.Following the navigation, she arrived at Leslie’s residential area. She was slightly surprised by the upscale neighborhood before her.Do programmers earn this much?Although not in the prime location of Seacester, the convenient transportation, and comprehensive facilities made it a peaceful area.Moreover, Leslie’s residence was a relatively high–end, large flat.Aurelia wondered how much this would have cost him.Before Aurelia could calculate the price, the security guard approached, inquired about the situation, and then raised the barrier after understanding.She followed the driveway into the underground parking lot, found the parking space for Building Eight according to the signs, and parked her car.After securing her vehicle, she retrieved her luggage and entered the elevator.She swiped her card and pressed the button for the 12th floor. As the elevator ascended, her heart raced.Was she married? Was she really going to live with a man?Aurelia became increasingly nervous at the thought, unconsciously gripping the suitcase handle tightly.“Ding!” The elevator doors opened.Aurelia was anxious as she found Leslie’s apartment door.Carefully taking out the key, she opened the door, unsure of what such a high–end residence would look like.Upon pushing the door open, she was utterly dumbfounded.“Can people actually live here?”Leslie seemed to have a penchant for cleanliness. She wondered why his living space resembled a dog’s kennel.No, even calling it a kennel would be too kind.This was clearly a dump.There were shoes scattered at the entrance, socks on the floor, and coats appearing as a permanent fixture.The bin overflowed with trash, the sofa lacked a clear sitting space, and was piled with miscellaneous items and clothes. Aurelia even suspected the presence of… underwear.Aurelia looked around in disbelief, utterly unable to connect this filthy and chaotic environment with the aloof and stern Leslie.Aurelia wondered how could she live like this.Maybe she should find a reason to return home, considering Leslie didn’t seem to fancy heranyway.anBut explaining to Linda would be tricky. She spent half a million getting her son a wife and ended up with a separated couple. It wouldn’t sit well.Aurelia heaved a sigh.The elevator doors opened, and Leslie arrived at his front door, checking his watch.Three hours had passed since he parted ways with Aurelia. She’d most likely see his place in such disarray and sensibly decide to leave.Daniel had ensured the place was in utter chaos, completely uninhabitable.She married him for money. Enduring discomfort was out of the question for a worldly woman like Aurelia.He simply sought a woman to appease his mother and fulfill mutual needs.Once the novelty wore off for his mother, he’d provide Aurelia with a clean break and a decent separation fee.Anything beyond that was not an option.Leslie opened the door. He couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.
Chapter 3Aurelia momentarily thought she was hearing things, cautiously glancing at Leslie, only tofind him completely unsurprised.So… Leslie’s blind date was her?Linda continued, “Aurelia, my son, as you can see, is a good–looking workaholic. At least your children will be beautiful in the future.”Children? Aurelia was even more bewildered, having no idea how to respond.Leslie raised an eyebrow, “Mom, that’s enough. I need to get back to the office.”Linda rolled her eyes and said, “Office, office all the time. Why not just marry the company?” Leslie shrugged. “If that’s an option.”Linda, frustrated, turned to Aurelia and chuckled, “Aurelia, I won’t hide it from you. I’ve wanted you to be my daughter–in–law for a long time. Unfortunately, you had a boyfriend, so all I could do was silently wish you well. Who knew your boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate you? If he doesn’t want you, I do.”With that, Linda held Aurelia’s hand, the warmth and softness of her grip reminiscent of Aurelia’s mother.Thinking of her mom, Aurelia felt a sense of pain in her chest.Perhaps, if she agreed to marry Leslie, Linda could help her mother.But she didn’t dare to agree hastily. After all, marriage was a decision involving two people. She carefully looked at Leslie.Leslie’s tone was indifferent, “Mom, do you really want me to get married?”Linda was persistent. “Yes.”Leslie’s eyes glanced over Aurelia.“Fine, then let’s get married.”She was just a gold digger. Someone easily appeased with money.Aurelia was slightly taken aback. She hadn’t expected Leslie to agree so easily.Linda turned to her, asking softly, “Aurelia, do you want this?”Feeling lost, Aurelia thought it necessary to explain her family situation, “Ms. Linda, my family is going through some difficulties, and I might…”Her voice choked in her throat.Perhaps Linda’s overwhelming concern had stirred unexpected emotions in her.Not wanting to delve into Aurelia’s sorrowful matters, Linda promptly interrupted, “Alright, alright. I believe in your character. As long as you nod, we won’t mistreat you. So, do you agree?”Aurelia gratefully looked at Linda and nodded with determination, “Yes.”Chapter 1She felt she had no choice with a stack of overdue bills in her drawer.While selling the house was an option, the lengthy process with real estate agents might not provide a timely solution.Her mom couldn’t wait any longer, even though medical expenses were covered for now.Despite Leslie’s quick agreement, he had yet to give Aurelia a proper look.If they parted ways in the future, there would be no hard feelings.Linda clapped her hands with joy, “Great! Tomorrow is an auspicious day. You two should get the marriage license. You youngsters can decide the wedding arrangements. Now, take the time to get to know each other.”Aurelia politely extended her hand to Leslie and greeted, “Mr. Synder, nice to meet you. I’m Aurelia. I look forward to getting to know you better.”Without looking at her, Leslie raised his hand, not for a handshake but to hand her his ID card, saying briefly, “Information about me is here.”Aurelia accepted the ID card, noticing Leslie wasn’t in the mood for conversation.She stood, “Mr. Synder, Ms. Linda, I must go now. Take your time.”“Wait, Aurelia, exchange numbers with Leslie. If you need anything, you can look for him on WhatsApp,” Linda said, pushing Leslie’s number towards Aurelia.“Sure.”Aurelia added Leslie’s number. His WhatsApp contact showed a blank profile picture.With that, she left the restaurant.Linda watched Aurelia leave and turned to Leslie, “ID card? Since when did you become a programmer?”“Just now. I hope you won’t expose it,” Leslie replied casually.“Why? Aurelia is a good person. You don’t need to be this guarded against her.”“You’ll never know,” Leslie responded nonchalantly.Hearing this, Linda frowned.“Leslie, is it because of my divorce from your dad?”“Mom, you’re overthinking. I’ve promised to marry the woman you approve of. I hope you won’t interfere in my affairs again.”Leslie’s stern words sent a shiver down Linda’s spine, even as a mother.Whenever Leslie’s despicable father was mentioned, his demeanor would turn cold.Linda pressed her lips together and remarked, “Leslie, one day, you will find that Aurelia is different from the women you’ve encountered.”Leslie remained unruffled, “Is that so?I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I don’t make mistakes in judging people.Aurelia wasn’t much different from Seth. She would do anything for money.She broke up with her boyfriend for a hundred thousand dollars, then immediately met at stranger for marriage. Every move and decision revolved around money, without a mention of love.Leslie agreed with the marriage, reassuring his mother and providing a convenient way to spend money post–divorce in the future.“I’m heading back to the office.”Leslie stood up, his tall figure breezing through like the wind.Despite the absence of sound, his imposing presence attracted everyone’s attention.Linda whispered, “Watch out for a slap in the face.”When Aurelia exited the restaurant, darkness had already fallen.Aurelia was afraid of missing the visiting hours at the hospital, so she had to take a taxi straight there.She hurried into the intensive care unit.Her mother, Ava Watson, lay unconscious. There were tubes and wires connected to her body.Each time she pushed open the door, Aurelia hoped to see Ava smiling and calling her name as before.But every time, her hope was in vain. The family member of the patient on the neighboring bed nodded slightly, “Aurelia’s here. Why are you so late today?”“I had something to attend to.”Aurelia explained as she walked to her mother’s bedside, placing her bag down.She gently touched her mother’s face, seeking solace in the warmth, desperately holding on to the feeling that her mother hadn’t left her.“Aurelia, the doctor came looking for you again today,” the family member from the neighboring bed informed her.“Alright, I understand. Thanks.” Aurelia sighed.It was probably about the overdue bills, pushing for payment.At that moment, the caregiver, Sophia Elliot, entered the room carrying a kettle.Seeing Aurelia, she put down the kettle and approached her. “Ms. Simmons, can we talk outside?”“Sure.”Aurelia followed Sophia out of the hospital room.Once outside, Sophia got straight to the point.“Hey, Aurelia, this guy in the next room is willing to pay me five hundred a day. Your mom’s not doing great, hardly moving, and I’ve got to look after her three times a day. It’s taking atoll, you know? You’re only chipping in two–fifty, and I get that you’re the only person doing everything, but you can’t just walk away. So, what’s your take on this?”Sophia pinched her fingers together, indicating a request for a raise.Aurelia experienced a sharp pang in her chest.When she lacked support, some seemed bold enough to exploit the situation.She needed to earn money to cover her mother’s medical expenses, but it was impossible to stay at the hospital all day. Besides, she had already sold all the valuable jewelry at home.Due to caring for her mother this month, she missed several days at work.The company had expressed dissatisfaction, so she couldn’t afford to take more leave.She also couldn’t risk leaving her unconscious mother alone in the hospital.Unexpectedly, this situation had turned into a reason for Sophia to demand a higher fee.Aurelia pressed her lips together and tried to remain calm. “Auntie, didn’t we agree on the price before?”Sophia expressed dissatisfaction, “Ms. Simmons, it’s not easy to find someone with my skills nowadays. If you don’t increase the pay, I will stop working for you.”She had a point. Aurelia had indeed searched extensively before finding Sophia.Sophia, seeing Aurelia’s silence, furrowed her brow.“Ms. Simmons, your mother has been unconscious for so long, and she can’t be left alone for a moment. You need to think carefully. If I leave, what if something happens to your mother…”Aurelia frowned as her eyes turned cold.“Are you threatening me?”“I’m just looking out for you. You wouldn’t want to become an orphan, would you?”Sophia tilted her head back, adopting a posture that suggested Aurelia had no choice.Aurelia glared at Sophia, promptly taking out her phone and transferring the wages for the past few days.“Ms. Elliot, since you’re so eager for the ‘big client‘ next door, I won’t stop you.”“You…”Sophia appeared a bit flustered upon noticing the money in her account.Waving her hand, she remarked, “You’re a stubborn one. But okay, three hundred and fifty at day, and I’ll stick around to help out.”“No need,” Aurelia replied.She knew the talk about a big client next door was just an excuse. Compromising now would only invite more trouble.Angered by the rejection and from losing her job, Sophia pointed at Aurelia’s face, scolding,” never seen a daughter as ungrateful as you. What’s wrong with spending money on your mother? You can’t even afford to hire a caregiver. Are you going crazy from being broke or what?”Chapter 1“Get lost. Otherwise, I’ll tell everyone in the surrounding wards what you said. Let’s see who’s going to hire you afterward.”“Y–you… You are bad news!”Sophia muttered a curse and hurriedly left, clearly feeling uneasy.Aurelia, gazing at the empty hallway, took a deep breath. Her nose tingled.She couldn’t afford to back down now. She had to save her mother.She forced a smile as she turned back to the room. Aurelia believed her mother could sense her emotions, and she didn’t want to worry her.With Sophia gone, Aurelia wasted no time. She prepared a basin of water and gently wiped down her mother’s body.Exhausted, she held her mother’s hand and leaned by the bedside, drifting off to sleep.At 6:30 aam, the alarm jolted Aurelia awake.She wiped her mother’s face after a quick shower in the hospital bathroom.Since she had a client meeting today, she needed to rush home to change.Before leaving, she asked the neighbor to watch her mother. Then, at the nurse’s station, she picked up a small card from a caregiver agency, noting the contact information.Aurelia went down to the first floor to pay the fee with the bit of money she had.It was meager, but it was better than being kicked out of the hospital.Back home, she changed into clean clothes.She checked her phone balance as she headed downstairs to grab a quick breakfast.Turning around, she entered the neighboring bakery instead.Before 10:30 am, they offered discounted overnight bread. It had three items for ten dollars.It was a budget–friendly option for the entire day compared to instant noodles.Aurelia arrived early and selected three of the largest bread items before heading to the subway station.While she was on her way, Leslie’s blank WhatsApp profile picture popped up.“8:00 am. Civil Affairs Bureau. Don’t be late.” “Okay.”He was indeed a workaholic. He could even make getting a marriage license sound like a negotiation.
Chapter 4Aurelia arrived early at the Civil Affairs Bureau, finishing her bread just as Linda unexpectedly showed up.“Ms. Linda, what brings you here?” Aurelia inquired.Linda smiled as she spoke, “I couldn’t bear to miss such a significantWith that, she reached into her bag and handed Aurelia a carefully wrapped gift, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.“Aurelia, going forward, Leslie will lean on you quite a bit. Consider this a small gesture of a mother–in–law’s affection,” Linda conveyed, her eyes radiating warmth.Perplexed, Aurelia opened the gift to find a five hundred–thousand–dollar cheque.She looked at Linda with disbelief, saying, “This is too much. That’s not necessary.”Linda stopped Aurelia from returning the check. She smiled and said, “It’s not too much. You deserve it.”“Me… Deserving?” Aurelia widened her eyes. Lately, she had been bombarded with words like, “You’re about to be an orphan, who would want you? Who would still like you? Who would protect you?”Her boyfriend of three years betrayed her, and even the caregiver bullied her.She had thought she was about to be abandoned by the world, but at this moment, she felt a long–lost warmth.Aurelia, who had been holding back for a long time, teared up.There were too many words in her mind, but she didn’t know where to start.“Ms. Linda, thank you.” “Silly child, I know you’re going through a tough time. I understand you may be reluctant to ask me for help. Soon, we’ll be a family, and you don’t have to pretend to be tough in front of me. Accept it with peace of mind,” Linda said, gently patting Aurelia’s head.Aurelia felt a warm sensation in her chest.No matter how much they gave, those who truly loved you never seemed enough, while those who didn’t love you felt like they took too much.Such an example was the Martinez family.Unwilling to give and wanting even more from her.As Linda spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Aurelia’s face.“You’re getting married today, and you’re not wearing makeup?” she asked.Aurelia shook her head and asked, “Isn’t makeup not allowed for ID photos?”Linda chuckled heartily, “Why are you such an honest child? Something as important as a lifetime commitment can’t be taken so casually. Luckily, I brought some makeup. I’ll give youa makeup look that enhances your natural beauty.”Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn’t suppress a wry smile. Linda was familiar with the concept of pseudo–natural makeupBefore Aurelia could refuse, Linda’s foundation had already been applied to her face. She had no choice but to let Linda do her makeup.A few minutes later, Linda looked at Aurelia with satisfaction.“Aurelia, you’re naturally beautiful. Why don’t you dress up more often?”“Ms. Linda, you don’t have to comfort me.”Aurelia thought of Linda’s words as mere consolation.She wasn’t considered particularly beautiful, at least not in her own eyes.During her college days, some people had complimented her on her looks, but things changed after getting together with Seth.He often commented on her lack of skill in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a touch of lipstick for a hint of color.“Really, you…” Linda was about to speak when a black Volkswagen pulled up, interrupting her.Aurelia was captivated by the figure stepping out of the car.It was Leslie.He exuded a casual, laid–back vibe, dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a couple of buttons undone at the collar.As he ascended the steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed in the morning sunlight.Perhaps she had been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head and caught her gaze, causing Aurelia to freeze momentarily.Feeling somewhat self–conscious, she quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at her messy hair.Leslie’s gaze lingered on Aurelia’s face, showing no sign of withdrawal.Was she the same woman from yesterday?Aurelia’s complexion was unusually fair, with only a few freckles as imperfections.With some makeup on, Aurelia’s face lit up with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that starkly contrasted with her pale and weary appearance from the previousday.As Leslie approached, his eyes caught the sight of the fifty–thousand check in Aurelia’s hand, and his expression turned abruptly cold.So, she was asking for money so soon?Aurelia was nudged by Linda and approached to greet him. “Hi, Leslie…”“I need to get back to f straight into the hall.office for a meeting. Hurry up,” Leslie interrupted and walked. It seemed Leslie truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his casual acknowledgment felt dismissive.However, Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake and followed Leslie into the building.Thenumber of couples getting married that day was sparse.Filling out forms and taking photos, the entire process took around twenty minutes.Aurelia received the marriage certificate and looked at the photo on it.For a few seconds, her mind went blank before she could believe she had indeed gotten married.It must be acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally photogenic.Surprisingly, she didn’t look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil affairs bureau’s camera to capture her in such a flattering light.Linda happily approached to admire the couple’s marriage certificate.“Such a beautiful couple. My judgment is indeed impeccable.”After a round of compliments, Linda took a key from her bag and handed it to Aurelia in front of Leslie.“Aurelia, this is the key to Leslie’s apartment. Move in today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have my grandchildren soon.”“Ms. Linda!” Aurelia hesitated, feeling too embarrassed to look at Leslie.“Still calling me ‘Miss‘? Call me Mom,” Linda chuckled.Mom, don’t tease me like this.”Aurelia felt awkward.“Alright, I was just joking. I’m not the kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married, are you planning to live separately? What do you think, Aurelia?”Linda looked at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for her to agree to cohabitation.Thinking about Linda’s kindness to her, Aurelia couldn’t bear to refuse.Moreover, they had the marriage certificate now, and legally married couples living separately wouldn’t make sense.She also couldn’t just take the money without fulfilling her responsibilities.Aurelia was thinking about taking things one step at a time.“Okay, I’ll move in today.”As she said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and turned to look at Leslie.She looked back.What’s he looking at?Was he having second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss it with Linda?Leslie raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.Few dared to scrutinize him so boldly. She indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so eager to move into his home?“Thinking about moving in so eagerly?” Leslie squinted.He then withdrew his gaze and said coldly, “I’m heading back to the office.”Linda, displeased, caught hold of him.“Will the company collapse without you?”Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”Linda fumed. This family was bound to fall apart sooner or later.She extended her hand and, in one swift motion, pushed Aurelia into Leslie’s embrace.Aurelia bumped against Leslie’s chest. The scent of tobacco mixed with a sudden chill enveloped her.Taken aback, she tried to retreat, but her well–worn three–year–old heels failed her on the slick surface.She began to fall backward, and Leslie extended his long arm just in time, catching her aroundthe waist.They found themselves involuntarily pressed together.“Click, click.”The camera in Linda’s hands captured the moment, her face beaming with a mischievous joy.“What a pity, a kiss would have made it even better. How about…”“Mom?”Leslie’s deep voice intervened, stopping Linda from further inappropriate remarks.After steadying Aurelia, he curled his fingers, still carrying the lingering warmth.He wondered if a woman’s waist was really this slender.Embarrassed, Aurelia took a step back, expressing gratitude to Leslie.Even though he disliked her, he didn’t just watch as she fell awkwardly.Amidst the bustling crowd, just the thought of such a spectacle made her feel utterly embarrassed.Linda watched the two of them. She covered her mouth with a smile and gestured towards Leslie.“As a husband, shouldn’t you quickly send your wife to work?”Husband? Wife?Leslie and Aurelia paused, exchanging puzzled glances.It was an unexpected situation.Aurelia promptly declined, “No need. My office is quite close. I can manage on my own.”She hurried away.Leslie watched her retreating figure without much expression, feeling confused.Leslie believed Aurelia had chosen the wrong target for her feigned surrender tactic.No longer concerned with Aurelia, Leslie turned to Linda.“Mom, I’ll have the driver pick you up.”“No need. I’m going to do some shopping. You go back to the office. But I warn you, don’t bully Aurelia,” Linda said with a warning tone.After her caution, she put on her sunglasses and happily went shopping.Leslie got into his car and drove away.
Chapter 5 Aurelia discreetly entered the office. Just as she settled in, her colleague and good friend, Millie, approached.“Aurelia, you put on makeup today. Have you reconciled with Seth?” Millie teased.“I kept saying, Seth’s like a good catch. Dumping him is such a waste. You know how guys are. They care a lot about their pride. Could’ve compromised a bit, you know? Don’t lose out over something minor,” Millie said, shaking her head.She looked innocent, but gossiping was her usual game.Aurelia, unwilling to explain the reasons behind her breakup with Seth, shook her head and said, “Millie, it’s really over. Let’s not talk about him anymore.”Sensing Aurelia’s irritation, Millie quickly changed the subject, “Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again. By the way, I heard from my secret sources that our company might have some. personnel changes.”Aurelia was about to inquire about the changes when a work message appeared on her computer.“9:00 am. Meeting in the conference room.”Aurelia and Millie glanced at the time. There were only three minutes left until nine.They quickly grabbed their notebooks and headed to the meeting room without wasting time. on words.Aurelia worked as a planner in a renowned advertising agency in Seacester.Besides advertising design, they undertook various event planning, from business activities to celebrity entertainment, achieving considerable success.In the meeting room, Aurelia had just taken her seat. Zachary entered with a heavy expression.“We have two announcements today.”Everyone promptly opened their notebooks, afraid of missing any work–related details.“Firstly, the boss has assigned a crucial task. It involves planning the opening ceremony for a new company. The boss is said to have a strong background as a returnee elite with substantial financial resources. However, the requirements are challenging, and so far, he has rejected proposals from five other companies.”“Secondly, the boss will select, a deputy director between either Aurelia or Kimberly from the Planning Department. Whoever secures this collaboration will become the deputy director.” Deputy director?Aurelia’s eyesgot promoted.litup.She wouldn’t have to worry about her mother’s medical expenses if sheShe immediately raised her hand, “Mr. Zeller, what’s that company’s name? I want to try to contact them.”“Hold on!”The one speaking was Aurelia’s competitor and nemesis in the company, Kimberly.Kimberly was a returnee. She was not only young and beautiful but also had an influential uncle who owned a company.The day she was parachuted into the Planning Department, she caught the attention of the entire building.However, an ordinary employee like Aurelia had no idea what she had done to offend Kimberly.Every time, Kimberly would be sarcastic and insinuating to her.Zachary looked at Kimberly in confusion and asked, “Kimberly, do you have any questions?”Smirking, Kimberly rested her chin delicately on her hand, a mischievous smile playing on her refined face.“Mr. Zeller, I don’t have any questions, but Aurelia might. I heard her mother is seriously ill, and she has taken several days off this month. I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle both. The boss values us so much. It wouldn’t be unfair if something happened to her due to personal issues, even if I win. Not to mention, it wouldn’t be good for the company’s image.”She spoke as if she had already won.Aurelia halted, her pen momentarily suspended over the notebook. She lifted her eyes to Kimberly, seated opposite her at the table.In the past, she couldn’t be bothered with the office politics played by Kimberly, her rival. However, this promotion opportunity was not something she could afford to lose.She assured Zachary, “Mr. Zeller, I promise my personal matters will not affect my work.” Kimberly’s lips curled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes.“Aurelia, I do believe in your capabilities. However, I heard your boyfriend caused a scene at the company’s entrance after work yesterday. Doesn’t that count as an impact? The company is not a marketplace. It made us look bad.” Hearing this, Zachary furrowed his brow and turned his attention to Aurelia.Aurelia sighed, “I’m sorry. There won’t be a next time.‘”Kimberly seemed eager to say more, but Zachary interrupted by tapping on the table.“Alright, we’re discussing work here, not personal matters. You two, present your proposals in a week.”“Okay.” Aurelia nodded understandingly.“Okay,” Kimberly muttered under her breath, displeased that she couldn’t change Zachary’s decision.Zachary briefly summarized everyone’s performance from the previous week and concluded the meeting.As he rose, he pointed at Aurelia and Kimberly.“Both of you, come to my office to get the information on the company.”“Sure.”Aurelia and Kimberly nodded and followed Zachary into his office.As Aurelia skimmed through the documents, she recognized the name One Technology. It was a familiar name.She assumed the new rich company would have demanding requirements without delving further.Surprisingly, there were only a few words: “Align with the company philosophy.”Anyone with planning experience knew that more straightforward requirements often meant. more challenging tasks.Zachary settled into his seat and smiled.“What do you think? How confident are you?”Kimberly’s eyes sparkled with confidence as they swept over the five words of One Technology.“Mr. Zeller, you can rest assured. I won’t let you down.”“Hmm.”Zachary nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Aurelia.“And you?”“I haven’t figured it out yet,” Aurelia replied, pursing her lips.She couldn’t boast about her chances without understanding One Tech’s requirements.Zachary furrowed his brow but didn’t blame her.He continued, “This is a rare opportunity. If you miss it, who knows when the next one willcome.”The implication was clear, missing this chance meant uncertain prospects for the next promotion.The atmosphere in the office tensed, and Aurelia even received a discreet glare from Kimberly. “Alright, get to it,” Zachary said with a wave of his hand.“Yes.”Aurelia and Kimberly exited the office.Aurelia’s path was blocked by Kimberly, who sensually tossed her hair.“Dear Aurelia, I won’t give in to you this time. I know your mom is unwell, so you don’t have. to compete with me. Once I become the vice director, I’ll take good care of you.”Aurelia was accustomed to Kimberly’s snide remarks.These words didn’t faze her at all.She politely smiled and replied, “Thanks, considering what you just said, you’ve let me off plenty of times before. This time, there’s no need to hold back. Since it’s a competition, may the best person win.”Kimberly’s hand stiffened.Her exquisite eyeshadow couldn’t conceal the sharp gaze directed at Aurelia.How dare Aurelia mock her for usually losing to her!This was precisely why she disliked Aurelia.Despite her superior education, appearance, and family background, Aurelia won clients‘ favor.Aurelia’s success resulted in people privately mocking or ridiculing Kimberly.ete with anPeople mocked her by saying that a well–educated overseas student couldn’t compete ordinary university graduate like Aurelia.This time, Kimberly was determined to defeat Aurelia.She pulled her lips into a smile and said, “Give it your best shot, so later, no one can accuse me of bullying you.”With that, Kimberly sashayed away.Aurelia, puzzled, watched Kimberly’s retreating figure.Why did her words sound like she already had the victory in the bag?Could it be that Kimberly had already figured out a way?Not wanting to be influenced by Kimberly, Aurelia returned to her desk to review the documents.One Technology…Suddenly, something clicked in her mind.She opened her bag and pulled out an ID card.“Leslie, thirty years old, programmer, One Technology.”No wonder it seemed so familiar. Leslie was an employee at One Technology. Didn’t that mean she could ask Leslie about their company’s requirements?
Married in a Flash: Embarking on the Journey to Wealth WebficChapter 1The time was 4:27 pm. As was her usual routine, Aurelia was tidying her desk before her work hours ended.She ignored her constantly buzzing phone beside her. The calls were probably from her boyfriend, Seth, about his failed proposal yesterday.At 5:00 pm, Aurelia reached for her phone to clock out and one of the texts caught her attention. “Ms. Aurelia – you are indebted to the hospital for a total of 157,321.61 dollars. Please proceed to our finance counter to make your payment as soon as possible. For any inquiries, please call 87*****!!Aurelia felt a sense of helplessness as she stared at her phone.Depleted by the hospitalization expenses and faced with her mother’s incurable illness, Aurelia had no choice but to wait for the inevitable as her funds were exhausted.It was her adoptive parents who had given her a new life when she was abandoned as a newborn infant. Her late father’s wish was for her to care for her mother.How could she stand idly by in the face of her mother’s death?With no other option available, Aurelia had tried to ask Seth for a loan. However, he declined her request, saying that he did not have that kind of money.She didn’t want to force the matter. After all, he had only proposed to her. They weren’t officially married.Yet, yesterday, he took to his social media to boast about his newly purchased car, which was worth over three hundred thousand dollars.Aurelia had stared at the post in her social media feed, completely frozen for over a minute.When she finally returned to reality, she immediately called him.Without explaining, Seth began to talk nonstop.“Aurelia, I bought the car intending to marry you. Consider the three hundred thousand dollars as my investment in our future. I paid one hundred thousand dollars in full, and the remaining two hundred and twenty thousand dollars are on loan. We’ll pay it off together after we get married.”“Aurelia, once we’re married, let’s sell your parents‘ small house and buy a larger one. Myparents have lived in the code for too long. It’s time for them to enjoy city life. They’veraised me, and it hasn’t been easy. As a daughter–in–law, I hope you can understand.”“Oh, and the property prices in Seacester are so high. We can use my salary to cover the mortgage, and your salary will be for our family’s living expenses. How does that sound? I’m being considerate of you. After all, you won’t have any relatives in the future. Marrying me means you become a part of the Martinez family. As a woman, you should be understanding and not dwell too much on things.375Aurelia was so furious that her entire body trembled.It was within Seth’s rights to turn down her request for a loan. But then, he had the gall to target her adoptive parents‘ fortune while her mother’s life was hanging by a thread! Even his plans for her family home were laid out so transparently that his intentions were clear as day.It took Aurelia a full three minutes to collect herself, and with firm resolve, she turned down Seth’s seemingly charitable marriage proposal.“Seth, let’s break up.”It would be a lie for Aurelia to say that it didn’t hurt to break up with Seth who had been her boyfriend of three years but she was far from naive about his intentions now.Parting amicably seemed to be the most sensible choice for her.She was preoccupied with her mother’s medical expenses and had no time to argue with him.Coming back from her reverie, Aurelia shook her head, attempting to dispel the unpleasantemotions.She noticed her colleagues giving her peculiar looks as she exited the building.She didn’t have a clue why until she heard Seth’s voice from across the street.“Aurelia, over here.”Aurelia’s colleagues looked at her enviously as she turned to see Seth, looking sharp in a suit, holding a bouquet of roses, and leaning against his new car.However, she found the new car too flashy, almost as if it were mocking her. All her emotional investment into their three–year relationship couldn’t even compare to the value of a brand-new car.Seth approached with a smile, presenting the flowers to Aurelia in front of everyone, prompting catcalls from the onlookers.“Seth, you’re quite the romantic. How can us single folks endure something like this?” A colleague exclaimed.A chorus of gasps echoed around them.“Oh my goodness, Aurelia. You’re so lucky. Seth bought you a car. I hope my future boyfriend treats me this well.”“It’s only natural. After all, I love Aurelia so much.” While Seth appeared deeply affectionate, his gaze signaled for Aurelia to quickly accept the flowers and not embarrass him in public..Aurelia remained silent.Besides feeling angry, she was speechless.When Seth, an outsider who had come to the city in search of opportunity, had proposed to Aurelia, her mother hadn’t requested any dowry. All she asked was for Seth to treat Aureliawell.Chapter 1Yet, fully aware of her mother’s illness, Seth hadn’t inquired about her health throughout the time she was hospitalized.Her mother was already dead to him and he was aiming for her inheritance.Now, he even pretended to be a romantic and lied that he had spent 30,000 dollars on a car for her, leading others to believe she was fortunate.If people learned about their breakup, they would criticize her for not appreciating his supposed kindness.Ignoring the commotion, Aurelia sidestepped Seth.His smile faltered and he forcefully grabbed Aurelia’s wrist.“Aurelia, don’t play petty games. I came here to apologize in person today. Don’t push your luck. There are so many people watching. Do you want to embarrass yourself?”His words carried the expectation that Aurelia should unconditionally embrace his apology, especially considering the effort he took to personally deliver flowers.Gazing at Seth, Aurelia felt an unusual sense of unfamiliarity.He was the one who had insisted on marrying her even after her mother fell ill. Initially, she thought she was fortunate to have a good man like him. Now, she regretted not seeing through his intentions sooner. Glancing at the flowers before her, Aurelia countered, “Seth, is the car really for me?”Seth assumed she was softening up and chuckled, “Of course. I’m your exclusive driver from. now on, no matter what happens.”As the onlookers, especially the younger girls, were enchanted by the romantic scene, Aurelia poured cold water on the situation.“Alright, prove it! Show everyone whose name is on the car documents.”Silence fell.Seth pursed his lips and remained silent.People sensed something amiss and urged, “Seth, didn’t you buy the car for Aurelia? Show it to us. Let’s see whose name is on the documents.”Seth’s face turned ashen instantly.Aurelia calmly said, “Clearly, the car was bought for himself, but he insists on saying it’s for me. Well then, let’s transfer the ownership tomorrow, shall we?”With her words, everyone understood Seth’s intentions, and their gazes toward him changed. Not wanting to embarrass himself, Seth awkwardly laughed, “She’s just kidding. We had a minor disagreement. She’s just throwing a tantrum.”After saying that, he scowled at Aurelia.In a hushed tone, he warned, “Aurelia, don’t go too far. Besides me, who else would dare to marry someone like you who is dragging along a burden?”Aurelia clenched her teeth, her almond–shaped eyes veiled with coldness.“Don’t worry, I won’t marry you or anyone like you. Since you don’t want a peacefulion, don’t c me to spare your feelings.”“You…”Before Seth could respond, Aurelia turned to her colleagues.“Everyone, Seth and I have broken up.”With that, Aurelia walked away towards the intersection without looking back.With simmering anger, Seth angrily caught up with Aurelia, pulling her into the nearby parking lot.“Aurelia! Are you ready to call it quits just because I won’t lend you a hundred grand? What about the three years we’ve spent together?”What about it? She could only chalk it up to bad luck!“Yes! It’s precisely that hundred thousand dollars! I won’t marry you if you don’t have the money!”In a hurry to visit her mother in the hospital, Aurelia didn’t want to argue with him and decided to go along with his words.As Seth was about to retort, the horn of a car sounded beside them.The driver rolled down the window.“Sorry, we need to go. Can you move?”We?Through the tinted windows, Aurelia noticed a tall figure in the back seat, but the specially tinted glass made it impossible for her to see the person’s face clearly.The driver honked again, and she quickly stepped aside.As the car drove away, the logo and license plate became visible.“Maybach, 11111.”Who could afford such an expensive car?As Seth was captivated by the luxurious vehicle, Aurelia took advantage of his inattention toleave.She needed to catch the subway that was scheduled in less than ten minutes.However, Seth caught up. He firmly gripped Aurelia’s hand and tried to persuade her.“Aurelia, I know it was wrong not to inform you about the car purchase in time, but you can still use it in the future.”Aurelia found his words laughable and forcefully pulled her handaway.“Use it? Didn’t you say it was bought for me? How quickly you changed your mind! Do you think I broke up with you just for the money? It’s because you were scheming against me! If you don’t want to lend me money, fine, that’s your money. But you don’t need to pin the car purchase on me! Don’t try to have it both ways!”Aurelia’s words exposed the truth, leaving Seth with an even more unpleasant expression.“It seems my mom was right. You only want the money for your mom! Aurelia, can’t you be more realistic? Your mom’s illness is a burden that will only drag you down. It’s better to let her die now. In the future, my parents will be your parents. If you take good care of them, they will treat you like their own daughter.”Aurelia clenched her fists, suppressing her surging nausea, as she glared at Seth upon hearing his words.“Shut up! If anyone’s going to die, it’s you! Not my mom! Seth, I never forced you to marry me. You took the initiative to propose. If you think my mom is a burden, you can break up with me, and I’ll respect you for being honest. But you don’t need to be duplicitous, saying one thing behind my back and another in front of people.”“My mom has treated you well, providing you with good food and hospitality. I never asked for a penny in the marriage discussions. Yet, you’re guarding against me while having designs on my mom’s house! Trying to get me to abandon my mom? Your family’s intentions are truly disgusting!”Aurelia’s words completely infuriated Seth, who couldn’t help but expose his true nature.“Aurelia, your mom is only good to me because I am a capable man! If she doesn’t curry favor with me, where will she find a good husband for you?”Thanone of your concern.”Aurelia couldn’t be bothered to look at him.“Fine, I know you’re angry. I’ll give you time to cool off first and you can come find me when you’re ready to apologize and accept my proposal. You won’t find a better man if you miss out on me!”Arrogantly, Seth forcefully shoved the flowers into Aurelia’s hands, turned, and left in his newcar.A gust of cold wind woke Aurelia who had been stunned on the spot.She tossed the flowers into the trash and hurried towards the subway station.On the way to the hospital, she struggled to maintain her composure, contemplating how to handle her mother’s medical expenses.Just when she felt utterly helpless, her phone rang.It was her friend, Linda.They met on the subway when Aurelia helped her clear her name when an elderly lady had tried to take advantage of a confusing situation to extort money from Linda.Their friendship unexpectedly blossomed, which led to them frequently getting together for meals and shopping.Answering the call, Aurelia was met with an urgent plea from Linda.“Aurelia, come help me quickly.”
Chapter 2 Aurelia didn’t have time for many questions.She hurriedly exited the subway and hailed a taxi to the address Linda had sent her.It was an upscale restaurant.It had a romantic setting with crystal chandeliers, a wall adorned with fresh flowers, and the gentle hum of instrumental music radiating an air of sophistication.A sign stood tall outside the entrance, reading “Social Golf Club.”Was this a subtle matchmaking event?Aurelia’s mind was filled with question marks. Linda had mentioned being divorced for a long time. Could this be an attempt at… late–life romance?Linda aged gracefully, looking more like someone in her early forties than her fifties. She was always elegant in her attire, so finding a companion wouldn’t be challenging.But why did she invite her?As Aurelia pondered, a hand reached out to pull her behind a cluster of greenery.“Aurelia, you’ve finally arrived.”“Ms. Linda? Why are you out here? Are you here for a blind date?” Aurelia inquired.Linda chuckled as she removed her sunglasses.“At my age, I’m not interested in dealing with the hassle of a man. It’s my son who’s on at blind date today. Unbelievably, he’s stuck with a shameless woman. He’s ignoring her, and she’s already badmouthing him. I convinced my son to attend this blind date, and I don’t want this woman ruining it for him. Can you go in and help me handle the situation?”“Ms. Linda, don’t worry. Which one is your son?” Aurelia reassured, supporting Linda, who was visibly upset.“By the window, second table. He’s wearing a black shirt. His name is Leslie, thirty years old, 189 cm tall, with an average personality but good looks. And he’s…”“Stop, I see him. You don’t need to tell me all the details,” Aurelia interrupted.After all, it wasn’t her blind date.Aurelia brushed aside the foliage before her. She spotted the man seated near the window, his back facing her.Though his face was concealed, his tall, imposing figure exuded a chilly presence.His slender hand gracefully held the glass, and the champagne inside accentuated the ivory- like whiteness of his fingers as it swayed gently.The glass reflected his profile, showcasing a sense of depth and tranquility.On the other hand, the woman sitting across from him in an off–the–shoulder gown didn’tlook pleased.Despite her attractive appearance, her eyes were filled with disdain, and she frequently raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat sharp.Observing this, Linda nudged Aurelia. “Aurelia, I’m counting on you.”“Well, but…” Aurelia gestured towards the people in the hall and said, “Can I enter such an upscale social event?”“Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered for you. If anyone stops you, just show them this card. They’ll surely let you in.”Linda handed her a card adorned with an orchid.“Alright.”Aurelia hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.Holding the card, she entered the hall, where a polite waiter intercepted her. “Miss, may I please see your invitation card?”Aurelia presented the orchid card. The waiter’s expression momentarily froze before he lowered his arm and respectfully nodded. “Miss, please come in.”“Thank you.”Aurelia looked at the card in her hand, wondering what kind of card was this powerful.Could Linda have joined as a member for her son’s blind date? A parent’s love knew no bounds.Careful not to lose the card, Aurelia placed it in her bag and walked straight to the window. Even before she could speak, she heard the acerbic voice of the woman.“Who do you think you are? Everyone in this place is worth a fortune. You, a programmer pulling in a measly twenty grand, cruising around in a run–down Volkswagen. If it weren’t for your half–decent looks, do you really think I’d pay you any attention?“I was just showing you a bit of courtesy and letting you treat me to a drink. If you don’t apologize, I’ll ensure no one here bothers to talk to you. You would have squandered quite a sum on those membership fees.”Thewoman finished with a disdainful snort, but her gaze greedily fixated on the man’s face. Her fingertips coquettishly twirled strands of hair around her chest.Aurelia found her aggressive tone unbearable and quickly approached, standing before the table. “I…”“I’ll talk to him then. If this young lady isn’t interested, please don’t waste our… time.” As Aurelia spoke, she turned her face toward Leslie.But her words suddenly caught in her throat when she tried to speak.The strikingly handsome face made a powerful impression on Aurelia.His dark, expressive eyes, illuminated by scattered starlight, held a captivating blend of emotion and detachment, stirring the hearts of onlookers.He was genuinely handsome but not a bit effeminate. His features were cool and reserved, and a slight furrow added a compelling presence that seemed overwhelming.Chapter 2Leslie casually glanced at Aurelia, his gaze slightly intense.He was bemused at the coincidence of meeting the hundred–thousand–dollar lady from the car park and wondered if she had come for a blind date after breaking up with her boyfriend.Aurelia felt uneasy under his gaze. She didn’t recognize him so it puzzled her why he was looking at her that way.The woman across noticed Leslie staring at Aurelia and stood upin anger.“Look at her, dressed in such poor attire. She’s just pretending to be rich here. What’s good about her?”“At least her face is real. I don’t like the artificial look of technology,” Leslie replied calmly.Leaning back, he lit a cigarette, letting the smoke veil his face, giving off a casually dangerous vibe.The woman turned pale, quickly stood up, and sneered, “Just a poor loser who doesn’t appreciate good things.”She deliberately bumped into Aurelia while leaving the table, giving her a fierce glare.Aurelia felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, but she swiftly responded by extending her foot.“Ah!” The woman stumbled and fell to the ground.Aurelia pretended to be nervous and said, “Miss, it looks like your nose is a bit crooked.”The woman covered her nose and stumbled out.Conscious of Leslie’s gaze, Aurelia suppressed a smile and promptly regained a composed demeanor.A familiar voice came from behind as she was about to explain why she was here to Leslie.“Aurelia? What are you doing here? Are you betraying me?”It turned out to be Seth.Wait, wasn’t this a matchmaking event?One moment, he talked about marrying her. The next moment, he appeared at an event likethis.What right did he have to say anything about her?Aurelia turned around, looking at Seth coldly.“Why do you get to be here and I can’t? Besides, there’s no betrayal between us. We’ve already broken up.”Seth’s eyes flared with anger. He commanded, “Go home. This isn’t a place for you.”Aurelia couldn’t be bothered with him and sat directly across from Leslie.“Mr. Synder, pay no attention to him. Let’s continue.”Leslie remained silent, smoking indifferently, completely ignoring Seth.Seth, feeling slighted by another man, found it intolerable. He glanced at the identificationcard on Leslie’s table and couldn’t help but chuckle.“Aurelia, this is your next partner? A mere programmer? Can he satisfy your conditions?”“Seth! It’s none of your business!” Aurelia warned, looking at Seth.But Seth, finally grasping an opportunity to salvage his pride, wasn’t willing to let it slip away.Leaning on the table, he approached Leslie and looked down at him condescendingly.“Buddy, I don’t mean to cause any trouble, but I’m afraid you’ve been deceived. She was with me over an hour ago and is now meeting you. She’s trying to pass the buck to you. Don’t you know how greedy she is?”Upon hearing this, Aurelia’s hand beneath the table tightened.In their three years of relationship, she always thought they would maintain some dignity. even if they broke iShe never expected to be viewed so poorly by him.She took a deep breath and picked up the glass before Leslie, splashing it on Seth’s face.“Wake up! Do you want to check the identity card on your collar? Department Director? When did you rise to that position? An annual salary of a million? Platform Credits? What rights do you have to talk about others?“Aurelia!”Seth stared in astonishment at Aurelia. He had never imagined that the obedient and sensible girl would resist.Due to Aurelia’s words, people around pointed fingers at him, fueling his embarrassment andanger.Without a second thought, he swung his hand toward Aurelia.However, Leslie intercepted him, gripping his wrist and pressing it onto the table, causing him to grimace in pain.While Seth grimaced, Leslie remained calm and indifferent.He even took a moment to pinch the cigarette between his fingers, letting the faint tobacco. scent linger in the air.His expression remained impassive as he spoke, “Fake watch, fake necklace, fake belt, fake identity. Membership fees here are not cheap. If you don’t want to be exposed and thrown out, I suggest you get out of my sight immediately.”“You…” Seth’s eyes widened.He bought meticulously crafted replicas. How could a programmer possibly see through them? “Three, two…” Leslie began a countdown, his voice low and steady.“Fine, I’ll leave.”Seth pulled his hand free, adjusted his coat with dissatisfaction, and shot a disapproving look at Aurelia, pointing at his identity card.“Aurelia, before long, this will be my status. I know you love me deeply. I’ll give you thechance to regret losing me.”“Just go away.”Aurelia found even a single word from him grating.As Seth departed, Aurelia looked at Leslie with gratitude.Before she could express her thanks, another figure sat down beside her.“Aurelia, congratulations on breaking up with that son of a bitch. He started attending these matchmaking events a month ago to lure women.”It was Linda speaking.Aurelia realized that Linda had purposely brought her here to expose Seth’s true nature. A month ago, her mother fell seriously ill.It turned out that Seth’s so–called unwavering love was all an act.He had considered her a fallback option while actively seeking a better way out.“Ms. Linda, thank you,” Aurelia said, feeling relieved.-“Don’t mention it. To get back on track, how about you marry my son?” Linda suggested. Aurelia was left speechless.