Chapter 2

Jenson responded with a cold and mocking laugh. "I thought you had finally come to your senses and reflected on your behavior. Turns out you're just playing games, trying to force me into marriage!" No one knew better than Jenson how much Suzanne needed him, how much she fawned over him. Every argument they'd ever had ended with Suzanne backing down. She would always apologize and beg to make up. He didn't believe for a second that Suzanne truly wanted to leave him. Looking down at her, Jenson said with disdain, "Suzanne, my patience has limits. I won't tolerate your unreasonable behavior any longer. This time, unless you fully reflect on your mistakes and admit you're wrong, don't bother showing up in front of me again." With that, Jenson turned and walked away without hesitation. Suzanne watched as his figure disappeared into the darkness. Her expression remained calm, but deep inside, a dull ache settled in. After all, this was the man she had loved for ten years. Thinking about all the memories they had shared and the reality of finally, truly parting from him left her feeling hollow. She barely slept that night. When dawn finally approached, she dozed off for a brief moment before her alarm jolted her awake. She checked the time groggily and hurried to get ready. Then, she grabbed her documents and headed to the city clerk's office. When she arrived, there were still ten minutes left before the time she and Austin Hall had agreed on. Austin hadn't arrived yet, so she waited by the entrance. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the stress catching up with her, but suddenly, a wave of dizziness swept over her, and she felt herself collapsing. Before she hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. Her eyes widened. "Austin?" The man standing before her was sharp in his tailored suit, his features chiseled and flawless. His dark eyes watched her intently, and he said flatly, "This is the second time I've caught you fainting. People might think you're trying to scam me for my money." Suzanne flushed with embarrassment. Yesterday, she had also met Austin at the city clerk's office. She had just witnessed Jenson and Seline being affectionate together, and the heartbreak nearly caused her to faint. Austin had been the one to catch her then too. She hadn't thanked him. Instead, as if possessed by some reckless impulse, she had blurted out, "Mr. Hall, are you free? How about we get married?" She knew Austin's family had been pressuring him to settle down. Austin had stared at her, stunned. He didn't say anything for some time and just looked at her with an unreadable expression. Even now, Suzanne couldn't believe she'd been so bold. This was Austin Hall, the fourth son of the Hall family. He was the most powerful figure in the Hall family. He alone controlled the Hall empire and single-handedly cemented their dominance in the business world. He was feared by competitors and admired by women everywhere. With just a flick of his fingers, he could cause chaos in the market. He was also his parents' favorite son. His mother, Felicia Pickett, made no secret of her wish for Austin to give her a grandchild. She'd been pushing him harder than ever lately to the point of publicly announcing to the media that she expected him to marry within six months. Thinking about the sheer weight of the Hall family name, Suzanne immediately regretted her impulsive words. She had been about to tell him she was joking when, to her shock, Austin nodded. "Sure," he'd said. "But I don't have my documents with me. Let's meet again tomorrow at 10:00 am." And just like that, they made the arrangement. Even now, Suzanne still found it hard to believe she was really about to marry Austin Hall. Austin's punctual arrival left her stunned too. When he noticed her staring at him blankly, a rare flicker of amusement softened his usually cold eyes. He leaned in closer without warning, his strong arm slipping around her waist. His thin lips curled into a teasing smirk as he murmured, "You're the one who said you wanted to get married. What's the matter? Having second thoughts?" Surrounded by his intoxicating scent and with his handsome face suddenly so close, Suzanne felt her cheeks flush uncontrollably. "N-No!" she stammered. … An hour later, Suzanne and Austin walked out of the city clerk's office, holding a marriage certificate. Even with the tangible proof of their marriage in her hand, Suzanne was still in a daze. She had actually married Austin Hall. The Yates family was nothing compared to the Hall family. Even if they met at any events, they would merely greet each other politely. She doubted he even remembered her from those encounters. She thought about how both Jenson and her father had frequently mentioned Austin, always talking about the unimaginable benefits of forging a connection with the Hall family. Taking a deep breath, Suzanne forced herself to regain composure. She turned to face Austin, her tone serious. "Austin—" "Get in the car," he interrupted. Austin led her to the parking lot and opened the door. Once inside, they were alone in the car. But instead of starting the engine, Austin turned to her. "What did you want to say?" Suzanne hesitated, feeling uneasy. "I... I had a boyfriend before this. I loved him for ten years. We broke up yesterday..." Austin's gaze remained steady, but his voice was icy. "And your point is?" Suzanne's heart raced. "I won't betray you. We're married now, and I'll do my part. But I thought it was important to be honest with you about my past." Austin's expression softened slightly. Without another word, he started the car, and Suzanne quickly buckled her seatbelt. "Where are we going now?" she asked cautiously. "To your house." Suzanne blinked in surprise. "My house?" "You need to pack. We're moving in together." "Moving in together?" Her voice rose in disbelief. Austin gave her a calm but pointed look. "My mother has been pushing for this. Everything has already been arranged." As the car began to pull out of the lot, Suzanne grabbed his arm. "Wait!" She swallowed hard, then said hesitantly, "This... This all happened so suddenly. Could we not make the marriage public just yet? I need a little time to sort out my mess so that I can do you right." Her nerves spiked as Austin didn't respond immediately. Flustered, she continued, "I know you agreed to marry me to fulfill your family's wish. If at any point you want out, just say the word, and we can…" Before she could finish, Austin's eyes turned cold again. His sharp gaze bore into her as he said in a low, firm voice, "In my world, the only way out of marriage is through death, not divorce." Suzanne froze, stunned. They had no emotional connection, yet he was so firm. She wondered if he did not care who his wife was as long as she fulfilled her obligations. As she thought about it, Suzanne realized she didn't hold any hope for love anymore. A stable marriage, even without romance, didn't sound so bad. Nodding earnestly, she replied, "Okay, but please give me some time to handle things before I move in." Austin's brows furrowed. "You're already my wife. You should stay with me." "Can't I go back by myself for now? Just give me the address, and I'll come by tonight," she said, summoning her courage to meet his gaze. Austin's frown deepened, but after a moment, he relented. "I'll take you home. When you're ready later, I'll send someone to pick you up." Suzanne exhaled in relief, nodding gratefully. "Okay."