Chapter 1: Selling Herself Even After Getting Married

"You are married yet still selling yourself. Aren't you afraid your husband will find out?" Inside the Mr. Bakerial suite, a cold and deep voice came from the couch. Olivia Hampton propped herself up and discovered a tall and handsome man sitting there. His narrow, deep dark eyes glinted with a sharp light. He exuded an aura of nobleness and restraint, appearing mature and composed. "It is not selling but a consensual arrangement, isn't it? 100 million dollars for a 5% stake in the Hampton Group, you won't lose anything!" Olivia's heart pounded uncontrollably. If he added more money... She could really sell ... more shares to him! As for whether she was afraid her husband would find out about her affairs? Well, she hoped he would find it out! Honestly, she found it absurd if she said it out! Their flash marriage lasted for three years! Yet, she only met her husband once and he disappeared right after they got the marriage certificate! What was even worse was that... The photo on the marriage certificate had also disappeared! Now she only knew her husband was called Davian Clarke, but she couldn't remember what he looked like at all! On the other hand, she found this wealthy man familiar. Perhaps handsome men all looked alike? Olivia shook her head, driving the messy thoughts out of her mind, and took out her phone to check the company's account balance. Huh? The money hadn't arrived yet! No way! She had already sacrificed so much. The fate of the company was now in her hands. A vision of her mother covered in blood flashed through Olivia's mind. "I must save the company!" she thought. Olivia sat up calmly and gave him a charming smile, though her warmth did not reach her eyes. "Sir, if you feel unsatisfied, I can relive the moment with you." "Last night?" The man looked at her with a full sense of oppressing disdain. Olivia's heart skipped a beat. "Sir, it was my first time last night." The man gave a cold snort. "I didn't touch you." What? Olivia was taken aback. The man approached, his slender hand holding her delicate chin. "You are so eager to sell yourself?" Olivia pinched her fingers. "I have no other choice." A wave of irritability surged in the man's heart as he pushed Olivia away. "You do have other choices!" "Other choices?" Olivia scoffed. "To sell my mother's lifelong effort? You know nothing! This company was obtained by my mother at the cost of her life. If it weren't for her..." Olivia became somewhat agitated, her eyes turning red. A hint of pity arose in the man's heart as he squinted his eyes. "If what?" "Nothing," Olivia replied coldly. "If you think I'm worth this price, I will serve you wholeheartedly. If you think I am not worth it, then get lost now!" "You!" The man darkened his face, and his handsome face was clouded with anger. Ding! Olivia's phone rang. She picked it up and looked at it, froze. "1 billion dollars?" The Baker Group transferred 1 billion dollars to her? "I'll give you six months to let the Hampton Group return to its peak. If you can't achieve it, the Baker Group will acquire the Hampton Group completely. Got it?" The man looked cold and cruel. Olivia was startled. "You... You are the recently returned CEO of the Baker Group, Chace Baker?" Chace Baker did not reply to her and picked up his coat, walking away. Olivia wanted to stop him but was interrupted by her phone ringing. It was her stepmother calling. "Olivia, where are you?" Olivia's stepmother, Julia Hampton, shouted over the phone. "I'm telling you. The debt collectors have come to our house. If you don't find a solution, the Hampton family will be doomed!" "Those people are looking for you." Olivia put down her phone, put it on the speaker, and got dressed. "The money was borrowed and spent by you. It has nothing to do with me." "What did you say?" Julia's eyes widened in anger. "I said, if you can't repay the money, you can go to hell!" Olivia hung up after saying that. Six months ago, her father had been given a critical illness notice, and in order to accompany him through his last days, she hadn't paid much attention to the company's affairs. Who would have thought that Julia would start causing trouble? In the name of Olivia's father, Julia borrowed money everywhere, causing a debt crisis. After Olivia took care of her father's funeral, the Hampton Group was plunged into insolvency! In desperation, Olivia held a memorial service for her father last night. On one hand, it was to commemorate her father, and on the other hand, it was an opportunity to attract investments for the company. However, she was tricked by Julia. Luckily, she accidentally entered Chace's room. Or, the consequences would have been unimaginable! But for now, she couldn't spare the time to deal with Julia. Instead, she had to use the 1 billion dollars loaned by Chace to clean up the current mess! ... Olivia left the hotel. She directly went to the company. As soon as she arrived downstairs, she noticed a group of debt collectors at the entrance. "Pay back the money. If not, we'll die here!" "You took the money and enjoyed yourselves, while we suffer here. Let me tell you. No such thing happens!" In the crowd, a man compared a photo with Olivia and suddenly pointed at her, saying, "Look, Olivia is here. Let's ask her for money!" Before long, Olivia was surrounded by the crowd. Among these people, a few had malicious intentions. They deliberately pushed and shoved from behind in the crowd. The security guards couldn't control the situation, and those people went straight to Olivia. One of the men held half a brick in his hand and smashed it towards Olivia's face. Olivia was pushed around and didn't notice someone attacking her. By the time she realized it, the half brick was already in front of her, and the dark shadow had fallen on her eyes. She instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to come. Yet, she felt her body being lifted by a strong arm and she was enveloped in the embrace of someone carrying a faint scent of cedar and tobacco. The person's voice was cold and deep, yet very familiar, "Even if it's an attempted murder, you still have to go to the police station." All of a sudden, there was a dead silence around them. Olivia slowly opened her clear and watery eyes, only to find herself being held by Chace. He had one hand gripping the assailant's hand, his eyes gloomy and cold. "Anyone else want to go to the police station?" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone dispersed and fled. Olivia let out a sigh of relief, but before she could express her thanks, Chace pushed her away forcefully. Chace took out a handkerchief and wiped his palm, saying coldly, "Don't flatter yourself. I don't want that 1 billion dollars to go down the drain." Olivia was speechless. "Don't think for a moment that I came here to save you." Chace's tone was icy cold, much like the way he looked, cold and oppressive. "Mr. Baker, please rest assured. I won't flatter myself like that." Olivia didn't have such thoughts in the first place. She was not a young girl and would no longer have unrealistic dreams. "So, what are you here for?" Olivia asked indifferently. "I'm here to reclaim the money." Chace glanced sideways and sneered, "Are you scared?"