Fire!
It's on fire!
The roaring flames lit up half the sky!
Eva kept twisting the doorknob, but found—the door was locked tight!
She immediately ran to the window, intending to jump and escape, but the window had been glued shut with powerful adhesive!
"Help, help!" Eva shouted loudly.
Outside the door, Violet Jones laughed viciously: "Eva, you were the one who stole Hayden Sheffield first, made him fall for you, so I had to take drastic measures! You must die!"
Violet kept pouring oil, making the fire burn fiercer!
The scorching heat, the thick smoke—if she stayed any longer… Eva knew, she was doomed!
On the brink of death, Eva bit down and threw herself against the glass, desperately crashing into it, again and again, the shards slicing into her flesh, blood streaming everywhere!
Finally, the glass shattered, and Eva, holding onto her last breath, jumped from the second floor!
Bones cracked with a sickening snap.
Eva gritted her teeth, crawling through the inferno, her consciousness fading...
Until she heard the sound of a car approaching, Eva weakly crawled to the center of the road, covered in blood and filth, and passed out!
A couple got out of the car—
"Honey, someone's hurt here!"
"It's a girl, let's get her to the hospital!"
"Our daughter just passed away, and now she turns up... Maybe, we should adopt her!"
"Alright. From now on, she's the daughter of the Jennings family."
The car drove away, and Eva gained a new identity.
And that house—was almost reduced to ashes!
Hayden Sheffield stared hard at the flames, grabbing his bodyguard by the collar: "Say it again, Eva is still inside?!"
"Y-yes, young master!"
Fury burned in his eyes. He strode forward to rush in!
"Young master! The fire's too intense, you'll get yourself killed!"
"Get out!"
Eva... he couldn't lose her!
"Young master, Eva is just your subordinate, she's not worth risking your life!"
Hayden kicked the bodyguard aside, but then heard someone shout: "Young master, we've rescued Miss Jones!"
His pace halted abruptly, and he turned to walk towards Violet Jones.
"Where's Eva?! Where is she?" Hayden asked anxiously, "Didn't she escape with you?"
Violet was about to answer, but everything went black—she passed out completely!
Hayden's face was shadowed and fierce, the fire reflected in his eyes, leaving the deepest scars!
This pain—would never heal.
......
Three years later.
Southedge.
Outside the operating room.
"Miss Jennings," the doctor's expression was grave, "Your brother's suffered a brain injury and urgently needs surgery. Here's the critical condition notice."
Natalie Jennings asked, "How much do I need to pay?"
"Pay a hundred thousand first. Later expenses, at least a million."
One hundred thousand? A million?! Her head spun.
The Jennings family had gone bankrupt, her parents were dead—Natalie Jennings had reached a dead end.
The debt collectors realized something was off and started swearing, about to leave.
Natalie Jennings immediately blocked them: "You're the ones who hurt my brother, you need to take responsibility!"
"Fine, pay off what the Jennings family owes first, then I'll cover the surgery fees!"
With no other options, Natalie Jennings could only kneel and beg: "Please… he's all I have left."
"Debt must be repaid! If you have no money, pay with your life!"
"I'll pay it back."
"How will you pay?" The debt collector sized her up, "Well, you're not bad looking—you could be sold to a rich guy!"
Natalie Jennings could never bring herself to say the word "willing."
She was a Jennings heiress—she'd never suffered such humiliation!
Seeing her silent, the debt collectors were about to say even filthier things, when, from down the hall, came the sound of calm and powerful footsteps.
A man of distinguished bearing, one hand in his suit pocket, expression indifferent, thin lips pressed together, walked past.
His bodyguards, all in black, wore respectful expressions and moved with utmost caution.
This aura stunned the debt collectors; they quickly moved aside to make room for him.
The man caught sight of Natalie Jennings and paused.
This face… had appeared in his dreams countless times!
Eva! He was actually seeing Eva!
No, wait—was this really Eva?
But that fire had completely destroyed Eva's life!
How could there be two people in the world who looked so alike!
Even though shocked, the man didn't stop walking.
Natalie Jennings only saw a tall, lean figure pass by her.
She caught a glimpse of his profile.
In that instant, shards of memory flashed through her mind, so fast she couldn't grasp them, and her head began to ache.
The man instructed his assistant: "William, go…"
"Yes, President Sheffield." William bowed respectfully, concealing any trace of surprise, though something complicated flickered in his eyes.
William turned back and relayed President Sheffield's message.
"Miss, seems you're in a bit of trouble? Our President Sheffield says whatever your issue is, he can solve it. But—not for free."
Natalie Jennings listened and asked, "What does he want from me?"
An odd look briefly flashed over William's face.
What President Sheffield wanted… was obviously that face!
The very same face as Eva!
"Please don't worry, Miss. President Sheffield is a man of status and won't do anything improper."
Staring at the operating room, Natalie Jennings slowly nodded.
......
Sterling Estate.
Just as Natalie Jennings pushed open the door, a hand shot out, grabbing straight for her throat.
She nimbly dodged back, grabbed the door handle, jumped up, and was about to kick him in the chest—when her ankle was yanked mid-air.
Shit!
She lost control and fell backwards, the next second, the man's body pressed against hers.
But he quickly released her, clearly reluctant to linger!
Natalie Jennings sprang away, then heard a low chuckle—
"Nice moves."
Natalie Jennings looked up.
The man was standing lazily, gazing into the distance—tall, elegant, radiating wealth and power.
This was the aura of someone who always sat at the top.
"You are…?"
"Hayden Sheffield."
Natalie Jennings met his deep, penetrating gaze.
She'd expected "President Sheffield" to be some pot-bellied middle-aged man—never imagined he'd be so striking and ruggedly handsome.
Sharp brows and sparkling eyes, a high nose, features so chiseled they looked sculpted—utterly flawless.
Fragments of memory flickered again. Had she… seen him before?
"President Sheffield," Natalie Jennings dared not look again, "Sorry for earlier, just an instinctive act of self-defense."
"You know martial arts?"
"Not really… well, a little taekwondo and sanda, I guess."
Hayden raised his brows slightly, lips curving: "Impressive. Do you know why I helped you?"
"Please, go ahead, President Sheffield."
"I need you to marry me, become my wife!"
Natalie Jennings blinked, making sure she hadn't misheard.
"President Sheffield," she said, "With your qualifications… you can't possibly be lacking women?"
"No, not lacking."
Natalie Jennings was about to relax, but he added, "I just happen to be missing a Mrs. Sheffield."
"President Sheffield, what if I don't want to?"
Hayden reached out and lifted her chin: "I'll take care of all your problems. In exchange, you're my wife for two years—after that, we owe each other nothing."
Natalie Jennings fell silent.
The man before her had absolute power, could solve her issues with a flick of his finger.
Two years of marriage, for a lifetime of stability and her brother's health.
"Fine." After weighing it, Natalie Jennings agreed, "I'll marry you."
Hayden pivoted and strode to the door: "Follow me."
Natalie Jennings never imagined her predicament would be solved like this.
She sat in the Rolls-Royce, and looked at the sharp, handsome man beside her: "Where to?"
"The civil affairs bureau."
Seated up front, William handed over documents: "Miss Jennings, your household registration and ID—please keep them safe."
This speed—was faster than a rocket!
This was William's so-called, 'man of status who won't do anything reckless' President Sheffield?
He's totally reckless!
Civil Affairs Bureau, at the marriage registration desk.
The process was handled swiftly. When taking the photo for the marriage certificate, Hayden's hand circled her waist, pulling her closer, his masculine scent enveloping her.
They looked exactly like a loving newlywed couple.
But this—was just a contract, a two-year term!
Holding the bright red marriage certificate, Natalie Jennings felt dazed for a moment.
Every woman fantasizes about what her future husband will be like, how he'll appear—but her marriage…
Not her choice.
"From today, you are my wife," Hayden's magnetic voice sounded, "No matter what happens, remember who you are."
"Understood." Natalie Jennings asked, "From this moment, what do I need to do?"
"Fulfill your duties as a wife."
Sounds easy enough… but then Natalie Jennings suddenly remembered a very serious problem.
She tentatively asked, "Those duties… they don't include sharing your bed, right?"