Hayden Sheffield raised an eyebrow and shot back, "What if it's included?"
"Then... then that's a different price!"
He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and husky, "Mrs. Sheffield, how much for one night? I can afford it."
Natalie Jennings really wanted to jab him hard in the stomach with her elbow, but then she remembered he was both her sponsor and her benefactor…
Forget it, hold it in!
She tucked the marriage certificate into her bag. Out the corner of Hayden's eye, he noticed a woman glancing over in their direction.
Miss Vance really is persistent—haunting him like a ghost.
Hayden said idly, "Mrs. Sheffield, it's your time to shine."
"Shine at what?"
He pointed at her, "I like smart women. Figure it out yourself."
Natalie followed his finger. A woman dressed head-to-toe in designer brands was striding over, her voice syrupy sweet: "Hayden, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere."
He replied coolly, "What would I be doing at the civil affairs bureau? Getting a certificate."
The woman was dumbfounded: "Get... get a certificate?"
Hayden glanced at Natalie standing beside him.
Pretty obvious, her cue!
Natalie deliberately waved the marriage certificate: "Just got it. And you are...?"
"And who am I? I'm Zoe Vance, eldest daughter of the Vance Family, Hayden's fiancée!"
"And I'm the bona fide Mrs. Sheffield." Natalie grinned at her. "Plus, I got married fair and square, legally protected. Don't you realize your own worth?"
Zoe was about to explode with rage.
The Vance Family and the Sheffield family have been family friends forever; they wanted to cement their alliance by marrying her to Hayden.
Now, some random bumpkin from god-knows-where swoops in and snatches her spot!
Zoe pointed at her, "Filthy women like you don't deserve Hayden!"
"My husband chose me out of millions to spend his life with; you say I'm filthy? Are you insulting him?"
"You must've used some cheap tricks," Zoe gritted out, "Hayden, don't let her fool you!"
Natalie lifted her chin: "You keep calling him Hayden like you're so close—what, you think I'm invisible? Do me a favor, stay far away from my husband and stop being so clueless!"
Zoe hadn't expected Natalie to be so sharp-tongued—she couldn't win the argument, and, pissed off, she suddenly swung at Natalie, aiming to slap her.
Natalie dodged nimbly, caught Zoe's wrist, and was about to slap her back—
Her movement paused.
"Oh, I'm soooo scared," she suddenly let go of Zoe, spun and threw herself into Hayden's arms, "Honey, this woman is so mean! You gotta help me~~"
She purposely pitched her voice to sound girly and soft, and with her stunning looks and sparkling clear eyes—what man could resist?
Hayden's mouth twitched.
A woman who could fight ten at once suddenly acts all helpless?
"You... you fox!" Zoe stamped her foot, "What are you pretending for!"
Natalie snuggled even deeper into Hayden's arms: "Honey, she called me names~~"
"Today, I'm tearing off your mask," Zoe lunged at her, "letting Hayden see your true colors—ah!"
Hayden wrapped an arm around Natalie in his embrace and blocked Zoe with the other.
"She—hands off!"
"Hayden!"
"We have no engagement. Stop acting like you're my fiancée." Hayden's gaze turned icy. "Natalie Jennings is my woman—touch a single hair on her, and I'll break a finger of yours!"
Zoe had to swallow her anger, glaring furiously at Natalie.
Natalie blinked at her, all innocent.
Play the green tea game so the real green tea has nowhere left to go!
"I'll make Grandpa Sheffield stand up for me!" Zoe spat as she left.
Natalie was baffled—this guy already has a fiancée, so why is he insisting on marrying her? Seriously, what's up with that!
"Still stuck in my arms? Hmm?"
A low, deep voice came from above her head; Natalie snapped out of it and stepped back, putting space between them.
She coughed lightly: "My performance just now was okay, right?"
"Barely."
Natalie curled her lip: "Hayden, you married me—you're not just doing this because of Zoe, are you?"
"Whatever I do is none of your business."
"If..." Natalie asked curiously, "If you'd rescued another woman at the hospital today, would you have married her too?"
Hayden pressed his thin lips together. "Of course."
She suddenly felt empty inside. What exactly was she looking forward to!
...…
An hour later, the news of "Sterling Group's CEO Hayden Sheffield got his marriage certificate" blew up on every media headline in Southedge.
But no one managed to snap a photo of Mrs. Sheffield's face.
Everyone was speculating: what kind of mysterious woman is able to snare Southedge's richest man?
Sterling Estate.
The mansion looked like a castle, with a huge lawn and lavish decorations, all showcasing the owner's status and power.
Natalie lay exhausted in the bathtub soaking, and without realizing it, she fell asleep.
When she woke, the water was already cold.
She wrapped herself quickly in a towel and headed to the walk-in closet.
Who knew—Hayden just happened to be coming out of the closet.
Natalie had no shoes on; when she saw him, she quickly stepped back, slipped, and fell forward straight into him.
A large pair of hands caught her in time. "Mrs. Sheffield, that eager to jump into my arms?"
"I am NOT—ah!"
Natalie was about to steady herself, but stepped on the corner of her towel—the towel unraveled and dropped to the floor.
Hayden's eyes darkened.
Her curvy silhouette, slender waist, long beautiful legs…he saw it all, clear as day.
Natalie quickly covered his eyes with her hand. "No peeking!"
"Wasn't this all you, huh?"
She bit her lip, afraid to move, wanting to grab the towel, but also wanting to keep his eyes covered…
Just as Natalie hesitated, Hayden shrugged off his suit jacket, wrapped it around her, bent down and scooped her up, carrying her back to the bed.
She instantly dove under the covers, wrapping herself tightly!
"I'm not interested in you. Next time, don't use such lousy seduction tricks." Hayden looked down at her. "Got it?"
Natalie rolled her eyes, "I'd love it if you never touched me again."
"You'll always belong to me. Just not now, not yet."
"President Sheffield," her eyes darted, "can we negotiate for real?"
"Nothing to negotiate."
"Can't you not be so high-handed and domineering..."
Hayden tugged at his tie. "With me, you've got no say."
Natalie laughed lightly: "Exactly, I sold myself to you for two years. When the time's up, I get to leave and be free."
His hand paused at his tie; his gaze suddenly turned icy cold. "Say that again!"
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked, confused. "Isn't our divorce two years from now?"
As soon as Natalie finished speaking, a slender hand clamped down on her neck.
Hayden seemed like a totally different person—his aloof noble demeanor gone, replaced with wild rage and aggression.
His grip tightened hard—Natalie could barely breathe!