Chapter 1 Marry A Stranger

"Josie, you and Mrs. Walsh used to be best friends. Therefore, it should be your daughter who marries her son..."

As soon as Rosina Bentley made it to the door of the ward, she heard a man's voice inside and stopped abruptly in her tracks.

"What're you trying to say, Perry?" Josie Morris said bitterly, glaring at the man in front of her. "I just lost my son. How dare you try to steal my daughter from me? You're a heartless bastard!"

Eight years ago, Rosina's father, Perry Bentley, had abandoned her and her pregnant mother in a strange foreign land. A month ago, when Rosina's brother got into a car accident, Perry didn't even bother to come.

But now he showed up out of nowhere to marry Rosina to a stranger.

"What son? He was just a bastard. Why're you so angry?" Perry rolled his eyes. "The man Rosina's going to marry is a Walsh. He's handsome and rich. Rosina will live a carefree life if she marries him."

"Don't you have a daughter with that bitch? If marrying a Walsh is such a good thing, make your daughter do it! As long as I'm still alive, I won't allow anyone to hurt Rosina!"

Perry fell silent. He felt somewhat guilty.

Mr. Walsh was indeed a noble man, but a month ago, he had gotten into a car accident while abroad. Now, he was disabled and his sexual libido was also impaired, rendering him infertile.

Whoever married him wouldn't be able to have a child with him.

"I'm just here to inform you that this is happening. You have no say in the matter." He glanced around the ward meaningfully. "Your hospital bills must be really expensive, am I right? How long will you two survive, relying on your daughter's measly income? Don't be so stubborn!"

"Perry! You fucking bastard!" Josie, who was in bad health, was so worked up that she started to cough violently.

"I'll marry him." Rosina pushed the door open and quickly rushed to her mother's side. While patting her mother's back, she looked at Perry emotionlessly. "I'll marry him, but on one condition."

Stunned, Perry looked at her in a daze.

Over the past eight years, she had grown a lot, but she was very thin-almost malnourished even. In Perry's eyes, she was nowhere near as pretty as his other daughter.

"What?" Perry asked with a frown.

"You have to take us back home. And you have to return all the property that belonged to Mom." Rosina's voice was cold yet impenetrably firm.

"Rosina..." Josie tried to persuade her daughter not to do this.

Rosina had gone through so much suffering with her. Josie didn't want to see her marry a stranger for her sake.

Worried that Rosina would change her mind, he said hurriedly, "As long as you marry him, I'll let you come back."

"What about Mom's property?"

Seeing that Perry still hesitated, Rosina sneered.

"I'm sure my half-sister is very beautiful, right? So you wouldn't want her to marry a disabled man, or else her life will be ruined. Moreover, you and my mother have divorced. Isn't it only right that you return her things to her?"

Perry broke out in cold sweat. How did Rosina know that the man she was going to marry was disabled?

And she was right. His other daughter was gorgeous. How could he let her marry a disabled man?

Thinking of this, Perry gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll give everything back after you marry him. Your mother didn't raise you well, you rude girl!"

As he spoke, he looked Rosina up and down coldly. Now, he hated her even more. Not only was she sharp-tongued, but she was greedy, too.

Rosina rolled her eyes but didn't intend to argue.

She had nothing on him now, so she couldn't afford to irritate Perry.

"Pack your things. We'll leave tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, Perry stormed out of the ward.

"Rosina, marriage is no trivial matter. I can't let you do this." Josie frowned.

Rosina reached for her hand and said softly, "Well, I'm not marrying a total stranger. He's the son of your friend, right?"

"Yes, but she died a long time ago. And I never met her son. Even if it means breaking my promise to her, I can't let you marry someone you don't love. It's not a good idea to use marriage as a bargaining chip. I'd rather stay here for the rest of my life than put you through this." Josie squeezed her hand lightly and sighed.

Someone she loved? Rosina smiled bitterly.

She lowered her head to hide her conflicted emotions. It didn't matter who she married. What mattered was taking back everything that had been taken away from them.

Unable to change Rosina's mind, Josie left the country with her the following day.

Perry had already made arrangements for them to live in a rented apartment.

As soon as Rosina put down her luggage, she suddenly felt sick and couldn't help but retch.

"Rosina, are you okay? You look pale!" Josie rushed to her side, brows creased with concern.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired from the flight. Anyway, I'll go to my room now."

Rosina didn't want her mother to worry, so she came up with a perfunctory excuse and retreated to her room.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to suppress the urge to retch.

It had been more than a month since that night, and her period was ten days late...

Rosina shook her head and didn't dare to finish that thought.