Chapter 1 Engagement

"What did you say? I'm going to Douburgh and getting engaged to a strange man? No way!"

"Annabel, I'm not giving you the choice to refuse. This is settled. You know me. I can judge people accurately. Rupert Benton became the CEO of Benton Group when he was only twenty-one years old. He's a man of action and resourcefulness. Everyone in the business world respects him. He won't let you down."

Annabel Hewitt bit her lower lip reluctantly.

Her grandfather was the one who raised her. Naturally, she didn't want to disappoint him. But she didn't want to get married this way.

"Okay, Grandpa, I'll go to Douburgh. But I have a few requirements. I don't want the Benton family to know our family's condition. You said that Rupert is excellent, right? If I don't fall in love with him within three months, the engagement will be canceled, and you can't interfere with my marriage in the future."

Leonard Hewitt, Annabel's grandfather, thought for a while. Then he said, "It's a deal then."

Two days later, a tall and handsome man stood at the exit of the train station in Douburgh.

Obviously, he was waiting for someone.

He was so attractive that the passers-by couldn't help looking at him. If there were no bodyguards beside him, many people would have already come over and asked for his phone number.

"Rupert, it's so hot. Why did Grandpa ask you to pick up that bumpkin? What's his intention of doing this?" Cathy Benton, Rupert's cousin, complained. "Will Grandpa let her marry you?"

Rupert didn't say anything. But judging from his expression, he was obviously not happy.

At this moment, a woman in a white T-shirt and jeans walked out of the train station, dragging a suitcase.

She had a delicate face, and her slightly curly hair was casually scattered behind. She had a high nose and cherry lips. Her face was bear, but she looked very beautiful.

When Cathy looked at the woman's face, there was a hint of jealousy in her eyes. But when she saw that the woman's clothes were not from famous bands, she snorted disdainfully.

"I can't believe there are still people who wear such outdated clothes nowadays."

But Rupert just ignored Cathy. He looked at the woman's photo on his phone and approached her. "Annabel Hewitt?"

At the sight of the man, Annabel guessed he was Rupert Benton, the man she was going to get engaged to.

Cathy's eyes opened wide. She asked incredulously, "You are Annabel? Gosh! Grandpa has no taste at all. I can't believe he chose someone like you to marry my cousin. Why did you have to come here by train? You should have told us that you are too poor to afford a plane ticket, so we could have bought one for you. Or, isn't there an airport in the countryside?"

Annabel pouted. "There's no need. I don't like taking the plane."

Indeed, there was no airport where she came from. But Leonard booked the entire train to Douburgh just for her. These arrogant people had no idea how luxurious her trip going here was. The train was worth one hundred million dollars. It was way more expensive than luxury cars and private planes.

Annabel didn't want to waste time talking them, so she looked at Rupert and asked, "Shall we go to your house first?"

Rupert looked closely into her beautiful eyes and was stunned for a moment. Under her arched eyebrows were a pair of bright and pretty eyes that could impress people at first sight.

His eyes darkened, and he lowered his gaze.

"Annabel, it's our grandfathers who settled the deal, not me. I hope you understand that even if I take you to my home, it doesn't mean that I accept the arrangement."

Annabel was about to say something when Cathy suddenly laughed smugly. "That's right. So I advise you not to covet my cousin. You don't deserve to be his fiancee and marry into the Benton family. So you'd better give up now. Stop dreaming!"

"Cathy, that's enough." Rupert turned to Annabel with a frown. "Get in the car. Let's go home first."

Annabel nodded casually. Anyway, she didn't want to marry into the Benton family. She followed Rupert into the car.

The scenery outside the window was unfamiliar to Annabel. They drove for a while before they finally stopped in front of a luxurious villa. Annabel's calm expression remained unchanged all the way here.

This made Cathy very disappointed. She had been expecting that Annabel would make a fool of herself in public.

"You haven't seen such a huge villa, right? Well, cherish your time here. You won't have this kind of chance again..."

Before Cathy could finish her words, Annabel interrupted, "Where will I stay?"

Cathy was irritated by her calm attitude. "Annabel, what do you think this place is? This is not a hotel."

Rupert also felt strange, but he didn't say anything. He turned to Cathy and said, "Take her to the guest room first. I need to go back to the company to deal with something."

"But Rupert..." Cathy stomped her feet, but she could only watch his receding back.

Annabel pursed her lips. "Are you going to take me to my room? If not, I'll go find your cousin."

"You..." Cathy was unwilling, but she had no choice. She took Annabel upstairs and pointed at a room. "You can stay there. But remember that you will only stay here temporarily. After Rupert deals with this ridiculous engagement, you will be driven out..." Cathy was not able to finish her words because Annabel walked into the room without saying anything and closed the door.

A loud bang sounded, and the closed door almost broke Cathy's nose.

Cathy was so angry that she wanted to rush in and tear that bumpkin apart. But she had to control herself.

She looked at the door and smiled. A gleam flashed through her eye.

Actually, the room she showed Annabel was not a guest room but Rupert's bedroom. What Rupert hated the most was someone touching his things. Cathy thought he would definitely be furious when he came back and found Annabel in his room. Then he would drive Annabel away.