Chapter 1 Unpleasant First Meeting

Linsey Wheeler sat on the bed, lost in thought. Suddenly, she was snapped back to reality by a man's cold voice.

"Forget everything about last night. I don't want anyone else to find out about it!"

No sooner had the man finished speaking than Linsey noticed a piece of paper flung in front of her. It was a cheque for three million dollars.

As she regained her composure, the events of the previous evening began to come back to her. She had gone out for dinner with a client who, with ill intentions, had spiked her wine. In a state of panic, she attempted to flee and unexpectedly ran into her husband, Bryson Higgins, whom she had married for three years but never laid eyes on. Surprisingly, they ended up having sex.

Judging from Bryson's reaction, however, Linsey realized he didn't know she was his wife. Furthermore, he appeared to think she had played some trick on him.

Linsey quickly explained, "It's not what it looks like. Last night was just an accident. I was..."

She was about to reveal that she had been drugged and that she was his wife when his phone rang and interrupted her.

Glancing at his phone, Bryson stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.

Left alone in the room, Linsey could barely make out his conversation outside.

"Draft a divorce agreement and send it to the Wheeler family... It's been three years. She had taken enough... If she refuses to sign, don't hesitate to apply pressure if necessary." Bryson's voice was detached and tinged with disgust.

Linsey's heart dropped as she listened. She hadn't anticipated that her husband despised her so deeply, to the point of planning a divorce.

On their wedding day three years ago, Bryson had abruptly left for abroad, refusing to acknowledge Linsey as his wife and turning her into a laughingstock in Ekarora. Three years had passed, and his resentment toward her seemed to have only deepened.

At the thought of this, Linsey refrained from revealing her identity. Disclosing the truth might lead to further misunderstandings. It was better to keep it hidden.

After Bryson finished his call, he returned to the room. His frown deepened upon seeing Linsey still there. Clearly, he thought Linsey had ulterior motives. He became even more convinced that Linsey had deliberately seduced him the night before, and his disdain grew.

"Why can't you just leave with the money?" Bryson said irritably. "I don't want to see you again."

After that, he walked straight out of the room, not sparing Linsey another glance.

Linsey held the cheque in her hand, finding the situation painfully ironic. She got intimate with her husband, yet he didn't know she was his wife.

Observing the hickeys that marked her, Linsey sighed internally, mustered her strength, and dragged herself out of bed to shower.

Exiting the bathroom, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Asher Harper, a reliable client she had previously worked with.

She picked up and was greeted by Asher's cheerful voice. "Ms. Wheeler! How have you been lately?"

After a brief exchange, Asher got to the point.

Linsey had recently secured a favorable outcome for Asher in a lawsuit, working diligently on his behalf. In appreciation, Asher wanted to refer a significant client to her.

When Asher mentioned business, Linsey pushed aside her tangled emotions about Bryson and asked earnestly, "What's the situation? Give me the details."

Asher said, "Here's the deal. A friend of mine has landed a major overseas project, but his shipments are stuck at customs. I'm hoping you can help him out, given your reputation as a leading lawyer in this field."

Realizing this was a promising opportunity, Linsey responded with a polite smile, "I'm flattered."

Knowing Asher's connections, she anticipated a substantial case. She instantly felt happy and said, "Thank you for introducing me to this client."

Asher acknowledged her and continued, "I'll send you the address where my friend wants to meet. You can head over now and discuss it with him directly."

Though still feeling sore and drained from last night's passion, Linsey agreed without hesitation. She received the address, quickly got ready, and went to Twilight Bar.

But upon arriving and entering the designated room, she was shocked to find Bryson, her husband, the very one she'd had an unpleasant encounter with this morning!