Love's Lucky Charm: Who Knew My Stunning Groom Is A Zillionaire

"I'm here looking after you and the baby, and now I have to take care of your sister too, Jason. What do you take me for? Your maid?"

"Lower your voice, or Sophie might overhear us."

"What does it matter? If I'd known I'd end up looking after your sister as well, I would've chosen to marry anyone but you."

Sophie Brooks, overhearing their argument, felt her headache worsen.

She had helped her sister-in-law, Leyla Brooks, with the laundry yesterday and had caught a cold later in the night, leaving her feeling quite miserable now.

In her frustration, she managed to get up, wash the dishes, and then she tapped on the couple's bedroom door.

Her elder brother, Jason Brooks, answered the door, a noticeable scratch on his neck catching Sophie's eye.

"What's up, Sophie?"

Feeling somewhat guilty, Sophie raised her voice, saying, "Leyla mentioned her colleague's brother was a nice guy. I'm free today, so I figured I might as well go out with him."

Lately, Leyla had been quite vocal in her displeasure, mainly because Sophie had previously turned down a blind date.

So, to avoid further conflict and to spare her brother any embarrassment, Sophie decided to go along with Leyla's suggestion.

Upon hearing Sophie's decision, Leyla's demeanor instantly brightened. "Perfect! He's available today. I've already made reservations at the Moon Cafe. Better hurry!"

Sophie nodded, and then retreated to her room to grab her backpack and made her way to the Moon Cafe.

Once there, she ordered the cheapest coffee and took a seat by the window to wait.

A taxi pulled up to the coffee shop shortly after, and a tall man stepped out.

Dressed in a sleek black suit, he looked both handsome and poised, seemingly in his late twenties.

He confidently entered the coffee shop and made a beeline towards Sophie, catching her off guard.

She couldn't help but wonder how the brother of Leyla's colleague could be so handsome.

Stopping beside her, the man gave Sophie a thorough look with his piercing eyes.

"Have you brought your ID and other certificates?" he inquired.

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Sophie stood and replied honestly, "Yes."

Recently, she had been considering finding a new apartment for herself, so she had kept her certificates in her bag.

"Then let's go. We better not waste time," he said briskly.

"What? Where are we going?"

Sophie thought that perhaps her brain was processing his words too slowly due to the cold.

"To register the marriage," the man replied matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" Sophie exclaimed, stepping back in shock and losing her balance.

She toppled backwards, but the man quickly caught her, pulling her into his arms.

Pressed against his chest, Sophie could hear his steady heartbeat and smell the soothing scent from his clothes.

Her face heated up as she stammered, "Isn't this too fast?"

The man frowned and released her, looking displeased as he said, "Yes, but I thought we were on the same page, weren't we?"

Sophie bit her lip, realizing what had happened.

Leyla had already made arrangements with him so Sophie could move out quickly.

After a moment of hesitation, Sophie made a decision. Agreeing to marry him would resolve her brother's dilemma, so she resolved to go through with it.

At the City Hall.

Throughout the entire procedure, Sophie and the man hardly spoke, their interaction as cold as if they were filing for divorce rather than getting married.

After they exited the building, the man tossed a bunch of keys to Sophie.

"Leave your contact information. I'll send you the details about the house later," he said.

Sophie quickly took out her phone, and after adding her as a contact, the man departed without another word.

In the taxi, the driver addressed the man respectfully, "Mr. Hewitt, where to now?"

"Back to the company," the man responded lightly.

"And this car?" the driver queried.

"Dispose of it," came the succinct reply.

Sophie stood there, keys in hand, her mind swirling with confusion.

It all felt surreal, like a strange dream.

After standing dazed for a moment, feeling dizzy once more, she sent the man a message inquiring about the details of his house.

Over ten minutes passed before Sophie's phone pinged with a new message. It read, "2018B, Kreles Road."

Alongside the address, there was a notification of a $10, 000 transfer to her account with a brief note. "If you need anything for the house, please feel free to use this money."

Sophie hesitated to accept the money. It took her a while to locate the house.

The residence spanned roughly one hundred square meters and included two bedrooms, a study, a living room, and an especially large balcony that offered a sweeping view. Although it wasn't situated in a highly sought-after area, a house of this size would typically sell for around one million.

She pondered whether it was fully paid off or still under mortgage.

Recalling that the man had arrived at the coffee shop by taxi, Sophie made a guess. "He must have bought it in installments," she murmured to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she considered her next steps.

If the house was indeed under a mortgage, she felt obligated to contribute towards the payments, especially since she planned to live there in the future.

The emptiness of the newly purchased house echoed around Sophie as she contemplated her immediate needs. Realizing she needed to cook dinner, she decided to venture out to purchase some basic kitchenware and groceries.

Despite feeling unwell, she managed to gather everything she needed, the physical activity surprisingly helping her shake off the remnants of her cold.

By the time she finished, dusk was settling in. After a moment's hesitation, she sent a message to the man. "When will you get off work? I am cooking dinner."

Meanwhile, in the president's office of the Horizon Group, tension was rising.

A bodyguard entered with a concerned expression, hesitating before delivering unsettling news to his boss. "Mr. Hewitt, it seems there has been a mistake with your marriage arrangement."

"What are you talking about?" Gavin Hewitt looked up sharply, his annoyance palpable.

With a lowered head, the bodyguard continued, "The person you're supposed to marry had been waiting for you in the cafe for quite a while, but didn't spot you."

Gavin's eyes turned cold as he processed the bodyguard's report.

Had he really ended up married to the wrong person? Who then, was the woman he had married?

She wasn't the one he had arranged to meet, yet she had agreed so readily to marry him. Why had she been so compliant in registering their marriage?

"Anyway, we're legally registered now. It doesn't matter who she is. I'll be filing for a divorce soon. Has Grandpa's flight been booked?" Gavin stated indifferently.

The bodyguard replied respectfully, "Yes, it's ten days from now."

Gavin waved his hand dismissively, and the bodyguard promptly departed.

Just then, a message arrived- it was from that woman.

As Gavin read the message, he narrowed his eyes in slight confusion.

Who was this woman?

How could it be such a coincidence that she happened to wear a red dress, exactly as he had instructed his date, and be seated at the designated location?

After pondering for a while, Gavin rose from his chair.

Meanwhile, Sophie remained seated on the sofa, her gaze fixed on her phone.

Work had been challenging lately; even senior executives had to tread carefully around their boss, so she didn't expect an immediate response from him.

Reflecting on her own job, Sophie couldn't help but sigh.

She worked in a small advertising firm where securing clients sometimes meant enduring humiliation and harassment.

"Surviving" was one thing, but truly "living" felt like a distant goal.

The thought of facing her lecherous client, Vernon Gibson, again tomorrow made Sophie grimace.

She fetched a cold medicine from her bag and went to pour herself a glass of water. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Sophie hurried to the door and found Gavin standing there with a serious expression.

He was back.

Suddenly, Sophie's heart began to race.

Sophie drew a deep breath before opening the door.

"Welcome back," she greeted, mustering a faint smile as she gracefully fetched slippers for Gavin.

Leaning slightly to hand them over, her slender waist subtly caught Gavin's attention.

Standing beside her, Gavin observed keenly, his eyes narrowing with a hint of intrigue.

Before Sophie could straighten up, a pair of large hands grasped her waist, startling her.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" she questioned, her voice uneasy.

Raising an eyebrow, Gavin countered, "Aren't we a married couple?"

His intense gaze bore into Sophie's, his eyes sharp and unyielding. Sophie's eyes widened with a mix of confusion and apprehension as she sensed a dangerous edge to Gavin's demeanor.

"I... I..." Sophie stammered, unable to find her voice.

They were technically a couple, but they were also still strangers to each other! How could he just touch her waist like that?

"We're moving too fast. I'm not ready yet," Sophie murmured softly, her cheeks flushing. She nervously twirled her fingers, avoiding eye contact.

There was genuine hesitation in her demeanor; she didn't appear to be pretending.

If she had truly schemed to marry him, wouldn't she have reciprocated his initiative?

Was this all just a coincidence?

Gavin nodded understandingly and proceeded to change his shoes without pressing her further.

Feeling embarrassed, Sophie felt the urge to retreat to the kitchen, needing a moment to collect her thoughts.

"Well, please have a seat. I'll start cooking," Sophie said, not waiting for Gavin's response as she headed straight for the kitchen.

Just as she turned around, her phone rang, displaying Leyla's name.

"Sorry, I need to take this," Sophie said to Gavin before answering the call. Leyla's voice came through the phone with urgency.

"Sophie, where the hell are you? Kenneth has been waiting for you at Moon Cafe all afternoon!"

After a brief pause, Sophie replied, "I've met him and we're already married."

Leyla's voice grew even louder in disbelief. "You've met Kenneth and married him? Is this a sick joke? Then, explain to me why the man you've married is sitting in my living room right now!"

What?

Sophie froze, her mind racing in confusion. If Kenneth was with Leyla, then who had she just married?

Feeling a surge of panic, she hastily ended the call with Leyla.

Turning wide-eyed to Gavin, she stuttered, "You... You're not the person Leyla had arranged for me to meet, are you?"

A frown crept into Gavin's face.

Leyla's voice had been loud enough over the phone for him to hear their conversation clearly.

If Sophie's reaction was genuine, he could piece together what had likely happened.

"No, I'm not," he replied firmly, shaking his head slightly. "My name's actually Gavin Hewitt."

He had initially suspected Sophie of having ulterior motives, but now it appeared to be a genuine coincidence.

Furthermore, the idea that she might have been coerced into marriage by her family made sense to him.

"Oh my God!"

Tiny beads of sweat broke out on Sophie's forehead.

She never imagined she could make such a monumental mistake.

"So, what do we do now? I'm not the person you intended to marry. Should we go ahead with a divorce tomorrow morning?" Sophie asked nervously, her nose glistening with sweat.

Gavin found the situation amusing, observing the clear expression of regret and anxiety on her face. It had been a while since he had seen someone who wrote everything on their face like this.

"If you're not seeing anyone, we don't necessarily need to rush into a divorce," Gavin replied calmly.

"But..." Sophie began, wanting to explain.

"I've been swamped lately, working late every night. Make yourself at home here," Gavin interjected, hinting at his frequent absence.

Did that mean that he wouldn't be around much?

Sophie nodded, considering his words carefully. Tentatively, she asked, "Is there a mortgage on this house? If so, I can contribute to repay it with you."

Looking at the cautious expression on her face, Gavin responded unexpectedly, "Yes, it's eight thousand a month."

Sophie was taken aback. The house was indeed expensive.

"My salary is only about three thousand a month. I can contribute two thousand towards the loan with you."

She promptly transferred the amount to Gavin after checking her phone.

Gavin was surprised that she took his words seriously, and he smiled slightly.

"What about your personal expenses?" Gavin inquired.

Sophie felt considerably more at ease settling into the house after transferring the money.

She shrugged confidently and replied, "A thousand should be enough."

She used to give Leyla two thousand a month as living expenses when she was still living with them, and fortunately, this month's transfer hadn't gone through yet.

Gavin raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. A thousand for a month? That wouldn't even cover a designer bag and some clothes!

He eyed Sophie's faded jeans and old-fashioned white T-shirt with a slight frown.

"Take the ten thousand and buy yourself things you need. I'll also cover the daily expenses," Gavin offered.

"No, thanks. I'm happy just to live in such a nice house."

Then she added, "If I can close the deal on this project I'm working on, I'll earn a decent commission. There might even be a bonus this month as well."

"Where are you currently working?" Gavin asked casually.

"In a small company called Galaxy Advertising," she said with a timid grin. "You haven't had dinner yet, right? Let me whip something up."

Gavin, wary of growing too close without understanding more about Sophie, rose quickly. "I need to take care of a few more things. You can have dinner by yourself," he declared, his tone resolute.

His towering figure loomed over Sophie, casting a shadow that felt as substantial as a physical barrier.

Nervously swallowing, she couldn't deny that Gavin's allure was striking, with his broad shoulders and an authoritative air that could rival any television heartthrob.

"Ring me when you're coming back then," she called out as he moved toward the door.

"Sure," Gavin responded, hesitating as he opened the door.

"My grandfather's been ill in another city but he's coming back soon. You'll join me to visit him then."

"Absolutely," Sophie responded with a renewed sparkle in her eye, pleased by the news of his imminent departure.

Gavin's brow creased in a frown, puzzled by her sudden buoyancy. Why did her mood lift so quickly?

These thoughts raced through his mind as he left without a backward glance.

Sophie watched him step into the elevator, a sigh of relief escaping her as the doors closed. She shut her own door, her mind swirling with confusion. Was marriage taken so lightly these days?

Gavin's handsome features made it hard for her to believe he couldn't find a girlfriend. Why would he agree to marry someone he had only met once?

Was he really marrying just for the sake of marriage?

A daring thought suddenly sprang up in her heart. Could he be gay?

Given Gavin's apparent disinterest in marriage, her speculation seemed plausible.

"But he touched my waist," Sophie muttered to herself, puzzled.

If Gavin was gay, was that touch a test? Was he trying to see if she would be committed to this marriage more than he expected?

It dawned on Sophie that after she declined his advances, Gavin showed no signs of displeasure. On the contrary, he seemed more approving of her stance, cheerfully changing his shoes and settling onto the sofa.

Reflecting on these observations, Sophie felt increasingly certain that there was more to this marriage.

Convinced that Gavin had married her as a facade to appease others, perhaps his own grandfather, and to also hide his own preference, Sophie felt a rush of relief-and even a secret hint of excitement.

With a keen interest in romance, she couldn't resist speculating that maybe Gavin did it for his true love?

Meanwhile, Gavin had exited the building. Across the street, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up.

The driver stepped out and respectfully opened the door for him.

Settling into the car with an air of ease, Gavin spoke in a detached tone. "Run a thorough background check on her."

Upstairs, oblivious to the unfolding events below, Sophie busied herself in the kitchen.

After finishing her meal, Sophie picked up her phone and dialed Jason.

"Jason, guess what? I'm married now, and he's actually a good person."

Jason's response came with a mix of surprise and concern. "Married? Sophie, slow down-what's going on? Who's the lucky guy?"

"His name's Gavin Hewitt," she replied.

Jason paused, but then asked incredulously, "How on earth did you end up married to someone you barely know?"

Sophie chuckled, lying to reassure her brother. "Oh, I might have stretched the truth a bit to Leyla. Gavin and I go way back, actually. He's quite the catch-stable job, pulls in a neat two hundred thousand a year. Really, there's no need to worry."

Hearing the confidence in her voice, Jason let out a relieved sigh and apologized. "I'm sorry about everything, Sophie. It's all my fault..."

Before Jason could finish, Leyla's voice cut through, sharp and frazzled. "The baby's crying again! Jason, get over here now! Why don't you seem to care at all when we're barely scraping by? You're as senseless as your sister, who can't even get to the right place for an appointment..."

"I've got to go, Sophie," Jason said quickly, urgency lacing his voice.

As the call ended, Sophie was left feeling a bit powerless.

Leyla's harshness was unwarranted, but Sophie knew better than to suggest Jason consider leaving her, especially since they had a child together, and Jason was deeply in love with Leyla.

She sighed, resolving to let it go. After all, if they chose this life, what more was there for her to fuss about?

The next day, after a refreshing night's sleep, Sophie was off to her client's company, determined to secure the project she'd been eyeing for a month.

After a long day of waiting, she finally got her chance to speak with Vernon.

In his office, Vernon leaned back in his chair, looking quite casual. "Miss Brooks, it's not that I don't want to meet with you. It's just that everyone wants a piece of this project. I've been bombarded all day, and I'm fried. I'm heading to the club to unwind. You can join me if you want to talk more, or we can catch up tomorrow."

Sophie paused, weighing her options, and then smiled confidently. "Sure, I'll tag along with you."

As Sophie sat waiting, her resolve deepened. She had invested too much effort into this project to walk away without a fight.

Vernon's hand landed on her thigh, his smile friendly yet perhaps a bit too friendly. "That's right. You have to balance work with some downtime to really excel," he remarked.

Internally, Sophie bristled at the touch, but she kept her expression neutral, silently cursing.

It seemed his intentions for visiting the club weren't entirely professional, and she knew she needed to tread carefully.

Soon, they arrived at the club, and Vernon ushered her into a private room.

He opened a bottle of wine with a flourish.

"Miss Brooks, we've had a good run together. Let's celebrate with a few glasses," he said, raising his glass.

Sophie managed a smile, seizing the moment to steer the conversation back to business. "A toast to future projects too, hopefully. Securing this advertising case could extend our partnership even further."

Vernon's response came as he casually wrapped an arm around her waist. "It all depends on how genuine your intentions are," he said, his tone suggesting an underlying challenge.

Sophie's discomfort escalated as Vernon's stout fingers touched her skin. Seizing an opportunity, she feigned adjusting the wine bottle to subtly distance herself.

But Vernon was persistent, closing in to grasp her wrist and leaning in close.

"Miss Brooks, I appreciate your... dedication. Play your cards right, and the contract is yours tomorrow. Otherwise, consider our doors closed to you," he whispered, his voice a blend of threat and enticement.

The facade dropped entirely as he made a lewd move towards her clothes.

Reacting instinctively, Sophie's foot shot out, connecting sharply with Vernon.

He stumbled backwards, crashing into the table, which sent glasses shattering to the floor.

"You bitch!" Vernon cursed loudly from the floor, his face contorting in anger as he scrambled up and lunged towards her.

Quick on her feet, Sophie darted for the door, flung it open, and sprinted out.

As Vernon's voice echoed down the corridor, calling out with anger, Sophie's panic surged. "Stop running! There's nowhere for you to go!" Vernon yelled. But before she could react further, she ran headlong into a solid figure, feeling arms that weren't Vernon's wrap around her before pushing her away.

The unexpected impact thrust her against the wall, and she groaned in pain.

"Sophie?"

The voice was deep, familiar, and filled with concern.

Looking up, Sophie's eyes widened in shock.

It was Gavin, her newly married husband, standing there unexpectedly.

"What are you doing here?" she gasped, her voice trembling slightly.

Gavin, equally startled to find Sophie in such a state, scowled, confusion and annoyance crossing his features.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" he retorted, taking in her disheveled appearance.

"I... I'm here to meet a client," Sophie stammered.

Her eyes darted anxiously toward the corridor, knowing well that Vernon wasn't going to let their confrontation go easily. She gripped Gavin's hand, her tone urgent yet hushed. "If you don't have anything important keeping you here, you'd better leave. This is not a good time."

Gavin's eyes narrowed, a menacing glint appearing as he sensed the gravity of the situation.

He could tell from Sophie's panicked demeanor that this was no ordinary client meeting.

Before more could be said, Vernon stormed up to the doorway, his face contorted with rage.

"You slippery little bitch! Don't pretend to be so innocent! You agreed to come to the club with me. I'm not letting you go until you apologize to me properly," he sneered, reaching out to grab Sophie.

With a swift movement, Gavin's expression turned ice cold as he pulled Sophie back, positioning himself protectively in front of her, shielding her from Vernon's vile approach.

The sudden intervention left Vernon visibly taken aback.

"And, who the fuck do you think you are?" Vernon scoffed.

Gavin responded not with words but with action, delivering a swift kick that sent Vernon crashing to the floor, his scream echoing in the hallway.

"Sam, clean this up," Gavin said coolly, barely glancing at the man writhing on the floor.

Sam Jenkins, a burly figure who had been lingering in the background, nodded and moved towards Vernon.

"Come on. Let's go," Gavin said, taking Sophie's hand firmly in his and leading her downstairs.

As they walked, Sophie's expression was clouded with worry. She glanced up at Gavin, her voice tinged with anxiety. "You shouldn't have kicked him so hard! He knows some people. What if he tries to make trouble for you?"

Gavin stopped abruptly, turning to look at her.

The genuine concern in her eyes struck a chord in him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

It was both comforting and unfamiliar.

"It's okay," he assured her softly, squeezing her hand. "Don't worry about me. I can handle it." His voice was gentle, trying to alleviate her fears.

As they reached the entrance of the club, Gavin made a move to flag down a taxi.

"I'll get you a cab. You head back first," he suggested, his voice firm yet gentle.

Sophie, however, wasn't ready to leave him behind. She grasped his arm, stopping him.

Looking up into his eyes, her expression was earnest, marked by a mix of worry and resolve. "Are you planning to go back in there? Aren't you concerned that Vernon might try something? I don't think it's safe for you to stay. Let's go home together. Can't your meeting with the client be rescheduled? Please?"

Her voice wavered slightly, and her eyes, red-rimmed and filled with concern, implored him to reconsider.

Despite her own unsettling encounter, her thoughts were on his safety- a gesture that underscored the depth of her care for him.