Chapter 1

Huo Jingheng and I had been married for a year. We slept in separate rooms and stayed out of each other’s way.

That day, while I was at home, I received a call from his assistant, Lin Hao.

Huo Jingheng needed urgent surgery, and as his wife, I was supposed to be there.

By the time I rushed into the hospital room, he was lying pale-faced on the bed. The doctor stood beside him, saying,

“The surgery will begin shortly. Hurry and have a family member come sign the consent form.”

Huo Jingheng’s face was drained of color, and his voice came out weak.

“I can sign it myself.”

The doctor froze. Perhaps the sight of him with no family beside him—only an assistant—and having to sign for his own surgery seemed rather pitiful.

Assistant Lin spotted me. “Madam is here!”

Huo Jingheng looked at me in surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief at my sudden appearance.

“Doctor, I’m his wife. I’ll sign for the surgery.”

I had never imagined that the first thing I would do as his wife since our marriage would be signing a consent form because he was ill.

The doctor looked puzzled. “Your wife made it here. Why were you still insisting on signing it yourself?”

Our marriage had begun with a blind date, and I was the first woman he met.

At the time, he had sat back in his chair with one leg crossed over the other. He wore a suit, his hair swept back, and projected the air of an elite from high society.

As soon as I sat down, he went straight to the point.

“Enter into a three-year contract marriage with me. After we’re married, we won’t interfere in each other’s lives. My only condition is that you cause no scandals that might damage my reputation. You’ll also need to accompany me to certain events.”

“I’ll give you enough money for living expenses every month. After three years, we’ll divorce, and I’ll pay you an additional settlement…”

It was obvious that he only needed a wife to shore up his public image.

I agreed without a second thought. The arrangement had nothing but advantages for me.

I worked from home year-round, and my parents constantly worried that I would never find a partner because of it. Every so often, they called to pressure me about marriage.

I had come to the blind date thinking I might as well give it a try. I never expected the marriage to be settled on the spot.

We didn’t hold a wedding. Huo Jingheng came home with me once to meet my parents.

Afterward, we signed the agreement, and I moved into his large luxury apartment.

Although we lived together, we were more like roommates sharing a rental. He worked during the day and only came home at night.

Even then, we only saw each other briefly in the evenings.

Since we slept in separate rooms, we had even less contact. It was only natural that we remained strangers.

After a while, the doctor left the room.

Enduring the pain, Huo Jingheng asked me, “Why are you here?”

“Assistant Lin told me,” I explained.

At that, Huo Jingheng glanced toward Lin Hao. Even through the pain, his eyes seemed to demand an explanation for why his assistant had called me.

Assistant Lin knew what Huo Jingheng’s relationship with his family was like. Telling me had been the best option.

At least I had come for him, and now he had a family member at his side to care for him.