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After being betrayed by her ex and her elder sister, Catherine swore to become the couple’s aunt! With that, she took an interest in her ex-boyfriend’s uncle.Chapter 1##Slap!A resounding slap landed on Catherine Jones’ face.“You’ve really let me down. Your sister has had a rough time out there for more than 20 years, and here you are planning to snatch the man from her. How could you?!” Catherine looked at her mother incredulously. “Mom, Ethan is my boyfriend. How can you guys be so unreasonable?”Catherine had just come home after a business trip, only to see her long-lost elder sister, Rebecca Jones, sitting with her boyfriend, Ethan Lowe, on the couch. Her sister, who returned not long ago, was holding Ethan’s arm and seemed intimate with him.Seated on the other side of the couch were both Rebecca and Ethan’s parents who were having a pleasant chat with each other.In fact, Ethan was Catherine’s childhood sweetheart!She could not help but come up to Rebecca to question her. However, she ended up being slapped by her mother in the face right there and then!“Mom, please stop hitting Cathy.” With an anxious look, Rebecca said, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come back…”Ethan quickly held her shoulders. “No, Rebecca. It’s my fault. I’ve always treated Catherine as my sister, which is probably why she misunderstood my feelings for her.”Something seemed to have exploded in Catherine’s head. The pain was so terrible that she could barely breathe.Sister?“Stop!” She found those words unbearable.“You’re the one who should shut your mouth. Is this how you’re supposed to speak to your sister?” Mrs. Jones told her off sulkily. “Can’t you just be tolerant of Rebecca, considering that she has gone through 20 years of hardships?”Shocked, Catherine was slightly slack-jawed.There had to be some limit on tolerance anyway. Why should she give up? She was not a saint either.At that point, Mr. Jones stood up and told her off glumly as well. “Are you done? Ethan isn’t into you either. We still need to discuss Rebecca’s engagement party now. Get lost. You’re such an eyesore here.”Catherine trembled and glanced at Ethan who was indifferent toward her. She then glanced at Rebecca who was clinging to him.All of a sudden, she felt like a joke.These people were the ones she cared most about, yet every one of them was taking Rebecca’s side at that moment.Tears were seen streaming down her face.After wiping away the tears, Catherine turned around and left with her suitcase without looking back.She sped through the journey once she got into the Maserati.Not knowing where to go, she stopped and called her best friend, Freya Lynch.“Come and have a drink.”…By the time Freya rushed over to S1897 pub, Catherine had already finished one whole bottle of drink by herself.“You came at the right time. Let’s have a drink together. I’ve ordered a lot.”“What’s wrong?” It was very rare for Freya to find Catherina behaving in such a manner. She sympathized deeply with Catherine. “Where’s Ethan? Is he ignoring you?” At the mention of Ethan’s name, Catherine felt as if a knife was scraping her heart.“He’s ditched me, and he’s going to get engaged to Rebecca.”Freya gaped. “What kind of a campy plot is this?”Catherine briefly told her what happened that evening.Freya felt a sense of incredulity. Ethan and Catherine were childhood sweethearts who had established a romantic relationship since high school.Throughout these years, however, Catherine studied abroad while Ethan was busy with work. It explained why they had yet to get engaged.Both their parents were under no illusions about it. They also gave their blessings to the couple.Everyone in the entertainment industry knew that the couple would get married sooner or later.Now, it turned out that Ethan had gotten together with Rebecca, which would then make Catherine a laughing stock.“This is absurd. You and Rebecca should be equally important to your parents. Are your dad and mom out of their minds?”Catherine clutched the bottle. “They probably feel that Rebecca has suffered too much out there. Now that she’s back, they just want to give her the best.”Freya was in a state of disbelief. “But you’re their daughter too!”Catherine forced out a smile.“Hah. Now that Rebecca has returned, all they care about is Rebecca.Holding the bottle, Catherine started feeling a little dizzy.“Don’t drink too much. You have a poor stomach. You’ll feel uncomfortable if you drink too much.”Freya grabbed Catherine’s bottle to divert her attention from it. After that, she glanced around the pub.Never did she expect to see a familiar figure.“Hey, look there!”Freya gave Catherine a push and pointed to the man who was sitting at a corner. Despite the dim glow at that corner, the man was faintly visible. He wore a suit which was inappropriate for the occasion. The man had his eyes closed and was leaning against the couch, giving off an aura of brilliance. When the rotating spotlight shone on him from time to time, he looked so attractive that his face was just like the perfect side profile one often saw in comic books. After a glimpse, Catherine averted her eyes from him. “No matter how attractive he is, I’m in no mood to enjoy anything that’s pleasant to the eye right now.”“I’m trying to tell you that the man is Ethan’s uncle.”Catherine was momentarily stunned. “Are you sure?”Ethan previously mentioned that he had a mysterious uncle. However, his uncle managed a company in a foreign country, so she had never seen him.A few days ago, she heard that his uncle had returned.“Yeah, I’m very sure. My brother told me when we attended a party the other day. I heard he’s clever with tricks. Even Zachary is at his mercy.”Zachary Lowe was Ethan’s father.Catherine’s eyes glowed. She had an idea crossing her mind at that instant.“Well… What do you think will happen if I marry his uncle?”“Pff…” Shocked, Freya spat out the wine from her mouth. “Say that again.”Catherine gazed intently at the tall, handsome figure. “Since I can’t become the Lowe family’s daughter-in-law, I shall be Ethan’s aunt to fill the couple with uncomfortable!”Chapter 2##Freya was momentarily dumbfounded. She then showed Catherine a thumbs up right away.“I’m on your side! His uncle’s appearance is perfect. Even Ethan isn’t as good-looking as his uncle. His uncle’s wealth and power are also comparable to that of the Lowe family.”“I need to remind you that you have to find an excellent match or your position in Jones Corporation will be inferior to Rebecca’s. So I think his uncle is suitable for you!”Catherine was dazed for a second. Freya might be straightforward, but what she said was true.If Rebecca had the Lowe family backing her, Catherine’s position in Jones Corporation would be at stake.“Okay, I’m going to capture his heart right now!”Catherine snatched Freya’s purse on impulse to search for lipstick and foundation.Her pure face soon looked radiant.Freya blinked. “Uh, are you sure you can deal with him?”“He’s just a man, isn’t he? Hah!”Catherine swept her hair over one shoulder, then held a half-full glass of drink. With a tipsy and pretty look, she walked toward the man proudly.The closer she got to the man, the clearer his exquisitely handsome face became. His clean, somber eyebrows and exquisite nose bridge were nothing short of attractive.“Hi. Sorry to bother you, but could you tell me the time now?”Catherine tapped her finger on his shoulder twice.When the man opened his eyes under the dim light, the word ‘devil’ flashed through Catherine’s mind.Her brain shorted out for a few seconds. After regaining her senses, she wore a pretty smile and said, “I think our first encounter here is the start of our happiness.”With furrowed brows, Shaun Hill coldly said, “I’m not a doctor. I don’t provide treatment.”“What?”“You’re crazy, aren’t you?” The man’s lips moved slightly. Nevertheless, the words that came out of his mouth were extremely mean.“...”At that moment, Catherine felt like getting a mirror to take a hard look at herself.Was she not pretty? Really?Anyway, it was impossible to grasp men’s thoughts. Otherwise, Ethan would not have betrayed her.“I’m actually crazy, crazy for you.”Catherine swiftly calmed down and gave an embarrassed smile. “I started getting crazy when I met you for the first time.”When Shaun raised his eyebrows a little, Catherine immediately seized the opportunity to say, “They say one can’t help feeling happy when they meet the love of their life, and this is exactly how I’m feeling at the moment.”“Alright, I got it. You may leave now.”The man averted his eyes away from her in a careless manner. From his expression, it seemed that he was unbothered by her.Catherine was deeply hurt. She was a great beauty and the pride of Sydney. At this moment, she had the urge to turn away. The moment she pictured herself becoming Ethan’s aunt, however, she summoned up the courage to talk to him again.“Pretty boy, could I add your contact to my WhatsApp?”Lying on the couch lazily with his eyes closed, Shaun looked delicately elegant.“Pretty boy, could you give me your number?“Pretty boy, could you tell me your name?“Pretty boy, you look so charming with your eyes closed that women just find it irresistible.”“...”Annoyed by the owner of the voice, Shaun opened his eyes and asked in annoyance, “What on earth do you want?”“I want to marry you,” Catherine blurted out. The corners of Shaun’s mouth twitched.While smiling, Catherine added, “Actually, I’m quite a catch. I’m 22 this year, and I graduated from the University of New South Wales. I’m a competent woman who does well both at home and in public. Moreover, I’ll pamper my husband. I’m capable of earning money too. I’m healthy and don’t have any bad habits. Above all, I’m not a fickle lover.” Shaun was speechless.He rubbed his eyes, then gazed at her strangely.Catherine raised her hand. “I can swear that from now on, I’ll only treat you well and promise you everything I’ve said…”“Stop.”Shaun was so fed up with her that he stood up.Only when Catherine looked up did she realize that he was really tall. He was close to six feet and two inches, and furthermore, he had such a wonderful figure.“If you want to marry me, bring your birth certificate and meet me at the registry office at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.”The man stared down at her with one hand in his pocket.Catherine was dumbfounded. She then stammered, “Are you lying to me?”“You can give it a go.” Upon looking away, Shaun turned around and swaggered to leave.Chapter 3##The plot twist happened so quickly that Catherine suspected she had drunk too much.Such a thought remained until Freya came to tap her on the shoulder. She said sympathetically, “Don’t get too upset. It’s not easy to capture the heart of a wealthy and handsome man. Keep it up—”“No. He told me to meet him at the entrance of the registry office tomorrow at 10 a.m.,” Catherine replied with a dazed look.“...”Freya remained uncannily quiet for a moment before she burst out laughing. “Congratulations on becoming Ethan’s aunt!”Catherine asked, “You believe him?”Freya forcefully pinched Catherine’s soft face.“Why not? Please. With your naturally pure look, you can easily beat those young ladies in the entertainment industry. Let’s go and have a drink to celebrate your marriage.”Catherine seriously wondered how much Freya had drunk while she was away.However, Catherine began to have a hangover after drinking just now. She felt her head becoming heavy.A Bentley Mulsanne slowly moved toward the pub entrance.The valet opened the car door, and Shaun subsequently went to the backseat. Shaun frowned a little. “Who else knows that I’m in Melbourne?”“No one except Senior Madam.”Shaun’s brows relaxed. By the look of things, the woman’s appearance just now was sheer coincidence. “Find out who this person is. I want to know her information before dawn.”…The morning sun shone through the curtains.Catherine, who was deep asleep, was woken by the noise outside.Just as she opened her eyes, she saw Ethan opening the door and striding into her room.Freya, who followed him into the room, roared. “This is my house! You’re basically invading my home!”“Sure enough, you’re here.” Ethan stared keenly at Catherine who had bloodshot eyes and slightly messy hair.Catherine became wide awake at that moment, her eyes expressing dejection.“The two of you should have a good chat. It hasn’t been easy being together for so many years.” After some thought, Freya turned around and left, closing the door behind her.The room was silent. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ethan stretched out his hand to touch her hair.With a scornful look, Catherine dodged away from his hand. “Does Rebecca know that you’re here?”Ethan’s handsome face froze, then he clenched his fist. “Cathy, you’re probably unaware that the Jones family has decided to give Rebecca 80 percent of the company’s shares.” Catherine was so shocked that her lips turned pale. “This is impossible.”“It’s true. Your dad said it himself.”Catherine seemed to have grasped everything within minutes.Tears began to gush from her eyes. “So that’s why you abandoned me and chose Rebecca, right?”Ethan gripped her hands. “This is just temporary. I’ve just gotten engaged to Rebecca, but I’ll leave our wedding on the back-burner. As you know, my dad has an illegitimate son. If I don’t do this, I wouldn’t even be able to compete. Cathy, I just want to provide you with a good life.”“Liar.”Catherine snatched her hand out of his grasp and threw insults at him. “You’re only 25. Even if you don’t get any inheritance from your family, can’t you just start your own business?”“You’re too naive.”Ethan stood up slowly, hiding the emotions in his eyes. He said helplessly, “It’s not in our power to choose certain things due to our background.”Catherine looked cold without uttering a word as she found it unreasonable.Amid the silence, Ethan sighed softly. “Give me three years, Cathy. You’re still young. You can afford to wait.”Catherine nearly went mad.How dare he say such things in a self-righteous manner when he only wanted to make her keep her youth for him?“Please get out of my face. I don’t want to see you anymore!”“Time will show my love for you.”Since Catherine was not going along with what he said, he decided to turn around and left.Upon hearing the door shut, Catherine flung a pillow to the wall with reddened eyes and spent a few seconds sitting still. After that, she frantically put on her shirt and dashed out.“He’s left. What’s the point of going after him?” Freya quickly stopped her.Catherine took a deep breath, then gnashed her teeth. “I agreed to meet him at 10 a.m. to get married.”Freya said, “You actually believe him?”“Didn’t you say you believed him last night?”Freya embarrassedly replied, “That’s because I drank too much.”“What if he’s serious about it?” Catherine pushed her away and ran out.Chapter 4##Catherine took a taxi directly to the Jones family’s house. At that time, Mr. Jones had already gone to work.She rushed upstairs to take her birth certificate. Just as she walked to the living room, she saw Rebecca coming out of the study with a large pile of documents.Rebecca looked pure with a bob and a pristine face.“You’re finally back, Sis. I was still worried about what happened yesterday.” A guilty look spread across Rebecca’s face. “It’s just that Ethan is really not into you. You can’t force someone to love you.”Catherine shot her a cold gaze. “Enough is enough. You can stop acting since there’s no one else here. I underestimated you before this.”“Don’t treat me this way.” Rebecca bit her lip, her tears streaming down her face. “I’ll just yield to your demands in the future, okay? I won’t get involved in matters related to the company. I’ll pass you these documents.”As she was speaking, she shoved the documents into Catherine’s hands.Catherine found it strange and subconsciously extended her hands to push the documents away. As a result, all the documents dropped to the floor.“What are you guys doing?”Suddenly, Sally Lennon walked down the stairs and caught sight of Rebecca’s teary face as well as the scattered documents. “Aren’t these the company’s documents that your dad asked you to go through?”“Don’t be mad at her, Mom. It’s my fault.” With a pale face, Rebecca hurriedly explained, “Cathy asked me to stop getting involved in the company’s matters and hand these documents to her. I was planning on giving her the documents, but she’s probably unhappy about the issue with Ethan, so—”“You’re lying—”“Stop!” Sally glared at Catherine. “Who gave you the right to have a hand in the company’s matters? It’s your dad and me who asked Rebecca to go through the documents. Rebecca will officially become the manager of the company next week. You’d better behave yourself.” Catherine was dumbfounded. “Speaking of education and experience, I’m more qualified than her. Despite joining the company one year earlier than her, I’m not even a manager yet. What gives her the right to jump to a managerial position just like that?”“Mom, I’d better not become a manager. I don’t want to ruin my relationship with Cathy,” Rebecca immediately said while sobbing.Sally’s heart ached very badly. “Look how much Rebecca cares about your sisterhood. What about you? You’re narrow-minded and calculating. You’re not even qualified to be a manager. No wonder Ethan would choose Rebecca instead.”Her mother’s cruel words felt as if she was getting hit by a cane.As anger rushed through her body in a way that had never happened before, Catherine took two steps backward. “Fine. Since I’m so terrible, I’ll leave, okay?”She went to her room right after she finished speaking. She got a suitcase and subsequently stuffed her clothes into it.Rebecca’s voice came from the door. “Mom, Cathy’s mad. We should talk her out of leaving.” “Don’t bother with her. That’s just how she behaves. She has been pampered too much. She’ll come back two days later. Let’s go and buy you some clothes since you’re going to get engaged soon.”“...”Soon, the voices became faint.With large teardrops falling on the back of her hand, Catherine carried her suitcase down the stairs. After that, she drove her car and left. After 40 minutes, Catherine saw a man’s figure at the entrance of the registry office. The man looked smart dressed in a perfectly ironed white T-shirt. He was tall and sturdy, giving off an aura of brilliance.She rushed toward him after parking her car. “You actually came.”The woman’s voice was filled with surprise and joy.When Shaun turned around, he smelled the flavor that lingered on her body from the night before. “Didn’t you take a bath?”Catherine felt embarrassed right away. “I drank too much last night, so I was already unconscious when I arrived home. I was in a hurry this morning, so…”When she realized the man’s increasingly disdainful gaze on her, she quickly swore, “Today was just an exception. I usually take a bath every day and I love to keep myself clean.”She observed his features as she spoke.It was normal to find a man more attractive under the dim lighting of a pub. Nevertheless, one would notice that he was not that good-looking during the day.Having said that, this man was an exception.Not only was he not any less attractive, but he looked even more stunning with his elegant and cool features. He had a handsome face, and what was more, there were not any pores visible on his skin. Catherine was aware that a few young women who were going into the registry office to get married were casting glances at him.“What a handsome man.”The man beside the woman said, “The girl looks pretty too.”“That’s true. They match each other well. Their future children will probably be good-looking, unlike ours. How worrying…”“...”When the discussion reached Shaun’s ears, he said straight away, “We won’t have children.”Catherine was at a loss for words.Shaun said, “We’ll divorce three years later. I’ll give you a sum of money which will be enough for you to live the rest of your life. Also, I won’t meet your family. Think about it carefully. If you can’t go along with this deal, you can leave.”Catherine felt like something was stuck in her heart.She was under the impression that he liked her at first sight last night.She did not mind him not loving her at first sight, though.With her charisma, she believed that she could win the man’s heart in three years’ time.She had to consolidate her identity as Ethan’s aunt.“Alright.”Once the two of them entered the registry office, they first went to take pictures together.The cameraman, who had spent a long time taking pictures of them, was not satisfied with the outcome. “Can’t you guys get close to each other and look sweet? Also, sir, please smile.”An impatient look crossed Shaun’s face. Catherine immediately hooked her arm around his, then said with a smile, “His facial nerves have been damaged, so don’t force him anymore. Just let him be.”“...”Deeply insulted, Shaun shot an icy glare at the woman who was wearing a cheery smile. “You’d better stop talking if you want to stop taking pictures,” Catherine whispered in his ear boldly while standing on tiptoes. Her scent lingered on his ear, tickling him.Chapter 5##Shaun froze and remained silent.After Shaun and Catherine were done taking pictures, they headed to the first floor to register their marriage.It was only when Shaun took out his citizenship certificate that Catherine finally learned his real name—Shaun Hill.However, Ethan’s mother’s surname was Lyons. In that case, his uncle’s surname was supposed to be Lyons as well.In a daze, Catherine asked, “Why is your surname Hill?”“Uh-huh.”As Shaun was lowering his head to sign the documents, he did not bother to know what she meant. He casually answered, “I adopted my mom’s surname.”“Oh.” Catherine finally understood. She had been filled with fear earlier, thinking that it was a case of mistaken identity.She approached him for the very reason that he was Ethan’s uncle. However, she felt that something was somehow not right.Ten minutes later, the marriage certificates were issued.Catherine felt a twinge of sadness but found this to be incredible at the same time.Since young, she had always assumed she would marry Ethan. Against her expectations, she married a man whom she had only met once.“Here’s my contact number. I have something to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.” Shaun jotted his number on a piece of blank paper for her before he left. “Wait a minute…” Catherine stopped him the moment she came back to her senses. “Now that we’re a married couple, we should live together.”With a dull expression, he replied, “I don’t enjoy living with someone else.”“I’m your legal wife, not someone else. Even if we’re going to divorce three years later, we should still live together.”Shaking the marriage certificate in her hand, Catherine pouted in an attempt to gain his sympathy. “I’m really miserable. Ever since my long-lost sister returned, my parents have been treating me with contempt. Now that I’ve been kicked out of the house, I don’t have a place to stay.” “You can go and rent a place.”Shaun walked away with indifference.“Don’t abandon me, hubby!” Catherine suddenly let out a howl, hooking her arm around his. “I’m left with nothing but you right now.”Her increasingly loud voice had attracted a lot of sidelong glances in the registry office.Pulling a long face, Shaun regretted getting married to her at random.“Fine. I live in Jadeite Bay. Go there on your own.”Shaun could not help but stomp out of the registry office. He then warned her softly, “You’ll sleep in the guest room. You’re not allowed to step into my room.”Secretly elated, Catherine believed that he would be the one begging her to enter his room in the future.“By the way, don’t disturb Fudge.”“Fudge?” Catherine gasped. “You already have a son?” Shaun raised his eyebrows. “Take good care of him.”Once he finished his sentence, he left straight away.Catherine was so shocked that he forgot to go after Shaun. Although she had braced herself to marry someone she did not love, she was not at all ready to be someone’s stepmother.She stood at the roadside for half an hour, picturing her conflicting future identities—namely as a stepmother and aunt.At last, she dashed into the mall to buy children’s toys after glancing at Ethan’s photo.A person named Fudge had to be a boy. After selecting several types of toy cars and Lego sets, she drove to Jadeite Bay.Carrying a variety of things, she took a deep breath in front of the door. She punched in the password and the door was opened.A friendly smile spread across her face. “Hi, Fudge—”“Meow!”A cat with a white body and light yellow ears was seen lying on the couch lazily. It produced a cute sound in the quiet living room. “...”Catherine blinked. “Fudge?”“Meowww!”After the cat stretched its body, it jumped down the couch and walked toward her legs to smell the toys that she was carrying. Uninterested, the cat returned to the couch and lay on it in an arrogant manner.Chapter 6##Catherine was speechless.Shaun should have explained this earlier.She had spent the past few hours worrying about being a stepmother!A feeling of helplessness washed over her.Catherine let out a sigh. Then, she scanned around the house that had three bedrooms and two living areas. There was a master bedroom, a guest room, and a study.The interior of the house was decorated in a minimalist. It was pleasant to the eyes but gave out a cold and cheerless vibe at the same time. Was this really the residence of Ethan’s uncle?The man was supposed to be a successful entrepreneur. It was one thing if he chose not to live in a grand villa, but there was no sign of luxury in this place at all. Not to mention the shelves in the study room were filled with books like The Science of Law, The Law Society Gazette, and Are We Slaves to Our Genes?Something did not feel right. Could it be possible that this man was not Ethan’s uncle?No, that would be impossible!Freya could be quite careless at times, but for something as serious as this…She could not possibly have made a mistake, right?The overthinking was killing Catherine. She retrieved her phone to ring her friend. “Are you sure that he’s Ethan’s uncle?”“Of course, I heard it from my brother. He even had a meal with that man before.”“I was afraid that I married the wrong man.”“Oh my God, did you actually marry him?” A shriek of surprise sounded over the phone. “He really showed up?”“Uh-huh,” she replied. On the other side of the phone, Freya’s eyes were welled up with tears. “We promised to be each other’s angels. How could you abandon me in the blink of an eye?”The words were stuck in Catherine’s throat.After the phone call ended, Catherine dropped by the nearby supermarket. The new house was too cold and empty to be called a home. It definitely needed a new makeover. ...4:00 p.m. at Jennings Solicitors.Shaun had just flipped open the document file when Chase Harrison stepped foot in his office. “Congratulations! Should we have dinner with your new wife tonight?”“It’s not like you don’t know the real reason why I got married,” Shaun replied coolly without lifting his head, his eyes glued to the words on the documents.“You truly are inconstant in love. I heard that Catherine Jones is quite a beauty. Aren’t you at least a little bit interested?”Chase was filled with excitement. He lowered himself on the swivel office chair as he studied his friend’s expression with curious eyes. Shaun paused what he was doing for a split second. He recalled the woman’s smooth, milky skin and her face that was as beautiful as a blooming flower. However, her behavior... He replied several seconds later, “I’ve seen countless attractive women.”“Fair point. An insignificant young lady from Melbourne wouldn’t stand a chance to be your wife if you weren’t trying to avoid an arranged marriage set up by the elders of your family. Indeed, she’s not a good match for your grand status.”Chase let out a meaningful sigh. “So, the famous undefeatable legend has returned. How are you adapting to working in a small place like Melbourne?”“It’s certainly an experience to live like a common person.”“Tsk.” Chase hissed. “The world is so unfair. We graduated at the same time but you’ve already climbed to the top of the ladder.”“It all comes down to the structure of our brains,” Shaun replied, lifting his indifferent gaze.Chase gritted his teeth at the humiliation. “Forget it, I’ll leave this as is. Do me a favor, let’s have dinner with several other solicitors of the company tonight.”“Hmm,” Shaun replied. His phone then beeped with a notification sound.He picked up his phone to see an incoming text from someone named ‘Shaunerine’.[Hubby, this is Cathy.]Chapter 7##Shaun did not know what to reply. He massaged the space between his eyebrows and accepted the message request.[Hubby, will you be home for dinner?] Catherine sent another text within seconds.Shaun: [No. Don’t call me that.]Shaunerine: [Fine then, I’ll call you Shaunny. It’s a cute name.]He did not know what else to say.Was it too late to back out of the marriage arrangement?Later that night.The group of people was enjoying dinner in the interestingly designed courtyard-style restaurant. The bunch of lawyers exchanged their opinions on the new cases recently taken in by the law firm. Shaun listened absent-mindedly when he heard a notification alert on his phone again. Catherine sent him a picture. Under the illumination of the soft yellow lights, the chubby cat was indulging itself in a small treat of dried fish. Shaunerine: [Shaunny, don’t worry about us. I’m taking such good care of little Fudge.]Shaun sighed grudgingly. The greedy cat had been bribed effortlessly.The time was 9.30 p.m.The passcode entered unlocked the door. Shaun was evidently stunned the second he set foot into the house.It appeared that his house had undergone a complete makeover. The couch was decorated with peacock blue cushions. The white dining table was covered in a green table cloth with a wave pattern. A glass vase filled with pink hydrangeas sat quietly above it.The entire house was decorated with green plants and fresh flowers. There were also several hanging baskets out on the balcony.Was this still his house?Did he enter the right place?“Shaunny, you’re home.”Catherine walked out of the guestroom wearing a long sleeve silk sleeping gown. Several white bunnies were printed on the red material of the gown. Her thick and long brunette hair that was the color of milk tea was draped over her shoulders. Beneath the hem of her gown were her fair legs.She looked like an elf. Shaun’s eyes darkened. “Who allowed you to dress like that around here?” The brows on his forehead twitched into a frown as he said sternly. “Like what?” The woman swirled innocently. “All the young girls go out in the streets dressed like this. What’s wrong about it?”He did not know where to look. Indeed, she was not wearing revealing clothes, but she was also not wearing anything underneath.The man averted his gaze. “I agreed to let you move in, but I didn’t give you permission to do this to my house.”“Isn’t this better? It was too empty before that it didn’t even feel cozy like a home should.” Catherine showed him her palm. “Look, I even have a few cuts on my palm from moving the plants around.”He lowered his gaze to have a look. Indeed, there were a few tiny cuts on the tender skin of her delicate palm.“You deserve it.”He uttered softly before retreating to his room.Annoyed, she pulled a face at his departing silhouette.This man did not show any care for women at all. She would not be trying so hard to please the cold man if not for the plan to become her ex’s aunt.7:00 a.m. the following day.Shaun’s biological clock woke him up early every morning at the same time. He bumped into the woman who was brushing her teeth in the bathroom.“Good morning, Shaunny. Are you going for a morning run?” Catherine’s eyes landed on his sportswear. The basic outfit felt like a classic style on the man as if he was the spokesperson for the brand. The man had a bad temper, but his impeccable appearance was undeniable.Besides, the habit of going out for morning runs showed that he was a man of discipline. “Yeah.”Shaun was a little surprised.Young women her age were not normally early risers. “Well, don’t get breakfast before you come home. I’ll prepare something for you,” she spoke like a proper housewife, “It’s more hygienic than store-bought food.”He frowned. “No need for that. When are you planning to move?”Her pretty face froze for a split second. “Although we’re married, I don’t want to get too involved with you. Don’t waste your time on me because I’m not interested in you at all,” he replied.Then, he left the house.Catherine pulled at her hair slightly as tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She stood there motionless in the living room for a brief moment. Quickly, she collected herself and started making breakfast. The man returned after jogging around the park. A delicious smell came from the kitchen, making him hungry in an instant.“I made breakfast. There are churros and cinnamon rolls...”She poked her head out from behind the kitchen door while wearing a light green apron that was dotted with little daisies.“I don’t like sweet things for breakfast.”He refused coldly. The straightforward remark he made earlier this morning was meant to drive her out of the house. Unexpectedly, she stayed behind and even made him breakfast.Would the food she made be edible?At first glance, she looked like a pretty spoiled young lady who had never done a single chore in her life.He was accustomed to seeing women like her.Shaun retrieved a carton of fresh milk from the fridge.Catherine pouted.It appeared he was determined not to try the food she made.What a pretentious man.Regardless, she had no problem enjoying the food herself. She returned to the kitchen to continue making churros. He appeared a few seconds later to warm up the milk. From the corners of his eyes, he noticed the woman shaping the dough into several long sticks in a practiced manner before placing them into the hot oil. Within seconds, golden logs floated to the top of the oil. They released a delicious smell that attacked his nostrils. A hint of light flashed across his eyes.This skill must have been acquired from years of practice. He shifted his gaze downward. Beautiful cinnamon rolls with chocolate swirls were baking in the hot oven. Her cheeks were tinted with a rosy pink because of the heat in the kitchen. Her skin was unquestionably beautiful. She did not have the defined sharp jawline that was favored by most social media influencers nowadays. Her slightly chubby cheeks made her appear youthful and adorable. Catherine noticed him staring and playfully picked up a churro, waving it in front of his eyes. “Shaunny, are you sure you don’t want a taste of this?”“Not interested.”He averted his gaze and placed the milk inside the microwave. Then, as if out of habit, he placed a piece of bacon between two slices of toast and shoved in a handful of lettuce. He started munching on the sandwich by the dining table. The sandwich in his mouth suddenly tasted bland when he thought of the golden brown churros. Frustrated, he covered one side of the toast with a thick layer of fruit jam.Right then, the woman reappeared from the kitchen and placed a whole feast in front of his eyes. Churros, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, a cup of hot chocolate…Shaun twitched his brows into a deep frown as she blinked innocently. “Shaunny, you don’t mind me eating here, do you?”He watched on silently as she began the show.Her performance was better than he expected. “Please forgive me for having a sweet tooth. I really can’t endure having to start the day with a bowl of boring cereal or a plain sandwich. It would be a huge disappointment for my tastebuds.”Then, she took a massive bite of the churros. She closed her eyes as a look of satisfaction washed over her face. “The flavor just bursts in your mouth. Mhmm, it’s so delicious.”He remained silent.What a waste of talent that this woman did not pursue an acting career. How could he still eat his plain sandwich now?Chapter 8##“It’s a must to enjoy warm pancakes with high-quality butter. Then, a sip of hot chocolate to go down with it.”Catherine continued on with the eating show.She was savoring every bite of food in earnest. Taking her pretty face into account as well, her performance was way more entertaining and convincing than the other eating broadcast shows available. Shaun could not take any more of this.“Meow.” At the same time, Fudge leaped onto the dining table while wagging its tail. Thinking the cat must be hungry, he walked over to the cupboard. He returned with a plate of cat food and placed it before Fudge. Fudge sniffed it for a few seconds before turning its head away. It looked at Catherine with greedy eyes.An awkward expression flashed across the man’s face.She suppressed the desire to laugh before feeding the cat a small piece of the cinnamon roll. The little cat devoured it within seconds.“Good kitty.”She patted the cat on the head lovingly. ‘You have much better taste than your owner,’ she thought to herself. Shaun felt embarrassed. After the cat ate two more bites of the cinnamon roll, it went on to enjoy the churros. This put a frown on the man’s forehead. “You…”Catherine seized the opportunity and shoved a piece of churros into his mouth.A hint of anger flashed across his eyes. Just when he was about to spit it out, the crispy outside of the churros that were coated with cinnamon sugar melted on his tongue.Instinctively, he began chewing on the dense dough. It was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. It was delicious.Surely, he had had churros before. The cooks from Hill household could make numerous kinds of food, but nothing tasted as good as this. For some reason, the churros that she made brought out the creamy flavor of the milk without making it sickly.“Is it nice?” Catherine asked, cupping her chin with both hands. She was confident in her cooking. The light went out of his eyes when he noticed the smug smile on her face.“It’s just alright.”Then, he picked up another piece of churros and continued eating. The small bite from earlier was not enough for him to taste its full flavor properly.She winked playfully. “Didn't you say it’s just alright?”“Surely you can’t finish all these. I don’t like wasting food,” the man replied calmly.She parted her lips to retaliate, but he interrupted with a frown, “Keep quiet during meal times.”“...”Catherine gasped in astonishment as she had never seen anyone like him.He had said coolly that he did not like having sweet foods for breakfast, but he was now devouring the churros, pancakes, and cinnamon rolls—the hot chocolate too.He sure had the cheek!Initially, Shaun only wanted to have a little taste of the food, but everything that she made was exceptionally delicious. They were even better than the ones he tried in restaurants.It was definitely out of his expectation that this woman could make such a scrumptious breakfast.His impression of her changed a little. Coincidentally, she turned her face toward him and their eyes met. “Shaunny, what do you want to eat for dinner? I’ll make it for you,” she said gently.“I have a dinner appointment tonight.”Then, he left to get changed in the bedroom without another word.This did not annoy her. It was not unusual for the boss of a multinational business to be occupied with work.However, it was still important to maintain a good relationship between them.She cleaned up the table immediately and hurried off to get changed into work clothes too.When Shaun was about to leave the house, she quickly reappeared from her room with her purse.“Shaunny, can you give me a lift? I’m heading off to work as well. If it’s too much trouble, you can just drop me off at the subway station. Please.”He pursed his lips while thinking of refusing. However, he eventually nodded upon considering that he had enjoyed the breakfast she made today a lot. The two of them took the elevator to the parking lot.Catherine thought she would be getting into a Bentley or a Maybach, but when the man stopped by the side of a white Lexus…“Um… Is this your car?”“Yup.”He opened the door and sat down in the driver’s seat.Confused, she followed suit and entered the car. “Shaunny, why did you choose this car?”This man was supposed to be the heir of a multinational business, yet he was driving a car that was worth only a little over 300,000 dollars?“It’s cheap and fuel-efficient,” he simply replied while igniting the car.“You do know the best way to live, my exceptional husband.”She turned her head aside to find a packet of cheap tissue on the dashboard. Its packaging read ‘### Gas Station—cheapest and easiest.’“...”Catherine was confused.Did all successful bosses nowadays live frugally like this?Could it be possible that she was not treated well by the Jones because she had been spending lavishly instead of saving up like other successful bosses?She fell into deep thought as she pondered over this. Ten minutes later, the car came to a halt by the subway station. He turned to face her. “Off you go.”“...”She was speechless.She only said that out of politeness but he really did as told. Well, well, well.While suppressing the anger rising inside her, she forced a shy smile on her face. “Thanks, Shaunny.”The second she stepped out of the vehicle, the car sped away before she could say something else.What an annoying and cruel man!…She only arrived at the company around 9:00 p.m.Since returning from her studies abroad, she had been working at Summit Building Design Group. It was the Jones family’s biggest corporation.However, as soon as she stepped foot into the building, the project manager, James Lennon, said to her in a strange voice, “You don’t have to show up starting from today. This project doesn’t belong to you anymore.”“What do you mean?”James’ eyes sparkled when he spotted someone behind her. “Rebecca, here you are.”Catherine snapped her head around and saw Rebecca approaching their direction wearing a low-cut knitted white top. On her right was Ethan who was wearing a shirt of the same color. Their arms were linked together. The sunlight that streamed into the room through the window enveloped the two of them. They looked like a blissful couple in their matching outfits.