Chapter 1

It was September in Espenia. The temperature had dropped due to the rain, but the heat soon returned.

Queenie Atkinson was overseeing the renovations of her new store. Just as she returned with some parts the workers needed, her stepmother, Stacy Stone, called.

"Queen, don't forget we're meeting tomorrow at 7:00 pm at Paladin Hotel."

"What? I'm busy with the store renovations. I can't leave." The noise of the construction was loud. Before Stacy could respond, Queenie hung up the phone.

Her sister, Joey Atkinson, had called her yesterday. Their half-brother, Mario Atkinson, and his girlfriend were expecting a baby. Before consenting to the marriage, his girlfriend's parents demanded they buy a new house in Espenia. Otherwise, they threatened to abort the baby and end the relationship.

Stacy knew that Cragtown's community leader's son had taken a liking to Queenie because she was a top student from a prestigious university. Hence, she had already accepted 600 thousand dollars worth of gifts from him.

She called Queenie to urge her to return for the marriage.

Hanson Atkinson, her father, was the driving force behind the idea. When Joey got married, Stacy demanded 300 thousand dollars, which she then used to buy Mario a car.

Joey's mother-in-law had always looked down on her because of this. Moreover, her husband was a mama's boy. Joey always felt like she had a miserable marriage.

Their parents turned a blind eye to her suffering to avoid having to return the money.

Now, they were repeating the same trick with Queenie, using her to get a larger amount of money to buy Mario a house. Of course, Queenie wasn't having it!

At that moment, Queenie's landlady, Maria Winslow, called and asked if she had considered the arranged date with her nephew.

This time, Queenie didn't hesitate. She answered, "Maria, I'll go. See you at the café soon."

She then hung up, informed the renovation workers, and hurriedly left.

She naively believed that if she got married, they couldn't extort money from her anymore.

Soon, Queenie arrived at a café in a five-star hotel in Espenia.

She spotted a handsome man in a suit sitting by the window at the entrance.

Judging by his sophisticated appearance, he must be Maria's nephew. He was a white-collar worker at a large company.

With the guidance of a waiter, Queenie approached his table and politely greeted him. "Hello, I'm Queenie Atkinson. We're supposed to meet for a date."

Upon hearing that, the man casually glanced at Queenie with his striking eyes. Queenie had a petite figure, and her hair was tied up in a cute bun.

In a simple white T-shirt, denim shorts, and white sneakers, she radiated an effortless charm, her innocence unmistakable.

Joshua Newman found himself puzzled. His family was among the world's elite. He wondered if his grandfather, Harry Newman, had decided to try something different by introducing him to Queenie after failing to find him a match among the socialites.

However, seeing Queenie's polite and gentle demeanor, Joshua courteously responded, "Have a seat."

Queenie sat across from Joshua. The waiter took her order for a cappuccino and left.

"Maria must have told you about my situation. My family is pressuring me to get married, but I don't want to. I'm here to find someone for a flash marriage. If you're not okay with that, it's fine."

After taking her seat, Queenie immediately expressed her intentions.

It was indeed annoying to get involved in an arranged marriage. Joshua was pleased with her straightforwardness.

"As long as you agree, I have no problem with it. Did you bring your documents? We can register our marriage right now."

Surprised by Joshua's readiness, Queenie quickly stopped him from getting up and asked again, "Are you sure?"

Queenie knew how difficult her father and stepmother were. If it weren't for Stacy forcing her to get married tomorrow, she wouldn't be rushing into this.

Meanwhile, Joshua wasn't fazed by the idea of a marriage. He simply wanted to settle the matter quickly and report back to Harry. Otherwise, Harry would threaten him again.

"Let's go. I'm busy and don't want to waste time." Joshua had squeezed this date into his schedule between two meetings.

Seeing his determination, Queenie didn't hesitate either. They went ahead and got their marriage certificate.

Walking out of the county clerk's office, Queenie, with the freshly issued certificate, looked at her husband's name and read aloud, "Joshua Newman?"

"Yeah," Joshua replied and glanced at her.

Queenie felt something off about that name but couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong.

Just then, Joshua's phone rang. It was Harry calling. He must have found out about the marriage registration.

But as soon as he answered, Harry's angry voice rang out, "You brat! How dare you stand me up again? Do I mean nothing to you?"

Confused, Joshua looked at Queenie. He had done exactly as he was told and got married to Queenie. He didn't know what he had done wrong now.

Chapter 2

While Joshua was on the phone, Maria called Queenie.

"Queenie, I was putting my grandson to sleep, and my phone was on silent mode. My nephew just called and asked where you were. He had been waiting for you at the café for half an hour."

Queenie's mind went blank when she heard that. Maria's nephew was still waiting for her at the café. Then, who did she marry?

No wonder Queenie felt something was off. She suddenly remembered Maria had mentioned before that her nephew's last name was Lawson, not Newman!

Queenie looked at Joshua in horror. She recalled Maria mentioning that her nephew worked as a white-collar professional at a large company and had an imposing presence. So, when she saw Joshua, she thought he matched Maria's description perfectly and didn't think twice.

She couldn't believe that she had married the wrong person!

"M-Maria..." Queenie didn't know how to explain it over the phone. Besides, nobody would believe her.

"Queenie, are you feeling shy?" Maria could sense Queenie's hesitation. She chuckled and comforted her, "I know you might feel embarrassed. But it's okay. It's just a meeting. Even if things don't work out, you can still be friends. Don't worry, I've explained your situation to him."

"It's not like that..." Queenie said, glancing at Joshua, who was looking back at her. "Maria, something urgent came up, and I can't make it right now. I'll explain later."

Queenie hastily hung up, a wave of mortification washing over her. She could have burrowed into the earth and never resurfaced. Steeling herself, she looked at Joshua and stammered, "Mr. Newman, I think I made a mistake. Why didn't you say anything?"

Joshua had assumed that after Harry's numerous failed attempts to match him with high-society women, he wanted to introduce him to someone different. He hadn't expected such a mix-up.

But even though it was a mistake, their goals had been met.

Thinking of this, Joshua looked at Queenie and calmly said, "Anyway, we have the same goals. But if this makes you uncomfortable, it's not too late to back out."

He was considerate of Queenie's feelings, but she needed a man who could marry her immediately. She really couldn't afford to wait. She didn't want her father and stepmother to ruin her life.

Before she could respond, her phone rang again. It was Joey.

"Queen, where are you? Dad has already accepted the Gills' money and said the wedding is all set back home. They're just waiting for you to come back." Joey sounded urgent. She was almost in tears.

Their mother passed away early, and Joey had always taken care of Queenie like a mother.

Queenie might have seriously considered divorcing Joshua if she hadn't received this phone call. After all, she was supposed to marry Maria's nephew.

However, Hanson had accepted the money without her consent and even planned to marry her off that night.

Queenie didn't owe anything to anyone except Joey, and she wasn't going to let her father and stepmother exploit her any longer.

"Jojo, don't worry. I'm married now. They can't force me anymore." Queenie briefly explained the situation to Joey and calmed her down before hanging up.

Joshua, who had overheard most of the conversation, could piece together Queenie's situation.

"No wonder you mentioned you're in quite some trouble. I can see you have no other options. Do you still want a divorce?"

Joshua was a businessman. He wasn't concerned about feelings in their relationship. What mattered most were their benefits.

"I haven't done anything wrong. Fate will favor me." Queenie's gaze held a resolute determination. Although she had married the wrong person, the man before her seemed decent. He didn't seem like he had any ill intentions.

"You're decisive." Joshua appreciated her cleverness and ability to assess the situation.

Since things were settled, they exchanged WhatsApp and phone numbers. Joshua then took a key from his pocket and handed it to Queenie. He said, "This is the key to my place. Do you know Fortune Estate? Move in as soon as you can."

"Alright." Queenie accepted the key, thinking this might actually work out well.

Firstly, her current lease was about to expire. It could save her from paying rent. Secondly, she wouldn't have to worry about her father and stepmother showing up at her door.

Chapter 3

After putting away Joshua's key and the marriage certificate, Queenie received a call from the renovation worker, asking her to buy some materials.

"Mr. Newman, I have to get back to my shop. There's something I need to take care of." Queenie ended the call, said goodbye to Joshua, and quickly made her way to the subway station.

Joshua wanted to offer to drive her, but she fled as fast as lightning. He didn't even have the chance to speak. Clearly, she was independent and used to managing things on her own without relying on others.

Both of them spent the entire day absorbed in their own affairs. Exhausted and overwhelmed by the renovation, Queenie didn't leave the shop until nearly 10:00 pm.

Out of habit, she returned to her rented apartment and stopped at the restaurant downstairs for a quick dinner. She had completely forgotten that she was married now.

Halfway through her meal, Queenie received a call from Joshua.

"Hello, Mr. Newman." As she answered, she suddenly remembered the marriage. She felt a wave of anxiety for having forgotten such an important thing.

"Where are you?" Joshua's calm voice came through the phone.

Since it was their first day as a married couple, Joshua had come home early, hoping to see if she needed any help.

However, after hours of waiting, Queenie didn't show up. He suspected she might have forgotten about their marriage.

Queenie had gotten married without even dating. She wasn't used to the fact that she had a husband now. Hence, she naturally returned to her rented apartment after closing the shop.

"Sorry, I... I just finished up at the shop. I'm heading back now." Queenie nearly slipped up. Worried that Joshua might be upset, she quickly corrected herself.

Joshua wasn't a fool. He could tell from her voice that she had forgotten about him and their marriage.

However, realizing that it was normal for her to forget, given how young and busy she was, he decided to be understanding. He patiently asked, "Where are you?"

"I'm at my rented place. It's a half-hour bike ride to Fortune Estate." Queenie quickly wiped her mouth. She was no longer in the mood to finish her food.

"Send me your location. Pack your things, and wait for me." Joshua briefly ordered and hung up the phone.

His sharp pronouncements and how he effortlessly took charge hinted at a man accustomed to wielding authority at work. Queenie inferred this and promptly sent Joshua her location before hurrying upstairs to pack her belongings.

Soon after, Joshua arrived.

Joshua drove an SUV with a spacious trunk, which easily accommodated Queenie's small electric scooter.

As they headed to Fortune Estate, Queenie felt a bit uneasy in the passenger seat. "Mr. Newman, thank you for coming to pick me up at such a late hour. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."

Joshua focused on the road while responding politely, "We're married. This is what I should do. It's not a bother, and you don't need to thank me."

This was normal for Joshua. Despite being from a wealthy family, the Newman men were known for being devoted and considerate husbands.

On the other hand, Queenie came from a different background. Her mother died shortly after she was born, so she never knew how her father treated her mother.

She grew up watching Hanson and Stacy arguing, sometimes even fighting.

Because of her experiences, Queenie never had much faith in marriage. Marrying Joshua was a last resort for her. She was ready to divorce him once her immediate problems were resolved.

Soon, they arrived at the townhouse at Fortune Estate, which Joshua had recently bought near his workplace.

After charging Queenie's electric scooter in the garage, Joshua led her to the penthouse on the sixth floor at Block Eight.

There was only one house on each floor. At the door, Joshua thoughtfully registered Queenie's fingerprint for the lock. "This way, you won't have to worry about forgetting your keys."

"Thank you." Queenie found Joshua more approachable than she thought.

Once inside, Joshua changed his shoes and entered the house. But Queenie seemed somewhat hesitant.

Joshua noticed Queenie's discomfort and reassured her, "This is your home now, too." With that, he picked up her small suitcase and walked toward the living room, giving her space to acclimate without feeling awkward.

His words warmed Queenie's heart. Regardless of the circumstances that brought them together, they were married now. Whatever the future held for their marriage, this place was now her home.

Chapter 4

Feeling slightly relieved, Queenie entered the house and took in her surroundings.

The penthouse was over 2,000 square feet, with three bedrooms and a small living room upstairs. The kitchen, dining room, main living room, and open balcony were downstairs.

Queenie had always dreamed of having a spacious balcony like this. Unfortunately, she never had the money to buy a house. Now, her impromptu marriage had unexpectedly granted her wish. She felt that fate was finally being kind to her.

Seeing Queenie linger on the balcony, Joshua said, "Your room is upstairs, on the right. It has a small balcony, so you get plenty of sunlight. I live alone, so feel free to get anything you need for the house."

As he spoke, Joshua handed Queenie a black bank card. "Use the money in this card for anything you need. Consider it our household expenses."

Queenie stared at the card. They had just met, and taking his money didn't feel right. But since he mentioned it was for household expenses, she accepted it.

Taking the card, Queenie sensibly said, "Normal couples usually keep track of their household expenses. We should do the same."

Joshua thought it wasn't necessary. Money was just a number to him, and he believed it was only fitting for her to spend his money since they were married.

However, from their brief interaction, he could tell that Queenie valued her independence and didn't like to trouble others. Hence, he wanted to respect her in every decision she made.

Still, Joshua was reluctant to reveal too much of himself to Queenie for now. After all, they had both rushed into marriage and were still unfamiliar with each other.

Besides, he wasn't sure how long their marriage could last.

They both only got married because of their families. If Queenie wanted a divorce after everything was settled, he wouldn't stop her. Hence, he thought it was unnecessary to tell her too much.

"As long as you don't find it troublesome, do whatever you think is best," Joshua said after pondering briefly.

"Alright then. It's getting late. We can discuss the details tomorrow." Queenie was exhausted from her long day. With that, she wanted to take her luggage to her room.

Of course, as a man, Joshua wouldn't let her carry the suitcase herself.

"I'll take it." Before Queenie could move, Joshua quickly grabbed her suitcase and carried it to her room. "This is your room from now on. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you. Thank you very much," Queenie said sincerely. Without a doubt, Joshua was the most gentlemanly man she had ever met.

Queenie slept soundly through the night.

She would have slept longer if it hadn't been for the incessant calls from the renovation workers.

She answered the phone, only to be told to bring a box of thumbtacks when she came by. She acknowledged the request and quickly got up to wash up.

After washing up in the bathroom with a separate wet and dry area, Queenie came out of her room, still in her nightgown. She was about to go to the kitchen to make breakfast.

It was already past eight, and the house was quiet. So, she assumed Joshua had gone to work.

With that thought in mind, Queenie headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what ingredients were available for breakfast. However, the fridge was nearly empty.

After a moment of hesitation, she used what was left to make herself a ham and egg sandwich. She also boiled some water, intending to let it cool for later consumption.

She walked out of the kitchen, eating her sandwich.

Just then, she ran into Joshua, who was coming downstairs.

Seeing Joshua fresh from a shower, Queenie was surprised. "Mr. Newman, you're still here? I thought you'd gone to work."

Upon hearing Queenie's question, Joshua sized her up. Frowning, he looked away, walked past her into the kitchen, and said faintly, "It's a Saturday."

After graduating from university, Queenie didn't have regular jobs. She had used her savings from part-time jobs to open a small shop, so she didn't keep track of weekdays.

Upon realizing her mistake, Queenie was about to ask Joshua if he wanted breakfast. But she saw him casually taking out a couple of slices of bread and starting to eat. While munching, he said, "It's getting cooler now that it's autumn. You should wear a robe when you come out of your room."

Queenie looked down at herself. She was so used to living alone and never wearing a bra at home.

Her face flushed red with embarrassment. She quickly retreated upstairs with her sandwich and shouted, "I got it!"

Watching her scurry away like a startled deer, Joshua rubbed his temples. It was too late to regret it now. He would just have to get used to it.

Chapter 5

Queenie came out of her bedroom after getting dressed but never saw Joshua again. Unsure he had left or was still in his room, she decided not to disturb him and headed out to her shop.

When she arrived at the shop, Joey showed up with her less-than-one-year-old son, Jackson Harris.

Joey's worried expression only eased when she saw Queenie. She said, "Thank goodness you're okay."

Noticing her nephew asleep in Joey's arms, Queenie quickly took the baby to ease her burden.

She felt a pang of guilt as she saw Joey's concerned and tired face. She reached out to pull Joey aside to talk, but Joey suddenly winced in pain.

Startled, Queenie asked, "Jojo, what's wrong?" She didn't even pull her that hard.

Quick to react, Queenie didn't wait for an explanation. She sat Joey down and immediately rolled up her sleeves.

Although it was already autumn, the weather was still hot in Espenia. People were still wearing short sleeves and skirts on the street. Joey was afraid of the heat and would never wear long sleeves in such weather unless she was hurt.

Sure enough, as Queenie rolled up Joey's sleeves, she saw the dark purple bruises on her arm.

"Jojo, what happened?" Queenie's heart ached at the sight of several distinct marks indicating Joey had been beaten. "Did he hit you again?"

Joey quickly pulled her arm back and rolled her sleeve down. She stubbornly shook her head. "No, I just bumped into something. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Queenie knew Joey well. She rarely shared her problems with someone else, and even after Queenie noticed the bruises, she still denied them.

"Jojo, are you just going to keep enduring this? What happened this time?" Queenie felt utterly sad. Joey was like her mother. She couldn't bear to see Joey's in-laws treat her this way.

She had repeatedly wanted to confront Joey's in-laws, but Joey always stopped her. She said it would only make things worse.

More importantly, Joey still had to live with them. They were both too weak to fight back against Joey's in-laws. They might even give Joey a harsher treatment.

This time, Joey's mother-in-law got wind of Hanson and Stacy demanding 600 thousand dollars for Queenie's marriage. They began judging Joey for this.

Not wanting to burden Queenie with her problems, Joey changed the subject. "You told me yesterday that you got married. Is that true? You're not just making that up to make me feel better, are you?"

"Jojo, come on!" Queenie knew Joey would never fill her with negative thoughts. Right now, her marriage was the only thing that could comfort Joey.

Hence, she told Joey about everything that had happened yesterday. After listening to her story, Joey grew even more concerned. "So, you don't know this person at all? Isn't that even riskier?"

"At least he's not one of those men from Stacy's village. Plus, he's steady, accommodating, and even gave me money!"

Queenie suddenly remembered and took out the black card Joshua had given her last night from her bag.

Joey felt reassured after seeing the card and said, "I've only seen these black cards with gold edges online. It must be for VIP clients. He must be wealthy."

Queenie didn't care much about that. Putting the card away, she responded, "No matter how much money he has, it's all premarital assets. I'll keep track of every cent I spend on this card. I don't want anyone thinking I'm taking advantage."

Queenie had seen too many marriages ruined over money. Her father used to squabble over every dollar for snacks, and Joey was once scolded by her husband for giving Queenie 100 dollars as pocket money. Hence, Queenie became sensitive to money.

Joey agreed with Queenie's approach. No matter why they got married, they couldn't let their spouse look down on them because of money. Otherwise, life would just get harder, like it had for Joey.

"Do you know what he does for a living? He lives in such a nice place and even gave you his card," Joey asked, looking at Queenie. Have you checked how much money is on the card?"

Queenie shook her head and answered, "I don't want to pry into his personal affairs, and checking his balance feels disrespectful. I'll use it as little as possible. I have my own money. Jojo, make sure you keep the money I gave you last time. Don't let them know about it."

Joey nodded. She was relieved that Hanson and Stacy hadn't traded Queenie for money.