Chapter 1 Do You Want to Get Married?

At a high-end restaurant in Ylosea, Callie Marsh was on a blind date arranged by her mother.

After she waited for half an hour, her date hadn't been there yet. A trace of annoyance began to appear on her delicate face.

Finally, about ten minutes later, a man in a grey suit approached her slowly.

"Hello, are you Miss Callie Marsh?"

"Yes," Callie replied, her expression slightly displeased as she looked at the short and chubby man in front of her. Was this the so-called "super handsome guy" her mom had mentioned?

"I'm Isaias Lambert."

He pulled out a chair and sat across from her, scrutinizing her face intently before breaking into a wide smile, clearly satisfied with what she looked like.

"I know you're in a difficult situation. As for my expectations, I don't demand much from a wife. After we got married, you simply need to be a good housewife. I'll manage all financial responsibilities. By the way, I have two children, and you'll need to care for them, as well as my parents."

"Stop, Mr. Lambert." Callie interrupted him, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we're right for each other."

Isaias' expression changed immediately at her words.

"Miss Marsh, I run a company. If you marry me, you won't have to worry about money at all..." Isaias talked more about himself.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lambert, but I've made myself clear. We are not suitable for each other."

"You'll regret this!" Isaias didn't press further but stood up and left abruptly.

'You're about the same age as my dad. What makes you think I'd marry you?' Callie thought to herself but didn't say out loud.

She rubbed her temples as she sat there. She shouldn't have trusted her mother.

Though she had missed half a day of work, Callie didn't leave right away. Instead, she stayed seated to watch the scene unfolding at the next table.

Another blind date was taking place there. Unlike Isaias, the man sitting over there was dressed in a black suit, his face strikingly handsome to the point of perfection. His every move exuded elegance.

The woman across from him gazed at him with adoration.

"Mr. Oconnor, how about we have our wedding in Ireland? We could invite lots of guests..."

The man lowered his eyes, his voice indifferent. "Sorry, I'm not interested in you. You can leave."

The woman's smile froze.

"Mr. Oconnor, this is only our first date, so there's no rush to get married. You can take your time getting to know me better. I'm actually a really nice person..."

Nelson looked up and remarked casually, "I don't like women with too much Botox in their face."

Callie almost spat out the tea she was drinking when she heard that.

What an excuse!

The woman stormed off angrily after Nelson's blunt comment. With the show over, Callie grabbed her bag and was about to leave quietly when a magnetic voice called out.

"Callie."

She stiffened and turned around to greet the man with a polite smile.

"Mr. Oconnor."

Nelson looked up at her. "Enjoying the show?"

"No..." Realizing she had been caught, Callie quickly corrected herself. "I wasn't watching."

"Sit down."

Hearing his command, Callie reluctantly sat opposite him, carefully observing the extraordinary man in front of her.

Nelson Oconnor, the CEO of Ylosea's largest company, the Oconnor Group, was only twenty-six and already worth billions.

And Callie? She was just one of the most ordinary office workers in Ylosea, a mere junior designer at Oconnor Group.

She was just one of the thousands of employees at Oconnor Group. So, in theory, Nelson shouldn't have had any reason to know her.

But three years ago, when Nelson had just taken over the Oconnor Group, during an inspection of the design department, he had approached Callie among the numerous designers and asked, "What's your name?"

Callie had stammered out her name.

Though she was ordinary, her stunning face made her stand out among her fellow designers. Even within the entire company, she was considered one of the most beautiful. Back then, the whole design department had thought Nelson had taken a liking to her.

Callie found that hard to believe. And as expected, despite working at the same company for three years, they had no further interaction. She could count on one hand the number of times she had seen him in the past three years.

Actually, Callie had already noticed him out of the corner of her eye when she first arrived, but she hadn't dared to say hello. She assumed he wouldn't remember someone as insignificant as her, which was why she felt comfortable sitting there casually and watching the show. But who would have known...

"Mr. Oconnor, if you have nothing else..."

Callie tried to break the silence and leave, but as soon as she started to speak, Nelson gazed at her intently and asked, "Do you want to get married?"

Chapter 2 She Married Her Boss

Callie was dumbstruck by his question.

It seemed she wasn't the only one who had been watching the scene unfold. Nelson had been observing her the entire time as well.

After a moment, she nodded stiffly. She regretted having stayed to see her boss' personal affairs when she heard his cold voice again.

"Callie, how about you marry me?"

Callie's expression froze instantly. She looked up at the man before her, shocked, and stammered, "Mr. Oconnor, what... what did you say?"

She thought she must be hallucinating.

"I said, marry me," Nelson repeated impatiently, his handsome face serious. Clearly, he wasn't joking.

It took Callie a while to piece her thoughts together.

"Mr. Oconnor, why me?"

Even if he wasn't interested in the previous woman, with his status, he could have any woman he desired.

Could it be that Nelson had secretly harbored feelings for her all these years? And this blind date was just a setup to run into her?

But no, she was overestimating herself.

Nelson looked out the window and explained in a cold tone, "My grandfather is very ill. The doctors say he has at most six months left. His greatest wish is to see me settled down. I lied to him, saying I have a girlfriend and am about to get married."

Callie listened carefully, but the question still lingered: why had Nelson chosen her?

Noticing her confusion, Nelson picked up his cup of tea, took a sip, and explained, "You're an employee of the Oconnor Group. You fit the role perfectly."

Suddenly, Callie understood. It was all for a fake relationship, a fake marriage, just to fulfill his grandfather's wish.

Though Nelson was exceptional in every way, Callie knew they were from completely different worlds. She didn't want to get involved in this complicated situation and started thinking of a polite way to decline without jeopardizing her job.

But then Nelson added, "If you marry me, I'll cover all your father's medical expenses."

Callie clenched her fists at his words.

Her father got into a car accident three years ago, and had been in a vegetative state ever since. She had been struggling to pay for his medical bills all these years.

How did Nelson even know about this? Before Callie could figure it out, the man in front of her offered an even more tempting proposal.

"I can also arrange the best medical team for your father."

Callie felt her resolve wavering.

Her eyes brightened, and she quickly changed her mind. Even if it meant a fake marriage, it would bring her no harm but benefits.

"Mr. Oconnor, it's a deal."

Nelson didn't say anything more. He simply grabbed his coat and stood up.

"Go home and get your passport. We'll get the marriage certificate now."

"Now?"

Callie was shocked. But seeing the cold determination in Nelson's gaze, she quickly nodded.

"Okay."

Nelson drove Callie to her house, located in an old neighborhood on the outskirts of town. No one was home, so she quickly grabbed her passport and left.

Everything happened so fast.

As they walked out of the city hall with their marriage certificate, Callie felt a bit dazed. Looking at the tall, impeccably dressed man beside her…

She realized that she had just gotten married—to her boss!

Chapter 3 Her Husband Is a Calculating Businessman

Nelson clearly didn't want to waste any more time. He shot her a quick, indifferent look with his sharp eyes. "My villa is in the Paucaster Villa complex. I'll send you the address and access code later. You can move in tonight."

"...Okay."

If they were going to put on a convincing act, they needed to be believable. Plus, she had been wanting to move out of her current place for a long time, so this arrangement didn't bother her.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet my grandfather." It was tough for him to accept that his grandfather only had six months left to live, but he forged on. "After six months, we'll get a divorce. During that time, your only responsibility is to keep my grandfather happy."

"And don't get any other ideas," he added.

Callie knew exactly what he meant. He was making it clear that she shouldn't expect to stay Mrs. Oconnor forever.

"I understand. And about my father..."

Nelson checked his watch. "I'll have someone take care of that right away."

"Thank you, Mr. Oconnor."

Without another word, he hopped into his sleek black Rolls-Royce and zoomed off.

Leaving her in the dust right after they got the marriage certificate—so typical of that cold, calculating businessman.

Callie sighed and glanced at the only two coins left in her hand. To save a buck, she decided to take the bus.

When Callie got home, she could hear her mother's voice through the thin, poorly insulated door even before she opened it.

"Joaquin, don't worry. Isaias is very interested in your sister. No matter what, I'll make sure she ties the knot with him. Then we'll have enough cash for your wedding with Ximena, and maybe even enough for a new house."

Selling off her daughter to fund her son's wedding—her mother was truly something else.

Callie opened the door and walked in, immediately catching the attention of her mother and brother, who were sitting on the sofa.

Her mother didn't miss a beat. "Isaias is absolutely smitten with you. I know you've got your doubts, but he's got a lot going for him. Yeah, he's older, but he's super thoughtful! And hey, you wouldn't even have to have kids if you marry him, you know…"

Callie rolled her eyes. Was being a stepmother supposed to be some great honor? She interrupted her mother.

"I don't know who's going to marry him, but it certainly won't be me."

Her mother banged her hand on the table and shouted angrily, "Callie, you will marry him! I'm your mother, and and it's up to me who you marry!"

Callie pulled out the marriage certificate from her bag and smiled. "I'm already married. Bigamy is illegal, you know."

Her mother rushed towards her. "Married? Callie, who did you marry..."

Just as her mother reached for the certificate, Callie quickly tucked it back into her bag and tossed her passport onto the table.

She had zero plans of telling her mother that she had married the CEO of Oconnor Group. Instead, she said casually, "Oh, just a waiter I met at a restaurant. Remember how you wanted me to get married soon and move out? Well, congratulations, your wish came true."

"You, you, you..." Her mother clutched her chest in fury. "Callie, are you trying to give me a heart attack!"

Ignoring her, Callie went to her room and began packing her belongings.

A few minutes later, after calming down, her mother followed her into the room.

"Callie, I don't care who you married. But your brother and Ximena are planning their wedding now. As his sister, you need to help out!"

"I don't have any money."

Her mother grabbed her hand. "Then you need to get a divorce and marry Isaias! This family has supported you all these years, and as the big sister, you need to think of your little brother."

Callie's eyes turned cold as she yanked her hand away.

"All these years, it was Dad who supported me. After his accident, I had to work while studying to pay for my college tuition. When did you ever support me?"

She shot a sharp glance at her brother, who was leaning against the door, taking in the whole scene. "And honestly, I'm not even part of this family. I don't owe anything to this so-called brother of mine."

Callie had been in a car accident when she was twelve and had lost all her memories.

She was adopted by Reuben Marsh, who had worked at the hospital. Over the years, Callie never felt close to her mother or brother—only to her father...

Chapter 4 Were You Just Giving Me a Resentful Look?

Callie didn't have much to pack. After finishing, she called a taxi and left with her suitcase, despite her mother's curses and attempts to stop her.

She arrived at the Paucaster Villa Complex around seven o'clock and immediately felt lost.

Nelson hadn't sent her the specific address or access code as he had promised earlier.

Callie figured he must have forgotten.

Without Nelson's phone number, she had no choice but to wait at the entrance.

Even though night was approaching, the August heat was still oppressive. Growing more frustrated, Callie considered marching to Oconnor Group to find Nelson, but she knew that with her low status, she wouldn't even get a glimpse of the formidable CEO.

About an hour later, a black Rolls-Royce slowly approached the villa entrance.

Having squatted for so long, Callie struggled to stand with her numb legs, so she waved and called out, "Mr. Oconnor, Mr. Oconnor..."

Hearing her voice, Nelson finally stopped the car.

He was a bit surprised to see her sitting on the ground.

"Why are you here?"

Callie was fuming inside but dared not show it. She forced a smile as she slowly got up, holding onto the wall for support.

"Mr. Oconnor, you didn't send me the exact address or access code. Where else would I be?"

"Sorry, I had a meeting this afternoon and forgot," Nelson explained, then told her to get in the car.

"By the way, were you just giving me a resentful look?"

Callie dared not complain, so she bit her tongue and simply loaded her suitcase into the car. After a brief two-minute drive, they arrived in front of a standalone villa.

She followed Nelson inside with her suitcase as he shared the access code while opening the door.

The living room was decorated in cool tones, minimalist yet exuding luxury in every detail.

"You'll stay in the room on the left on the second floor. My bedroom and study are on the right. Don't enter them without my permission, and don't move anything around."

"Understood, Mr. Oconnor." Callie nodded. There were many rules, but compared to living with her mother and Joaquin, she preferred staying with Nelson, even though he could be a bit annoying.

With her father's medical bills no longer a concern, Callie thought she could save up enough in six months to make a down payment on a small apartment in Ylosea.

Thinking about her brighter future, Callie happily carried her suitcase up the stairs.

She had just finished unpacking when she heard a knock on her door.

Callie opened it and saw Nelson, now dressed in casual clothes, standing there. He handed her a document, his expression indifferent.

"These are my preferences. Memorize them tonight so you don't slip up in front of my grandfather tomorrow."

Callie nodded, taking the document while inwardly grumbling about how tough life in a mansion could be.

"What about my preferences? Do you need to know them?"

"No need."

With that cold response, Nelson turned and left.

He already knew everything about her.

Callie closed the door and returned to her room to read the document Nelson had given her. It detailed all his likes and dislikes in food, even down to the sizes of his undergarments!

After skimming through it, she took a shower and sent a message to her supervisor, requesting a day off.

She planned to visit her father after accompanying Nelson to see his grandfather, so she figured she might as well take the day off. As expected, her strict supervisor was furious.

"Callie, you didn't show up for work this afternoon and now you want tomorrow off too? I'm telling you, I won't approve it. If you don't come in tomorrow, you'll lose your attendance bonus!"

Callie's heart sank. The attendance bonus at Oconnor Group was a substantial one thousand dollars.

Money was her lifeline.

But she had no choice but to accompany Nelson to visit his grandfather tomorrow.

Chapter 5 Your Boyfriend is So Good to You

The next morning, Callie woke up early.

Her room's walk-in closet was spacious and luxurious, making her small collection of inexpensive clothes look out of place.

She finally settled on a dress she had bought last year and applied some simple makeup.

When she went downstairs, Nelson was already waiting on the sofa.

Without exchanging any words, they left the villa together.

Callie looked at his face and cautiously said, "I took the day off to accompany you to see your grandfather, which means I'll lose my attendance bonus this month."

"It's only a thousand dollars," Nelson replied dismissively.

To a wealthy man like Nelson, a thousand dollars was insignificant, but for Callie, it was nearly enough to cover a month's living expenses. Just as she was feeling down, Nelson's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Make my grandfather happy today, and I'll cover the attendance bonus for you."

Callie's eyes lit up immediately at his words.

Soon, the car stopped—not at the hospital, but at a shopping mall. Confused, Callie asked, "Aren't we going to see your grandfather?"

Nelson glanced at her dress and replied sharply, "Dressed like that? My grandfather would think the Oconnor Group is on the brink of bankruptcy if even my wife is wearing such shabby clothes."

Callie was left speechless.

Shabby? This was a knockoff of one of the best-selling dresses from this year's S Fashion Week!

But Callie didn't dare to argue and quietly followed Nelson into a high-end boutique. Nelson casually picked out a few dresses as he walked through the store and handed them to Callie.

"Try these on."

Callie took the clothes with trembling hands and walked to the fitting room, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

She checked the tags and saw that even the least expensive dress cost over ten thousand dollars—equivalent to her monthly salary. It was her first time wearing such expensive clothing, so she was extremely cautious.

After trying on most of the dresses, the "sugar daddy" on the sofa still seemed dissatisfied.

Exhausted, Callie pinned her hopes on the last light cyan dress.

The store clerk smiled and complimented her, "Miss, your boyfriend has excellent taste. This dress suits you perfectly."

Nelson looked up from his phone at the compliment.

He glanced at Callie, who was admiring herself in the mirror. From his angle, he could see her slender waist.

Callie turned around with a faint smile on her fair face and asked, "Is this one okay?"

"Yes."

Nelson stood up, selected a few pairs of shoes for her, and then instructed the clerk, "Wrap up the one she's wearing, along with all the dresses she tried on earlier."

The clerk was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, "Yes, of course! Miss, your boyfriend is so good to you."

Callie, usually quite confident, now blushed slightly. She tugged on Nelson's sleeve shyly. "There's no need to buy all of them. The one I'm wearing is enough."

Nelson frowned and shot her a cold look. "Are you planning to wear the same dress every time we visit my grandfather?"

Once again, Callie found herself at a loss for words.

After Nelson paid, they headed to a jewelry store on the first floor.

Before Callie fully realized what was happening, Nelson had already selected a pair of wedding rings. He handed her the woman's ring and put the other on his own finger.

They barely exchanged a word the entire time.

While Nelson was paying, Callie waited at the entrance and overheard the store clerks whispering, "Oh my, they look so good together!"

"They do, but her boyfriend doesn't love her. He chose the ring so carelessly, and didn't even bother to put it on her finger himself."

Callie's lips twitched. Their guess was... quite accurate.

Chapter 6 Call Me Nelson

The two left the mall and headed to the hospital.

When they got out of the car, Nelson took several gifts for his grandfather from the trunk.

Seeing Callie just standing there in a daze, he said impatiently, "Let's go."

Callie snapped out of it and followed him.

"Nervous?"

Nelson had already noticed that she didn't look as at ease as before, but she denied it stubbornly. "Nonsense, who's nervous?"

Of course, Callie was lying to herself.

Although she had been in relationships before, she had never met their family, let alone someone as prestigious as old Oconnor. It was the first time she faced such a big moment in her life!

In the elevator, Callie couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Oconnor, is your grandfather scary?"

"Not at all," Nelson replied calmly, then added, "Call me Nelson."

"Huh?"

"I told Grandpa that I have been with my girlfriend for two years already."

Callie understood. How could a couple of two years still address each other this formally?

"Fine, Nelson."

Callie adapted quickly, her eyes were twinkling.

"Mr. Oconnor, you're four years older than me. They say every three years means a significant gap, so there's a considerable divide between us. To make us feel closer, how about I call you Nelly? What do you think?"

Hearing this, Nelson's eyes instantly turned cold as he spat out three words, "Not a chance."

Just then, the elevator arrived on their floor, and Nelson had walked out already.

Callie was baffled. It was just a title, why was he so upset? Being around him was like being around a tiger, it sure was difficult!

Nelson stopped in front of the ward, and waited for Callie to reach his side, then he took her hand in a natural way.

Callie stiffened slightly, but Nelson had already opened the door and walked in.

Inside the room, Old Oconnor was playing chess with Jamison on the balcony. Seeing them, the old man immediately stood up.

"Nelson, you're here!"

His gaze fell on Callie. Nelson had already told him about the marriage the night before. The old man then asked with a loving smile, "You must be Callie."

"Yes, Grandpa, I'm Callie Marsh."

"Come, please sit," the old man said, pulling her to the sofa to sit down.

Nelson put down the bags of gifts and said, "These are all from Callie."

"Thank you for being so considerate," Old Oconnor said with a smile. "I heard you and Nelson have been together for two years. This boy, he kept it from me all this time and never brought you to meet me."

Nelson had already instructed Callie on how to respond before they came here. She glanced at Nelson and smiled. "Grandpa, Nelson had always wanted to bring me to meet you, but I kept refusing. You know, I'm only a junior designer at Oconnor Group..."

Hearing this, the old man took her hand solemnly. "In the Oconnor family, we don't care about your background. You don't need to feel pressured. As long as you love each other, we, the elders, will not say a word."

Callie looked at Nelson who was sitting beside her. "Yes, Nelson said the same thing."

Her bright, sweet smile suddenly left Nelson in a daze for a brief moment. He reached out and patted her head affectionately.

Upon seeing this, the old man's smile deepened.

Old Oconnor was indeed easy to get along with, and Callie soon felt less nervous than before. After some small talk, she stayed with the old man to play chess.

Halfway through, her phone rang.

"Grandpa, I need to take this call. Nelson will keep you company."

"Of course."

After Callie left, Nelson sat in her place. The old man looked at him seriously and asked, "Nelson, did you marry Callie because of Maeve?"

Callie did bear a striking resemblance to Maeve.