Chapter 1 Rush Into Marriage

"Isabella, here’s my bank card. The password is 131224. Use it to get anything you need in our house."

It had been hours. Isabella Jennings could still hear her newlywed husband’s words from that morning. He had handed her a bank card before leaving the house.

Truth be told, she knew very little about her husband.

Apart from his name—Quinn Ashton, which he had told her—she knew nothing else about him, not even his family background.

Isabella had no idea why she had been bold enough to marry a man she had only met twice.

Ten days ago, with her bestie Lila Beaumont’s help, Isabella agreed to another blind date after countless failed ones.

Isabella hadn't expected much. After all, after being framed three years ago, she was in no position to be choosy.

Because of this, she arrived fifteen minutes early for the blind date.

With her humble background, she knew she had to make a good impression in every other way.

If she could meet a suitable man and marry him, it would give her parents peace of mind.

Her blind date came right on time.

He was dressed in very formal attire, which made it clear that he took this blind date seriously. This gave Isabella a good first impression.

His first words were casual, yet polite, "Hello, Ms. Jennings, I'm Quinn Ashton."

It was a simple sentence, but his melodious voice made it sound sweet to Isabella, further improving her impression of him.

After a brief conversation, they exchanged phone numbers and parted ways politely.

After countless blind dates, Isabella didn't expect much from this one.

She thought it would end like all the others. Yet to her surprise, she received a call from Quinn two days later.

His voice remained courteous. "Ms. Jennings, are you free tonight?"

That evening, Quinn invited her to a restaurant known for its spicy cuisine.

Isabella felt a bit awkward and talked very little during the meal. She was somewhat reserved and didn't eat much.

While she was hesitating, trying to figure out an excuse to leave, Quinn suddenly said, "Ms. Jennings, I'm free next Wednesday. How about we get married that day?"

"What?" She was stunned by his words.

"I mean, let's get married," he repeated, his tone serious and earnest, leaving no hint of a joke.

"Get married?" Isabella, still in disbelief, quickly pinched her thigh to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Then, she looked at the man in front of her. Her gaze grew more serious than before.

Quinn had thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a well-defined face. Even in a crowd, his presence was striking—easily recognizable at a glance.

His look and attitude were extremely serious, and he did not appear to be the impulsive type. Yet, this was only their second meeting, and he was already talking about marriage.

Just as Isabella was processing his words, Quinn's low, mellow voice continued. "In my opinion, the purpose of blind dates is simple: people want to get married, have kids, and live what others consider a 'normal' life. At least, that's why I'm here. Don't you agree?"

"You’re right, but this is only our second meeting. Don't you think it's a bit too soon to talk about marriage?" Isabella replied, expressing her thoughts. She did intend to start a family, but she didn't want to be so hasty.

"It is a bit soon," Quinn said, his demeanor as calm as ever. "After our first meeting, I thought about it for two days. Ms. Jennings, you left a good impression on me, and I believe we’re compatible. I'd like to give it a go."

Isabella furrowed her brows slightly, a bit displeased. "To me, marriage is serious, not something to be taken lightly. ‘Give it a go?’ And if it doesn’t work out, what then...?"

Quinn interrupted, "We’re both adults, so we don't expect something as illusory as love, right? We both know exactly what we want."

Isabella remained silent, her gaze fixed on Quinn's face.

He appeared calm and reliable, seeming like the ideal choice for a husband.

Isabella thought, ‘Can I really trust him and spend the rest of my life with a man I've only met twice?’

"I'm not sure."

Noticing her hesitation, Quinn spoke again, his voice softer. "Maybe I rushed things and didn't consider your feelings. Ms. Jennings, if you consider me a decent man, take some time to think it over. I'll be waiting for your call."

That night, Isabella couldn’t stop thinking about it. She spent hours reflecting on the conversation with Quinn.

She realized that she and Quinn shared similar views, especially on the idea that love didn’t exist.

After her painful past with her ex, she has lost faith in the existence of love.

After a sleepless night, the next morning, Isabella called Quinn and agreed to his "proposal".

That morning, Isabella left home with her registration documents, and in the afternoon, she went to City Hall with Quinn to register for marriage.

As they walked out of the building with their marriage license, Isabella had an indescribable emotion.

Marriage, often said to be a woman's second life, now seemed so simple. They got a certificate just like that, and her life was marked by the exclusive bond with Quinn.

Yesterday, Isabella moved into Quinn's apartment.

That night, Quinn was a perfect gentleman. He let her have the master bedroom while he stayed in a separate room.

And today, before Quinn leaving for work, Isabella never expected that he would give her his bank card.

They barely know each other, so she couldn’t understand how he could trust her with all his money.

"Isabella, reporters from all the major media are waiting inside. The board of directors and the new CEO will be here soon. How can you be zoning out right now?"

Amelia Bennett, the manager of the Public Relations Department, interrupted Isabella's thoughts with a stern tone. Isabella hurriedly snapped out of her trance and straightened up. "Ms. Bennett, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Amelia looked at Isabella, her tone serious. "Isabella, although you're from the Sales Department, your manager assigned you here to assist the Public Relations team. Stay focused and don’t slow us down."

Isabella pursed her lips and nodded. "Ms. Bennett, it was my fault for being absent-minded. It won't happen again."

Amelia gave Isabella two more pointed looks before looking away. Then she clapped her hands and called over a few of her subordinates in charge of reception.

"Everyone, stay sharp. We must ensure the success of today's launch. No mistakes allowed." As Amelia spoke, her serious gaze swept over each staff member under her supervision.