Chapter 4

Jessica woke up in the hospital again. This scene was becoming too familiar to her. She immediately jerked up from the bed. She heard voices outside the door and footsteps approaching.

The door opened, and three men walked in: the doctor, a tall man with a striking figure, and an average-sized man who stood behind the tall one.

Jessica looked at the tall, elegant man; he was oddly familiar. His extremely handsome face was masked in a cold and vicious aura. He had a height of at least 6'3 and wore a well-tailored blue suit that outlined his muscular yet slender body. With his natural dark hair and cold blue eyes, he gave off an impeccable aura.

He must have been the person who brought her to the hospital because he had been the last person she saw before drifting into unconsciousness. But that was not the only place she had seen him. She racked her brain, trying to remember where she had seen the strange man before.

"She is awake already. I told you she wouldn't take long to regain consciousness," the doctor looked over at the tall man as he went towards Jessica, checking her vitals.

Jessica locked eyes with the tall, elegant man. There was something cold about the way his eyes pierced into hers that made her quite uneasy.

"She's perfectly fine right now and free to go, Mr. Justin," the man nodded to the doctor who left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Justin? That name did ring a bell," Jessica thought, but still couldn't quite place it. Perhaps if she got a last name, it might all make sense.

"Sorry, but please, do I know you from anywhere? And why did you save me?" Jessica needed clarity on what was going on.

The man folded his arms behind his back, his gaze not leaving hers.

"I am Justin Hemsworth. I have known you for quite some time now," he said coldly.

That was it! Hemsworth! It all made sense now! He was "the Justin Hemsworth," Nicholas' older stepbrother who had been missing and presumed dead by every member of his family! She had seen a large portrait of him at Nicholas' family house several times. Nicholas' grandmother's favorite grandchild. The realization hit Jessica like a ton of bricks. How had she gone from facing one Hemsworth to another in the same day?

"Today must be my very lucky day!" she muttered sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"What was that?" he asked.

Jessica forgot she muttered those words out loud. She swallowed hard; this particular Hemsworth looked so mean and difficult, unlike his cheating brother.

"Nothing," she shook her head, "you said you have known me for a while now. How is that even possible?"

He furrowed his brows, giving her a surprising look. "It is impossible not to know who my brother almost got married to. Even though I didn't plan on attending the wedding, it didn't stop me from running a background check on you."

Jessica felt stupid to have asked that kind of question; of course, he should know who she was, being Nicholas' brother.

"Thank you for everything. I will take care of the medical bills," Jessica took her bag from the table and walked towards the door.

"Are you really sure you can do that?" Justin's words stopped her in her tracks. She spun around.

"What do you mean?"

"I know everything, Jessica. I know about your medical license being revoked. I know about the compensation fees you have a deadline to pay. I know every single thing about you, so I ask again..." He looked at her with arched brows. "Are you really sure you can do that?"

Jessica hated how arrogant and cold he sounded. Who did he think he was, running a background check on her like that?

"Mr. Justin, I don't understand why you think it is okay to invade people's privacy like that. Was it really necessary to run a background check on me?" Jessica's anger was gradually rising as she spoke.

Justin stared into space as he clenched his fist. "It is not about you, Jessica. It is about something else, someone else, actually." He looked up at her, narrowing his gaze. "Someone I must destroy."

Jessica was stunned at the revelation. "Someone you must destroy? What does that have to do with me?"

"We share a common enemy. Nicholas did me wrong just as much as he did you wrong, and I plan to make him suffer." Justin's jaw clenched tightly as he stared long and hard at the wall.

"Why? What did he do?" Jessica wanted to get more information. What could have happened between brothers who haven't seen each other in three years? Shouldn't this be a great reunion, a moment of joy and shared happiness? She was so confused by all he was saying without even mincing words.

"I have a proposition for you," he walked towards the window and stared outside. Jessica stared at his back, which was turned towards her, waiting to hear what proposition he meant.

"Let's get into a contract marriage," he said without mincing words.

"What?" Jessica couldn't believe her ears. Was he actually being serious?

"This has got to be a big joke! and clearly, I don't have time for this!" She spun around to leave.

"5 million dollars a month," Justin turned around, facing her. She had her back to him, but she wasn't moving. His words had managed to stop her, again. She thought about it for a moment. Was he really serious? Even if he was, was she ready to face all that would come with getting married to him?

She shook her head and turned around to look at him. "I can't do it."

"You can't or you won't?" he arched his brows. "Think about this for a moment, Jessica. You would finally be able to get your revenge against Nicholas. You would be able to make him pay for leaving you for your cousin. Doesn't the idea of seeing him suffer and fall to his knees after what he has done to you excite you?" He gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes and stared blankly into space. "He would have to address you as his older brother's wife. Nothing will break him more than that."

Jessica pondered on his words. The idea of getting a bittersweet revenge against Nicholas sounded like melodious music to her ears. Five million dollars was also a huge amount of money.

Getting that every month would help keep her sustained for a long time, and she would be able to take care of all the bills lined up waiting for her. She could take good care of her mother and even start something for herself, since her career in the medical field was now as good as dead.

Jessica's gaze met Justin's menacing one. "I would need time to think about it at least and weigh my options."

"24 hours, that is all I can give you. I am not forcing you to do anything. It has to be entirely your choice. I will have a contract drafted within that time. If you accept, here's my card..." He tilted his head towards Kelvin, his assistant who had been standing behind him all this while. Kelvin immediately brought out Justin's complimentary card and handed it over to Jessica. "...Come and meet me at this address."

Justin left the hospital room with his assistant, Kelvin, as Jessica stared at their retreating figures, pondering on what her final decision would be.