Chapter 1 I Don’t Want Your Money

The man was already asleep. His narrow eyes were fully closed.

Penny Sullivan endured the unspeakable soreness she felt and got out of bed. Her back, covered by her long hair, was bent into a beautiful arc. As Penny was about to pick up her clothes scattered on the ground, she heard a cold voice from behind her.

"How much do you want?"

His tone was emotionless, unlike the gentle voice he had after getting drunk yesterday.

Penny tightened her hands that were firmly grasping onto her clothes.

It sounded ridiculous to say that the husband to whom she has been married for three years did not know who she was.

Three years ago, she rescued Sir Fergerson just as her father's company, Sullivan Corporation, encountered difficulties in the first round of financing. After finding out the situation that she was in, Sir Fergerson proposed for her to marry his grandson, Caleb Fergerson. After that, he invested 300 million into Sullivan Corporation.

Caleb did not show up once and she only found out that he had gone abroad after she signed the marriage certificate.

Over the course of three years, she, the nominal ‘Mrs. Fergerson’, had become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.

Unexpectedly, the first time the two met was in bed.

"I don't want your money."

She put her clothes on. She was hungover, so her mind was in a blur. Furthermore, she had a headache like it was about to explode.

"If you don’t want money, are you trying to get together with me?"

Caleb smiled mockingly. His gaze was penetrating as he looked her up and down.

She had a white and small face and a figure that was just right. He thought that she had beautiful eyes and good looks but that was all.

‘She’s just another woman who throws herself at me. The only difference this time is that she succeeded.’

The man turned away and said, "I’ll pay you what you’re owed. However, don’t show up in front of me again."

‘Although I was drunk last night, I wouldn’t be so desperate to sleep with a woman. There must be something wrong with the glass of wine she handed me last night.’

Penny already got dressed. Last night, the Fergersons held a welcoming banquet for Caleb’s return. He returned to Imperial City and was about to take over the Fergerson Corporation.

Penny joined the banquet because Sir Fergerson had specifically invited her, even though he was abroad. Initially, she planned to show up and leave immediately afterward. However, before she could leave, her father brought her two glasses of wine.

He said that she should talk to Caleb since the latter had just returned.

They ended up sleeping together.

She was well aware of how much Caleb hated their marriage. How was she supposed to convince him that what happened last night was not what she had intended?

There was a hint of self-mockery in Penny's gaze and she kept silent for two seconds before she said, "Actually, I..."

The phone by the bed vibrated.

Caleb glanced over unhurriedly and saw that his personal lawyer was calling.

He put the call on loudspeaker and a respectful male voice said from the other end of the phone, "Mr. Fergerson, I have arrived at Ms. Sullivan’s apartment. She’s not at home. Should I send the divorce agreement to Sullivan Corporation?"

He stood up and walked toward the French windows. Standing in front of the windows, he looked at the river view with a frown. He did not have much of an impression of his wife whom he had been married to for three years.

He heard from Sir Fergerson that she was kind and not greedy. Furthermore, she was a top student who graduated from Imperial University. However, none of those meant anything to him.

The Sullivans had survived their previous financial crisis three years ago, and the Fergersons did not owe Penny any favors.

The man's voice was ruthless and cold. "Contact her to sign the divorce agreement. If she refuses, you can contact Sullivan Corporation..."

While Caleb was on the phone, Penny took out her phone to check if she missed any messages from work. She was stunned when she heard the words "divorce agreement". Her phone screen prompted a message from her father, Zane Sullivan.

[Penny, you left early last night? Susan asked me to ask you if Caleb drank that glass of wine.]

Penny lowered her head. [Didn't you prepare the wine?]

[Susan gave it to me. If you’re not busy with work today, go to the hospital to visit your sister. She said she misses you.]

Penny was pissed. It turned out that her stepmother, Susan, planned all this

When Zane saw that she did not respond, he dropped her another text. [What's wrong? The alcohol was too strong and you got drunk?]

He thought that she was suffering from a hangover and hurriedly asked her if she needed a hangover cure. His tone was full of concern for her.

Penny was angry at what Susan did, but she could not vent her anger. Her mother passed away when she was a child, and her father ran the family business by himself. He had played the roles of both a father and a mother all these years. This had been hard work for him.

Moreover, he remained single until she attended college.

She suppressed her helplessness. [No need for that. I'll go to visit Willow later. Please tell Susan that I appreciate her thoughtfulness.]

The conversation in front of the French windows continued and the topic eventually went to business.

She looked up and saw the light outside the window fall on the shoulders of the man. He was dressed in a white nightgown while adopting a relaxed posture.

He had his back to the light so she could not see the expression on his handsome face, but the lines of his side face looked extraordinarily cold and stern. It made him seem cold-hearted and unapproachable.

Penny put away her phone, opened the door, and walked out.

‘It’s fine since we’re going to get a divorce anyway. It would be awkward if he found out that he slept with his wife whom he hadn't met for three years.’

She thought it would be better for them to end this marriage peacefully.

Caleb hung up the phone as it was late. Moreover, there was a stranger in the room who he had not yet dealt with. He could not help but frown when he turned around and saw the empty room in front of him.

The bed sheet was a mess and half of it was on the floor. Meanwhile, his crumpled dress shirt was left at the foot of the bed.

The smell of sex and red wine filled the entire room.

He raised his hand to rub his temple. The stark red spot on the bed sheet reminded him that the woman he saw in the morning was not a hallucination.

There was a knock on the door and the voice of his secretary, Sebastian Quinn, came from outside. "Mr. Fergerson."

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Sebastian holding a brand-new suit. He was puzzled when he saw the scene in the room, but he did not ask any questions. After putting down Caleb’s clothes, he returned to the living room, respectful of Caleb’s privacy.

Meanwhile, Caleb went to the bathroom to take a shower, got dressed, and walked out.

Sebastian followed behind him and the two walked out the door. Caleb paused. Then, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Who was that person who came out of my room this morning?"