Chapter 2 The Secret Marriage Agreement

• “Aurelia! If you dare to leave, don't ever think of coming back home!” Luna watched in shock as Aurelia walked away without a second thought, her temples throbbing in anger. Aurelia is acting so out of character today!
• “How dare she! Hubby, what do we do now?” Luna's eyes reddened with anger as she anxiously looked at Gideon.
• With a serious expression, Gideon looked in the direction where Aurelia had gone.
• His face turned cold when he saw Aurelia leave the hospital without looking back. “She doesn't have any money on her. She can't go far. She'll come back tomorrow, admit her mistakes, and return to the hospital to continue the blood draw.”
• “Argh! She's just too disobedient! Even if she comes back to apologize tomorrow, we can't forgive her easily. We absolutely mustn't indulge her anymore.” Every time Luna thought of Aurelia, who had left without apologizing earlier, she would get an unbearable headache.
• “Mom, don't be angry. It's bad for your health. Aurelia probably will come back tonight,” Melanie said, a spark of hope twinkling in her eyes. Aurelia has no choice but to donate blood to me! The greater the temper she displays now, the more humble she'll have to be later! This time, I'm determined to make her understand that in the Leedon family, I, Melanie, am the most important! The entire family cares about me. So what if she is their biological daughter?
• After leaving the hospital, Aurelia rummaged through her bag and promptly made a call on her phone.
• Her hands were slightly trembling, but she had to make this decision as soon as possible. “Old Mrs. Quigley, I've changed my mind. I agree to marry your grandson.”
• After saying that, she could imagine Mabel Quigley nodding in delight on the other end of the phone, and she couldn't help but slowly break into a smile.
• After hanging up the phone, she reminisced about her previous life.
• Mabel was an old friend of Hannah Zimmer. Hannah had moved to the countryside over thirty years ago, becoming the neighbor of Aurelia's adoptive mother, Phyllis Jenkins. Hannah had always lived alone in the countryside, and Aurelia felt that she was very lonely. Whenever Aurelia had time, she would accompany Hannah, who in turn, had taught her a lot.
• After she went to university, she left the countryside. Once, Hannah visited her at university, bringing along Mabel. Since then, she kept in regular contact with Mabel.
• Suddenly, one day, Mabel took Matthew Quigley to the agreed-upon restaurant to meet her.
• The aim was to arrange her marriage with Matthew.
• That was the first time Aurelia saw Matthew. He stood out in the crowd, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. She didn't dare to look at him too much at the time, for the man had a pair of deeply restrained and profound eyes. There was a faint chill in the gaze he cast upon her.
• Matthew said he would comply with his grandmother's arrangement.
• After that, Mabel waited for Aurelia's response.
• At that time, all Aurelia could think about was Curtis. So, she told Mabel that she had a boyfriend. Upon hearing this, Mabel was deeply disappointed.
• The next day, Matthew gave her a call. He told her that Mabel was seriously ill and had only three years left to live. This was Mabel's only wish, so as long as she agreed to marry, he would accept any conditions she proposed, as long as they weren't excessive.
• Aurelia still rejected it.
• Not long after, she was involved in a car accident, requiring a substantial amount of money for surgery. At that time, both Gideon and Luna were reluctant to help her, considering her a burden after her high-level amputation. Fortunately, Mabel learned about her predicament, covering not only the surgery cost but also a series of subsequent rehabilitation expenses.
• It was only later that she found out. Luna had cried pitifully in front of Mabel, while Curtis and the others had put on a show in front of Mabel. They promised to treat her well in the future. Mabel believed them and even asked Matthew to help Gideon's company overcome its difficulties.
• Afterward, when Mabel wanted to visit her, she was turned down by Curtis and Melanie.
• After her death, her soul lingered for a brief moment.
• Upon seeing Mabel come to visit her, she wept while holding her lifeless body.
• Therefore, when she returned to this life, her only goals were to seek revenge and repay kindness.
• As luck would have it, she was reincarnated a day late, and she had already rejected Matthew the day before.
• She was somewhat worried that Matthew would disagree, thinking she was saying one thing and doing another.
• She swiftly stowed her phone back in her bag and headed toward the bus stop.
• Just as she arrived at the stop, the urgent ring of an incoming call on her phone resounded.
• The moment the call was connected, the cold and indifferent voice of Matthew came from the other end. “Ms. Shaw, you just rejected it yesterday and now you're having second thoughts. What's the reason?”
• Aurelia's gaze fell on the bus stop sign. “I thought your suggestion yesterday was quite good, Mr. Quigley.”
• There was a moment of silence on the other end.
• Then, Matthew's voice was heard again.
• Just as before, it carried a hint of aloof coolness. “Let's meet at the City Hall at half past three in the afternoon.”
• At that moment, at Quigley Group, after Matthew hung up the phone, he signaled Gordon Zeller, his special assistant, to continue speaking.
• “Ms. Shaw was found and brought back by the Leedon family half a year ago. She had been living in the countryside with her adoptive parents since she was little. She met her boyfriend, Curtis Fletcher, in high school, and they have been together ever since. They later attended different universities. As for the rest, I'm still investigating.”
• Gordon briefly relayed the information he had found about Aurelia.
• Several photos of Aurelia were displayed on the office desk.
• Matthew gazed at the photos of Aurelia. She was nestled against a handsome boy, both of them looking at the camera. Their youthful and innocent faces couldn't hide Aurelia's exquisite and outstanding features.
• “By the way, Ms. Shaw has been donating blood to the Leedon family's adopted daughter for the past six months,” Gordon added.
• Matthew glanced at his wristwatch, confirming the time. “Draft a contract for a secret marriage of three years.”
• Gordon was somewhat taken aback. Is Boss getting married so soon with this Aurelia, who has a fiancé? Isn't he afraid that Aurelia might have ulterior motives?
• Aurelia arrived in front of the City Hall at two fifty-five in the afternoon.
• After taking the bus, Aurelia switched to the subway. The time was just right, and she arrived five minutes early.
• After waiting for just five minutes, Matthew arrived.
• When she lifted her head, she found herself meeting Matthew's gaze.
• The man's eyes were cold and indifferent, his demeanor noble and restrained. As he looked at her, his gaze was sharp and penetrating, as if he was scrutinizing her.
• Aurelia wasn't surprised. If she were in his shoes, she would also be curious as to why she had said one thing and did another.
• “An agreement is to be signed before we go in.” Matthew quickly averted his gaze and passed over the two documents.
• Aurelia swiftly glanced over.
• The instructions were clearly marked above. They were to divorce after three years. Within these three years, they must keep their marriage a secret. Apart from acknowledging their marital status in front of Mabel, they couldn't reveal a hint of it to anyone else.
• “I have no objections. I agree with it. We'll divorce three years later, with no further entanglements.”
• Just as Aurelia was about to sign, Matthew stopped her. “Once you sign, there's no room for regret. Have you really decided?”
• Without any hesitation, Aurelia nodded. “Yes.”
• “What are your conditions?” asked Matthew.
• Aurelia realized what he was referring to. She wanted to say there were no conditions but changed her words at the last moment. “I know Old Mrs. Quigley has asked you to help the Leedon family, Mr. Quigley, so...”