Chapter 2 Arranged Marriage Between Wealthy Families

• Does the Seltzer family's shamelessness know no bounds?
• Over the past three years, Cassius had been putting up with Claudia's way of doing things for Vanessa's sake.
• This time, however, he had reached his limits. Has the Seltzer family forgotten that Vanessa is already married? Well, I suppose they never did take me seriously.
• He put his cup of coffee down and closed the group chat.
• Cassius was so distracted thinking about Vanessa's attitude toward him that he stopped paying attention to the reports his subordinates had sent him.
• If she truly intended to marry into a wealthy family, then their relationship would come to an end.
• After taking a moment to regain his composure, he pulled up Sinister Eye and messaged: Any new clues on the Crawford family murder case from fifteen years ago?
• Royal Private Intelligence: As of now, the leads are still centered in Horbah. We know that the insider is among the ten prominent families in Horbah, but we don't know who it is yet. I'm sorry for our incompetence, Boss.
• Cassius let out a sigh as he replied: You guys are not to blame. This is all I managed to find even after investigating this case for fifteen years.
• With a frown on his face and a gloomy look in his eyes, he closed the group chat.
• Fifteen years ago, the Crawford family of the north had boasted a family of scholars with an amount of wealth on par with the entire country.
• However, they were wiped out overnight and lost all of their wealth as a result.
• Cassius, the youngest child of the Crawford family, was at Mount Valdez when it happened, so he was the only one who escaped the massacre.
• Using whatever money the Crawford family had left, Cassius invested in companies everywhere and recruited the best talents to rebuild his business empire. He eventually amassed so much wealth that everyone in the financial world called him Almighty Fortuna.
• Using his immense power, he made his way deep into underground circles as well and established an underground empire. His forces comprised of hackers, mercenaries, intelligence officers, and many more. Every single underground circle knew how terrifying he was.
• Cassius' burning desire for revenge was what kept him going for fifteen long years.
• Three years ago, he was attacked by a mysterious individual while investigating a clue in Horbah. In his wounded state, he ran into Vanessa, who had been drugged by some bad people.
• As he needed a way to conceal his identity, he saved Vanessa and became a live-in son-in-law of the Seltzer family.
• Although Vanessa looked down on him for the past three years, she did take good care of him. After recovering from his injury, he slowly developed a sense of belonging in this family.
• He used to look at perfect families with hatred and spite. Over time, however, they became a warm and comforting shelter from the storm.
• Cassius lit a cigarette and stared off into space. His trap in Horbah had been set, but he didn't expect someone to consider having an arranged marriage.
• Because he had already fallen for Vanessa, he began to waver all of a sudden.
• Meanwhile, Vanessa was seated inside a private room in Psyonus Hotel. The head of the Seltzer family, Claudia, was seated across the table with a cane in her hand.
• “Vanessa, do you know why I invited you over for dinner tonight?” Claudia asked with a smile.
• Vanessa rarely had a chance to dine with Claudia alone. “You need me to do something, right, Grandma?” she responded cautiously.
• “Yes, that's right. You're quite the smart one, aren't you? The family needs your help now, Vanessa. Do you know about the Quinton family in Horbah?”
• Vanessa gave it some thought and replied, “It's the wealthiest family in Horbah.”
• Claudia nodded. “Mr. Quinton's wife passed away, so he needs a significant other. While he may have a ton of mistresses out there, one needs to have an impressive family background to marry Mr. Quinton. This is a rare opportunity for our family.”
• Vanessa's face went pale all of a sudden. “I-I don't understand, Grandma.”
• “What's there to understand? You're the youngest and the prettiest in the Seltzer family. I've already sent your profile over to the Quinton family!”
• Vanessa leaped to her feet and exclaimed, “But I'm already married, Grandma!”
• Claudia swung her cane with a disdainful look on her face. “Married? Your husband is useless. You can just kick him out! He's been living off you for three years now. It's about time he left!”
• Vanessa's mind went blank, and she could barely steady herself. She didn't think Claudia would plan to sell her off to an old man from the Quinton family.
• Mr. Quinton is so old that even his granddaughter is older than me! I can't believe he'd do something so shameless! Is Grandma arranging all of this just to establish a connection with the Quinton family?
• Vanessa steadied herself by holding on to the table with both hands. “I doubt the wealthiest man in Horbah would want a married woman like me, Grandma,” she said with huge beads of sweat trickling down her face.
• Claudia lowered her gaze as she said, “Vanessa, don't think I'm ignorant simply because I stay at home all day. You and Cassius haven't even slept together, right? I've informed the Quinton family about this. Hmph, I know men all too well. They won't mind such things as long as you're pretty enough!”
• Vanessa trembled as she took a few steps back. “I won't agree to this! Cassius may be useless, but I chose him myself!”
• Right as she turned around and got ready to leave, Claudia called out to her coldly from behind. “Our family did not spend so many years raising you so you could take care of a useless bum! You have one month to divorce Cassius!”
• Vanessa's body went weak as she stumbled her way out of the private room.
• She didn't even remember how she left the hotel.
• Claudia's warning was the only sound that filled her ears.
• She knew all too well what would happen to those who angered Claudia and made an enemy of the family.
• Vanessa was drenched in cold sweat by the time she made her way home. She had to take a hot shower just to calm herself down.
• When she sat down on the couch, however, her eyes reddened as all of the pent-up anger and sadness exploded within her.
• This happened because my husband is so useless! Grandma wouldn't have done that if Cassius had been a little more successful! Should I really accept this arranged marriage, though? No! I absolutely refuse to deliver myself onto that old man's bed!
• Vanessa took a deep breath and made an embarrassing decision.
• She slowly stood up and made her way toward her husband's study.