Chapter 1 A Marriage Partner

• At Regal Bay Hotel in Junbert.
• Winona Shawley was straining to push the housekeeping cart into the elevator. Upon seeing her struggle, a co-worker attempted to lend a hand, but she shook her head in refusal. She was aware that the supervisor was deliberately making things difficult for her. However, she had sought out this temporary job herself, and she was determined to persevere, no matter how exhausting or grueling it became.
• The numbers in the elevator continuously flickered, eventually halting at the 18th floor.
• Winona was somewhat taken aback. The 18th floor was the presidential suite. In the past, whenever she was worn out from playing at the suburban horse ranch, she would stay here in this suite at Regal Bay Hotel.
• Now, returning here as a housekeeper truly showcased the unpredictability of life.
• Since her father, Harold Shawley, was incarcerated a year ago, Shawley Group was partitioned by her malevolent cousins. She and her mother were expelled from the Shawley family and were burdened with an inexplicably massive debt. From then on, their circumstances plummeted drastically.
• Winona had been a fashion design major in university and had completed her master's degree at the Pyralis Academy of Arts. However, every resume she sent to design companies in Junbert was returned, leaving her with no choice but to look for temporary work so she could at least earn a meager salary to support herself and her mother.
• After Harold was incarcerated, her mother, Laura Quaid's mental health began to deteriorate, and she was often mumbling incoherently to herself. The doctor diagnosed her with moderate depression, requiring her to take prescribed medication every month, which came at a certain cost.
• Thus, Winona was juggling between dealing with creditors and taking care of her mother.
• She stared at her reflection in the elevator mirror. The weight of life bore heavily on her shoulders, and it was almost as if she had physically shrunk considerably over the course of the year.
• With a ding, the elevator doors slid open.
• Winona pushed the housekeeping cart forward before ringing the doorbell.
• The doorbell rang continuously for about four to five minutes, but no one came to answer the door. Winona surmised that the guest must have checked out, so she used her master key card to unlock the door.
• The familiar entrance came into view, where a pair of gleaming leather shoes were on display. They appeared to be from a luxury brand's latest collection for the season.
• Winona paused in surprise as she hadn't expected that the guest hadn't left yet. After a moment of hesitation, she raised her voice and asked, “Is anyone there? I'm from housekeeping and am here to tidy up the room.”
• After a long silence, she turned around to pull the housekeeping cart in.
• Suddenly, a pair of strong, well-defined hands rested on Winona's shoulders before a man's intoxicating breath fanned her ears.
• “Help me, please.”
• Winona was locked in from behind, unable to see who the person was. In a state of panic, she tried to open the door to escape.
• Without a word, the man locked the door before reaching to undo her clothing. In her panic, Winona tried to seize his hand, only to feel as though she had grabbed a piece of hot iron. It was then that she realized the man's jaw, resting on her shoulder, was alarmingly hot as well.
• He was like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
• “I've been set up,” the man confessed. With Winona half-resisting, half-yielding in his arms, he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Help me get over it, and I promise to take responsibility for you.”
• “Let me go!” Winona was still struggling relentlessly, crying out for help.
• But there wouldn't be a third person coming up to this suite anymore.
• Winona found herself pinned down on the bed by the man and hopelessly tried to evade his relentless kisses.
• “This counts as r*pe! I can have you arrested for this!”
• The man chuckled softly, his voice a languid whisper in her ear, “Do you know who I am?”
• His face was flushed red due to the effects of the drug, his handsome brows and eyes revealing how hard he was restraining himself.
• The man's voice, at that moment, was strikingly similar to Trevor Fleming's low tone!
• No, it can't be that man!
• Winona was struck with terror, but she was pinned down on the pillow, so she was unable to clearly see his face. The moment her struggles ceased, the man immediately leaned over to kiss her, effectively silencing all her words of rejection.
• A night of reckless abandon later...
• As dawn was barely breaking, Winona woke up with a sore waist and aching back.
• With a soft whimper, she mustered the strength to dress her weary body and left the presidential suite.
• Anyone who could afford to live here was undoubtedly a highly influential figure in Junbert. The Shawley family had already fallen from grace, and now they were surrounded by formidable enemies. Since she was unable to seek justice from this man, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and leave.
• Trevor let out a low groan, propping himself up while cradling his forehead. He glanced at the scattered clothes around him, then abruptly turned to look beside him.
• The bedsheet was icy cold to the touch, devoid of any trace of warmth.
• Did that woman from yesterday run away?
• Didn't she know who he was? He was Trevor Fleming, after all. The idea of him going back on his promise to marry her was simply unthinkable.
• Moreover, this woman could indeed be considered his lifesaver.
• Just then, his secretary called. Trevor pressed the answer button, instinctively massaging his temples.
• “Mr. Trevor, they've gone to visit Old Mr. Fleming again. Shouldn't we hurry up?”
• The person his secretary was referring to was Trevor's uncle, Xavier Fleming. After the death of Trevor's father, Xavier had been eyeing Fleming Group greedily. However, due to the family trust stipulations, Trevor could only gain the full shares after getting married, leading to a year-long tug of war with him.
• Recently, Xavier had been relentlessly pressing forward, openly declaring war on Trevor. The drug from the previous night was his doing, slipped in during the banquet, all with the intention of pushing his niece onto Trevor!
• “I've already chosen a marriage partner.” Trevor paused for a moment before adding, “Check Regal Bay Hotel's surveillance footage. I want you to find every woman who passed by this room last night!”