That evening, the house was quiet.
It should have been a peaceful time to rest.
But inside her bedroom, Emma paced back and forth like an ant trapped on a burning pan.
Her phone chimed on the bed.
Ding.
A Facebook notification appeared, but Emma didn't even look at it.
She knew very clearly that Linda and Emily had never liked her. Now that her brother was away, they were trying to push her out of the Sinclair family completely.
Once she was married off…
Even if Adrian came back to defend her, it would be too late.
Marriage?
Emma felt nauseated just thinking about it.
Mr. Zhang's greasy face, his bloated stomach, his thinning hair, and those disgusting eyes that always lingered on her body…
Just remembering him made her feel sick.
Her phone rang again.
Emma finally sighed and picked it up.
The message was from Adrian Sinclair.
What are you doing? Did Mom make things difficult for you again?
Emma's eyes instantly warmed.
Adrian had always protected her since they were children. Even though they were only half-siblings, he was the only person in the entire Sinclair family who truly cared about her.
Her fingers quickly typed:
Brother, help me. Mom wants to force me to marry Mr. Zhang. Please come back quickly!
But after staring at the message for a long time…
Emma slowly deleted every single word.
Adrian was overseas handling something extremely important.
She couldn't ruin his work because of her own problems.
After hesitating, she typed something simple instead.
I'm fine. Don't worry about me.
Then she sent it.
Emma bit her lip.
She desperately wanted her brother to come back.
But she couldn't.
She couldn't burden him.
Suddenly a terrifying thought crossed her mind.
Boyfriend.
Where on earth was she supposed to find one overnight?
Later that night, Emma walked downstairs barefoot to pour herself a glass of water.
But as she approached the kitchen, she suddenly heard voices.
Linda and Emily.
Emma instinctively stopped behind the corner.
"Mom," Emily said softly, wearing a pink silk nightgown, her voice sweet and gentle, "what if Emma really brings a man back tomorrow?"
She frowned slightly.
"Are we actually going to let her go?"
"This is such a good chance. I don't want her staying in the Sinclair family anymore."
Linda laughed.
"You silly girl."
"Do you really think your mother is that stupid?"
She lowered her voice proudly.
"Did you hear what I said today? I only told her to bring a boyfriend back."
"But as long as she isn't married yet, I'll still find a way to send her to Mr. Zhang."
Emma's body instantly went cold.
Linda continued smugly,
"It's rare for Mr. Zhang to take interest in her. Of course I'll take advantage of that."
Then she looked at Emily with affection.
"My precious daughter is the one with real ability. You managed to capture the young master of the Chen family."
"The Chen family is a golden opportunity."
Emily smiled shyly as she remembered Xander Chen's handsome face.
She felt extremely satisfied.
Emma didn't listen anymore.
She quietly turned around and went back upstairs.
But this time, her eyes were filled with determination.
That night, Emma sneaked into the study where the family documents were kept.
Carefully, she opened the cabinet.
Inside was the family household register.
Her hands trembled slightly as she took it.
Early the next morning, Emma left the house carrying only two things:
Her ID card.
And the household register.
Spring had arrived in the city.
The streets were lively and full of people.
But Emma stood quietly at a street corner, counting silently in her heart.
One…
Two…
Three…
Her plan was simple.
She was 23 years old.
So she would count to the 23rd man who walked past this corner.
As long as he was under thirty, unmarried, and looked reasonably healthy…
She would propose to him.
Yes.
Propose.
The 23rd man would become her husband.
And her only chance to escape the Sinclair family.
Twenty.
A foreigner with a thick beard passed by.
Twenty-one.
A man over thirty walked by holding his wife and child.
Twenty-two.
A gentle man wearing glasses, looking like a scholar.
Emma held her breath.
Her eyes fixed on the corner.
Waiting for the 23rd person.
Suddenly…
A pair of worn leather shoes appeared.
Emma's heart sank slightly.
Just from the shoes, she could tell the man probably wasn't wealthy.
Could someone like that really intimidate Linda and Emily?
Emma lowered her head, thinking.
Last night she had considered asking a classmate to pretend to be her boyfriend.
But after hearing Linda's conversation…
She knew it wouldn't be that simple.
If the man was honest and hardworking, even if he came from a poor background…
She was still willing to marry him.
After all, she had already lost everything.
At that moment, a deep male voice drifted through the quiet street.
"Well… if she wants to leave, I don't care."
The voice was low.
Calm.
Magnetic.
Emma subconsciously looked up.
The street was nearly empty now.
Only one man stood nearby with his back to her, speaking on the phone.
For some reason, Emma suddenly knew.
He was the twenty-third person.
Emma hesitated.
After all, asking a stranger to marry you required a lot of courage.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Linda.
Emma answered.
"Emma, your father and I are waiting at home," Linda said coldly.
"You should bring your boyfriend back quickly."
She paused before adding with a sneer,
"If you can't… Mr. Zhang is still waiting for you here."
The call ended.
Emma's hand slowly tightened around the phone.
She took a deep breath.
Then she ran forward.
Her fingers grabbed the corner of the man's coat.
The man stopped and slowly turned around.
Before he hung up his call, she heard his final words.
"Forget it. I'm not interested in that kind of woman."
Emma didn't even dare to look up.
Her heart pounded wildly.
But thinking of Linda and Emily waiting at home…
She knew if she didn't do this now, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Emma closed her eyes and blurted out loudly,
"Will you marry me?"
The man narrowed his sharp eyes slightly.
His thin lips curved faintly.
"Perfect timing."
His voice was calm.
"I happened to bring my household register today."
The voice sounded strangely familiar.
Emma suddenly looked up.
The moment she saw his face—
Her entire body froze.
The man from the hotel room .
Why was it him again?!
This was the second time she was meeting with him.
And now she was proposing marriage to him?!
For a second, Emma seriously considered pretending nothing happened and running away.
Unfortunately…
The didn't give her that chance.
Emma was tall for a girl—1.68 meters.
But standing in front of the 1.88-meter man, she suddenly felt small.
Before she could react, the calmly dragged her toward a black Range Rover parked by the road.
The vehicle looked powerful, low-key, and expensive.
Somehow…
It suited him perfectly.
When they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Emma was still in shock.
Her first marriage proposal had been completed so simply.
A small fee.
A photograph.
Two signatures.
And just like that…
She was married.
Emma slowly turned her head and looked at the man beside her.
She had only learned his name when the marriage certificate was printed.
Julian King.
Julian raised his brows slightly and glanced at the woman next to him.
He frowned faintly.
He had never been an impulsive man.
Yet today…
He had married a stranger.
This decision was definitely worth thinking about.
But right now—
He found himself far more interested in his new little wife.