“Although I don’t know what you want to achieve by marrying me, we are now on the same boat. I will try my best to meet your needs.”
Hans’s scrutinizing gaze was unmasked, but he remained silent.
“If one day in the future, you need to terminate the cooperation and end this marriage, just tell me in advance. I can fully cooperate with you. Hans, can you tell me what you want from me?” He raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying anything. “Why do you assume I had an ulterior motive for marrying you?”
Marriages among wealthy families were almost always for mutual benefit, weren’t they?
Even when Tyler married me, it was because his family’s finances were in trouble and they desperately needed cash flow to save their business.
My father kept his word and the day after our wedding, he gave the Jacobsons a contract worth over a hundred million dollars.
He gave them an extra advance payment three days later, which helped the Jacobsons safely get through that crisis.
My standing in the family wasn’t as good as Clara’s and the Robinsons were nowhere near as powerful as the Schneiders.
But since three years had passed and Hans still hadn’t changed his mind about me, there must be something the Robinsons, or I, need to accomplish for him.
“Hans, you don’t strike me as the kind of person who does good deeds out of charity.”
Hans suddenly laughed. “Clarine, you really don’t understand me at all. But it’s fine, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other from now on.”
“However, I can give you one last chance. If you regret this, you can still back out now.”
I didn’t hesitate for a second. “I don’t regret marrying you.”
No one could possibly treat me worse than Tyler did.
The Robinsons weren’t my sanctuary. If my father found out I was divorced, he wouldn’t let me return home anyway.
No matter what Hans planned to gain from me, at least I’d have a roof over my head and could slowly plan my next moves.
Hans seemed surprised by my quick response and paused for a moment.
After a while, he finally spoke, “If you want to leave in the future, I can give you a sum of money to ensure you live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
“Next, you’ll need to cooperate with me by announcing our marriage publicly and attending related events.”
“The wedding date hasn’t changed. It will be held at the largest hotel in Los Angeles in a week.” I nodded, agreeing to all of Hans’s requests.
But he still didn’t mention what he wanted from the Robinsons.
Chapter 10
8:06 pm DDD
Three days later, I began trying on wedding dresses.
During this time, my phone vibrated constantly with messages from my lawyer.
[Miss Robinson, Mr. Jacobson wants to see you.]
Tyler wanted to see me? Why? Wasn’t divorce exactly what he wanted?
Once he divorced me, he could legitimately marry Clara.
Then, Tyler probably wanted me to drop the lawsuit and stop bothering her.
I wouldn’t compromise on that, so there was nothing for me to say to him.
I directly rejected Tyler’s request. [You want to meet me? Fine. See you in court.]
At some point, Hans had changed into a suit and walked out of the dressing room.
He wasn’t using a cane or a wheelchair; he walked out naturally on both legs.
I stared at him in shock. “You …”
“Oh, this? I’ve been fine for a while now. Surprised, Clarine?”
I cleared my throat, my face flushed. “So, everything’s working fine?”
He leaned in close and whispered, “Perfectly. I promise you won’t be sleeping alone.”
3:06 pm
Tyler’s POV
Tyler waited in the villa for two hours and still hadn’t heard back from Clarine.
He called his assistant repeatedly, pressuring him nonstop.
‘I’m sorry, Mr. Jacobson. I haven’t been able to reach her directly. Her lawyer’s our only point c
contact.”
Tyler’s eyes were bloodshot as he clutched the phone. “What? I’m paying you so much money and this is all you can do?”
Cold sweat beaded on the assistant’s forehead. “I’m really sorry, Sir. I’ll do everything I can t reach her.”
‘If you still can’t get in touch with Clarine, you’re fired!”
No sooner had Tyler hung up than he received another call from the hospital.
‘Mr. Jacobson, something’s wrong! Miss Clara’s condition is getting worse! Please come to th hospital immediately!”
Tyler’s mind went blank when he heard that something had happened to Clara again and he completely forgot about Clarine.
He rushed back to the hospital, only to find Clara undergoing emergency resuscitation.
‘She was fine when I left, wasn’t she? How did her condition suddenly worsen?”
The nurse looked troubled and handed Tyler a handwritten letter from Clara. “Miss Clara suffers from severe depression and has strong suicidal tendencies. She can’t be left alone. Not long after you left, her condition worsened and she attempted suicide again.”
Tyler staggered, unable to stand steady. “What? How could this happen?”
‘This is the suicide note she left behind, addressed to you. Perhaps reading it will help you
understand.”
The nurse supported Tyler, then turned and went back into the emergency room. “We’ll do ou best to save her. Please wait outside.”
Tyler sank onto a bench in the hallway, his hands trembling and his fingertips turning pale.
He fumbled several times before finally opening the letter Clara had left.
She seemed to have written it with immense resolve.
The handwritten words on the paper were vivid red.
Tyler, I tried for a long time, but I just couldn’t do it. I’m sorry.
When I woke up, everything had changed. The world changed and you changed, too.
I’m leaving first. Don’t be sad. For me, this is freedom.
Tyler sat frozen outside the ER, tears slipping down his face.
If only he hadn’t gone home, none of this would’ve happened.
It was his fault.
No, this was Clarine’s fault!
Chapter 12
2/2 13.39
8:07 pm DDDD
Her disappearing act and insisting on divorce were all her schemes!
Her motive was clear: to force her own sister to her death and have Tyler all to herself!
He was almost fooled by her. Clarine, you genuinely have a vicious heart.
This operation lasted for two hours.
Tyler sat at the door of the emergency room for two hours.
When the operation was over, the doctor came out. He wanted to stand up, only to find that he was a little exhausted and had no strength in his body.
He hadn’t eaten anything for an entire day.
“The surgery was successful. The patient is out of critical danger.”
“When will she … wake up?”
“She should wake up once the anesthesia wears off. You don’t need to worry too much.”
Tyler nodded, put on a protective gown and entered the room to look at Clara, who was still deeply asleep.
This time, she had chosen to jump from a building to attempt suicide, hitting her head and had undergone brain surgery.
Her head was now wrapped in layers of white bandages. She looked pale and frail.
Looking at her like this, Tyler couldn’t help but think back to the three years she had slept. Strangely, Clarine’s face also floated into his mind.
Her sister was lying here, barely clinging to life. How could she still hold a grudge?
Chapter 12
8:07 pm
