Chapter 3

She wants to return this money to the person who lost it. She isn’t a scavenger who takes money from anyone she meets.

By the time she rushed outside, she happened to overhear Pamela Steadwyne and his men talking next to the car.

“After all, she’s almost married to that devil. She’ll have nothing to do with the Ryan family after that. Let her enjoy a few more comfortable days,” Pamela Steadwyne said in a sarcastic tone.

“The lady is right. That Satan is known for her cruel methods. Once she marries into that family, her life will be nothing but suffering. She’ll be forced to live as a widow at a young age. That’s punishment enough for her.” One of the subordinates agreed in a low voice.

Upon hearing these words, Marina Lane trembled all over.

Two months ago, she found out that she was to be given to Satan. She resolved to leave the Raine family. But to her surprise, they refused to give up.

Marina Lane was furious. In her anger, she threw the money at Pamela Steadwy. “Delusional! I’ll never marry him!” she shouted.

Pamela Steadway turned around in shock, not expecting her conversation with her subordinates to be overheard. She snapped, “How dare you lay a hand on me? Are you tired of living?”

After saying that, he gave a signal to the bodyguards behind him. The bodyguards immediately surrounded Marina Lane and began beating her mercilessly.

Marina Lane’s miserable screams didn’t evoke even a hint of sympathy from Pamela Steadwy. Instead, she stepped back, enjoying the scene before her with satisfaction.

A moment later, Marina Lane stopped screaming. She lay motionless on the ground, her body covered in bruises.

The bodyguards immediately panicked and turned to Pamela Steadwy for help.

Pamela Steadwyne frowned slightly and snorted in disdain. “Stop acting all important here. My people know what’s appropriate. They won’t kill you. After all, you still need to get married.”

These words were like a devastating blow to Marina Lane. The physical pain paled in comparison to the agony in her heart.

“It’s better if you don’t resist needlessly. It’ll only make things worse. Let’s go!”

After saying that, Pamela Steadwy and the others left the apartment.

Marina Lane was covered in injuries, though none of them were life-threatening. Yet, for her, this was still a tremendous humiliation. It would have been better to die.

She also once had a happy and fulfilling family, and was the apple of her parents’ eyes.

But when she was thirteen, her mother fell ill and passed away. Her father later married another woman, who soon gave birth to Susanna Lane.

From then on, Susanna Lane and her stepmother conspired against her at every turn, to the point that even her father, who used to love her, began to despise her.

She had no status whatsoever in the Raine family. She was utterly insignificant, as if she belonged to the dirt itself.

The heartless Mr. Lane, in an attempt to please the Jody Group, actually wanted to hand her over to that devil of the Jody family. She resisted desperately, even threatening Mr. Lane by bringing up her deceased mother. Only then did he give up.

I thought this matter would just pass without any further consequences, but it seems I still couldn’t escape this fate.

Marina Lane slowly got up from the ground and staggered back into the room.

She huddled in the corner, with not a single tear in her eyes. She simply stared blankly at the photo of her mother in her hands.

I don’t know how much time passed. Marina Rain was utterly exhausted. Her mother had told her to keep living on, but now, she simply didn’t have the courage to do so.

Just then, a black Maybach came to a stop by the roadside.

The driver got out of the car, opened the door with a quick run, and Will Jody stepped out in his suit and leather shoes.

Following the clues given by his assistant, he arrived at a door. He knocked gently and stood outside, remaining calm.

“Ding ding ding.”

Marina Lane was startled by the knock at the door. She quickly got up and opened it. “Hello, who’s there…”

What came into sight was a tall, solitary figure.

The man outside had well-defined facial features, as if carefully carved by a craftsman. His thin lips were tightly closed, and his eyes were clear and bright as he looked at the person before him.

Marina Lane slightly raised her gaze, and finally, through a daze, she managed to see the other person’s face clearly.

“You’re…” she asked in confusion. Suddenly, she remembered the one-night stand at the hotel. Her pupils constricted in shock. “It’s you! How did you find me?!”

The moment Will Jody saw Marina Lane, his entire being became icy cold. His previously joyful mood was replaced by indifference.

Marina Lane was covered in bruises, with blood oozing from the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were red, clearly indicating that she had been beaten.

“It’s easy to find you.” Will Jody narrowed his eyes, a dangerous aura emanating from him. “Who hit you?”

Upon hearing this, Marina Lane finally realized what had happened. She instinctively lowered her head. “It’s nothing. I just fell down.”

Will Jody came looking for her specifically. But he never expected that the person he loved so much would be treated in such a cruel manner. When he saw her covered in wounds and bruises, he wanted to tear the people who hurt her to shreds.

“Does it hurt? Go and rest on the bed for a while.” Before Marina Rain could react, he had already picked her up and carried her to the bed in the house.

Marina Lane stared angrily and shouted, “What on earth do you want to do?”

“Marry you,” Will Jody said without hesitation.

Marina Lane stared at him in disbelief. It took her a while to respond. “I know that everything that happened last night was an accident. You don’t need to be responsible to me.”

Marina Lane looked gloomy. She still hadn’t recovered from being falsely accused. There was no way she felt like getting married, especially to a man she didn’t even know.

“You’re my first woman. I must marry you,” Will Jody said, emphasizing each word, with a very serious expression on his face.

Marina Lane asked in astonishment, “Is that why? Is that why you’ve come all the way to my home? You’re looking for me just so I’ll marry you?”

Hearing this, Will Jody lowered his gaze and said indifferently, “Hmm, my family’s pressing me to make a decision.”

If Old Master Jody were to hear this, he’d probably laugh his head off. After all, since he was young, Young Master Jody never listened to his family’s advice. He was headstrong and always did things his own way.