The night was deep, and the sky was dyed as black as ink.
Numerous black Bentleys were parked outside the Fairmont Hotel. All the celebrities of the city had gathered here for a grand engagement banquet that was about to commence.
Aria Jenson was standing at the bar in a low-profile silver long dress. Likely the high heels under her feet were a bit uncomfortable, giving severe pain to her heels.
"Hey, that's Aria over there," someone whispered.
"She's average-looking. How did Jaxon Hathaway fall for her?" Another person tsked, his voice echoing through the hall.
"She seems to be an up-and-coming starlet. Who knows how she managed to hook up with Jaxon." The woman's voice was lit with hints of unusual jealousy.
"I have heard that her relationship with her brother is ambiguous, and she was even confronted by her sister-in-law, Peyton at her film set. Could it be that Jaxon is..."
"…Stop talking, she seems to be looking this way."
A self-mocking smile appeared at the corners of Aria’s mouth as her icy gaze fell on the group.
Every single word fell clearly into her ears, but what did it matter? She had heard worse things more than a dozen times, she didn't care.
Since deciding to marry Jaxon, she was already prepared for this.
"There’s still an hour until the banquet. Go to the restroom and change." A calm-faced man approached and handed over a pair of brand-new nude high heels. Her eyes fell on the lining, they were Louboutin So kate.
Aria was slightly stunned, raising her eyes to the man, and quietly said, "Thank you,"
"Thank you?" The man raised his eyebrow, a tease in his smile as he suddenly pulled Aria toward him. "Aria, aren't you being too polite to your future husband?"
His hot breath fluttered against her neck, making Aria feel slightly uncomfortable, wanting to struggle away, but the grip around her waist only grew stronger.
Jaxon's eyes held mischief as he gazed at the woman in his arms, her face flushed red with embarrassment. Wasn't she all tough and domineering when she was negotiating with him just a few days ago?
"Hmm? Why aren't you speaking?" Jaxon leaned in closer, purposely infusing affection into his voice.
"Jaxon, will you let me change my shoes?" Aria tilted her head to look at the towering man, a hint of embarrassment and anger flashing in her eyes.
With a crooked smile, Jaxon tilted his head, his lips nearly pressing against her cheek. To an outsider, they were the image of a couple flirtatiously showing their love for each other. "Your acting is so poor, I almost regret hiring you. Now what shall we do?"
Aria stiffened but before she could reply, the hand on her waist unexpectedly loosened, almost causing her to stumble backward.
"Go ahead and change.You're not going to let a little shoe change the way you feel about me, are you?" Jaxon's voice was laced with a mix of disappointment and amusement, he shot her an ambiguous smile, turned around and strode off.
A group of elegant ladies who had been watching them glared at her with venomous eyes, they wished they could replace her.
Aria's head dipped and reluctantly, she curved her lips into a smile, then headed into the restroom.
Just as expected, the heel of her foot was chafed through. Sitting on the toilet, Aria grimaced as she removed her shoes. Her raw, red skin was gruesome, looking as though it was inflamed.
Not paying much mind to it, Aria swapped into a new pair of shoes before standing up to turn on the tap.
The silence in the restroom was eerie, contrasting drastically with the bustling party outside. Overcome with sudden curiosity, she lifted her head to look at her reflection in the mirror. Was she really that unattractive?. The moment she met her reflection, she froze. Was the person in the mirror really her?. The woman in the mirror was immaculately made up, far from average-looking as others had claimed. She could even be called stunning. But the corners of her eyes and brows were infused with an indescribable exhaustion, as if she'd weathered a lifetime of hardships.
Aria forced a smile, reaching out to touch her reflection in the mirror.
She was only twenty-one, an age that should have been filled with passion and brilliance. If it hadn't been for a moment's capriciousness and misplaced sincerity...
In a flash, Aria quickly withdrew her hand and splashed cold water on her face, regaining her calm composure. Looking at herself in the mirror, a steely resolve gradually surfaced in Aria's eyes - she must personally reclaim the Jenson family, making that person pay the price!
At the noisy cocktail party, Aria went straight back to her hotel room.
Jaxon was leaning against the window smoking. Seeing her push the door in, he smirked with a hint of contempt.
Aria blinked slightly, confidently taking a seat on the sofa.
Their relationship was merely a transaction.
"Just have a sit..." As soon as she sat down, Jaxon tossed a document over.
"What's this?" Aria looked up, the overhead fluorescent light was too dazzling, causing her to squint.
"A contract." Jaxon's expression was blank, his tone icy.
Aria immediately understood. Signing contracts on an engagement dinner was a bit hasty, probably he was afraid she wouldn't keep her promise and would continue pestering him.
Seeing her still seemingly confused, Jaxon laughed scornfully, "How come? You can't be so forgetful of our simple transactional relationship?"
"Of course not." Aria responded with a polite smile, "I am always clear about the relationship between Mr. Hathaway and me."
With these words, she picked up the document and started flipping through it swiftly.
With a low laugh, Jaxon turned and walked towards the window.
Aria was flipping through the files, her face increasingly solemn.
"Mr. Hathaway, do you think I can't read?" Aria's chest was heaving violently, forcefully suppressing her anger.
How dare he draft such an unequal contract, did he think she was desperate enough to accept any help?
"If you're not willing, you can certainly refuse." Jaxon stared at her, his voice was full of mockery but left no room for doubt, "There are plenty of people waiting for your position, I won't die without you."
"You!" Aria's face turned red with anger, and she glared viciously at the man in front of her.
At this moment, her mobile phone rang. Jaxon gestured for her to answer the phone, then turned his back on her.
Aria gradually calmed down and glanced at the screen; it was Davies Jenson.
"Big Brother, what's up?" Aria answered the phone, with a preemptive strike before Davies could say anything.
How long had the news of her engagement to Jaxon been leaked, and they already couldn't hold themselves back?
"Get away from Jaxon immediately." Davies insisted in a way that left no room for doubt.
"I won't," Aria responded deliberately, word by word, with a sense of vengeful pleasure, "I love him, I must marry him, you..."
"I'll give you one day,"Davies cut her off without hesitation. "By this time tomorrow, I want to see in the news that you have no relationship with Jaxon, otherwise, I can't guarantee your father's safety."
"Davies! If you dare to touch my father, I will never forgive you"
"Beep beep beep..." Before her words were finished, Davies had already abruptly hung up the phone.
Aria stared at her cellphone, feeling utterly emotionless. Caught in such a predicament, what other choice did she have?
"I agree to your terms," Aria raised her head, her eyes met with the smiling gaze of Jaxon, noticing her every ounce of emotion.
"Hmm?" Jaxon arched an eyebrow, "Agree to what?"
He hadn't guessed wrongly. The woman in front of him was far more interesting than she appeared.
"I agree to sign the contract with you, and promise not to bother you, but in return, I want you to agree to one thing," Aria turned around, looking at him eye to eye, a hint of discontent flashing in her gaze.
"Talk." Jaxon continued to smile at her.
"I want you to move my father from the hospital owned by the Jenson family, and assure me of his complete recovery."
