"Nathalie, Michael has finally returned to the country, you must seize this opportunity to grow your feelings towards him."

"Dad, I understand."

Nathalie took the hangover tea from her father, Lincolin, and approached Michael's room with an air of trepidation.

Today marked Michael's welcome party back home and also served as her first encounter with her husband whom they had married three years ago yet had never met.

She had no fondness for such occasions, even purposely arriving a bit late and intending to slip away shortly after. However, her father caught her in the act.

For the Randolph family, the alliance with the Brooke's was critical. But emotions can't be cultivated out of thin air, right? Especially with a husband you've been married to for three years but never actually met.

So for Nathalie, delivering something to Michael's room was merely a task she had to complete. After spending a little time inside, she could report to her father.

After waiting for a while, no one came to open the door. She unconsciously reached out and pushed it open. It seemed it was'nt locked from the inside.

The room was only dimly lit, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Most likely, he was taking a shower and hadn't heard her knock.

Nathalie casually placed the cup of tea on the side table of the sofa and started sipping from the one still in her possession while casually looking around.

Most hotel room decorations bear much similarity. Although the presidential suite is more luxurious, the overall layout and features are quite ordinary, nothing too special.

Before she noticed, she had already drunk half of her tea, yet the man in the bathroom still hadn't appeared.

Nathalie glanced at the time, feeling it was about right and prepared to leave.

Just as she reached the door, the bathroom door suddenly opened.

The man, in his bath towel, stood at the bathroom door. His jet-black hair was slightly tousled, yet his overly exquisite facial features, under this contrast, added a sense of wild beauty.

A pair of profound eyes squinted, firmly staring at the woman standing in the room. His gaze was sharp as if he was a beast lurking in the darkness, ready to ensnare his prey at any moment.

"Who are you?"

The man's voice was deep and magnetic, but because of the excessive coldness in his tone, it produced an inexplicable sense of reverence.

Nathalie stiffened in place, feeling as if she was intruding into someone else’s territory.

She wasn't sure if she should introduce herself and couldn't directly say "I'm your wife," right?

When her glance fell on the teacup on the coffee table, she subconsciously blurted out, "I came to deliver the tea that helps sober up."

Half-squinting his eyes, the man inspected her from top to bottom, then shifted his gaze to the tea on the coffee table.

Remembering that right before his arrival to the room, his mother indeed mentioned sending someone over, he faintly nodded.

"You may leave now."

While drying his hair, he walked away, not sparing another glance at Nathalie.

Nathalie also didn't want to stay longer. Just as she was about to push open the room door, she saw her father discussing something with someone at the end of the hallway. If she left now, she would definitely be caught and questioned, so she decided to wait a bit longer.

"Don't want to leave?"

The man's deep voice suddenly rang out from behind, startling Nathalie, who hastily turned around to look at him.

“No, no, I'm just…”

While Nathalie was racking her brains to find an excuse, she caught a glance at the hangover tea on the coffee table, which had been drunk up, leaving only an empty cup. She brightened up instantly.

“I just came to collect the teacup.”

Under the man's overly sharp gaze, Nathalie managed to maintain a courteous smile on her face and went ahead to pick up the teacup.

"You didn't just come to deliver the hangover tea, did you?"

Nathalie's heart tightened. Had he recognized her?

"Mr. Brooke, you're misunderstanding." She looked at him seriously, "Someone asked me to come over and help you."

Indeed, she had come at her father's behest, so she wasn’t exactly lying.

"Someone?" The man pressed closer, his eyes even sharper than before. "Why are you lingering and unwilling to leave?"

Nathalie was at a loss for how to explain.

She certainly couldn't say that she was trying to avoid her father, could she?

"I..."

Just as Nathalie was about to concoct a passable excuse, the man's large hand suddenly seized her neck!

"Clang—"

The empty teacup in her hand fell to the ground.

"President Brooke... Michael... Let go..."

Subconsciously, Nathalie tried to push him away. Still, she touched a scorching sensation that felt like a branding iron thrown into a furnace.

Her panic rose as she looked up to meet the man's slightly reddening eyes, where unfathomable rage was swirling like a violent storm.

"What did you put in the tea!"

His voice darkened, as if he was holding something back.

Seeing him in this state, could Nathalie not comprehend the situation?

Someone had tampered with the tea!

She instinctively turned her head to look at the empty teacup on the ground, but she felt a tightening around her waist, and after a dizzying moment, she found herself roughly tossed onto the bed.

"Since you wanted it, your wish shall be granted!"

She barely had time to struggle to sit up before she was held down by the man who then pressed his body upon her...

---

When Nathalie woke up, the man beside her was already asleep.

Desperate to stifle her bodily aches, she painstakingly got off the bed. As she bent down to pick up the scattered clothes on the floor, a cold voice suddenly echoed from behind.

"How much do you want?"

His tone was cold, devoid of any emotion.

Last night, he toyed with her all night long, and she almost fainted several times.

Upon hearing this, Nathalie stopped in her tracks, her hand holding her clothes frozen.

It was funny to think about it. They've been married for three years, yet her husband didn't even know who she was.

Three years ago, she saved the life of the Brooke family's grandfather by accident.

At that time, her father's company was facing difficulties in the first round of financing. Old Mr. Brooke took this opportunity to propose a marriage alliance, pledging that if she agreed to marry Nathalie, the Brooke family would inject three billion into the Randolph family's business.

Michael hadn’t showed up at all throughout the process of getting their marriage certificate. It wasn't until she left the Civil Affairs Bureau that she found out that he had already gone abroad.

In those three years, she, the nominal Mrs. Brooke, was a laughingstock in everyone's eyes.

Unexpectedly, their first encounter after these three years was in bed.

"I don't want money," she said slowly as she put on her clothes.

Her every movement caused her aching body to feel like it was falling apart.

"You sure have a big appetite."

"Don't want the money, you're trying to tie me down?"

Michael scanned her up and down, his eyes sharp, not hiding the scorn he had for her.

Her delicate fair face, her perfectly proportioned body, and her icy demeanor; indeed, she was quite attractive.

But she was just another woman who threw herself at him voluntarily.

What set her apart was the fact that she was the only woman who successfully seduced him.

He slowly averted his gaze, "Get rid of those ideas, or you won't get a single penny."

If it wasn't for something the woman put in the tea the previous night, he wouldn't have lost control to such an extent.

Nathalie had already dressed, standing there somewhat detached.

If it wasn't for the special instructions of Grandfather Brooke last night, she would not have come at all, let alone being restrained by her father, bringing him that cup of spiked tea...

She knew exactly what Michael's attitude towards her and the Randolph Family was.

If she tried to explain that all of this was not her intention, he probably wouldn't believe a single word.

Nathalie laughed at herself mockingly, "Actually, I..."

Her words were interrupted by a cell phone ringtone.

Michael picked up the cell phone from the bedside table, pressed the speakerphone to answer the call, then slowly started to get dressed.

"President Brooke, as per your instructions, I have arrived at Miss Randolph's residence but she's not home. Does this divorce agreement need to be sent to the Randolph residence?"

Michael's movements of buttoning his shirt paused, a slight frown creasing his forehead.

He had no impression of this wife in name only, hearing only from Grandpa that she was good-natured, non-aggressive, non-controversial and a top graduate from Cameron University.

But what of it?

The Randolph Family had long since overcome their financial crisis. The favor she had done in saving the old man had been paid back long ago.

The man spoke in a cold and heartless tone, "Directly contact her, first have her sign, if she does not want to, contact Randolph Corporation instead..."

When Nathalie abruptly heard the words "divorce agreement", she was momentarily stunned.

Were they talking about her?

She had just pricked up her ears when she heard Michael suggesting the person on the other end to directly contact her, she guessed it was probably his private lawyer.

Just as Michael ended the call with lawyer, another call came in, this one was regarding company matters.

Nathalie had just found her phone when a sudden ringtone alerted her to an incoming call from an unknown number.