By the time Mason returned to the mansion, Sarah had already fallen asleep on the bed, her hair messy and her clothes hanging loosely on her body.
He slowly pushed the door open after knocking severally with no response.
For the first time in his entire life, he had deep regrets. He regretted that decision he made at the cemetery—the one that involved bringing this woman to his house.
He should have just left her there to sleep and go back to wherever she came from when she woke up in the morning. But now, not only did he have to bring her to his house, he also had to deal with her troubles and the ones Granny Liu brought along.
Yes, he had seen the scandal this morning. The one that involved a woman named Sarah Chen. How did he know she was Sarah? It was because her pictures were all over the internet.
Apparently, the woman he pitied and brought home wasn't a pitiful woman who had the weight of the whole world on her shoulders as he thought earlier. She was actually a singer who scammed her fans.
Interesting.
From her appearance last night, it seemed like she had just walked out of a party before going to the cemetery.
Mason knew of the Chen family of Wuhan city, but he didn't know the family members of the Chen family. He only knew their father and the family name.
His assistant had reported everything about Sarah to him the moment he waved Granny Liu goodbye. She wasn't just an ordinary woman. And did he believe she could scam anyone? Probably. She had good looks, there was no doubt she climbed her way to the top by bribing the judges of the award.
But, he couldn't judge so quickly. This was Wuhan city, one of the most powerful cities in the country. If a single rumor escaped the box and leaked to the public, then it was over for whoever it was accused.
This woman, Sarah, wouldn't be that bad. He could feel it. Still, he didn't want to have anything to do with her.
But now his Granny was involved. He had to do the needful.
Just then, as if sensing that someone was in the room with her, Sarah moved, turning to the other side as her eyes fluttered open.
She glanced around, once again taking in the sight of the luxury looking bedroom.
When her gaze flickered to his, she hurriedly jolted up from the bed, a yelp leaving her lips.
Mason didn't laugh, didn't move nor blink. He just stood there watching her like a predator watching its prey.
"You…" Her face turned red like a cooked lobster when she saw the irritated look on his face.
"Are you always this messy?" He blurted out before she could say anything more.
Sarah blinked, turning slightly to look at the mirror by the side.
When she saw her messy hair and the one pimple that had suddenly materialized on her forehead, she winced and hurriedly covered her forehead with her bangs.
"Not really_"
"I don't care." Mason waved her off and moved to take a seat on the couch in the room. He crossed one leg over the other, his face unreadable.
Sarah stared at him as if he was the most diabolical thing to ever exist on the planet. Well, technically speaking, he could be. He was arrogant and definitely full of himself.
"We can skip the introductions—your face is already plastered across every headline this morning, so I know exactly who you are," he said, pausing just long enough for Sarah to wince inwardly.
Great.
"So, Miss Sarah Chen," Mason began, his tone calm but firm. "The woman you met earlier is my grandmother. She believes you're my girlfriend and wants us to settle down soon. I told her we're already in the process of registering our marriage." He paused, giving her a moment to respond or raise any objections.
When he saw the blank look on her face, he nodded and proceeded.
"I'm making you this offer because of my grandmother. A one-year contract marriage, just between us. In return, I'll grant you any wish you want. I know money isn't your problem, but I'm willing to give you half of mine, and anything else you might need… or desire."
Sarah's mind went blank for a moment, but she quickly snapped out of the daze. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she tilted her head. "A contract marriage? Registered marriage? What are you talking about?!" The moment the meaning of his words sank in, a sharp gasp escaped her lips—too loud to stop.
But Mason didn't flinch. He simply sat there, calm and unbothered, watching her reaction with cool detachment.
Sarah shook her head and then burst out laughing. "You're joking right?" She asked, still trying to control her laughter.
"I'm not jobless enough to sit and make jokes with you, Miss Chen." Mason said, glaring at her in the process.
Sarah's smile slowly faded when she saw the seriousness in his eyes. He wasn't joking? He really wasn't?
"And why should I….why should I believe anything you say? I mean why should I even marry you? Why did you choose me?" She bombarded him with the first things that came into her mind.
Mason stood up, shoved one hand into his pocket and then strolled towards her on the bed. "Miss Chen, you can choose not to believe me. That's fine. And why should you marry me? It's because with one snap of my finger, this scandal against you would disappear without a trace. Why did I choose you? You don't have to know anything other than my Granny likes you." He shrugged, still maintaining his stance and calmness.
He couldn't deny that she looked adorable when she was confused.
Focus, Mason.
Sarah laughed again and shook her head, still unable to process the whole thing. He should be joking, right?
Why would the richest and most influential man in Wuhan ask someone like her to marry him? Someone with almost the whole country against her.
And he was doing it because his grandmother likes her?
Weird.
But this was all too good to be real. Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe she was still laying at the cemetery. This was definitely a dream. Hurriedly, Sarah pinched her thigh and winced when she felt the pain on her right leg.
This was real.
"Snap out of whatever dream you're stuck in. This is real," he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. "Maybe if I'd left you at that cemetery, none of this would've happened."
Sarah glared at him and gritted her teeth. How dare he?
When Mason saw her glare, he smirked and said, "What? You want to punch me?" He asked, taunting her.
Sarah, finally losing her cool, pushed the blanket aside and sprang up from the bed. She immediately threw herself at him and punched his face, although not strong enough.
Mason, who hadn't expected that move from such a fragile little singer, groaned and staggered back, but not after pushing her away as fast as possible. As if she had some deadly disease.
Sarah fell back, landing on the bed again.
Horrified, Mason stared at his trembling hands, waiting for it. The moment where it turns red and bile rise in his throat. He shook violently, almost losing his balance.
But even after waiting for five minutes, there wasn't any reaction. No allergic reaction. No redness. No bile. Nothing.
He blinked in shock, pulled his sleeve up, just to be sure he wasn't hallucinating.
But there was nothing. His skin remained flawless and just sweaty from the little struggle and fear.
What, what just happened?
He didn't react to Sarah!