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Chapter 1

It's been over a decade since I left my hometown, a place that inflicted immense pain and sadness upon me.

Recently, I got two jaw-dropping letters. One from a father I've been estranged from informed me about an arranged marriage I had no say in.

My fiancé, Hector Wilson, the brains behind MC International, is a highly sought-after eligible bachelor, turning heads among many girls. Even though this wasn't the driving force behind my return, the second letter grabbed my attention – a black envelope with no signature.

"Your mother's death wasn't natural; it was a conspiracy. Want the truth? Come back, and I promise I'll spill all the beans you're itching to know."

Decked out as Becky White, I'm working on a luxurious cruise ship in the Pacific. The ship is decked with white roses, and a private helicopter gracefully lands on the helipad.

My fiancé, sporting a white suit with a rose on his chest, seems like a great catch for a husband, but he's standing with my father's allies, not mine. Puzzled, I retreat, wondering why Aldrin pushed for me to join MC Group before heading back. I swiftly draft a marriage refusal letter, handing it to his secretary, and observe him entering his cabin.

"Becky White, you're assigned to Mr. Wilson's service."

What! I want to object, but the steward brushes off my protests and walks away. I joined as a waitress, so why him?

Pushing myself, I step into his room, mentally bracing for whatever awaits when we meet, only to discover he's not there.

Lucky!

Meanwhile, Hector Wilson reads the letter I penned on the deck, his expression icy, revealing nothing of his feelings.

【You're not my type.】

That's what I wrote, turning down the engagement. Soon, news of my CEO rejection unexpectedly leaks to the media, successfully intercepted by MC's PR within 10 minutes.

"Nobody is allowed to stir up trouble about this engagement ceremony; it's my command."

If I were next to him now, I could probably feel his anger. While organizing his closet, I daydreamed about his reaction to the letter and speculated on the tangled motives behind his willingness to marry me.

The Nelson Group is nowhere near MC's scale, almost like a heaven-and-hell comparison. For me, the Nelson family is a kind of hell. The CEO of MC marrying the eldest daughter of the Nelson Group implies Hector has ulterior motives, but what could they be?

Suddenly, the door swings open, and instinctively, I hide in the closet. Luckily, it's roomy enough. I plan to slip out during his dinner. Peeking through the crack, I see Hector open the closet, holding a dirty coat with traces of cocktail – a classic move when a lady wants to chat.

He pulls out a brand-new white coat, puts it on, and shuts the wardrobe door, not finding me. I sigh in relief, but the next moment, the closet door in front of me swings open unexpectedly, and I tumble out. The expected pain doesn't come; I open one eye to find he caught me.

"I... I was cleaning your room. The manager said you don't like seeing strangers, so I had to hide in your closet."

He glances at the tag on my chest, surprisingly not giving me a hard time. He lets me go, and I quickly run out. "Becky White, I approved your entry into the company. Hope you won't disappoint me."

Approved... what? I turn around skeptically, but all I get is the door being shut. So, he knows I'm joining MC as a low-level employee, does he need to personally approve it? Aldrin even fabricated my education when assigning the fake identity, Hector surely wouldn't recognize me. With over thirty thousand employees in MC, he can't personally approve everyone.

Doubtfully, I return to my room. A sense of impending doom lingers; I want to contact Aldrin, but for safety, I must wait until the cruise reaches its destination. As long as I avoid attracting his attention during this time, I should be fine.

A day passes without any incident, my anxious heart finally calms down. The next morning, I was awakened by receiving good news from the manager.

"Your job on the cruise is done. From today, you can enjoy the journey like a tourist. Have a pleasant trip. Oh, and your salary will be deposited into your account when the cruise reaches its destination, as usual."

Meanwhile, I obtained the passenger list but didn't find the Nelson family. Considering my father's desire to collaborate with MC, he wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity to get close to Hector.

With the sea breeze blowing, there are many unfamiliar faces on the cruise. Most of the guests seem to be Hector's connections. Would he truly value an unseen fiancée?

Resisting the doubts in my mind, I stand on the deck, savoring the ocean breeze for a long while. Gazing into the distance on this clear day, it's such a lovely break with no work. It seems like I haven't taken a vacation in at least five years. If I were to plan a three-year break, Aldrin would surely throw a fireworks party in excitement and immediately arrange his vacation.

Aldrin Anderson was the first person to help my sister and me when we were sent to London. He voluntarily offered me a job, enabling me to complete my studies in London. He also introduced me to a career mentor who had a profound impact on me.

My sister, Fiona Nelson, is very fond of him becoming my husband. After our mother's death, we were sent to England, and he has been taking care of us.

Ten-year-old Fiona easily senses Aldrin's feelings towards me. I know he's an extremely perfect marriage candidate; at least all our friends around suggest I marry him.

Feeling a bit bored, I tap on the platform in front of me, not realizing it's one of my habits. I think I see Hector standing in the corner, but when I turn around, he's nowhere to be found again. Do I care about the engagement with him? Who knows?

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