She Rejected Him on a Blind Date—Then Another Woman Said, “Marry Me”
Chapter 3
The marriage changed Ethan’s life overnight.
He moved into Claire’s estate.
The house had fifteen rooms.
He got lost twice.
On the third morning, he told her:
“This place is ridiculous.”
Claire laughed.
“I grew up here.”
“That’s not helping.”
Their arrangement was awkward.
They ate meals separately.
Worked separately.
Slept in separate rooms.
The only thing they had in common was the company crisis.
Victor Bennett immediately challenged the marriage.
He claimed Ethan had married Claire for money.
Claire’s attorney prepared a defense.
The trust agreement required only a valid marriage.
Nothing about romance.
Nothing about shared finances.
Nothing about love.
Ethan became an unexpected shield.
Reporters surrounded the estate.
Questions flooded the media.
Who was the mystery husband?
Where did he come from?
Was the marriage real?
Claire refused interviews.
Ethan did too.
Then the board meeting came.
Victor stood across the table.
“You expect us to believe this man is your husband?”
Claire smiled.
“Yes.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
“Who are you?”
Ethan answered calmly.
“Her husband.”
Laughter spread around the room.
Ethan didn’t react.
Victor leaned forward.
“You have no business experience.”
“Correct.”
“You don’t belong in this company.”
“Probably.”
“You have no idea how this company operates.”
Ethan smiled.
“Then I suppose you’d better explain.”
The room fell silent.
Ethan spent the next two hours asking questions.
Not aggressive.
Precise.
He noticed inconsistencies.
Shipping costs.
Vendor contracts.
Asset sales.
Inventory losses.
At the end, he looked at Claire.
“Your company is leaking money.”
She frowned.
“We know about the losses.”
“No.”
He pointed to the figures.
“These aren’t losses.”
“They’re transfers.”
Victor stiffened.
Ethan looked again.
Money moved from one subsidiary to another.
Then disappeared.
Victor dismissed it.
“Accounting irregularities.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Not all of them.”
Claire looked at him.
“What do you see?”
“I see a pattern.”
The board meeting ended.
Claire followed Ethan into the hallway.
“You just challenged half the board.”
“I asked questions.”
“They hate questions.”
“Then they’re hiding something.”
She smiled.
“You’re different.”
“How?”
“You actually pay attention.”
He looked at her.
“You married me.”
She laughed.
“Technically.”
“Exactly.”
That night, Ethan noticed something outside his bedroom.
A light under the door.
He opened it.
Nothing.
Then he looked down.
A note lay on the floor.
Leave Claire, or you won’t live long enough to collect your money.
Ethan stared.
Claire appeared behind him.
“What is it?”
He handed it to her.
She read it.
Her face went pale.
“You should leave.”
Ethan looked at her.
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I’m beginning to.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you staying?”
He folded the note.
“Because someone thinks I’m the easiest person to scare.”
“And?”
“I don’t like being underestimated.”
