At exactly 6 pm, Pine Crest Hospital witnessed something haunting.
A woman who had been certified dead. . .came back to life.
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The low hum of conversation broke the silence within the ward. Slowly opening her eyes, Catherine West found herself staring at a stark, white world. The pungent smell of disinfectants filled the air. As she gazed at the white ceiling above, she was momentarily perplexed as to why she was in a hospital.
"The patient is awake," Doctor Eugene said excitedly, coming over. "Do you feel pain anywhere?"
Catherine, still hazy from trying to find her barings, lifted her hand and pointed at her chest, her voice choked up, "Yes, my heart hurts."
Everything that had happened before her fainting spell overcame her like a flood, threatening to drown her. Catherine remembered everything.
She had been run over by a truck. She remembered hovering over her body, which lay lifeless on the hard cold ground, surrounded by her blood. The redness of it had jolted her.
She knew without being told. . . she was dead.
Coming back to the present and seeing herself back in her body, could only mean one thing. . .
She had been given a second chance at life.
Watching the young doctor furrow his brows, his voice agitated, yet cautious, she didn't know what to make of his actions. He looked at the man standing not far behind him, "Mr. Charles, her physical examination came back clear just now. Now she complains of chest pain. Should we examine her again?"
"Leave!" The voice was soft, slow, and magnetic, but the cold tone sent shivers down Catherine's spine.
She followed the sound to its source, and when she saw the man's face, she gasped in surprise. There was a swift flash of awe in her eyes.
Standing at the doorway of the ward was a tall and handsome man. His strong, yet delicate features made him look almost sculpted.
Squinting slightly under a high forehead, his full lips were gently curled. He casually stood there with his hand in his pocket, emanating an aura of power.
After the doctor left, the man came over, towering over Catherine, his eyes as dark as black ink.
Catherine felt a prickle at her scalp under his gaze, her head was lowered in anxiety, but she didn't dare to cry, only soft sobs escaped her lips.
"Charles Fisher," he said, emotionlessly.
"What?" Catherine gaped, confused.
"My name." He slightly furrowed his handsome brows, looking a bit impatient, "I am the one who brought you here."
Catherine was startled by his suddenly stern voice. She wiped away her tears, jumped off from the sickbed and said, "Mr. Charles, thank you for saving me. I don't know how I can repay you. If there’s ever a need for my help in the future, just tell me."
Before she had the chance to straighten her body after her words, she heard Charles's cold voice that made people shudder echoing from above her.
"Marry me."
"What?" Catherine startled and jumped up. She had been bending over and didn't notice Charles leaning over her. With her jump, her head bumped squarely into his chin.
Tears sprang to her eyes from the pain but when she saw the man's stern face turn pale, she hurriedly apologized, "I'm...I'm sorry, it was not intentional."
Feeling the growing tension around her, Catherine hung her head, her tearful eyes staring straight at the man's black shoes. Her hands fidgeted at her sides.
"Single?" Charles gingerly rubbed his chin.
"Well. . .I suppose so." Catherine was a bit breathless. She didn't know what to make of his question. Even thought the details of her past were hazy, she felt the need to say she was single. She could feel Charles's gaze on her head, and for a moment, it felt as if her hair stood on end.
Subconsciously, she took a step back.
"Marry me." Charles spoke indifferently again, but his icy tone weighed heavily on Catherine like a giant stone, making her breathe more rapidly.
"What did you say?" She asked but still didn't dare to raise her head. She could only tighten her eyebrows and stare at her toes.
"Marry me!" Charles repeated, his face emotionless as he looked at the surprised Catherine. "You're single, and I. . . need a wife." Suddenly, he added, "Gavin really likes you."
Catherine didn't know who Gavin was and she didn't bother asking. Her head still throbbed, plus she needed to understand the phrase - Marry Me, meant.
TWO HOURS LATER.
Catherine still couldn't believe that she had just married a man she had only known for a day. She was still in shock even after she came out from the Civil Affairs Bureau with her red certificate in hand.
Why did she agree to it yesterday?
Certainly not because of the sentence, "You're single, and I need a wife." Instead, it was because he said, "I can give you everything you want."
Then, in her nervousness, she accidentally bumped into the table behind her. Amidst the chaos, she felt a chilly sensation on her lips, wafting with the pleasant scent of mint. In the depths of her heart, Catherine thought she must have been dazzled by the scent of mint, thus agreeing to marry him in a daze.
Recalling the heart-pounding scene from yesterday, she gently touched her lips. A faint hint of mint lingered, making her head spin like she was drunk whenever she thought of it. Her cheeks flushed, hot like a feverish patient's and even her heartbeat quickened.
As she groggily got into the Hummer Jeep parked in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, she had just buckled her seatbelt when Charles, seated next to her, handed her a white contract to sign.
After setting down their marriage certificate, Catherine took the white contract from him. The four bold characters on it read 'Prenuptial Agreement'.
They were already married, so why was there a need for a prenuptial agreement? Baffled, Catherine shot Charles a puzzled look before lowering her head to read through it carefully.
Party A: Charles Fisher
Party B: Catherine West
Hmm... The clause stating that party B need not fulfill the wife's responsibilities was fine. The clause stipulating that party B must not be involved with other men during the marriage was acceptable. If party A terminated the contract, a compensation of ten million to party B would be given, and vice versa if party B initiated the termination.
Upon seeing this, Catherine turned and cautiously asked Charles, "You're not planning to spend your life with me, are you?"
Charles didn’t reply, but Catherine noticed his hand around the steering wheel tightened.
The atmosphere within the car seemed to grow heavy.
After giving a dry laugh, she began hesitantly, "Just. . . just wondering."
Taking a deep breath in her mind, Catherine did not hesitate at all to sign her full name at the bottom of the contract. Two strangers had become the closest of people today. Catherine tried to find a topic to talk about, but after thinking for a long time, she didn't know what to say.
Suddenly feeling a bit stuffy in the car, she lowered the window and turned to look at the scenery outside.
Charles, however, stopped the car by the side of the road: "Get out!"
“What for?” Catherine West saw that Charles had already opened the car door and gotten out. She asked as she opened her car door. Just as her feet were about to touch the ground, Charles's voice came from behind her: "To pick up our son."