Dumped, Then Claimed by a Billionaire

Late afternoon, L.A. County Clerk's Office. The staff were getting ready to clock out, but Marcus Dean still hadn’t shown up. His phone was off, unreachable. On the wall-mounted TV, a piece of entertainment news interrupted the usual broadcast. “Supermodel Bella Quinn hospitalized after falling into the water…” Hannah Jones’s bright eyes froze for a second. Then she called Marcus’s assistant, Jake. Jake answered cautiously, “Miss Jones?” “Where’s Marcus?” “Miss Jones… Mr. Dean is very busy, he—” “Put him on.” Their engagement had been arranged since they were young. With her grandfather gravely ill, all he wanted was to see Hannah and Marcus married, so the wedding had been moved up. They were supposed to register their marriage this week. But Marcus had stood her up again and again. “This…” Jake hesitated, then the phone was taken from him. Marcus’s voice came through. “Hannah, something came up. Let’s talk about us in a couple of days.” Hannah’s eyes darkened. “Marcus, you told me to come to the clerk’s office, and now you’re ditching me again? Are you treating me like a joke?” Marcus paused. He glanced at Bella, pale and lying in the hospital bed, then stepped onto the balcony and lowered his voice. “Alright, be good. I’m just really busy right now. We’ll talk properly in a few days, okay? Just wait a bit…” A cold, mocking smile tugged at Hannah’s lips. Her hand tightened around her phone. “Marcus, enough of the sweet talk. I’ll ask one last time. Are you coming today to register our marriage?” “Hannah, I told you I’m not in town. Why are you being so aggressive?” Marcus was starting to get frustrated, his face slightly red with irritation. Hannah let out a short laugh. “Am I being aggressive? Or are you just taking me for a fool? You’re with Bella right now, aren’t you?” There was no hiding it now. Marcus’s expression turned stiff and pale, then he said coldly, “Since you already know, why ask? Bella’s hurt, I…” “She’s injured, and you, her future brother-in-law, are the one taking care of her? You want to be with her, don’t you?” Hannah tore off the last bit of pretense. “Hannah! What the hell are you talking about? We’ve known each other for years. I never thought you’d be so petty, so jealous!” Marcus seemed to be hitting a nerve and snapped. Hannah actually laughed, out of sheer disbelief. “Are you blind, Marcus? Have you forgotten how deep the conflict is between me and her? I never hid it. So let me ask you one last time: are you coming today to get the marriage license or not?” “You’re being completely unreasonable. We both need to calm down. Let’s talk in a few days—” “No need! This is it. We’re done.” Hannah took a deep breath, forcing down the storm in her chest, and hung up the phone with exhaustion. Enough. This relationship had already dragged on long enough. She was tired. If someone chose to leave her or mess with her heart, then so be it—she wouldn’t beg them to stay. … But just as Hannah ended the call, a WeChat video call came through. It was Bella. On the screen, Bella was wearing a hospital gown, but draped over her shoulders was Marcus’s suit jacket. In her hand was his usual insulated cup. Her delicate, soft features were lit up by a faint smile. Hannah recognized all of it instantly—because she was the one who bought those things for Marcus. Bella blew on the cup, took a sip of water, then her eyes glinted with smug satisfaction. She looked directly at the screen and sneered, “Well, big sister? Didn’t I tell you? If I want something, I get it. You’ve lost. Didn’t you used to act all high and mighty? Now look at you—like a pathetic loser who can’t hold onto anything. Not even your man.” The words were full of provocation, and they hit Hannah like a slap. “You’re disgusting, Bella.” “Disgusting? And yet this disgusting woman just made your beloved man fall at her feet. Don’t you feel ashamed enough to end it all? Just like your oh-so-noble mother?” Bella never bothered to hide her viciousness from Hannah. Every word was a direct hit to her most painful memories. Sure enough, Hannah’s strikingly cold face darkened completely. “You’re really something, Bella. You’ve taken shamelessness to a whole new level. If you want him so badly, take him. You really think I can’t live without Marcus?” Bella snorted. “You’re still that mouthy little b***h, huh? If you didn’t care, why haven’t you told your grandpa to cancel the engagement with the Dean family? You wouldn’t dare, would you? You’ve been chasing after Marcus like a dog. And all for nothing—did you really think the Dean family wanted to marry someone like you?” Hannah’s eyes narrowed at that. Bella smiled with contempt. “You think you’re good enough for the Dean family? A woman with a criminal record? No matter how polished you make yourself, you can’t erase the past. Maybe you don’t care about shame, but they do. You’re the perfect example of a toad dreaming of eating a swan.” A chill settled in Hannah’s eyes. She knew Bella was just trying to get under her skin, but these words hit all the right nerves. “Bella, you know exactly why I’ve endured all this.” “And? So what? No one believes you. That’s the sad part, isn’t it?” “Listen to me, Marcus was just checking in on me, don’t be mad, I…” Hannah saw Marcus walking into Bella’s hospital room through the open door on the screen. Without saying another word, she hung up the call. … At that exact moment, in a quiet corner behind Hannah. A man had heard everything she said. “Sir, Miss Hamilton… is already on a flight to C Country. She said the awards ceremony is important. She also said you both need some time apart… that you should think things through before contacting her again. Maybe apologize. Should I call her back now and ask her to return—” Aaron asked nervously, afraid of disturbing the man sitting silently with his eyes closed. Apologize? Lucien Sterling slowly opened his eyes. His deep black irises were as still and unfathomable as the depths of the sea. His voice, low and cold, carried no emotion. “No need. Hopefully, she stays there forever.” Aaron froze. Before he could respond, Lucien spoke again, but this time not to him. “Miss Jones, if you don’t mind, how about we work together?”