Chapter 5 A Top-Tier Hottie Actually Wants to Marry Her on a Whim

The clear footage revealed Sean and Cecilia's tender affection for each other. It was obvious they were a loving couple. Annie had once foolishly believed that Cecilia was an innocent victim who knew nothing about what was happening. Looking back now, she had been pathetically naive. Cecilia clearly knew Annie was Sean's wife. She had been living off Annie's bone marrow to survive, yet was secretly entangled with Annie's husband. Someone like Cecilia could never be anything but rotten. Given all that, Annie saw no point in showing mercy. She logged into a throwaway account and uploaded the video in full HD. She then typed out a caption, "Dr. Frost, chief of the Cardiac Surgery Department in Jynston General Hospital, is caught flirting and getting handsy with a patient while engaged. This disgusting behavior is a blatant violation of medical ethics!" Annie then tagged Jynston General Hospital's social media account in her post. After that, she tossed her phone aside. The suffocating anger lodged in her chest finally had an outlet. This time, Annie refused to be lenient and soft-hearted. She would retaliate the same way Sean had once used and deceived her. She would put the cheating couple on public trial and ruin them completely. Perhaps because Annie had only recently been reincarnated and was still adjusting, she drifted into a deep sleep on the bed. It was as if she was finally shedding all the exhaustion of her previous life. She was startled awake by the sudden shrill ringing of her phone near dusk. Annie fumbled around her bedside table groggily and pressed the answer button. Her voice was thick with sleep as she answered, "Hello?" A low, husky voice came through the receiver. "Is this Ms. Steward?" Annie assumed it was just another telemarketing call and mumbled, "Don't need it, thanks." She then hung up and snuggled back under the covers, ready to continue sleeping. She shut her eyes again. But before she could even settle in, the same number started calling again. Having her nap interrupted twice in a row, Annie frowned irritably. She picked up the call and snapped impatiently, "I said I don't need—" The husky voice cut in before she could finish her sentence. "Sorry to bother you, Ms. Steward. I'm Christian Parker, Suzanna's uncle. I'm your blind date for tonight." Annie froze for a moment. Her sleep-addled brain instantly cleared, and she finally remembered the arrangement she'd made with Suzanna earlier. She quickly sat up, smoothing her hair in embarrassment. Her tone softened considerably when she said, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Parker. I just woke up and wasn't thinking straight." Christian replied, "It's alright. I need to leave for an emergency business trip tomorrow morning. And since the courthouse is still open right now, I wanted to ask if you're free to meet. If we find each other suitable, we can go ahead and get the paperwork done." Annie was stunned speechless by his efficiency. She hurriedly explained, "I think there's been a misunderstanding, Mr. Parker. I was only looking for someone to put on an act for a while to deal with my family. I'm not actually planning on getting legally married…" Christian's steady voice came through from the other end of the call. "I understand your concerns. But if you want to keep your family in the dark, a marriage certificate would be far more convincing. It'll also prevent unnecessary suspicion. "You can think of it as a temporary partnership agreement, Ms. Steward. You're free to dissolve it whenever you like. There's no pressure." Annie almost found herself persuaded as she held the phone and listened to his calming voice. But marrying a complete stranger was just too impulsive. Seemingly sensing her hesitation, Christian spoke again. "My car is parked right outside your family home, Ms. Steward. You can come down and meet me first, see if I meet your standards for a partnership." Surprised to hear that he was downstairs, Annie instinctively rushed to the window, barefooted. She lifted a corner of the curtain. Sure enough, a sleek black sedan was parked by the curb. A strange impulse surged through Annie. She had nothing to lose by just meeting Christian anyway. Besides, he was Suzanna's uncle. His character ought to be solid. "Alright, wait for me. I'll be right down," Annie said. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her ID card and changed into a presentable dress before hurrying downstairs. … Annie walked up to the car outside the Steward residence and pulled open the passenger door. The moment she settled into the seat, she finally saw her blind date clearly. Christian was tall—easily six-foot-two—with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even in an oversized white shirt, the fabric couldn't hide the lean muscles underneath. She could faintly see the lines of his abs. And his face was flawless. Christian had a sharp jawline with a straight, sculpted nose. He definitely outclassed Sean in both looks and presence. He would rank at the top even if he was placed in the entertainment industry full of handsome men. Annie found herself dazed for a second. She couldn't believe that a top-tier man like Christian, who could have his pick of partners, actually wanted to marry her on a whim.