Chapter 2

Just as I closed the door, a commotion of footsteps sounded from around the corner of the hallway.

I suddenly realized something and frowned, instinctively pushing Jason into his room.

Sure enough, the footsteps soon stopped outside the door.

"It's this room, right?"

"Yes, hurry and knock!"

It was those reporters.

In my previous life, photos of Zack and I sleeping together had been exposed by these unscrupulous media vultures. Under pressure from all sides, Zack had been forced to marry me.

At the time, I had been overjoyed, completely oblivious to his reluctance. It wasn't until after the wedding that he berated me to my face, torturing me with his cold demeanor.

Not only that, but Zack had schemed to destroy my family's company. After we went bankrupt, my father committed suicide by jumping off a building, unable to bear the pressure. My mother followed soon after by slitting her wrists.

I became an orphan overnight, then was sold off to rich businessmen to pay off debts.

Used by countless men.

That time was like hell on earth. Even now, the memory made my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

I was treated like a toy, an ornament, subjected to their endless abuse.

I still remember when they first took me. I was still naive then, my voice shaking as I warned them: "My husband is Zack Williams. If he finds out how you're treating me—"

Before I could finish, the leering man opposite burst into laughter. Then he slapped my face again and again, telling me the cruel truth.

"Zack Williams? Don't be so naive. He's the one who sold you to us."

I knew Zack had always loved Susie, but I never imagined he could be so heartless towards me.

Thankfully now, I had a chance to redo everything. I had avoided the reporters and hadn't slept with Zack.

Clutching my chest in lingering fear, the joy of my rebirth made me momentarily forget where I was, until the man before me spoke teasingly.

"Boyfriend?"

I froze, then looked up.

Jason was raising an eyebrow at me.

This was the first time I'd observed him up close. His looks were completely different from Zack's pretty-boy features - harder, colder, with thick brows and eyes so dark they gleamed.

No wonder he made countless girls in the city swoon.

But now wasn't the time to be starstruck. Hearing the door across the hall open, I quickly lowered my voice and pleaded: "Can you help me? Just pretend to be my boyfriend in front of Zack for a few days. I'm leaving the country soon, you can say you dumped me after that."

Jason's expression remained neutral the whole time. After I finished, he just glanced at the door with a half-smile.

"What if I say no?"

My heart leapt into my throat. I knew this was no joking matter. If Jason opened the door now and revealed what he'd seen, I would be doomed to repeat my past life's tragedy.

At that thought, I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, there was a hint of desperation in my gaze.

"What will it take for you to agree? I'll accept any condition."

Perhaps it was the gravity of my tone, but Jason paused for a moment. Then he strode further into the room.

"I never thought I'd see the day the high and mighty Sophia Su would stoop to begging."

My heart loosened a bit, sensing there was hope. I hurriedly followed him.

By now Jason had walked over to sit by the window, dramatically picking up a glass of red wine from the table.

"I suppose I could help you, but you'll have to do something for me in return."

I nodded without hesitation: "Of course, what is it?"

He gripped the rim of the glass, tapping it lightly with his finger.

"I haven't decided yet. Let's just say you'll owe me one, to be determined later."

Jason proved true to his word. Those reporters didn't manage to get any useful information from the room across the hall, but they stubbornly refused to leave the hotel lobby. Jason snuck me out through the service elevator and we slipped away unnoticed through the parking garage.