Gideon curled his lips into a cold smile. He strode forward, dragged the cheerful woman along, and stuffed her into the back seat of the car.

Before Luna could even realize what was happening, the black sedan sped away.

Her head was a bit foggy. She sat up and leaned over the passenger seat, let out a drunken hiccup, and stared at the man’s cold, handsome face with her clear eyes. "Gideon... you're really good-looking."

"..."

Receiving no response, she slumped back into her seat. She rubbed her bloated stomach and suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. Large tears began to fall. "Why is it that after three years of marriage, you never even looked at me once? Why were you always so hateful toward me? I really, really liked you so much. But the doctor said I have depression, and the only way to recover was to divorce you. But I couldn't... but you were so cruel. Even when I was dying, you wouldn't even tell me one lie."

She wiped her tears and continued, "But it doesn't matter. I don't like you anymore anyway. I’m going to go find a new life!"

As soon as she finished, she started trying to climb out the window. Who would have thought that just as she stuck a hand out, the window rolled up without warning. Luckily she was fast, or her hand would have definitely been crushed.

"Do you want to die?" The cold male voice came from the front, bringing Luna’s sanity back slightly.

She suddenly felt as if she were wrapped in damp rain, her body trembling as she fell into an endless abyss.

Before she jumped in her previous life, he had also asked her: "Luna, do you want to die that badly?"

The despair and sorrow from that time came rushing back like a silent hand gripping her throat, instantly sobering her up quite a bit.

She didn't ask where he was taking her. She just sat with her head down, as quiet as a mouse.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of the Gideon Group headquarters.

Gideon dragged her into the conference room and gave a cold sweep of the room at everyone waiting to divide the shares. He glanced at Xavier, who immediately understood and placed a file in front of him.

"Gideon, although Grandpa Arthur was your grandfather, logically speaking, the Gideon Group is a family business. The shares he left behind should belong to all of us. We won't mention how he insisted on giving them to an outsider before, but now that the shares are back in the family, shouldn't we discuss how to divide them?"

After one veteran shareholder finished speaking, the others chimed in with agreement.

Gideon’s expression remained unchanged. Once the room fell silent, he picked up the file and spoke indifferently: "This is the share transfer agreement you're talking about. But to your disappointment, I didn't sign it."

Having said that, he tossed the file forward lightly. "Luna is my fiancée. We just had a little disagreement before, and she was just throwing a tantrum. What, can't you all even see that, or are you trying to take advantage of the situation?"

Luna looked up sharply, frowning at him.

He didn't sign it... what did he mean?

"Luna and I will be getting married in a month. You are all welcome to attend."

Chapter 11: Might as Well Benefit an Acquaintance

The shareholders had no choice but to swallow their pride. They let out forced laughs and left, though each one couldn't help but glance at Luna before walking out.

To have successfully obtained Grandpa Arthur’s shares and now make Gideon willing to marry her—this woman was truly not simple.

After everyone had left, Xavier was about to clean up when he heard a roar that made him flinch: "Gideon! What do you mean by this? Who said they were going to marry you!"

Gideon slowly shifted his gaze to her, his voice perfectly flat: "Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

"I don't want it!" At the thought of the kind of life she’d lived during those three years of marriage, Luna’s eyes turned red with anger. "Gideon, listen to me clearly. I, Luna, would marry anyone in this world, but I will never marry you! You want to use me to stabilize the current situation, right? Fine. I’ll go out right now and find a man to cheat on you with. Let’s see how you can still have the face to marry me then!"

With that final remark, Luna stormed out of the room.

Xavier watched this scene dumbfounded. After a moment, he spoke cautiously: "Sir, actually, there were many other ways to deal with those shareholders. Why did you have to choose this one? Didn't you used to hate Miss Luna very much..."

Gideon didn't speak. After a pause, he said, "Did you read my grandfather’s will?"

"I did."

"Then have you considered why Luna was so insistent on marrying me?"

"Because... she likes you, sir?"

Gideon glanced at him, stood up, his expression returning to its icy state, and walked out.

He was the one who had leaked the news of Luna signing the share transfer agreement.

He wanted to know what difference there would be between the shares being in his hands and being in Luna’s.

The answer was obvious.

...

After leaving the company, Luna began searching for a candidate to cheat with, but unfortunately, after a round of looking, she wasn't satisfied with anyone.

Just as she was feeling discouraged, someone patted her on the back from behind: "Ugly Duckling?"

She turned around and looked at the clean-cut young man in front of her. For a moment, she couldn't recognize him, but she really did have the nickname "Ugly Duckling" when she was a child. "Do we know each other?"

"Of course we do. When you were in a car accident as a kid, I was in the bed next to yours."

"..." He could recognize her after all this time?

Luke laughed and pointed at her right ear. "In that accident, you had facial surgery to remove a large scar, and a mark was left behind your ear. Your features looked a bit familiar, so I decided to ask. I didn't expect it to really be you."

She did seem to have a vague memory of that.

Great, this was easier than expected.

Luna looked at him seriously. "Are you married?"

"No, I—"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No, I—"

"Great, let's go get a room." Luna grabbed him and started walking forward. Luke was terrified and quickly pulled his hand away, looking at her with lingering fear. "Did something happen to trigger you?"

Luna shook her head solemnly. "Since I’m going to be sacrificed anyway, I might as well benefit an acquaintance."

The corner of Luke’s mouth twitched. "Stop joking around. I still have to find someone. How about you come with me, and after I finish my business, I’ll treat you to dinner?"

"No thanks, I still have to find my next target. Goodbye."

Seeing her acting like a runaway horse that couldn't be pulled back, Luke quickly blocked her path. "Okay, okay, okay. I won't go anywhere. Don't be impulsive. Just tell me what happened."

Chapter 12: The Unexpected Wedding

Luna pursed her lips, deciding to keep it short. "Basically, there’s someone I used to love deeply but don't anymore, and he’s forcing me to marry him. So, I decided to cheat on him before the wedding. He’s so obsessed with his reputation that he’ll definitely refuse to marry me then."

"..." What kind of logic was that? It was truly baffling. "You’re hilarious. But have you ever considered that the person you used to love but don't anymore might be forcing the marriage because he’s actually developed feelings for you?"

Luna let out a dry laugh. "Absolutely impossible."

"Why?" Just as Luke finished his question, his phone rang sharply. He glanced at the screen, frowned, and stuffed a business card into Luna's hand. "I have to go. Don't do anything impulsive. If there’s anything you can't handle, call me."

With that, he hurried away.

If he didn't show up soon, Gideon would likely skin him alive.

Luna rubbed her temples and sat down on a roadside bench.

The car accident from her childhood was so long ago; she had almost forgotten it until he brought it up.

Her hand instinctively brushed her right cheek. There used to be a massive scar here.

That was why everyone used to call her the Ugly Duckling.

...

A month passed, neither too quickly nor too slowly.

Once Luna calmed down, she figured that Gideon’s talk of marriage was likely just a temporary tactic to keep the shareholders from rioting.

Gideon hated her so much; he had finally gotten rid of her, so why would he actually marry her?

Relieved by this thought, she spent her days eating and drinking with Annie, trying everything she had never experienced before.