Ten seconds after she sent the message, Sadie's phone rang.

She picked it up.

A cool, unrestrained male voice said, "You want me to snatch the bride? Aren't you worried I'll beat the good-for-nothing groom up?"

Sadie replied calmly, "You have the right to reject the offer. I can get someone else to do it.”

The man laughed in anger. There was a chilling tone in his voice. "Don't you dare!"

Sadie pursed her lips. "Just tell me if you're coming."

The man was silent for a long time.

It took him so long to answer that Sadie was about to hang up, thinking he was refusing her.

He suddenly spoke up, "I promised to let you go, Sadie, but you just had to come knocking on my door again. This time, you've lost the right to put a stop to this." The man's voice was husky.

Sadie nodded but realized he could not see her. She said, "I know."

"Ha!" the man exclaimed. He was curious. "Aren't you madly in love with him? You rejected me because of him and blocked my number. You even went as far as to set up a bet to force me out of Seaport. What happened? Did you get dumped?"

Sadie replied honestly, "Yes, I did. I was too blind to tell the difference between a man and a bastard."

The man was standing in front of French windows, looking out at the view from a random villa in Capitol City. He had a mysterious smile on his face.

"Remove me from your blacklist. And give me your address!"

"All right."

"Remember that I never make a losing deal."

"All right."

Sadie wandered aimlessly on the street after hanging up.

That man was the renowned Blake Walker of Seaport.

He appeared out of nowhere in Seaport five years ago. Government officials accompanied him wherever he went, and he had invested 30 billion to merge several large and medium-sized enterprises.

Blake changed the business world of Seaport with his capabilities, completely reshuffling its upper social circle.

He was known to be ruthless, and many business bigwigs still trembled with fear at the mention of his name, but there was nothing they could do about him.

Even the car his bodyguard drove was highly recognizable.

No one knew why someone so powerful from Capitol City set his sights on a small city like Seaport.

It was a mystery how he suddenly vanished overnight, right after he bought out half of Seaport two years ago.

However, the extent of his unscrupulous nature was such that even now, when Sadie needed to ask him for a favor, it made her grind her teeth in frustration.

Sadie spent the entire day out and only returned in the evening.

Chad immediately brought her a pair of house slippers when she walked through the door. He helped her put them on.

That was the reason some women preferred dating younger men.

He would help her put on a clean pair of house slippers when she came home and prepare hangover remedies for her when she drank too much.

Chad would quietly clean up after her whenever she drank too much and threw up everywhere.

If Sadie had not heard his conversation with his buddies, she would never have believed that he left her to be ravaged by other men all night, allowing them to leave love bites all over her.

Chad helped Sadie put on the slippers and asked carefully, "I found the bill for your hymenoplasty outside the door this afternoon. Did you come back earlier today?"

Sadie replied coolly, "I did, but I left because I had something to attend to."

Alarm flashed in Chad's eyes. He asked, "Did you see my friends when you came back this afternoon? They were looking forward to seeing you."

Sadie shook her head. "I left before coming inside. I had no idea we had company."

Chad was relieved when he heard her answer. He smiled sincerely. "I'll make sure to let you know the next time they visit."

Sadie glanced at him and said pointedly, "I'll get to meet them during the wedding."

Chad did not reply. He wanted to hug her like he usually did, but she dodged him.

"I just came home. I haven't taken my bath yet."

"That doesn't matter. You won't ever be dirty to me," Chad said while putting his hands over her shoulders. They walked to the dining room.

Another woman was seated at the table.

She was about Sadie’s age, and she looked adorable and innocent.

Chad pointed at her and introduced the woman. "This is my friend, Josie Moore.

"My company is about to get listed, which means I'll be getting busier. You're always skimping on food and never have proper meals, so I’m getting this foodie to accompany you for meals."

Sadie's eyes lowered. Josie Moore? This must be the Josie he was talking about with his buddies.

Chad was always using Sadie’s love for him to manipulate her into agreeing to all his requests.

Sadie never expected Chad to go as far as to bring Josie into their home.

When Sadie remained silent, Josie came over and pulled out a chair for Sadie, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Please have a seat, Sadie. Don't worry. Chad and I are only friends. If it upsets you that Chad's buddy is being a third wheel, I'm fine to leave."

Sadie looked at Josie seriously.

Chad looked nervous.

When Sadie realized this, she smiled. "Of course I don't mind. Feel free to make yourself at home."

"I made dinner, Sadie. I know you're on a diet right now, so I made a diet meal specially for you," Josie said.

Chad pulled Sadie into a seat. "Look at how thoughtful Josie is. She even prepared a diet meal for you.

"By the way, I'm planning to hire Josie as my secretary. It would be convenient for us to go to work and come back together. You wouldn't mind it, would you, Sadie?"

Sadie sneered in her heart. Chad did not even bother to make up a good excuse.

"Do whatever you want," she replied coldly.

Chad was so engrossed in his happiness over Josie returning to the country that he did not notice Sadie’s change in behavior.

Josie served the table with dishes, placing them in front of Chad and herself. After serving everything, she plopped a salad bowl in front of Sadie.

She made it sound like it was a considerate act on her part. "This is the diet meal I made for you, Sadie. These are all green, leafy vegetables. They're good for you."

Josie proceeded to place more food onto Chad's plate, ignoring the look on Sadie's face.

"I made these dishes specially for you, Chad. Give them a try!"

After that, she said to Sadie, "Don't be shy, Sadie. Eat up!"

Her words sounded sarcastic to Sadie. Josie had taken over her own home so confidently and brazenly.

Josie's so-called ‘diet meal’ consisted only of a few vegetable leaves that were not even cleaned properly. The leaves still had dirt on them.

Sadie put down her fork. "Where did you learn to make this diet meal? You've really saved a lot of time on it."

Josie's eyes turned red. She said quietly, "I'm so sorry, Sadie. Please don't be mad. I just made it just like everyone does.

"I checked with Chad, and he said you enjoyed a good salad. I bought this specially for you. If you don't like it, it's fine. I'll make a new meal for you. I'll be sure to make something you're happy with."

Chad started to frown. He looked at Sadie unhappily. "Josie didn't do it on purpose, Sadie. She's not a nanny who is here to cook for us. It's not nice of you to accuse her like this.

"Just apologize to Josie, and we'll let bygones be bygones."

Sadie looked grimly at Chad.

Why had she never noticed Chad being so blind and brainless before?

She did not want to continue acting with them, so she glanced coldly at Josie. "You can leave if you feel upset about this."

With that, Sadie returned to her room.

Chad had no idea why he was feeling a little at a loss when Sadie left.

Josie immediately had other ideas. She sat brazenly in Chad's lap while her hands moved slowly down his abdomen.

"You're going to leave that old woman at the altar on your wedding day, right, Chad?"

Chad took some time to take her words in before promising, "Yes, I will."

Little did they know, Sadie had heard everything when she walked out to get some water.

She was holding one half of a couple's cup when she saw the scene. She flung it into the garbage bin.

Sadie had rejected all invites out that night as she had heard that AIDS patients should not drink. She locked herself in her room and went to sleep.

That evening, Chad came to Sadie's room.

"That was rude of me tonight, Sadie. I shouldn't have made you apologize to Josie. I'm sorry."

Sadie sighed when she heard his apology. Chad was good at acting according to the situation.

When Sadie did not reply, Chad turned on the room's lights.

She was forced to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was the hickies on his neck.

Sadie looked away. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just a little tired. You should sleep in the guest room for now."

Chad started to notice the change in Sadie.

"Are you upset, Sadie? You've been really cold to me today."

Sadie asked instead, "How about you? Were you being loving to me?"

Chad was taken aback. He frowned and replied, "Of course. You're the apple of my eye."

Sadie used to love his sweet talking, but all she felt now was disgust.

"Stop overanalyzing the situation. I'm not feeling well today, so I'd like to rest early. You should go back to your room."

When Sadie got him to leave again, Chad finally told her the reason he was there. "I have a business meeting with Mr. Umbridge tonight, Sadie. You know how difficult he can be. If you're not there, I might lose the contract."

Mr. Umbridge was from the real estate industry. He was known as a heavy drinker and a lecher. Even Sadie could not escape from being harassed every time they had dinner with him.

Chad ignored that she was not feeling well and still wanted her to socialize with him.

Her tired heart ached from the realization.

"I'm exhausted today. I don't feel like drinking."

Chad looked slightly shocked. He did not expect Sadie to reject him right away.

He tried to hold back his temper as he cajoled Sadie. "I'm sorry to brush your health aside, Sadie.

"But Mr. Umbridge holds the power to develop the land in your hometown. He is in contact with a major stock farming owner and plans to level the graveyards to build a pig farm. That's the reason why I'm eager to get the project. At the very least, I can help retain some memories of your home."

This took Sadie aback.

She could turn away from anything but her mother's grave. She had a right to that land. She could not allow this to happen.

While she was thinking about this, Sadie glanced at Chad. There was a chance that he did care about her.

Chad's thin lips tightened. "You should get some rest, Sadie. I'll talk to Mr. Umbridge and figure out a way to get the project."

"Wait! I'll go with you. Give me half an hour to prepare." Sadie got out of bed and dressed up within half an hour.

When she walked out of the bedroom, she saw Josie outside as well. Josie had put on exquisite makeup and looked like she was going to attend an event that night too.

Chad explained, "Josie is my secretary, and she needs to gain more experience. I'll be taking her along with us tonight to learn from you, Sadie."

"You've always helped Chad in business negotiations, Sadie. Let me share this burden with him now. You can stop worrying about it from now on."

Sadie was preoccupied with ways to convince Mr. Umbridge to stop the project, so she ignored Josie's words.

When they arrived at the venue, Chad pulled Josie away when she was about to sit next to Mr. Umbridge. He berated her angrily.

"Have some sense! That seat was never meant for you. It belongs to Sadie."

Chad moved to the side to reveal Sadie behind him. He gave her a slight push.

She sat right next to Mr. Umbridge.

Mr. Umbridge smiled widely at her. His expression was lewd. "You really have your ways, Mr. Simmons. I heard Miss Ellis has been recuperating at home for a while, but you still managed to get her to come here."

Chad was delighted at being praised. "You're much too kind, Mr. Umbridge. Sadie came to reconnect with you when she heard you were coming."

Mr. Umbridge was a plump man. He looked Sadie over lecherously. "How about a drink, Miss Ellis?"

Before Sadie could reply, Chad immediately answered. "She'd be delighted to drink with you."

Chad ordered a case of vodka for Sadie. He smiled and said, "We'll make sure you have fun tonight, Mr. Umbridge."

After that, Chad whispered to Sadie, "It's up to you to protect that piece of land now, Sadie. Don't mess this up."

Sadie was slightly taken aback and smiled bitterly.

Chad used to get upset when others gave her trouble while drinking. "I'm so sorry you have to suffer because of my incompetence, Sadie. You'll never have to humiliate yourself and drink with these men once I become successful."

He had gained traction in the business world now, but he had become even more adept at using Sadie to socialize for business.