In a marriage of convenience, Nathan, after a night of drinking, has an affair with Ava, leading to her ectopic pregnancy. Before the surgery, Ava calls Nathan, who is preoccupied with his mistress and neglects Ava, even going as far as to accuse her of having an affair and carrying another man's child after the surgery... As their one-year contractual marriage comes to an end, Nathan realizes his feelings for Ava. But Ava is not willing to play along anymore! Excerpt: "I am Nathan Ford's girlfriend, loved by him, as everyone knows. And you... you're just a title holder, soon to be thrown out. By then, you'll lose all your dignity... no, you've already lost it. I bet your deceased mother would turn in her grave if she knew what you've become." Hearing Iris Hart's sharp and biting words, Ava Sterling initially didn't want to stoop to her level. However, the mention of her late mother crossed a line. A crisp slap echoed before Iris Hart could even react, leaving five bright red marks on her face. "Ah—Ava Sterling—you lowlife, how dare you hit me..." Iris Hart realized she had been slapped and reached out to retaliate, but Ava Sterling was prepared and caught her hand easily. "Listen, Iris Hart, if I'm the joke, what does that make you? You're also a joke. At least I'm Nathan Ford's wife by law! You! Iris Hart, are nothing but a mistress scorned by everyone. Every wealthy man may stray, but a hotel is just a hotel, and home is home. There can be many dishes, but there's only one bowl of rice."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say!"
Nathan just wanted to end the conversation quickly, so he agreed without a second thought. He didn't want to argue with his grandmother over Natalie, fearing it would lead to more problems, which would be counterproductive.
Ava was surprised by how readily Nathan agreed, and her heart sank. She left in a daze, while Nathan remained oblivious to her feelings.
Nathan stayed with Evelyn for a while longer, but with so much work piled up at the company, he had no choice but to leave. Once back at the office, he worked tirelessly, barely stopping for rest, dealing with a mountain of tasks.
It wasn't until after 9 p.m. that he managed to get through most of the backlog. Exhausted, he dragged himself home, only to find that Ava had already gone to bed.