In the soft glow of the lamplight and the gentle notes of music that filled the room, the warmth was lost with Edward Cullens resolute departure. The sudden ring of the telephone echoed through the empty space. Catherine Morland, sitting listlessly, stirred and with numb legs, picked up the phone. The number on the caller ID was unfamiliar.
"Hello," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Edward... isnt today your wedding night with Catherine Morland? Why are you here with me?" A sweet female voice asked from the other end of the line.
"Thats just a transaction," came Edwards voice, one she would recognize anywhere.
Catherine felt her entire body tremble. Transaction? Indeed, in his eyes, she was nothing more than a useful tool. In this marriage, she was the joke. She hung up the phone, drew her knees up to her chest, and in the mirror opposite her, she could clearly see the dense blue aura surrounding her. Blue represented sorrow.
Ever since the nightmare eight years ago, she had inexplicably gained the ability to see the colors of human emotions and the nutritional colors of plants. At first, she was terrified, but as she gradually understood the meaning of the colors, she turned a misfortune into a blessing and saw through the truth and falsehood around her.
Sometimes, what heaven gives, it will eventually take away. Such as the fact that she loved him, but he did not love her.
She stayed up all night, and he did not return home all night. It was almost noon when Edward finally came back. Standing against the light, he looked even more handsome and upright. As he approached step by step, the clarity of his features became more distinct, his well-proportioned facial features a gift from the creator.
Despite his cold demeanor, he still drew her gaze uncontrollably. His aura was mostly a foggy white, impenetrable to her. She could see the emotions of everyone, but she was stumped by Edward Cullen. How ridiculous. Heaven let her easily see through others, yet it forbid her from understanding the one she loved.
The slap of papers thrown by Edward startled Catherine, and her heart raced: had he noticed her watching him? Edward stood five paces away, looking down at her, and said in a commanding tone, "Sign the agreement."
Catherine was stunned for a moment before she reacted, her heartache and grievance wrapping her in a blue aura so thick it seemed to drip. She had waited all night for him, and this was what she got in return.
Remembering the phone call from last night, the bitterness in her heart was uncontrollable when she saw him. She crumpled the agreement in her hand, trying to sound calm as she asked, "Who is that woman?"
Edward frowned, clearly displeased, and said, "You have no right to question me. Read the agreement carefully."
Even though she couldnt see his emotional colors, Catherine could hear the impatience in Edwards voice. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and opened the marriage agreement in front of her.
When she saw the first and second clauses of the agreement, a wave of sourness surged through her body, and a sense of vertigo almost made her lose her balance.
Marriage Agreement Clause 1: The female party has no right to ask the male party for any help or support.
Marriage Agreement Clause 2: The female party has no right to inquire about any affairs of the male party.
The words from yesterdays phone call echoed in her mind.
Its just a transaction.
With this agreement, the title of the transaction was even more legitimate, and the distinction between them was even clearer.
But she didnt want to be separated from him, so she endured her shame and begged, "Can I not sign this agreement..."
Their names on the marriage certificate could be so close, but why couldnt he be a little closer in real life?
His gaze was sharp as he warned, "Think clearly before you speak."
He didnt rush her to answer, just sat there motionless, as if seeing through all her thoughts.
Catherine couldnt help but well up with tears, and after a long while, she finally gave in, speaking with self-mockery.
"Okay, Ill sign."
What he wanted, she had no courage to refuse, even if it meant her heart was eaten away by silkworms.
After receiving the signed agreement, Edward did not stay long. As he left, he said, "Catherine Morland, you better remember that all of this is what you asked for."
He was reminding her to keep her place.
Yes, it was all what she had asked for. Even if she faced trials and tribulations in the future, it was her due.
If not for her special ability, they would never have intersected in this life, and she would not have been able to make this transaction and become his wife.
What she asked for was just to stay by his side. Now that she had her wish, she should be content!
After Edward left, the room returned to its desolate state. Catherine sat in the same place, feeling the cold but seemingly oblivious to it.
It was not until she received a notice from the hospital that she left the room filled with mockery, exhausted.
The butler seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Seeing her come out, he approached and said, "Madam, Sir asked me to remind you to remember the agreement."
Boom!
Catherines face turned pale and then red, and then pale again.
How bad was Edwards impression of her? Was it not enough to warn her before leaving? He had to remind her again through the butler!
Her reputation for being cunning and ruthless must be at the top of his list.
"Ha..."
But even so, her mind was still full of Edwards figure, and she couldnt help but think, was she beyond help?
Catherine arrived at the hospital in a daze. When she entered her mothers ward, she tidied up her sorrow and pretended to be happy and sweet as she entered the ward.
"Qingqing, why are you here?" Her mother was immediately wrapped in a sunny golden light when she saw her.
Gold represents pleasure. Seeing her mother happy, Catherines suppressed sorrow finally eased a bit.
Catherine put her things away and then sat in front of the hospital bed, hugging her mother through the quilt and acting coquettish, saying, "Mom, I miss you. Besides, your surgery today is very important. How can I not come to rest assured?"
Her mothers condition had deteriorated, and she had to endure great pain with each surgery. How could she not come?
Melanie Hamilton stroked her daughters hair lovingly and said, "Silly child, I have a nurse taking care of me here. You dont have to worry. How are things with you and Edward after getting married?"
Catherine almost couldnt hold back her tears when she heard this.
How could she tell her mother that her marriage with Edward was just a piece of paper?
Her new husband even spent the wedding night with his lover?
Catherine buried her face in the quilt to make sure her emotions were stable before saying, "He... is very good."
Melanie Hamilton patted Catherines head lovingly and said, "Then mom can rest assured."
Catherine forcibly suppressed the sourness in her heart and forced a shy smile to reassure her mother.
She was afraid that if she continued to discuss Edward, she would not be able to help but reveal the truth in front of her mother, so she changed the subject. Fortunately, her mother did not continue the conversation.
Fortunately, the surgery was a success. After the surgery, Catherine stayed at the hospital to take care of her mother.
However, she was called to the doctors office during the process. Looking at the nurse with a heavy face, Catherines heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"Ms. Morland, although your mothers surgery was successful, her condition is not optimistic. She must undergo a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible to ensure her life safety."
Catherines body swayed, barely stand with the help of the nurse: "Doctor, then, what about the bone marrow..."
"You are lucky. We contacted a suitable bone marrow match last week. You need to pay the fees as soon as possible so we can arrange the surgery."
Catherines pale face only recovered a bit, but then she thought about her financial situation, and she hesitated to ask, "Okay, what is the cost?"
"One million."
In the ward, Catherine looked at her mothers haggard face, and the words of the doctor and nurse alternated in her mind.
One million! If it were before, it would just be her pocket money for a month. But ever since her mothers health problem led to the loss of power in the company, and that woman entered the house, everything changed.
Now, let alone one million, she couldnt even take out 100,000.
At present, the only person who can save her mother is Edward Cullen.
As the sun set in the west, Catherine stood in the villa lobby, her whole person shrouded by the afterglow, especially lonely.
She couldnt wait for him, so she had to ask, "Oliver, is he coming back today?"
The butler Oliver replied politely, "Im sorry, madam, Im not clear about sirs itinerary."
The aura around Oliver was a respectful blue. Her eyes wouldnt deceive her, but Olivers respect for her was just because of her status as Mrs. Cullen.
Catherine lowered her eyes and laughed at herself. Of course, Edward hated her so much now, how could he allow the butler to tell her his whereabouts?
But what she didnt expect was that she waited in the villa until late at night, but Edward still didnt show up.
Looking at the closed door and the empty living room, Catherine couldnt help but think of the strange phone call on the wedding night.
After a long time, she took a deep breath and, enduring the heartache that eroded her bones, dialed the call...
"Beep~ Beep~"
"Who is it?"
The call was answered quickly, still the voice of that woman.
Catherine gripped her phone tightly, trying to suppress the sourness in her heart, and forced herself to speak.
"Hello, Im looking for Edward Cullen."
The other side almost immediately replied, "Sorry, Cullen is not convenient to answer the phone right now."
The womans tone was ambiguous and full of implications.
Inconvenient?
What were they doing that Edward would be inconvenient to answer the phone?
What else could a man and a woman do late at night?
Catherine covered her heart, trying to suppress the pain that spread.
She couldnt show weakness in front of this woman!
After calming down a bit, Catherine asked stiffly, "Where will he be tomorrow?"
The other side first came a presumptuous sneer, and then said contemptuously, "Mrs. Cullen, Cullen is your husband, but you ask me about his itinerary? Are you crazy?"
Mockery, humiliation, and a sense of victory, Catherine thought that even if she couldnt see the other party now, her surroundings must be wrapped in a black aura full of malice.
The phone call on the wedding night was intentional, right.
Although she was so angry that her heart was numb, she thought of her mother who was still in the hospital, so she endured it.
"Since you dont know, forget it."
A few short sentences were like going through a battle, and Catherine was exhausted. She was also desperate to find a doctor, and she actually hoped to find out Edwards itinerary from his lover.
But at this time, the other party changed her tone: "Hey, seeing how pitiful you are, Ill tell you. Cullen will have an important business to discuss in the Kings Suite of The Ritz Club tomorrow night."
After that, the other party hung up the phone.
So the next night, Catherine stepped into The Ritz Club.
The lobby of the club was richly decorated, but the men and women hugging each other in the center of the hall made Catherine instinctively disgusted.
This place is like a big dye vat, dyeing the aura of everyone on their bodies black. Catherines eyes were stimulated and ached slightly.
Catherine raised her head slightly, blinking to relieve the sourness of her eyes: "Take me to the Kings Suite."
The receptionist listened, and the look in her eyes changed when she looked at Catherine. Catherine, who was preoccupied with her own thoughts, didnt notice these.
She was led to the box, and before she could pay attention, she was pushed in, and the door was locked!
Catherine reacted on the spot, and she realized she had been deceived!
In the box, a balding, fat man with a dark aura was waiting for her, approaching step by step.
Catherine panicked and retreated, but accidentally tripped over the sofa and fell to the ground.
She tried to stay calm and shouted, "Stop! Dont come over!"
But the man pounced like a hungry wolf, sneering, "What are you pretending for? Didnt anyone tell you what to do when you came to this box?"
Catherine was disgusted and cried, scratching and kicking, and tried her best to resist: "Go away! Im here to find someone, I just went to the wrong place!"
However, she used all her strength to resist, but she was still bullied by the man, and the mans hand tore her collar, and his head came over.
Disgust, panic, familiar scenes like a nightmare overwhelmed Catherine.
In a hurry, she grabbed a vase decoration nearby and smashed it hard on the mans head.
"Ah -!"
The man held his head, rolling to the side in pain, and still cursed maliciously: "Bitch!"
Catherine didnt care about the mess, scrambled up from the ground, wrapped her torn clothes, and ran to the door. To her delight, the door happened to be opened at this time.
"Catherine Morland, what are you doing here?"