Chapter 3 Flash Marriage Contract

Regina stared at Douglas in shock, coffee staining her dress in a messy blot. The absurd proposal for immediate marriage from this man she had only just met left her momentarily speechless.

"Did I scare you?" Douglas pulled a white handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed it to Regina. "Here, use this to clean up."

Regina took the handkerchief and noticed a delicate little daisy embroidered on it. As she gently wiped the stain on her dress, her mind was elsewhere. Marry her right now? The proposal was too sudden, too absurd. She looked up, meeting Douglas' deep gaze, which seemed to hold a hint of provocation.

"What? Are you scared?" Douglas tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Regina put down the handkerchief and took a deep breath. "You seem more eager than I am."

Douglas leaned back in his chair, his long fingers tapping lightly on the table. Every move he made exuded confidence, as if he had everything under control.

"Do you really want to keep wasting time?" Douglas's voice was low and magnetic. "Searching for your perfect match in the dating market? I can assure you, no one will be more suitable than me."

His eyes locked onto Regina's. "Bringing home a husband would certainly put your grandmother at ease more than a boyfriend would."

Regina frowned. Douglas's words flowed like a well-rehearsed debate, each one hitting its mark. He was right; if it was just to reassure Tasha, a husband was indeed more convincing than a boyfriend.

And how long would it take to find the right person in the dating market? Tasha might not hold out that long.

Seeing Regina deep in thought, Douglas continued, "Of course, if a contract makes you feel more secure, we can try a six-month trial marriage."

A trial marriage? Regina blinked. That wasn't a bad idea; at least it gave her an exit strategy. If the marriage didn't work out, she could walk away after six months.

"Okay, but I have a condition." Regina slowly gathered her thoughts. "If things don't work out, we can divorce at any time, and preferably, the marriage stays private."

She paused, choosing her words carefully. "That way, it won't interfere with you finding someone else later." Her voice softened. "I just ask that when we part ways, my grandmother doesn't find out."

Douglas looked at Regina, pondering, 'How could it not work out? Regina, I've always meticulously planned everything, including our encounter that night.'

He thought every step he took was the right one, but facing Regina's hesitation and doubts, he felt a moment of uncertainty, which quickly turned into resolve.

"Deal," Douglas answered briefly, standing up and pulling a folder from his briefcase. He placed it in front of Regina and handed her another document.

Regina took the folder, puzzled, and opened it to find her personal information—driver's license, social security number, proof of single status, everything needed for a marriage license.

She looked up in surprise, her eyes questioning. "How did you get all my marriage documents ready?"

At that moment, a familiar figure approached from the corner of the café. Regina realized Cindy had been sitting nearby, pretending to drink coffee.

"Regina, don't misunderstand," Cindy explained with a smile. "Your grandmother gave me these documents a while ago, just in case you decided to get married one day."

Regina was skeptical but had no better explanation. She reluctantly accepted it and followed Douglas out of the café.

As Douglas walked ahead, Cindy whispered to him, "Mr. Semona, you were too hasty. You almost gave yourself away."

Douglas's lips curved into a slight smile. "When you're in front of someone you like, you're bound to show your flaws."

Cindy shook her head in resignation. "A wealthy man, yet a hopeless romantic."

Leaving City Hall, Regina was still in a daze. The marriage certificate in her hand stood out, the words "Marriage Certificate" mocking her impulsiveness. She had spent six years with Philip without even discussing marriage, yet she had just married a stranger she had known for only a few hours.

"Are you regretting it?" Douglas stood beside her, his eyes probing.

Regina shook her head slightly. "I don't regret marrying you. I regret not seeing the truth about my previous relationship sooner."

Douglas nodded and pulled out his phone. "Since we're married, we should take a photo together. I need to show proof."

Regina realized that Douglas was also under family pressure to marry quickly. In that sense, they shared a common burden. She stood next to Douglas, forcing a smile. The camera flash captured their awkward and distant first photo as a married couple.

"You go ahead. I need to visit my grandmother at the hospital." After the photo, Regina quickly said goodbye.

Douglas watched her walk away, his expression complex. He looked at the photo they had just taken, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

In the hospital room, Tasha looked much better than she had a few days ago. When Regina walked in, Tasha's eyes lit up.

"Regina, you're here!" Tasha looked at her lovingly. "Why are you alone? Where's your boyfriend?"

Regina took a deep breath and pulled the marriage certificate from her bag, handing it to her grandmother carefully. "Grandma, I have something to show you."

Tasha took the certificate, and when she saw the words "Marriage Certificate," tears welled up in her eyes. She opened it and saw Regina's name next to Douglas Semona's, and she cried tears of joy.

"My dear, you finally got married!" Tasha's hands trembled with excitement. "You should have told me about such a big event."

Regina gently hugged Tasha. "Grandma, I just wanted to surprise you."

Tasha wiped her tears. "I knew it. You are such a wonderful girl. You would find someone who truly cares for you."

Regina felt a pang of sadness. She had married this so-called "Mr. Right" after just one meeting. If Tasha knew the truth, she would be so disappointed.

Of course, it would be a long time before Regina realized this wasn't their first meeting.

Days turned into weeks, and to Regina's surprise, after getting the marriage certificate, she and Douglas didn't see each other for a long time. Douglas seemed to fully respect the "private" agreement, not interfering with her life.

Occasionally, she received exquisite gifts, always delivered by courier, without a name, but she knew who they were from.

As for Philip... after that night at the Peace Club, Regina hadn't contacted him again. Sometimes she dreamed of the mysterious man who had blindfolded her, but upon waking, the memories faded like mist, leaving only a vague sense of longing.

One day, Regina arrived at work at the Century Group as usual. As she entered the office, she heard a group of female colleagues whispering excitedly, their faces lit with gossip.

"Did you hear? The new CEO is super handsome!"

"Yeah, he is so attractive!"

"Too bad, though. Rumor has it he's gay and dating that famous actor Michael!"

"Really? Got any photos?"

"Yeah, look, they were caught by paparazzi together."

Regina didn't want to pay attention to the gossip, but as she passed by, she caught a glimpse of the photo on her colleague's phone. The silhouette of the man looked strangely familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before. She was about to take a closer look when a loud bell rang in her ears.

"Emergency notice!" The office intercom blared. "All employees, please check your company email immediately for an important announcement."

Everyone hurried back to their desks to check their emails. Regina did the same, opening her inbox to find an email titled "Clarification on CEO Rumors."

The email was brief, containing only a photo and a single sentence: [The Century Group CEO is married. Please do not spread rumors.]

In the photo, someone was holding a marriage certificate. Although the certificate's details weren't visible, the familiar figure made Regina's heart race. In the background, a handkerchief with a daisy pattern was faintly visible.