Two hours passed before Jonathan finally came around.
The first thing he saw was a woman sitting nearby, and her face was beautiful in a way that didn't feel aggressive or calculated. Something about her looked clean and harmless.
Evelyn paused, then spoke carefully. "Mr. Bailey, could you come with me to get a divorce?"
It was the first time anyone had seen a change in Jonathan's distant and emotionless manner. He pressed his palms against the bed and forced his tired body, still weak from surgery, into an upright seated position.
He lifted a finger and tapped his temple. "Did you hit your head somewhere?"
He didn't even have a girlfriend, so how could he have a wife?
Evelyn fought for the right words, then slid a legal document onto the bed in front of him, looking more annoyed than scared. "I don't want to accept it either. I met you for the first time today, yet I was told you're my husband on paper. And the records say we're married."
Jonathan lowered his gaze to the document and saw his name listed as her spouse.
A memory from two years earlier surfaced—his grandfather had asked for his identification documents.
Was this his grandfather's doing?
Evelyn continued, "Mr. Bailey, I heard your grandfather is the richest man on our continent. Surely, you wouldn't want a wife popping up out of nowhere who can legally claim your money? I saved your life today. Could you return the favor by divorcing me?"
A faint, amused look touched Jonathan's sharp face.
No matter how he looked at it, he should be the one desperate for a divorce, yet she was acting like he was the one who might take advantage of her.
Seated on the hospital bed, Jonathan leaned back a little, and a sly smile showed as his eyes landed on Evelyn's badge. "Evelyn Mason, huh? And what if I say no to the divorce?"
Evelyn jabbed a finger toward him, and heat rushed to her face. "You..."
She hurried forward without watching her steps, and her foot caught on Jonathan's shoes near the bed.
Her balance went, and she pitched straight into him, and her red lips pressed against his thin ones.
Evelyn went rigid the second it happened.
Jonathan's jaw tightened, and irritation cut through his voice. "You just said you wanted a divorce, yet now you're throwing yourself at me. If you want to kiss me, just say it."
Evelyn's scent surrounded him, and the feeling hit hard enough that he wanted to pull her closer instead of pushing her away.
When she still didn't move, Jonathan teased, "If you don't get off me soon, I can turn this room into a honeymoon suite."
Evelyn finally looked him in the eye. "You just had surgery, so nothing like that is happening."
She pulled away fast and tried to swallow the embarrassment so she could focus on what mattered. "This marriage registration has to be some system mistake. You and I need to get divorced."
Jonathan's expression remained impassive, but his gaze stayed locked on her like he was weighing her. "What if I simply refuse to divorce?"
Evelyn dug into her bag and pulled out a document and a pen. "If you won't divorce, then sign this and give up any property rights."
Jonathan took the agreement, and something unreadable flickered across his face. "Your father is Matthew Dale?"
He kept his voice even, but his eyes had gone darker. "I'll sign, but you must play the role of my wife, help me deal with my greedy relatives, and make sure I'm fully healed."
Evelyn paused, then she answered, "Alright."
All she needed was his signature on that agreement.
Jonathan signed his name right away.
Evelyn let out a slow breath at last. Once he signed, her father's assets wouldn't end up in the wrong hands.
She was about to speak when a young nurse rushed in, breathing hard. "Evelyn, please come quickly. Your husband just brought his grandmother to the hospital. She's been admitted for emergency care due to a brain hemorrhage."
