Chapter 7

Susan stared at Josie in stunned silence.

Josie gently took Susan’s slightly cold hand and spoke softly. “Mom, from now on, keep a closer eye on Dad.”

Her tone held an unspoken caution. “Especially when it comes to money. Watch the household spending and the company’s accounts. And whatever the situation may be, make sure you keep some money in your own hands. That is always the safest.”

Susan was not a fool. With Josie wording it that way, she could not possibly miss the hidden warning.

Thinking back to Carl’s behavior that day, and recalling certain patterns she had brushed aside before, Susan suddenly felt as if she could hardly breathe. A heavy pressure settled on her chest.

“Josie… I understand,” she said quietly.

Josie returned to her room and locked the door behind her.

According to her grandfather’s will, she owned shares of Galaxy Corporation, but she would not control them herself until she turned twenty-five unless she got married earlier. If she stayed single before then, her parents would control the shares on her behalf. If she married, she would immediately gain the right to manage forty percent of the company herself.

In her previous life, she had been scheduled to marry Zac the very next day, which granted her those management rights. But now, with the wedding canceled, Zac was no longer in the equation.

That meant she had to find a suitable marriage partner quickly, someone who could help her secure what her grandfather left her before Carl or Zac had any chance to interfere again.

With that in mind, Josie picked up her phone and pulled up Wendy Stone’s contact.

“Wendy, are you there?”

She had barely sent the message when her phone immediately lit up with an incoming call.

Wendy’s voice came roaring through, full of breathless, scandal-hungry disbelief. “Josie! The group chat is blowing up! They’re saying Zac showed up at your house today to break off the engagement, and now he wants to marry Suzy—the girl staying with you? Tell me that’s not true!”

Josie pressed her fingers to her temple. “It’s true.”

“Oh my God!” Wendy all but shrieked. “Has he completely lost his mind? Did a horse kick him in the head? Did a door slam on his skull? He dumped a sweet angel like you for that coy witch? The man needs an optometrist!

“I said it from the beginning. Zac only pretends to be polite and cultured. Underneath all that, he’s calculating and ice-cold. He was never good enough for you! But you insisted he was different!”

Wendy ranted so hard Josie could practically see her pacing in outrage on the other end of the call.

Josie felt her eyes prickle with warmth.

If only she had listened to Wendy in her past life. Even just once. She might not have been hurt so deeply.

But now, she had a chance to choose differently.

When Wendy finally paused to breathe, Josie spoke. “Wendy, do you remember mentioning your distant cousin.”

“Which cousin?” Wendy asked.

“The one whose family keeps pushing him to get married. The one who’s still single.”

“Oh! Him!”

Wendy’s voice jumped with excitement. “Wait! Why are you asking? Don’t tell me you finally came around?”

Josie gave a quiet hum of agreement. “Is he still looking to get married?”

“Looking? Oh, totally! He’s actively on the hunt!”

Wendy practically burst with excitement, like she might spring up off the couch. “And seriously, Josie, he is tall, fit, and ridiculously good-looking. Six-two, broad shoulders, athletic build. He looks great in a suit, and even better without one.

“But he’s not exactly easygoing. He can be a little cold and not great with emotions. You’ll get what I mean once you meet him.

“What I can promise is that he’s a man of real integrity. He’s a hundred times better than Zac, who looks polished on the surface and is absolute garbage underneath.”

As Josie listened to Wendy praise him nonstop, a quiet smile curved her lips.

“Wendy, can you set up a meeting with him?”

“Absolutely! Consider it done! I’ll message him right now! But Josie, are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” Josie’s voice was calm and steady. “I need a marriage.”

Wendy went quiet for a few seconds.

When she spoke again, her tone had changed to something softer and more concerned. “Josie, did Zac calling off the engagement hit you that hard? You’re not doing this out of anger, or because you’re hurting, are you?”

“It’s not about anger,” Josie said, cutting gently across her words. “I’m thinking very clearly. Wendy, I’ll explain everything later. For now, just help me set up the meeting. The sooner, the better.”

“Alright. You’ll hear from me soon. Once I lock it in, I’ll send you the time and place.”

Wendy really was efficient. Later that same evening, the details arrived.