Chapter 1

"You can't work and control the company unless you get married now."

Anita's eyes widened at the words of the lawyer sitting next to her.

"What?" she asked, as if checking to make sure her ears were still working properly.

"This is the will given by Mr. Hartanto," the lawyer said, handing Anita a document.

Anita hastily opened the document and read its contents. What the lawyer said was true. But this was absolutely ridiculous!

The woman took a deep breath. After her father's death, all his assets were controlled by her stepsister and stepmother. Anita was utterly frustrated at not being able to do anything now.

"Then if you'll excuse me."

The lawyer immediately left after handing her the will.

Anita read it carefully once more, clenching her fists. After all, her father's assets and her mother's company couldn't fall into the hands of those people!

But where was she supposed to find a husband any time soon?!

If only her engagement to the son of the Sanjaya family hadn't been canceled, none of this would have happened.

Her stepfamily was indeed cunning. Anita's engagement was canceled by her stepmother, and now her stepsister was to be engaged to the son of the Sanjaya family.

Anita walked to the administration room to pay all the hospital bills while her father was hospitalized.

However, she stopped when a middle-aged man suddenly approached her.

"Help me," the man said, looking confused.

Anita looked at him with a furrowed brow. "Why, sir?"

"I don't have the money for the hospital bills, but my child needs surgery immediately. Please help me. I will do anything," the man said to Anita, his voice sounding desperate.

"I'm sorry, but I don't—"

"Please!" The man suddenly knelt at Anita's feet, startling her and causing her to panic.

"Sir, don't do this," Anita said in a panic.

Truly, her head was already spinning thinking about the will. Now, she had to face another problem that had nothing to do with her.

However, seeing the look on the old man's face, Anita couldn't bear it.

She helped him up. "May I meet your son first?" she asked. Anita was afraid this man was lying and trying to trick her by asking for money.

"Come, he's in room 45," said the middle-aged man.

Anita walked toward the room the man had indicated. From the doorway, she saw a man bandaged like a mummy. This startled Anita a little, so she didn't even dare step inside.

However, Anita observed him closely. Judging by his stature, the man was quite tall. At first, Anita thought he was a child, but he turned out to be quite mature.

"So... that's your son?" Anita asked to confirm.

"Yes, he's 27 years old. He was involved in a fire while at work. His body burned, and he turned out like this," the man said in a trembling voice.

"Is he a man?" Anita asked, but her voice was like a mumble.

"Yes, he can talk too, but he can't move much because his body is blistered."

Anita was silent for a long time. Her mind was busy considering carefully.

It just so happened that this man was not much older than her. She could use this opportunity to exploit the situation.

"Let's put it this way, Sir…" Anita trailed off, as she hadn't yet met the man in front of her.

"My name is Anwar."

"Okay, Mr. Anwar, so it's like this. I happen to be looking for a husband, but only on paper. How about Mr. Anwar marrying me to your daughter?" Anita said. "Don't worry, Sir, I'll pay all her hospital bills. I'll also give her money for surgery abroad."

Anwar's eyes widened at Anita's words. "Marriage?" he asked. But his expression was calculating. "May I have some time? I need to talk to her first," he said again.

Anita simply nodded as she took out her business card. "Here's my business card. If Mr. Anwar doesn't mind, you can call me back later."

"Okay, thank you very much."

Anita immediately left after handing him the card. She smiled a little relieved. Hopefully... the man would marry her.

***

On the other hand, Anwar returned to the room where a man lay like a mummy.

"We don't have any money for the hospital," said the man, still in intensive care, as Anwar stood beside his bed.

"I met someone and asked for their help."

"What do you mean, Anwar?" the man asked in a deep voice that made Anwar bow his head in reverence.

"Excuse me, Mr. Morgan. I claimed to be your father and asked for a woman's help," Anwar said.

"Asking a woman for help? Who? She must have asked for something in return, right?" Morgan asked inquisitively. He knew no one was truly selfless, especially in his world of deceit.

Anwar still lowered his head, afraid of his employer. He only wanted to help and had no other choice.

"Yes... she said she would help if you were willing to marry her," Anwar explained. "But it was only a marriage on paper, nothing more."

"Are you crazy?!" Even wrapped like a mummy, Morgan's voice was loud, making Anwar flinch. "I didn't want to do something so foolish!" Morgan said again.

"I'm sorry, sir..."

Morgan took a deep breath. "If it weren't for being betrayed by my own family, we wouldn't be like this!" he cursed in an irritated tone.

"I apologize, young master. But we have no money left. If you appear before them now, it's not impossible that they will try to harm you again," Anwar said.

Morgan pondered this. Right now, he really needed protection, as his family would surely try to harm him again if they knew he was still alive.

"You're right. I need to hide for a while and recover," Morgan said, looking down at his almost bandaged body.

"Yes, Young Master. It's best if we hide until our business is finished."

"What woman would want to make me her husband on paper?" Morgan asked. He was curious about a woman who would do such a ridiculous thing.

Anwar then took a business card from his pocket and handed it to Morgan.

"Here, Sir."

Morgan took it and read it carefully. He secretly smiled, though it wasn't visible.

"Anita Anindiya Hartanto…" the man murmured. "Interesting."