I Fled the Wedding and Came Back With a Contract Husband Chapter 05

I Fled the Wedding and Came Back With a Contract Husband Chapter 05

The night wind was fierce. I walked along the road for a long time before hailing a cab back to my hotel.

When I collapsed onto the couch, I was freezing.

My phone buzzed. Sophia: [Emily, James is coming to the hospital tomorrow. Dress soft and pretty. Don’t be

rude.]

I stared at the screen. She was desperate to marryme off, terrified I might try to take Nathan back.

I scrolled through my contacts and stopped at one name.

After I made the call, I slept soundly for the first time.

The next morning, I changed into a cream blouse and black trousers and headed to the hospital.

When I reached the ward, the Hartwells were waiting outside.

Grandfather stood at the front with his cane, flanked by my father and Sophia. Nathan lingered to the side. Beside Sophia stood James Prescott, in a navy suit.

“Thought you’d run off again,” Grandfather grunted. “Good. James is here to visit your mother. Get to know

each other.”

James stepped forward with an air of condescension. “Emily, Sophia told me about you. It must be hard, a

woman alone abroad all these years.”

“From now on, I’ll take care of you, and cover your mother’s medical bills. I’m very satisfied with this match. We’ll get engaged after your mother’s surgery.”

“I’m not.” I looked at him flatly.

The crowd went rigid.

“Emily Hartwell!” Grandfather slammed his cane into the ground. “Don’t be ungrateful The Prescotts are

doing you an honor!”

“I don’t want it.”

“Father, please calm down.” Sophia steadied Grandfather’s arm and turned to me, pleading. “Emily, don’t be stubborn. James is such a good match. You’d miss out forever. You can’t stay single your whole life, can you?”

“She can stay single as long as she wants.”

A deep male voice cut through the tension, silencing the room.

Everyone turned.

A man in a charcoal suit strolled toward us, stopping beside me. His hand settled naturally on my waist.

He looked at James Prescott, one eyebrow arched, his tone ice-cold.

“You were just saying you wanted to get engaged to my wife?”

Silence, for three full seconds.

I glanced at the man beside me. Derek Vance. I’d met him abroad five years ago. We’d been married for two

years—separate lives, but we had an understanding.

Today he wore a tailored charcoal suit, cuffs precisely buttoned, his posture effortless. His hand was warm

against my hip.

Grandfather recovered first, rapping his cane hard. “Who are you? What nonsense is this?”

“Derek Vance.” He released my waist and pulled a business card from his inner pocket, offering it with unhurried precision. “Emily Hartwell’s legal spouse. We’ve been married two years.”

The card was matte black with gold foil-just a name and number. But when my father took it, his face

changed.

“Derek Vance… of Vance Holdings?” His voice cracked.

“Yes.” Derek retrieved the card and glanced at James. “Mr. Prescott? That ‘very satisfied’ line-I’ll return it

to you. My wife is indeed a catch, and she doesn’t need you worrying about her. We don’t know each other.

Watch your tone.”

James’s face flushed red and white. He looked at Derek, then at the card, and couldn’t squeeze out a single

word.

Sophia clutched Grandfather’s arm, her voice tight. “Emily, when did you get married? Why didn’t you tell the family?”

“Do I need to inform you about my marriage?” I said flatly. “You seemed perfectly happy to arrange a blind date for me without asking.”

“I… I was just trying to help-” Her eyes went red, and she moved toward Nathan.

Nathan didn’t move.