I am the long-lost heiress, beautiful but, allegedly, brainless. The moment I was reunited with my wealthy parents, the fake heiress set me up to marry the Sterling family's notorious black sheep. "Marry that country bumpkin? I'd rather die single!" "Do you think I, Lucas Sterling, eat trash?" Just as the fake heiress smirked, Lucas turned and saw me. In the next second, the man who was just roaring turned beet red. He started stuttering. "You're the sister from the country... You're actually... gorgeous!" "Don't look at me like I'm a loser, my dad is loaded! Dad! Buy my wife two villas! Ten Porsches!" "Wifey, what else do you like? Just ask!" The fake heiress's face twisted in horror. That night, she made an excuse to send me away and sneaked into Lucas's bed. A minute later, while washing fruit, I heard Lucas's furious roar from the bedroom. "Where did this ugly monster come from?! Where is my sweet, beautiful wife?!" 1 When Lucas Sterling heard his arranged marriage partner had been switched to a country girl just back from the boonies, he smashed a teacup and threatened to call off the engagement. I had just finished packing when I saw the Sterlings sitting in the living room. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. "Lucas, Zoe is my biological daughter. Naturally, she should be the one to marry you," my dad said gently, playing the considerate father. But last night, I heard his adopted daughter, Tiffany, crying her eyes out. "Dad, I don't want to marry Lucas Sterling... he's a player, a loser..." So, they pushed me forward. "Real heiress for real heir," they called it. Only fair. I gripped the hem of my shirt and didn't argue. Compared to my adoptive parents in the village who planned to sell me to an old bachelor for dowry money, the Sterlings wouldn't treat me badly, at least on the surface. But Lucas didn't seem to want me. His back was to me, but his voice was icy. "Marry that hillbilly? I'd rather stay single forever!" "Do you think I, Lucas Sterling, have no standards?" Dad looked awkward. Tiffany stood aside, the corner of her mouth twitching up. I took a deep breath, suppressing my trembling. "Dad, I'm not worthy of the Sterlings. I've embarrassed you." The air froze. Lucas whipped around, a frown still etched on his face. But the moment his eyes landed on me, his breath hitched. The anger vanished. His ears turned visibly red. He started stammering. "You're Zoe... the sister from the country?" His Adam's apple bobbed. His voice softened instantly. "You're actually... really pretty." Silence. I was stunned. Did I hear that right? Tiffany's smile froze. Lucas frantically straightened his collar, like he suddenly couldn't breathe. His dark eyes locked onto me, words tumbling out fast. "Don't look at me like I'm a bum, my dad is super rich! Marry me, and I guarantee you can live off his money forever!" 2 Dad and I looked at each other, confused by Lucas's sudden 180. Mr. Sterling smiled, though clearly baffled by his son. "Lucas, Zoe grew up in the country, but she is your Uncle Road's flesh and blood. You were betrothed since you were babies." He paused, looking serious. "Usually you mess around, but marriage isn't a game. Don't let Zoe down..." "Dad!" Lucas interrupted impatiently, the tips of his ears burning. "Just pay up." When he looked at me, his eyes went soft. Sunlight hit him through the window, making his amber eyes sparkle. "My dad doesn't really get me, don't listen to him." His voice was gentle, almost pleading. "By the way, can I call you Zoe?" He leaned in suddenly. I held my breath. He was close. Close enough to smell the faint cedarwood cologne. Close enough to see the fine hairs on his skin. Close enough that his sharp jawline and slight smile made my heart skip a beat. "Heh..." A chuckle from above snapped me out of it. I realized I was staring. He was clearly pleased, his grin widening. "Seems like Zoe is satisfied with me too." He leaned in another half-step. "Why don't we get the marriage license today?" "Th-that's too fast!" I stumbled back, looking at Dad for help. But the two fathers were already shaking hands, beaming. "I knew these two were a match made in heaven! Old Sterling, get ready for grandkids!" Mr. Sterling laughed, scanning us approvingly. He pulled out a black card and shoved it into my hand. "Here, Zoe, a welcome gift from Uncle!" This time, not only did Tiffany's face change, but even Dad looked surprised. Was there a lot of money on this card? 3 Mr. Sterling was superstitious and insisted on picking an auspicious date for the license. Lucas acted like I was going to run away, refusing to go home. "Don't overthink it," he said, hands in his pockets, trying to look cool. "You just got back, you don't know anyone. As your fiancé, it's my duty to keep you company." I glanced at my parents, who had just seen Mr. Sterling out, and my adopted sister who never looked me in the eye. "Are you close with them?" Before Lucas could answer, Tiffany jumped in, voice dripping with honey. "Lucas used to come over all the time when we were kids." She tried to take his arm. Lucas dodged behind me instantly, shouting dramatically. "Hey lady, who are you?! I'm a married man!" He buried his face in my shoulder, looking up innocently. "Wifey, from now on I only play with you." Tiffany turned red, then white. She stiffly took Dad's arm, forcing a smile. "Dad, Zoe and Lucas get along so well..." Dad tried to smooth things over. "Lucas, Tiffany isn't an outsider..." But Lucas wasn't having it. "Sorry, I don't talk to women other than my wife. Especially nonsense." He grabbed my hand and dragged me upstairs. He really must have visited a lot. He knew exactly where my room was on the second floor. But when he opened the door, he frowned deeply. My heart jumped. Did I offend the young master? "What? Is the Road family this broke?" "Huh?" I was confused. He kicked the sofa with disdain. "Fake leather." Pointed at the stuffed animals. "Knock-offs." Finally, he looked at the worn-out bed. "Is this bed from a dump?" Um... I looked around. It seemed fine to me... Back with my adoptive parents, I slept in a storage room. "Actually, I'm easy to please, you don't have to—" "What!" He cut me off, voice sharp. "Lucas Sterling's wife being 'easy to please'?!" He stormed downstairs angrily. Within an hour, Dad painfully led a team of interior designers into the house. They worked fast, transforming my room. Lucas held my hand proudly, eyes shining like a puppy waiting for a treat. "How is it?" His hand was hot. My brain short-circuited. "It's hot..." He froze. I blushed and corrected myself. "I mean, the room is great!" I saw his smirk and turned away shyly, only to see Tiffany walking past the door. She stared at the new furniture, face dark. When she looked at me, I felt hatred. 4 It was 10 PM, and Lucas still hadn't left. Dad, wanting to fulfill Tiffany's wish, had dragged Mom into their bedroom at 8 PM and hadn't come out. Strangely, Tiffany, who usually ignored me, was super attentive tonight. "What is Lucas doing?" "Is Lucas asleep?" "Does Lucas want a late-night snack?" It was all about Lucas. I suspected she regretted letting me take the engagement. The last time I saw her, she was outside my door. She wore a sheer silk nightgown that barely covered her thighs. Full "pure lust" makeup, peach lips, hair perfectly curled. "I ordered special fruit for Lucas. Go wash it and bring it up." Then she walked into my bedroom. Okay... Lucas was a guest; maybe she was helping host. I went to the kitchen and washed the fruit seriously. Suddenly, a huge crash from upstairs, followed by Lucas's roar. "Where did this ugly monster come from?! Where is my sweet, beautiful wife?!" Then the sound of smashing. I dried my hands and ran up. Tiffany was on the floor, nightgown twisted, hair a mess. Lucas stood at the door, face black. Seeing me, his eyes lit up. He rushed over and buried his face in my neck. "Wifey! There's a pervert in our room!" Tiffany had tears on her lashes, biting her lip. "Sister, Lucas is a guest, I just wanted to see if he needed a snack..." Lucas exploded. "Asking about snacks dressed like that?! Asking about snacks IN MY BED?!" Then he realized something and shrank back to me, tugging my shirt. "Wifey, it was scary, I almost lost my virtue! Luckily I kicked her off!" Tiffany turned crimson. I dug my nails into my palm to stop from laughing. Lucas was kind of cute. I reached out and patted his head, like I used to do with the farm dog. "Good boy. Let's go to sleep."
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