She's Mine to Claim

Outside, the lights shone brightly, as elegantly dressed ladies with perfumed clothes and beautiful hair gathered upstairs for a lively drinking party. A large group of people enjoyed drinks and games.

However, all this excitement meant nothing to Hailey Stewart. The only couple hosting the engagement ceremony upstairs was her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée. Hailey, who had initially planned to confront them, was shocked to discover that she couldn’t even enter the banquet hall. How ironic!

Looking at the blue rose a kind stranger had given her in the bathroom, Hailey hesitated to discard it, feeling it would be a waste. With the flower in hand, she left the hotel, which had soured her mood.

As Hailey was about to enter the elevator, she realized she was about to make a mistake. She halted her steps, unsure of what to do next.

A man in black stood in the elevator’s corner. When he noticed the flower in Hailey’s hand, he appeared surprised.

“Are you Mrs. Belle? Our boss has been waiting for you. Why are you here?”

Before Hailey could respond, the man guided her into the elevator, showing her the floor they were heading to.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Hailey protested, trying to break free from his hold.

“I know you’re Ms. Belle. Do you know where the flower packaging material came from? I suggest you stop resisting. You’ve already received the payment, so adhere to professional ethics,” the man insisted.

Confused and alarmed, Hailey questioned, “What’s going on? Who is Belle? What payment?” A sense of unease settled in her mind.

He led her forcefully into an opulent presidential suite, still unable to free her from his control.

She was resentful because she deliberately wore a short dress and only carried a handbag so that she could enter the banquet hall with no trouble. She didn’t even bring her ID card to prove that she was Hailey and not Belle.

A tall man with an imposing demeanor sat in the magnificent presidential suite. His unique and attractive features made his appearance extraordinary, but his eyes had a slightly chilling effect.

“You took my money, and now you want to back out of the deal? How did your boss train you?” Travis Blake abruptly interrupted, sitting boldly and decisively on the sofa.

After Hailey recovered from her initial shock, she could somewhat understand the current situation. She couldn’t help but find it amusing. The issue revolved around the blue rose he had given her.

The innocent girl from before was targeting her. Hailey couldn’t believe the coincidence and wondered if fate was playing a role. Why not go along with it?

Starting tomorrow, her fate would probably be miserable. Even if she wanted to pursue a clandestine romantic relationship, it would probably be impossible. Unconsciously, she considered the man in front of her.

Among all the handsome men Hailey had seen, this man stood out in every way. She admired how his shirt clung to his slightly bulging body, and his eyes sparkled with a captivating charm. Tomorrow, he would marry a dying person, and she would likely end up a widow for life. Spending a night with such a beautiful man before fate could be considered a blessing.

“Speak,” Travis’s dissatisfaction with Hailey’s silence was clear in his chillingly haughty tone, which resembled ice.

Hailey was not afraid of him. She was not his client, so she did not need to tread so carefully around him.

She lowered her head and smiled softly, saying, “I’m so sorry. This is my first time, and I have no experience.”

With her head lowered and a soft smile, the man’s pupils shrank. She felt as if a current of heat had hit her, sweeping away her composure.

“Come here,” he said.

Hailey’s heart was in a panic, but she tried to maintain a calm exterior. To appear more sophisticated, she deliberately put on a tantalizing expression as she walked forward. Running a finger over the man’s face, she lightly pinched it and praised, “Your skin is beautiful.”

Travis seethed with anger, a laugh escaping him. This woman appeared innocent and charming, but she was incredibly flirtatious. As expected of a prostitute, she dared to provoke him, but he didn’t quite understand her intentions.

He reached out with his large hands, rugging Hailey down, and used his other hand to pinch her face, his cold eyes locking onto hers. His gaze scanned her figure, confirming his initial impression.

Taken aback, Hailey fell to her knees on the floor, forced to meet the man’s gaze.

Her knees ached slightly in the uncomfortable position. She frowned, wanting to adjust herself, but the man didn’t allow her the chance.

There were no kisses, no gentle caresses, not even a greeting as the man descended.

He abruptly jerked her head and bit her shoulder, leaving distinct teeth marks.

Another surprise threw Hailey off guard. As the pain in her shoulder intensified, she realized she had been bitten and couldn’t help but cry out in pain. Instantly regretting her reaction, she blamed herself for acting impulsively. The man was unhinged!

She wanted to escape but she couldn’t.

Travis had no intention of letting go of the rabbit he had caught, especially since he had already paid enough money for her. His hands were like sturdy pliers, clasping Hailey’s movements despite her protests. As he saw her eyebrows furrowed in pain, her gigantic eyes filled with tears, her pink lips slightly parted, and her fingerprints still visible on her white, tender face, Travis suddenly realized that he had only fueled her excitement further.

“Let me go,” Hailey cried, regretting her decision at that moment. Before the beginning of her miserable life, she had only wanted to indulge herself a little, but she hadn’t expected to suffer the consequences so quickly.

“No!” Despite Hailey’s tears, Travis responded coldly.

He easily lifted her and threw her onto the bed with no gentleness. His tall, imposing figure towered over her like a mountain, preventing her from escaping.

Hailey cried and begged, “Please have mercy on me.”

“Don’t pretend to be innocent. If you dare to enter this business, you already know what will happen.”

“Not me,” Hailey tried to explain, but Travis found her too loud and pressed her down with one hand while stuffing the duvet into her mouth with the other.

Tears welled in Hailey’s eyes as regret overwhelmed her.

When Travis realized it was Hailey’s first time, he paused. Earlier, when she mentioned it was her first time, Travis assumed she meant it was his first time in the business. He didn’t expect it to be her first intimate experience with a man.

He closed his eyes and ignored Hailey’s screams. Having paid for her body, he felt entitled to use it however he pleased, prioritizing his desires. He showed no consideration for the other party’s feelings. From start to finish, he never gave Hailey a gentle kiss. Except for the initial bite, her lips touched no part of her body.

In her last moments, Hailey, gritting her teeth and enduring his treatment, clearly heard him shout another woman’s name.

“You can leave now,” Travis said, his tone icy despite his high body temperature.

He had unexpectedly lost control over the woman tonight and shouted a name, which was uncharacteristic of him. However, he wasn’t worried about her spreading the word about the name he had yelled. If she wanted to disturb his peace, she could share it as much as she wanted.

Hailey had no intention of staying any longer.

“Can I use the bathroom?” She asked.

When Travis looked at her, her request that he leave her alone vanished from her lips.

“I’ll give you five minutes.”

Hailey gritted her teeth, feeling unlucky to be a replacement for someone else. She struggled to make her way to the bathroom, hoping she didn’t look too disheveled.

The hot water soothed her body but stung a little.

She quickly washed away any traces of the recent events and cleaned the rest of her body upon returning home. If not for the lingering odor and her messy hair, she wouldn’t have stayed a second longer.

The late spring night was no longer too cold, making it simple to hail a taxi.

When Hailey arrived home, she immediately discarded her clothes and threw them in the trash before proceeding to wash herself thoroughly. The bite on her shoulder still stung, but she was relieved that the lunatic who had attacked her had used a condom, assuming she was a prostitute.

The next morning, a loud knock echoed on her door. Opening it, Hailey was surprised to see her father, Denver Stewart, standing there. Upon seeing Hailey’s disheveled appearance, Denver anxiously questioned why she hadn’t cleaned up yet, as the Blake family would arrive soon.

Nonchalantly, Hailey replied, “It’s too late for that.” Ever since the terrifying day when Denver forced her mother to kneel before her, Hailey has stopped caring. Despite her father’s worry, she grinned.

Shortly after, the Blake family’s servants arrived. Denver received a “Mr. Stewart” greeting from the butler, who then turned to Hailey and addressed her as “young madam.” The butler explained he escorted her as per orders.

Hailey couldn’t help but smile at the butler’s formal speech. She had been in the Blake family’s service since she was seventeen, primarily involved in traditional clothing making. However, she had never interacted with guests before. The butler’s eloquence was unlike anything she had encountered, giving her a surreal feeling as if she had entered the Twilight Zone.

“I’m not a young lady yet,” Hailey reminded herself. She wasn’t one to vent her frustrations, especially with someone who would be polite to her, even if that person was a member of the Blake family whom she didn’t like.

“You are,” the butler said, maintaining his smile. The matriarch had already sent the marriage certificate early this morning and arranged for you to receive it. You can see it once you arrive.

Hailey’s heart sinks. They even received the marriage certificate without her being present. The Blake family, known for their power and wealth, delivered the marriage certificate as expected! Rather, it was her ailing husband, whom she had never met.

“Then let’s go.” Since there was no way to retreat, there was no reason to argue.

The Blake family’s former residence occupied a large estate with high walls and many pavilions. The decor was old-fashioned, with red lanterns adorned with characters hanging throughout, creating a classic atmosphere.

Hailey followed the butler for several minutes until they reached the room, where the matriarchs of the Blake family were engrossed in reciting scriptures. The butler hesitated to interrupt them, and Hailey stood by, waiting patiently.

After the old woman finished reciting the scriptures, she opened her eyes and fixed a sharp gaze on Hailey. Since you have joined the Blake family, you must follow our rules. As Calvin’s wife, stay with me instead of going to the hospital to care for him. It will be too late for him to meet the other family members once he returns from the hospital.

The Blake family's second son adopted Calvin Blake. After his abandonment on a snowy day, the matriarch of the Blake family took him in. Currently, he lay in a hospital bed, pale and thin, his survival dependent solely on the medical instruments by his side.

Hailey stood in front of the hospital bed, gazing at the person lying there for a long time, much to the annoyance of her mother-in-law, Rowena Harver.

“What’s the point of standing there? If you can’t help, step aside!” Rowena exclaimed.

A servant brought a basin of warm water, and Rowena cleaned Calvin’s face and hands. Unable to give birth, Rowena had placed all her hopes in Calvin, despite his current illness.

Feeling helpless, Hailey took two steps back to give space to the emaciated Rowena, who was also a pitiful figure.

At that moment, Calvin’s hand flashed. Initially unnoticed, he then opened his eyes.

Rowena, tearful yet composed, immediately requested the servant call a doctor. She felt the urgency, so she dispatched the servant to fetch the doctor.

Hailey was taken aback. Could her marriage’s blessings work? Calvin scanned the room and locked eyes with Hailey.

“Who are you?” he asked weakly, directing his gaze at Hailey. Rowena shot Hailey a stern look, silently urging her to respond accurately.

Hailey’s lips quivered as she replied, “I am your wife. My name is Hailey Stewart.”

If Calvin could survive, that wouldn’t be so bad, either. Hailey didn’t dare harbor any hatred towards the young man, who appeared to be on his deathbed.

Calvin’s smile, surprisingly beautiful, was as soft as a spring breeze, showing that he must have been very handsome when he was healthy.

“I didn’t expect to still have a wife,” Calvin said.

“What are you saying, child?” Rowena scolded. “Why can’t you have a wife? Even if you get better, you still need to have a good life together!”

Calvin closed his eyes and smiled. He told Hailey, “Even if it’s just for a few moments, being husband and wife is still our destiny. Please help take care of my mother after my departure.”

Calvin passed away barely half an hour after waking up. Before he died, he asked his mother not to blame Hailey. Hailey tied the knot in the morning and became a widow before noon.

Meanwhile, Travis had an important meeting scheduled for the day. When he received a notification from his family, the meeting was already halfway done. He raised his hand to stop the meeting.

“Something has come up at home. We will stop the meeting today and resume tomorrow,” he said.

No one dared to challenge Travis’s decision. As CEO, he was known for being ruthless and uncompromising. He had defeated his uncle at a young age and soon gained control of most of the Blake family’s power. His subordinates simply had to work without worrying or feeling guilty about their work for him.

When Travis arrived at the hospital, everyone was waiting for him. Travis viewed Calvin’s body, destined for the morgue.

He quietly bid farewell to his cousin, with whom he had no blood relation, and then visited Rowena, who had collapsed because of mental illness and received an injection.

Meanwhile, Hailey sat by her mother-in-law’s hospital bed, keeping a watchful eye on her.

A servant approached Hailey and whispered, “Young madam, the eldest main visits Mrs. Rowena.”

Hailey’s heart raced. Was the Blake family’s leader present? He was the role model that Harvey, her eldest, had always admired. Hailey was eager to see what kind of man he was. Footsteps approached from the living room door, and Hailey turned to meet Travis’s gaze.

They were both stunned.

“Get out, all of you!” Travis hissed quietly.

The servants were shocked, unsure why their eldest master had suddenly lost his composure. They hurried out of the room, fearing his anger if they were too slow.

Hailey paused briefly before heading towards the door. Her expression was indifferent, but her heart was filled with confusion. She hoped the man from last night was Travis Blake, the current head of the Blake family.

How could such a coincidence occur?

“You, stay here,” Travis ordered Hailey.

Hailey froze, her hands clenched tightly. She never imagined she and this man shared such a fate. They were now family, and there was no escaping this inevitable connection.

Travis hoists Hailey into the living room after everyone else has left and asks, "What is this?" and “Why are you here?”

Hailey stared at him with a distant gaze, as if he were an enemy.

“I’m Hailey Stewart,” she said, suddenly smiling, neither frivolous nor gentle. Then she added, “I am the wife of Calvin Blake, who passed away today.”

Travis’s gaze was intense. Blake’s family had married a prostitute! “Are you the replacement Denver Stewart sent?” If this woman said yes, she wouldn’t let Denver go.

Hailey’s lip curled into a small, sarcastic smile. “Your family, alone, wanted to find someone with a favorable fortune horoscope.” Have you ever wondered how many daughters Denver Stewart has?

Travis was surprised, as he hadn’t considered investigating that aspect. He had only needed one wealthy woman to turn Calvin’s luck around. However, he refused to admit any negligence on his part.

“A well-raised daughter of Denver involved in such business! You bring shame to the Stewart family,” Hailey remarked, her smile laced with mockery. “If it weren’t for men like you, women wouldn’t use such means.”

Hailey’s intelligence and eloquence caught Travis off guard, leaving him unable to counter her words. No woman had ever challenged him in such a manner.

Frustrated, Travis warned Hailey, “If you involve yourself in such activities again, don’t expect me to be polite.”

With that, he stormed off. Hailey rolled her eyes, shaking her head and smiling disdainfully as she recognized the man Travis had called the previous night, finding it ridiculous. She would have burst into laughter if the servants hadn’t returned.

Initially assuming Luna’s involvement with Travis was purely business, Hailey was surprised to discover it was emotional. This revelation reassured her about her decision to marry into the Blake family, as she saw the true nature of Travis and Luna’s relationship.

Hailey’s mood brightened, as if a million flowers had bloomed in her heart, and a gentle breeze had swept away the fog of the past few days. However, she knew she couldn’t openly display her joy, considering her recent loss of her husband. The thought of Calvin immediately darkened her mood.

Hailey never expected that a dying stranger would bring back the warmth that had been missing from her life for so long. After Travis left the hospital, she fell into an irritable mood and had someone take him to the hotel.