"Are you stupid, or are you faking you don’t know?" Scott sneered. "Why were you drugged last night? Your fiancé must have known about it. Didn't you know what was going to happen when he took you to see Nelson Berry? If I hadn't suggested you come to my club, do you think you would be able to escape again?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I trust Liam." Brianna retorted.

"Ha-ha. You trust him?" Scott said in disdain. "If he really loves you, he won't use you as bait and for numerous times. He even drugs you to make you sleep with other men for the sake of his so-called business cooperation proposals. What's more, he's fucking Nelson Berry's daughter anyway. Do you really not know?"

Nelson's daughter?! "Enough. This is nonsense. I don't believe you. I thought someone like you with fame and power would know how to respect others."

"Didn't he just leave you here so that you can sleep with me in exchange for a chance of cooperation?" Scott sneered.

"Enough, Mr. Anderson. Stop this nonsense." Brianna couldn't take it anymore and wanted to leave.

Just then, Brianna's phone rang. The screen showed the name of Brianna's neighbor, Mary. It gave her a worrying feeling, and her heart beat faster. "Hello, Mary." She answered the phone.

"Brianna, your mother just had a heart attack and has been taken to St. Rose Hospital!" Mary said worriedly.

Scott heard the voice coming from the phone clearly, and just at that moment, a car slowly drove over. It was Jacob who came for Scott. Scott opened the door for Brianna, suggesting that Brianna get in the car.

She hesitated a bit, but she was too worried about her mother to reject help now. "Thanks, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Morgan."

"No problem. You are mine anyway. I shall at least help a bit." Scott replied indifferently.

"I'm not yours," Brianna said clearly.

"You have agreed, and that's why I helped you last night. Keep your word, Brianna Warren." Scott spoke a bit sternly.

As he was actually doing her a favor now, Brianna bit her lips and restrained her anger and frustration. She remained silent.

On the way to the hospital, Scott was abnormally quiet and left Brianna alone. Brianna kept her eyes fixed on the traffic, praying to get to her mother as soon as possible. She was tearful and terribly worried.

The doctor had just come out of the emergency room when they arrived. "Dr. Smith, how's my mother?" Brianna ran towards the doctor and asked worriedly.

"She's safe now, but it's getting worse, Brianna. It's been too long. She needs coronary bypass surgery soon. If she has another heart attack, I don't think she will be as lucky as this time." Dr. Smith sighed.

Tears ran down Brianna's cheeks. She wiped them away and tried to speak calmly. "Thanks to Dr. Smith. I will sort out the money as soon as I can."

Dr. Smith nodded and left. The chief nurse reminded her, "Brianna, please remember to pay for today's bills."

"I will, thanks." Brianna nodded.

Brianna went to the cashier to pay but was told that there wasn't enough money on her bank card.

"I will need time to borrow some. Can I pay tomorrow, please?" Brianna pleaded.

"We are not a charity organization." The cashier replied coldly.

She tried to call Liam, but it just wouldn't go through. Helplessly, she rang her friend Angela Davis.

"Hey, Brianna," Angela spoke, sounding a bit upset.

Brianna knew that Angela wasn't well off either, and her family was all greedy and stingy, especially her mother-in-law, so she tried not to ask Angela for help. However, she didn't have a choice this time.

Brianna hesitated before she said, "Angela, I know it's not easy for you, but my Mom's in the hospital again, and I really need money. I don't have anyone else to ask for help..."

"How much do you need?" Angela asked without hesitation.

"About one thousand dollars."

"Ok. Give me a minute."

What Brianna heard next from the other end of the line was Mrs. Jones shouting angrily, "What?! My son has married a useless dumbass. You can't even look after your own parents and younger brother, and now you are helping a friend?! A friend?! Do you think I own a charitable foundation or something, huh?!"

Brianna couldn't take it anymore. "It's alright. I will think of another way, Mrs. Jones, please don't treat Angela like that. Take care, Angela." She hung up.

"Brianna? Hello?"

Not long after Brianna hung up the phone, she received a notification message from the bank saying that Angela had transferred five hundred dollars to her account. It's probably all her personal savings.

A sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky, and angry thunder followed. Brianna looked up to see the thick heavy clouds above. A storm was brewing.

She checked on her mother and hurried outside the hospital afterward to hail a taxi and headed to Liam's. She wondered why he was not answering his phone.

The rain was pouring down when she arrived. As Brianna got out of the taxi, another car pulled over behind her. She turned around to see Liam holding an umbrella, about to open the door for someone in the car. But he paused as he spotted Brianna.

"Hey Brianna, what are you doing here?" He asked, sounding a bit displeased.

"I've been calling you, but you didn't answer..." Brianna replied and looked at his car. She noticed a woman sitting in the front seat. "Who is she?"

Liam looked away and answered, "No one. She's..."

The woman opened the door and stepped out of the car. Liam hurried to her with the umbrella immediately. "I'm Zara Berry, Liam's girlfriend, Nelson Berry's daughter." The woman in a tight red dress spoke proudly.

"Girlfriend?" Brianna stared at Liam in disbelief, "Liam! What about me? What am I to you?!"

Liam looked at Brianna coldly, "Well, I guess that's it for us. Zara is my girlfriend now, and my parents and grandma all love her. You know your Mom is a huge burden and who knows how much more money it will cost. My grandma doesn't really want me to marry you anyway, and I don't want to upset her."

Recalling what Scott said to her while listening to Liam's ridiculous explanation, Brianna couldn't help finding it bitterly amusing. She mocked herself. So everything that Scott Anderson said is true. He's been dating Nelson's daughter, and I've been a fool! And he is probably the one that drugged me, using me to please Nelson!

Angrily, Brianna lifted her hand and was about to slap Liam on his face, but Liam gripped her wrist instantly. "Be sensible, Brianna! We are grown-ups. Also, I've spent a lot of money on your mother in the past years. Now, please leave in peace."

"You've spent a lot of money?! Liam, you bastard! Before my dad passed away, how much help have we given you?! I even gave you the 500 thousand dollars that my dad left for me for the company, which would never have grown so successful without that money!" Brianna retorted.

"I have looked after you and your mother for a few years. Come on, Brianna, let's not start this meaningless argument and end up embarrassing yourself." Liam said impatiently.

Brianna tried her best and lifted up her chest, took a deep breath, and despite the immense pain and shame she was feeling, she said, "Liam, can you lend me fifty thousand dollars? My Mom has just had another heart attack, and I can't even pay for tonight's surgery. Dr. Smith says she needs cardiac bypass surgery soon, or..."

As Liam had been paying for Brianna's mother's treatment in the past years, so Brianna had never asked for a salary while working for the Williams' Fortune Construction Company.

Also, Brianna thought that they were engaged anyway and what she was earning was for both of them.

Zara sneered and mocked, "Aren't you ashamed, Brianna Warren? Liam has dumped you, and you are still asking him for money."

"Zara Berry, I'm not asking you!" Brianna retorted without taking a look at her but kept her eyes fixed on Liam. "Liam, I really need the money now. I will pay you back as soon as I make any."

Liam looked rather awkward, "Brianna, you know how the company is doing now. If it's a few thousand dollars, I can help you, but fifty thousand! How do I get you that much money?"

Fortune Construction Company was expanding and did need money for new investments. Though fifty thousand dollars wasn't a casual amount, it wasn't a large sum for Liam either. If he really wanted to help, it wasn't a problem at all.

Brianna tried to reach Liam's arm, but Liam slapped her hand away and shouted at her, "Enough! Don't make me despise you."

Brianna stumbled and fell over, the pain was so sharp that she finally broke down, crying, "Liam..."

However, Liam ignored her completely and turned around to leave. Brianna quickly got herself up and stumbled towards him, finally managing to hold onto his leg. "Liam, please... Please help my Mom. I will pay you back. I swear..."

"Pay me back? How? Without me, you and your mother can't even survive, let alone making money for the surgery." Liam looked at Brianna up and down and added, "Brianna, you know what, if you do what I say, you won't need to worry about money. Take it as a compliment. If you help me get the contrast signed with Scott Anderson, I will give you one million, and I will make sure your mother gets the best treatment."

This is the man I've been with for so many years? How can he say this to me?!

Brianna stared at Liam and suddenly found herself looking at a strange face. The gentleness and affection she used to see had completely vanished. She let go of his leg and collapsed onto the ground.

Liam and Zara walked into the house without taking another look at Brianna.

Scott had been in the car parked in the distance, watching Brianna. He glanced at his assistant Levi, and Levi got out of the car at once. He walked towards Brianna, holding an umbrella. "Brianna Warren, if you agree to be his woman and do whatever he wants, then he will find your mother the best doctor and get her the best treatment and cover all the cost."

"I'm not a toy. I'm not his possession! I will pay him back!" Brianna cried.

"Brianna Warren, to be honest with you, it's rare that Mr. Scott Anderson finds a woman that he's interested in, but when he does, he's sure to have her. Also, if you don't do what he wants, I can assure you that you won't be able to find any job." Levi persuaded.

Although Brianna wanted to retort, she knew deep in her heart that she could do nothing about Levi’s threat. Slowly, she got up and followed Levi to the car.

When they arrived at Scott's villa, "Get a hot bath and get changed," Scott ordered.

Brianna shivered and stood still. Is he asking me to sleep with him tonight?

Scott seemed to have guessed her thoughts, "I don't force a woman to have sex with me, especially someone who's injured. It won't be fun anyway."

Relieved, Brianna went for a bath and got changed. After that, Brianna decided to go to see her mother. Just as she went downstairs, Scott called after her, "Brianna Warren, from head toe, every part of you belongs to me now. Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywhere."

From head to toe?! Isn't he a tyrant? Brianna thought, but she dared not to object, for he somehow carried such irresistible air of authority. "I'm just thinking of going to see my Mom." She replied meekly.

"Your job is to please me. You don't need to worry about your mother."

"But she's my Mom. I'm her only family..." Tears started to fill Brianna's eyes again.

Impatiently, Scott answers, "Alright, alright. You can visit her once a week, and you completely belong to me except this once a week."

"Can I live with my Mom?" Brianna pleaded, and Scott replied with a sneer. "You have sold yourself to me, Brianna Warren. Are you trying to bargain with me? Also, you are not allowed to see that dumbass Liam Williams again."

"Why? Scott Anderson, you..."

"You know he's an asshole anyway. Why would you want to see him again?" Scott retorted sharply.

"He is...He..." Brianna hesitated, and tears filled her eyes.

"He's an asshole," Scott added.

"When I was ten years old, he saved me and ended up in the hospital for a few months. He and his family have been very kind to me, and in the past years, he has been paying for my Mom's treatment... It's been so many years, and I..."

"What I know is that because he saved you, your father treated him and his family very well, too well perhaps. Your father made his father the boss of a construction company out of a labor worker. When your father died, and your mother was seriously injured, your family's company went bankrupt, and you gave all the money that your father saved for you to that asshole's father for expanding their company. Now that their company has grown, they have all sorts of excuses not to give you the money for your mother's surgery."

"Did you investigate me?!" Brianna was shocked, hearing Scott speaking the cruel truth.

"Shouldn't I know what I'm buying before I make the purchase?" Scott replied matter-of-factly.

Brianna looked down onto the floor and said helplessly, "Sure."

Scott glanced at Levi, and Levi said to Brianna, "Brianna Warren, I have something to show you, and you will know what a real man Liam Williams is."

It was a video recording of Liam having sex with a girl.

"This happened on the same night when he drugged you and used you as bait to seduce Nelson Berry. If Mr. Scott Anderson didn't take you to the hotel room, surely you know what Nelson Berry would have done to you..." Levi explained.

Brianna found it impossible to believe that the man in the video was the same man she was in love with all these years.

"Brianna Warren, you probably have no idea at all, but this stingy asshole is actually very generous to his women. He's only stingy to you and your mother." Levi added.

Brianna closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face, which annoyed Scott. He held her chin tighter again and said, "How pathetic are you?! Why are you even crying for that asshole?!"

Brianna sobbed, "Right! I'm pathetic! What about you?! You bought me with money! What does that say about you?” She retorted without thinking, yet she regretted it right afterward. She was scared.

As expected, Scott Anderson's face turned stern immediately. He was furious. He lifted his arm up, about to slap Brianna, but Brianna raised her arm up instinctively, and Scott caught sight of her injured right hand. He heaved a sigh, and the angry feeling seemed to disappear. He said patiently, "I don't like to see women cry."

"Don't look at me then." Brianna retorted.

Scott sneered and gripped her chin even tighter. "Brianna Warren, you think too much of yourself, don't you? You are shouting at me for an asshole?! You wanna die?"

"No, I don't!" Brianna said subconsciously, then she thought of her mother in the hospital and regretted what she had just said. Meekly, she added, "I'm sorry. I should not have spoken to you like this. It won't happen again."

Scott took a thoughtful look at her and went upstairs to his bedroom. Brianna hesitated for a bit, then followed Scott upstairs, but she stayed in the room next door.

It was still early morning, and Brianna was asleep when the hospital rang. She was told that her mother had another mild attack and was now in a coma. They had to decide what to do next as soon as possible.

In a panic, Brianna rushed to ask Scott for help and found him eating breakfast quietly in the dining room.

After listening to Brianna's panicking explanation, Scott said casually, "Sit down and have breakfast."

"My Mom is..." Brianna retorted instantly but was cut short by Scott impatiently, "Sit down and have breakfast. And don't let me see you cry again."

Brianna sat down and picked up the fork reluctantly. Scott seemed to be completely unconcerned and went on eating gracefully, but he finished his breakfast within just a few minutes and made a phone call. He put the speaker on.

"Have all the doctors and specialists arrived?" He asked.

"Yes, they have. Brianna Warren's mother has been transferred to the Anderson's Private Medical Center. The surgery is about to start."

"Good," Scott said briefly and hung up.

Brianna was now feeling much relieved. She watched Scott for a short while. There was a mixed feeling in her. When she finished half of her breakfast, she stood up, ready to leave for the hospital, but Scott said rather sternly, "Finish it. I've asked them to prepare the right portion. It isn't much at all."

"Ok." Brianna sat down and went on dining.

He had arranged for a driver to take Brianna to Anderson's Private Medical Center. Mom will be ok. Everything will be ok. Mom will be ok. Brianna keeps telling herself, praying. Just as she got to the lift, someone walked past her and bumped onto her shoulder deliberately. She stumbled a bit and almost fell over.

"Brianna Warren, this is not a place for someone like you. This is Anderson's, only for the rich and noble." Zara Berry looked Brianna up and down with disdain and mocks at her.

"I guess I'm one of the rich and noble then." Brianna retorted coldly.

Zara sneered and said, "I bet you were begging everywhere last night. I see. You must have slept with some rich old man, and he's paid you generously. Ha-ha. Don't you feel ashamed at all?"

On hearing so, a few people who were also awaiting the lift looked at Brianna with contempt and moved a few steps away.

An expensively-dressed plump woman commented, "What is it with the young girls nowadays? They have no sense of shame at all, selling their body and self-respect for money! Aren't they worried about getting aids?"

Brianna clenched her fists and retorted, "Zara Berry, you seduced my fiancé and forced him to abandon his mother-in-law-to-be, who's seriously ill. You should be the one feeling ashamed. However, I'm actually rather grateful to you as I've discovered that he's a real asshole anyway. By the way, Good luck."

Brianna said and walked into the lift with her chest up.

Now the others looked at Zara with contempt, and she wished she could give Brianna a slap on her face.

The surgery had started. Brianna waited outside the operating room anxiously, pacing up and down, praying silently.

When the door finally opened, the doctor came out. Brianna asked anxiously, "How did it go?"

"It went perfectly well. Your mother will be sent to the ICU room for close observation and then transferred to the VIP room." The doctor said with confidence.

Brianna heaved a sigh of relief.

About three days later, Brianna's mother was transferred to the VIP room, and she was recovering well.

"Mom, the doctor said you are recovering well, and soon you can go home." Sitting by the bed, Brianna said to her mother gently.

"Brianna, did Liam pay for the operation? Did he?" Brianna's mother, Sue Loren, asked.

A bit taken aback by the question, Brianna hesitated. She didn't want to tell her mother the truth, at least not yet. "Yes. It was very urgent." Brianna said briefly.

"Has he been very busy? I mean, he hasn't even come to visit at all." Sue asked and observed Brianna closely. She found it difficult to believe that Liam had actually paid for the operation.

Her trust for Liam and his family had slowly vanished in the past few years. She had felt how differently they treated her and Brianna after her husband passed away.

She had tried to imply it to Brianna, but Brianna refused to believe her and so she gave up the thought and told herself that she was just overthinking.

"Mom, Liam has been very busy. He has asked me about you. He will come to visit as soon as he can." Brianna said carefully.

"I see. You should help him with work then. I'm fine here. There are three nurses looking after me anyway. Don't worry about me."

"I'm about to go to the company in a bit. I will come and see you later after work, ok?" Brianna lied. She gave her mother a kiss on her forehead and said goodbye, thinking Scott would get angry if she didn't contact him soon.

She had to plead with him for so long to finally get him to agree that she could stay with her mother for three days, and today, she had to return to him.

As soon as she walked out of the hospital, her phone rang, and it was Scott Anderson. "Hello?"

"Go to the Marriage Registration Center now. I will be there in 15 minutes." Scott said clearly.

Brianna was shocked. "Marriage..." she repeated. "Why?!"

"To register."

Brianna shook her head in confusion. "What?!"

"I've kept my promise, and now you should complete your duty and be mine legally," Scott replied matter-of-factly.

"Am I not just a toy to you? Why make it so complicated?" Brianna couldn't help muttering.

"To put a tag on you, stating that you are mine. Just for fun." Scott replied coldly.

"Are you sure, Mr. Scott Anderson?" Brianna asked again.

"When I'm tired of it, I will divorce you. It's completely up to me. Brianna Warren, all you do is obey unconditionally." Scott said casually. The girl I love is gone anyway. It doesn't matter who I marry anymore. When I'm tired of her, I will just pay her to leave. Grandpa will stop asking me about marriage once I tell him I'm married.

Brianna was speechless. Without further explanation, Scott walked into the Registration Center, and Brianna didn't have a choice but to follow behind.

Scott noticed and said, "What? You should be grateful that I'm marrying you."

Brianna put on an apologetic look and said, "Right. I am grateful, Mr. Scott Anderson! Very grateful. I'm sure millions of women dream of being Mrs. Anderson, but who would have guessed that you've chosen..."

"Good." Scott cut her short. "Don't fall in love with me. I'm only getting married for my grandpa's sake."

Brianna opened her eyes wide open in shock, then smiled a reluctant smile and said, "I see."

After they went through the procedure, the host suggested they take a photo together. Brianna stood next to Scott, thinking how surreal and pathetic this was. I've been hoping to marry the man I love, but who am I marrying now? The arrogant and demanding Scott Anderson. What's my life going to be like?

She was staring at Scott without realizing it till the photographer reminded her, "Mrs. Anderson, I'm sure you adore your husband very much, but would you please take a look at the camera?"

Mrs. Anderson? Adore him?! Brianna glanced at the photographer speechlessly. I simply find it unbelievable that I'm marrying this guy!

On hearing so, Scott chuckled, and intentionally, he put his arm around Brianna's waist and said, "Of course, she adores me."