Chapter 5 Let's Have A Flash Marriage

• "You saw it yesterday," she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I was the child lost by the Newton family, but they never really cared for me. When they brought me back, I was beaten and scolded, not allowed to eat. I had no choice but to run away and come find you, hoping to borrow some food."
• Easton furrowed his brow. "So, you have nowhere to stay?"
• Hope gazed down, her fingers twining together in her lap, tears glistening in her eyes. "It's not that I have no place to stay, it's just a small room, filled with discarded things—dirty, smelly, and crawling with bugs."
• Easton's brow furrowed further.
• The Newton family was infamous for doting on their daughter. He had thought Hope would be treated well once she was brought back, but this… this was beyond his expectation!
• "You saved me last night," Hope said quietly, her voice hesitant. "In return, I can help you with something."
• Easton's eyes narrowed slightly, confused. "Help me with something?"
• Hope's eyes brightened with a sudden, mischievous spark. "Let's have a flash marriage!"
• Easton blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly. "Flash marriage?"
• He had expected her to ask for help in dealing with the fake daughter of the family, but she was suggesting something far more drastic!
• Hope stated matter-of-factly, "I don't want to be registered under the Newton family's household. If I marry you, my name will be on your household registration, and they won't be able to touch me anymore."
• She knew that, given the Newton family's selfishness and influence, if she remained an orphan, they would inevitably put her name back on their household register.
• Once that happened, it would be like being part of their family in name, and any abuse would be disguised as domestic violence, any coercion would be twisted into something voluntary.
• "As payment for our flash marriage," Hope continued, her voice filled with confidence, "I'll help you heal your legs. My medical skills are exceptional. Try moving your legs—do they feel any better than yesterday?"
• Easton tested his legs, still numb and immobile, no better than before.
• But the truth was, even if she couldn't heal him, he would do whatever she asked. After all, this was Hope—the one he had cherished in his heart for over a decade.
• "Are you really sure you want to marry me?"
• "If you don't want to, forget it," Hope replied nonchalantly, her tone carefree.
• She wasn't in a hurry. She had set her sights on this man, and she would have him, no matter what!
• In her past life, she had suffered because of him, but in this life, she wouldn't let him escape!
• "I'll marry you," Easton said, his voice firm.
• A small tremor ran through his body as his hand tightened under the covers. For once, he was choosing to be selfish!
• At worst, if Hope regretted it later, they would just divorce!
• "Wonderful!" Hope exclaimed, pulling out a household registration book she had been carrying. Originally, it had been intended for altering her registration with the Newton family, but now it served a new purpose—to marry Easton!
• Easton also retrieved his household registration book from the bedside drawer. Hope glanced at it and realized it only had his name on it.
• Her heart tightened for him. From what he had said earlier, it was clear that Easton had been abandoned in this old villa, left to fend for himself.
• His body was covered in wounds, and the poison in his leg had been administered by someone close to him.
• He was so pitiful!
• She stacked both books together. "From now on, we're family!"
• Her eyes sparkled with sincerity and hope, her voice full of expectation.
• Easton's heart stirred. He felt as though he was being enveloped by a warm current, thawing the frozen shell of his being.
• Suddenly, a growl came from Hope's stomach, breaking the tender moment.
• She remembered then that she hadn't had dinner the night before, and now she was starving. "I'm so hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"
• They dressed and went downstairs, where breakfast was already laid out on the table. It seemed someone had brought it early that morning.
• "It seems the old witch who left you here didn't plan to starve you to death," Easton said with a smirk.
• "It wasn't her. It was someone from my side who brought it," Hope replied, her tone light.
• "You have someone helping you?" Hope asked, a little surprised. She had assumed he was a destitute, disabled young master with no one else.
• "Yes, one person—his name's James. I'll have him meet you next time."
• "Alright," Hope responded, not lingering on Easton's background. After all, as long as she was there, everything was temporary.
• She would take her revenge, his legs would heal, and they would live a life a thousand times better than in their past lives!
• After breakfast, they agreed to meet at the marriage registration office at nine.
• Hope returned to the Newton family to tidy herself up.
• "Miss Hope, you're finally back," Aunt Quinn, the housekeeper, said, wiping her hands as she came out of the kitchen. "If you'd been any later, there wouldn't have been any breakfast left."
• Hope ignored her, heading straight for the stairs. She still had to wash up and then hurry to the registry office to get married!
• Aunt Quinn blocked her way, her face stern. "Miss Hope, I kindly invited you to breakfast, and yet you're being so rude! You should at least acknowledge it, even if you're not going to eat!"
• Aunt Quinn rolled her eyes, sneering. "Clearly, someone raised in the countryside has no manners!"
• "Eat breakfast?" Hope sneered, glancing at the leftovers on the table. "I, the seventh young lady of the Newton family, am expected to eat what others have left behind?"
• Aunt Quinn forced a smile. "It's only because you arrived late, Miss Hope. If you come earlier next time, you'll have fresh food."
• "Seems like the Newton family is on the brink of bankruptcy if they can't even provide proper breakfast," Hope mused aloud as she took out her phone and snapped a photo of the meager spread. "This kind of scandal is going online."
• "Wait!" Aunt Quinn's face changed, and she rushed to stop her. "What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you right now!"
• If news of the Newton family's bankruptcy spread, Master and Madam wouldn't let her off so easily.
• Hope let out a cold laugh. "I can't let you get away with this."
• She rattled off a few dish names and then went upstairs to her room.
• When she returned after showering and changing, breakfast was ready, and Aunt Quinn was sweating profusely, her face full of forced smiles. "The breakfast is ready, Miss Hope. Could you delete those photos now?"
• "Pack it all up. I'm taking it to feed stray dogs."
• Aunt Quinn nearly fainted from rage. She was a top chef, hired by the Newton family at a high price to cook, and yet Hope was asking her to feed the food to stray dogs!
• "Are you going to hurry up?" Hope waved her phone in the air, urging her on.
• After Hope left, Aunt Quinn finally realized that with just a few photos, no one would believe the Newton family was going bankrupt. She had been tricked by the little girl!
• After feeding the strays outside the villa, Hope's taxi arrived just in time. She climbed into the car and headed straight for the marriage registry with Easton.
• They were lucky that day, with no queues. They were quickly called to the counter.
• When they took their photo, they removed their masks, and the photographer was stunned by their beauty.
• "Are you… celebrities?"
• "No," Hope laughed lightly. "We're just ordinary people." But that wouldn't always be the case—one day, she would be a star!
• In her future, becoming a celebrity was part of her revenge plan.
• The whole process of taking their photo and getting their marriage certificate took no more than ten minutes.
• Holding the two red books, Hope felt her heart swell with emotion. She had a family now!
• It should have been a day for celebration, but she had a performance class in the afternoon.
• She hailed a taxi for Easton, and after the driver helped him into the car, Hope felt a pang of guilt.
• "I'm sorry," she said softly. "We should be celebrating our wedding today, but I have class this afternoon. I'll come find you when I'm free."
• Easton nodded. "I'll wait for you."
• He had styled his hair neatly to cover his injury, and his clear, sincere eyes shone brightly. He looked like a fresh university graduate—so innocent, so pure.
• Hope couldn't help but lean into the car and kiss his cheek.
• "Happy wedding, Easton."
• "Mm."
• Easton responded, still in a daze. It wasn't until the taxi had driven far away that he snapped out of it.
• He instructed the driver to stop, and soon, a low-key luxury car pulled up beside them. Two men in black suits got out and helped him into the car.
• The taxi driver took the fare, scratching his head in confusion.
• "Why would you take a taxi when you have a luxury car?"
• Inside the luxury car, Easton gave a quiet order. "Keep our marriage private. Don't let anyone find out the details."
• The men in black suits responded respectfully. "Understood."
• Easton touched his cheek, still feeling the warmth from her kiss. His deep, dark eyes shifted slightly.
• "Forget it," he murmured. "Let the marriage information be public, but keep the identity of the bride hidden."