Claire Harper was caught off guard by Nathan Cross's comment, leaving her momentarily flustered.
"Do you think I should go full-time with my content creation?"
She had considered going full-time before.
Especially a few months ago, when her side income first exceeded 20,000 dollar in a single month. The next day, she had felt a strong urge to hand in her resignation letter.
But after cooling down, Claire had decided against it. While her job at the advertising agency was exhausting, it was also highly educational. Advertising was all about marketing, and there was little difference between marketing a product and marketing oneself. The skills she gained at work could be applied to her side hustle, and she still saw room for growth.
This was why Claire gritted her teeth and chose not to quit.
She hadn't shared these thoughts with anyone before, uncertain if she was making the right decision. Nathan's remark about her approach being wrong immediately made her nervous.
"No need to rush into going full-time," Nathan replied. "Wait until your side business is truly established. What I meant is that you should consider hiring an assistant. Many of the trivial tasks in your content creation work can be delegated."
After all, human energy is finite. Juggling two demanding commitments was bound to take a toll on Claire eventually.
"Hire an assistant?"
Claire was intrigued. "I'll think about it. If I find the right person, it's definitely worth considering. Thank you, Nathan. Talking with you is really helpful."
Whether or not she actually hired an assistant, Nathan's suggestion was practical and thoughtful. It showed he was genuinely paying attention to what she said.
Claire asked Nathan what he wanted for breakfast the next day. This time, Nathan didn't give the typical nonchalant answer.
"A sandwich and coffee, please."
Having offered her career advice, Nathan felt entitled to a breakfast without guilt.
Claire was pleased, too. *Nathan's actually pretty easy to get along with.*
The day had started off on a good note. As they spent more time together, she believed they would better understand each other. While they might never become a picture-perfect couple, being a cooperative and respectful pair wasn't a bad outcome.
---
The next day, Nathan's first task upon arriving at the office was to call the lawyer who had drafted their prenuptial agreement.
"Find out how much debt Claire Harper currently has," he instructed.
The lawyer worked quickly, and by the afternoon, Nathan had a detailed report on Claire's financial obligations.
The sheer amount of debt made Nathan frown.
Claire's strategy was logical—such a large sum was impossible to pay off through a traditional nine-to-five job. The only feasible approach was to take an unconventional path.
"Mr. Cross, about those debts..."
The lawyer hesitated.
Nathan shook his head. "It's nothing. I just wanted to know the details."
The lawyer sighed in relief. When Nathan had asked for Claire's debt information, he had feared Nathan might be planning to pay it off for her.
Nathan noticed the lawyer's expression and felt exasperated. "Don't overthink it. That's why we signed the prenuptial agreement in the first place."
The lawyer nodded, realizing Nathan wasn't likely to part with his wealth so soon after the marriage. Still, over time, who could say? If Nathan truly fell for Claire, he might be inclined to help her financially.
"Mr. Cross, I want to protect your assets, but ultimately, how you spend your money is your decision," the lawyer added tactfully.
"Protect what assets?"
The voice belonged to Jiang Ziyan, who had barged into Nathan's office without knocking.
Nathan shot him a pointed look, signaling the lawyer to leave. "I'll be in touch, Mr. Cross," the lawyer said, gathering his documents.
"What's this about a secret agreement?" Jiang asked, clearly intrigued.
Nathan's glare didn't waver. "Do I have to report my personal affairs to you?"
"No, of course not."
Jiang, looking thoroughly worn out, slumped into a chair. He had just given two media interviews and attended three tedious corporate events on behalf of their company.
"When are you going to step into the spotlight yourself, Nathan? All these events you keep sending me to were invitations for you!"
Jiang didn't mind the attention but felt creatively drained. Every public appearance was like scraping the bottom of his idea barrel.
Nathan remained unmoved, prompting Jiang to try a different tactic. "Now that you're married, don't you want to show off your status as one of the internet's rising stars to your wife?"
"She doesn't know I'm the owner of Huahu," Nathan replied.
At first, Nathan had doubted Claire's ignorance. Now, he was certain she genuinely didn't know.
From the beginning of their marriage, Claire had been forthright about her debts and past relationships, while Nathan had hidden behind the facade of being a senior engineer.
Revealing his true identity now? Knowing how decisive Claire had been in ending things with Ethan, Nathan suspected she'd be scheduling an appointment at the civil registry by morning.
Jiang gaped at him. "You won't tell the media, fine. But your wife? What kind of movie script are you living? Who hides their real identity from their spouse?"
"I told her I'm a senior engineer at Huahu," Nathan replied.
Technically, it wasn't a lie. Huahu's core product was built on the framework Nathan had personally designed.
"Fair enough," Jiang conceded. "I think I get it now. My sister, Jiang Mingxia, lost because she knew you were the boss. She couldn't handle your... unique tastes."
Nathan ignored him. Instead, he decided Jiang needed more work to keep him occupied.
"There's a party tonight. Don't forget to attend," Nathan said.
"Whose party?"
Nathan handed him an invitation. "The Sterling family's."
Jiang immediately straightened. "The fox isn't visiting the henhouse out of kindness!"
The Jiang family had competitors looking to sabotage Huahu, and the Sterlings had long supported one of their rivals. Jiang didn't trust anyone with the Sterling name.
Assuming Nathan would decline the invitation, Jiang was surprised when he agreed to go.
"What's your role going to be?" Jiang asked.
"Your assistant," Nathan replied.
"...Fine, whatever makes you happy."
Jiang watched as Nathan casually called Claire, letting her know he'd be home late because of work. Jiang couldn't help but roll his eyes.
*Since when did Nathan start reporting his plans to anyone, let alone his wife?*
On the other end of the line, Claire seemed equally busy. "I was just about to tell you—I won't be home for dinner either. My mom wants me to meet some of her friends."
How convenient. Both newlyweds had social engagements.
"Let me know if you need me to pick you up," Nathan offered.
Claire chuckled. "No need! Focus on your boss and make sure to impress. Promotions and raises don't come easy. We'll talk when we're both home."
---
When Claire got into her mother's car, she had no idea their destination was the Sterling family estate.
It was her second time visiting.
The first had been years ago when she was in high school, accompanying her father.
The Sterling estate housed Ethan's uncles, the eldest two of the Sterling siblings. Ethan's father, the youngest brother, had long ago struck out on his own for reasons unknown.
The interwoven relationships within the Sterling family didn't concern Claire. Her father's connection with Ethan's second uncle had once allowed him to bring her here. After her father's disappearance, Grace had even turned to the second uncle for help. While he had initially assisted, over time their connection had faded.
Arriving at the Sterling estate now made Claire uneasy. "Mom, I just ended things with Ethan..."
Yesterday, she had decisively severed ties with Ethan. Why would she willingly step back into the Sterling family's circle so soon?