Her Hidden Crowns (Suzanne and Austin) novel Chapter 2

Jenson responded with a cold and mocking laugh.

"I thought you had finally come to your senses and reflected on your behavior. Turns out you're just playing games, trying to force me into marriage!"

No one knew better than Jenson how much Suzanne needed him, how much she fawned over him.

Every argument they'd ever had ended with Suzanne backing down. She would always apologize and beg to make up. He didn't believe for a second that Suzanne truly wanted to leave him.

Looking down at her, Jenson said with disdain, "Suzanne, my patience has limits. I won't tolerate your unreasonable behavior any longer. This time, unless you fully reflect on your mistakes and admit you're wrong, don't bother showing up in front of me again."

With that, Jenson turned and walked away without hesitation.

Suzanne watched as his figure disappeared into the darkness. Her expression remained calm, but deep inside, a dull ache settled in. After all, this was the man she had loved for ten years. Thinking about all the memories they had shared and the reality of finally, truly parting from him left her feeling hollow.

She barely slept that night.

When dawn finally approached, she dozed off for a brief moment before her alarm jolted her awake. She checked the time groggily and hurried to get ready. Then, she grabbed her documents and headed to the city clerk's office.

When she arrived, there were still ten minutes left before the time she and Austin Hall had agreed on.

Austin hadn't arrived yet, so she waited by the entrance.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the stress catching up with her, but suddenly, a wave of dizziness swept over her, and she felt herself collapsing. Before she hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her.

Her eyes widened. "Austin?"

The man standing before her was sharp in his tailored suit, his features chiseled and flawless. His dark eyes watched her intently, and he said flatly, "This is the second time I've caught you fainting. People might think you're trying to scam me for my money."

Suzanne flushed with embarrassment.

Yesterday, she had also met Austin at the city clerk's office.

She had just witnessed Jenson and Seline being affectionate together, and the heartbreak nearly caused her to faint. Austin had been the one to catch her then too.

She hadn't thanked him. Instead, as if possessed by some reckless impulse, she had blurted out, "Mr. Hall, are you free? How about we get married?"

She knew Austin's family had been pressuring him to settle down.

Austin had stared at her, stunned. He didn't say anything for some time and just looked at her with an unreadable expression.

Even now, Suzanne couldn't believe she'd been so bold.

This was Austin Hall, the fourth son of the Hall family. He was the most powerful figure in the Hall family. He alone controlled the Hall empire and single-handedly cemented their dominance in the business world.

He was feared by competitors and admired by women everywhere. With just a flick of his fingers, he could cause chaos in the market.

He was also his parents' favorite son. His mother, Felicia Pickett, made no secret of her wish for Austin to give her a grandchild. She'd been pushing him harder than ever lately to the point of publicly announcing to the media that she expected him to marry within six months.

Thinking about the sheer weight of the Hall family name, Suzanne immediately regretted her impulsive words. She had been about to tell him she was joking when, to her shock, Austin nodded.

"Sure," he'd said.

"But I don't have my documents with me. Let's meet again tomorrow at 10:00 am."

And just like that, they made the arrangement.

Even now, Suzanne still found it hard to believe she was really about to marry Austin Hall. Austin's punctual arrival left her stunned too.

When he noticed her staring at him blankly, a rare flicker of amusement softened his usually cold eyes. He leaned in closer without warning, his strong arm slipping around her waist. His thin lips curled into a teasing smirk as he murmured, "You're the one who said you wanted to get married. What's the matter? Having second thoughts?"