Matthew turned his head and saw a woman clutching a bag, glaring at him aggressively. "I'm warning you," he said. "Valerie is my friend. Don't think you can hurt her. Let her go, or I'll call the police, right now."

Matthew instantly felt speechless. Valerie, what kind of friends have you made? Do I look like a bad guy?

"Do you know who I am?" Matthew's unpleasant tone made Katherine think he was arrogantly threatening her.

Katherine winced at Matthew's glare, but after glancing at the unconscious Valerie in his arms, she gathered her courage. Glaring back, she angrily pulled out her cell phone. "I—I don't care who you are. The police station is right around the corner. I'm calling them if you don't release her."

Katherine's voice woke Valerie. She opened her eyes in a daze and felt embarrassed realizing she was in Matthew's arms. She remembered falling asleep in the car; Matthew was carrying her upstairs. She hadn't expected Katherine's sudden arrival and the resulting misunderstanding.

Seeing Matthew's darkened face, Valerie felt so embarrassed she didn't know what to say. Afraid Katherine would call the police, she hurriedly broke free from his arms. "Katherine, he's not a bad guy. He's my husband."

"Huh?" Katherine was dumbfounded.

Valerie reiterated, "Really, and look, I'm fine." She hurriedly pacified Matthew. "Mr. Grant, don't be angry. Katherine misunderstood because she hadn't met you before. Please don't take it to heart"

Misunderstood? Do I look like a bad guy? Although upset, Matthew felt a little better seeing Valerie's apology. Bothered by Katherine, he turned to Valerie. "I have something else to do. You can get upstairs yourself, can't you?"

Valerie knew he was going back to the Noria Group to pick up his boss, and nodded hurriedly. "Yes, I can."

Matthew returned to the driver's seat and drove off.

After Matthew left, Katherine rushed to Valerie's side. "What the hell is going on here? When did you get married? How come I've never heard you talk about it? And this man is so scary!" She had been glared at and was close to tears.

Valerie didn't know how to explain. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn't find the right opportunity. By the way, why did you come?"

Katherine shook the bag containing medicine. "You hurt your arm this morning, and I guessed you didn't have time to go to the hospital, so I bought some medicine. But when I entered the gate, I saw that man holding you, unconscious. I misunderstood Sorry, sorry!"

It had been almost a day since Valerie's injury, and Katherine's concern touched her. Valerie didn't blame Katherine for the misunderstanding; she hadn't been clear. Valerie comforted Katherine, took her upstairs, and truthfully explained her marriage to Matthew.

"For real?" Katherine exclaimed in the corridor, then hurriedly lowered her voice, disbelief etched on her face. "I always thought you were super-rational. I never thought you'd flash-marry!"

"Actually, I never thought I'd get married so suddenly. My mom was pressuring me; if I didn't marry, she would force me. I didn't want to be sold, and" Valerie touched her flat belly, a slight smile playing on her lips. "And it's the only way I can keep the baby."

She added sheepishly, "Will you think I'm irresponsible?"

"No. Everyone has the right to choose how they live. Besides, you want the baby because you love it and want to be responsible, right?"

Valerie, feeling warmth at Katherine's support, didn't expect it.

"But Valerie, you could have married anyone! Why such a scary man? Although he's not bad-looking, his gaze is terrifying" Katherine still felt fear remembering Matthew's glare.

He's scary? Valerie raised an eyebrow. She didn't think Matthew was scary. "Mr. Grant doesn't smile much, but he's nice." "Okay, so are you keeping your pregnancy from him?" Katherine asked.

Valerie nodded. "He takes marriage seriously; if he knew about the baby, he definitely wouldn't agree to a divorce easily."

Katherine hesitated. "But didn't you consider not divorcing and raising the baby together?"

Katherine's comment stopped Valerie; she hadn't considered that.

"And" Katherine continued meaningfully, "Even though we've only just met, I have a gut feeling Mr. Grant isn't a simple guy"