The Heir's Secret Wife Free Preview

In late autumn, a drizzle fell steadily.

Robin Olson held up an umbrella as she walked from the end of a narrow alley, heading to deliver hangover medicine to her boyfriend, Norris Badman, who was at a party.

Shivering from the cold, she brought her hands to her lips and exhaled two soft puffs of white mist. Her lips turned an even deeper shade of red, and her delicately arched brows furrowed slightly.

Maybe it was the discomfort from her period making her feel off. Not paying attention to the road, her foot caught on something, and she stumbled a few steps before managing to steady herself.

A muffled groan came from behind her.

Startled, she whipped around—only to see a man lying there, covered in blood. His life or death was unclear.

Robin panicked and ran over, umbrella in hand. "Sir, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

She bent down to help him, but as she lowered her gaze, she was met with a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes, their coldness piercing straight into her heart.

Half-hidden in the shadows, the man's face couldn't simply be described as handsome—it was beyond that.

Devastatingly stunning, like trouble in human form.

"If you don't want to die, then get lost," the man rasped, his voice hoarse and low, carrying a chill that pushed people away.

One hand clutched his bleeding abdomen as he leaned against the wall. Despite his dire state, his aura remained imposing, making it clear he wasn't someone to be messed with.

Robin's gaze flickered, and a wave of fear rose in her chest. Her grip on the umbrella faltered, and it slipped from her hands, falling to the ground.

She was scared of him—terrified, even—but the principles ingrained in her since childhood wouldn't let her just walk away and leave someone to die.

Edward Dunn thought that after his warning, the woman would wisely turn and leave.

But to his surprise, not only did she stay, but she even pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound on his abdomen, trying to stop the bleeding.

Edward's brows furrowed deeply. For a moment, he forgot the pain in his wound.

His dark eyes fixed on Robin's pale face. Though she was clearly frightened, her expression showed unmistakable determination.

"Saving me comes with a price. Are you leaving or not?"

The man's injuries didn't look like something from a simple accident—he was clearly tangled up in serious trouble.

Robin was terrified, of course. But how could she stand by and watch someone die right in front of her? His wound was severe, and if it wasn't treated soon, he'd likely bleed to death.

And honestly, what price could be higher than a human life?

"I'm not leaving," she replied firmly after a brief hesitation.

A ripple of surprise flashed through the depths of Edward's dark eyes.

At that moment, the sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley, drawing closer.

Robin instinctively turned toward the noise, but a cold hand suddenly wrapped around her slender wrist before she could fully react.

The man who had been sprawled on the ground just moments ago sprang to his feet with startling agility. In the blink of an eye, he had her pinned against the wall, leaning in dangerously close.

"You might not understand something," his low, menacing voice murmured in her ear, his cold hand subtly gripping the back of her neck.

A chill raced down Robin's spine. Panic surged in her chest, and she stammered, "W-what?"

"Good intentions don't always bring good outcomes."

As soon as the words fell, Edward tilted her head slightly and leaned in. His warm breath brushed against her skin, and before she could process what was happening, his lips crashed onto hers.

The kiss was forceful and cold, tinged with a faint metallic scent of blood.

A subtle cedarwood fragrance teased Robin's senses, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Her eyes widened in shock, glaring at the man in disbelief.

A rush of blood flooded her head, and anger flared in her chest. She tried to shove him away in a fit of panic and fury.

But even wounded, Edward was far from someone she could overpower.

Instead, he used her resistance against her, his long legs sliding between hers, locking her firmly between his unyielding frame and the cold wall behind her.

Her back pressed against the icy wall, and in front of her was the man's unyielding chest, firm and unrelenting, his body fitting tightly against hers.

There was nowhere to retreat, no space to breathe.

Robin's ears burned red. She was furious, humiliated, and completely unable to resist. Despair began to swallow her whole.

All she wanted was to help someone—how did it end up like this?

She had a boyfriend, for crying out loud!

The hurried footsteps from the end of the alley grew closer until the figures finally emerged.

The group immediately caught sight of the two locked in what appeared to be a heated kiss against the wall.

Robin's body trembled as she noticed the knives glinting in their hands. Swallowing her shame and humiliation, she forced herself to hook her arms around Edward's neck, pretending to willingly cling to him.

Don't panic.

Just think of it as being bitten by a dog!

A flicker of surprise crossed Edward's dark eyes.

One of the men stared openly, then sneered, "Tsk, lovebirds."

"Boss, could this guy be ... "

"That guy's famous for being untouchable when it comes to women. Do you really think he'd be out here in the middle of the night making out with someone? Are you crazy, or is he?"

"Yes, yes, you're right."

"Right, my *ss! Find him! There's no way we're letting him leave here alive!"

The voices faded along with their retreating footsteps, leaving the alley in tense silence again.

When a sharp pain pricked his lower lip, Edward was about to let Robin go.

The little lamb had bitten him.

His gaze darkened, and he tightened it further instead of loosening his hold. With one swift motion, he pulled Robin closer by the waist and pressed another deep, punishing kiss onto her lips.

The faint metallic taste of blood lingered in their mouths, spreading between them.

Robin was livid, ready to bite him again out of sheer rage.

But Edward didn't give her the chance. When he finally let her go, he exhaled shakily, his blood-streaked lips looking almost wickedly alluring.

"You ... you shameless jerk!" Robin yelled, her eyes welling up with tears. A single drop slid down her cheek as she glared at him, red-eyed and furious.

Those men had already left, yet he had still done that!

Edward chuckled softly, but the movement tugged at his wounded abdomen, causing a sharp wave of pain. His face instantly turned as pale as a sheet, cold sweat beading and dripping down his forehead.

Sliding back down to the ground, he leaned against the wall, his breathing shallow as if trying to suppress the unbearable agony.

Seeing him like this, Robin's hand, which had been raised to slap him, froze mid-air. No matter how furious she was, she couldn't bring herself to hit him. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes.

"Hey, are you okay? Don't scare me like that," she stammered, hurriedly supporting his sagging body while lowering her gaze to check his wound.

The blood was pouring out, soaking through his shirt until it was a deep, chilling crimson.

It was even worse than before.

Robin's chest tightened. "Hold on! I'll call and check how far the ambulance is."

When she pulled out her phone, Edward raised a hand and pressed it against hers, stopping her.

"No need. My people will be here soon." His voice was rough, his dark eyes locked firmly on Robin. "Consider this a trade for that kiss—I owe you a favor. So, what do you want?"

It would've been better if he hadn't mentioned it. Robin felt her whole body flush with heat when he brought up that kiss.

Flustered and annoyed, she shoved his hand away. "I don't need your compensation! It's not that big of a deal. So what if I got bitten? Who hasn't been bitten by a dog when they were a kid?

"Since someone's coming for you, I'm not sticking around. Goodbye."

Snatching up her fallen umbrella from the ground, Robin spun on her heel and walked away without looking back.

Halfway down the alley, Robin stopped abruptly and turned back. Without a word, she shoved the umbrella into Edward's hand, her face expressionless.

"You're injured, and you shouldn't get wet. Take this."

This time, she didn't look back again and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Edward stared at the umbrella in his hand, the flicker of emotions in his dark eyes unreadable.

She was so angry she could explode, yet she still left him the umbrella.

What kind of fool does something like that?

He lowered his gaze, his bloodstained fingers brushing the wound on his lips. For a moment, he was quiet, and then a faint, amused smile tugged at his mouth.

Not bad.

Half an hour later.

Robin arrived at the private room of the hotel where her boyfriend's party was being held. Standing outside, she took a moment to calm herself, inhaling deeply before pushing the door open.

A sugary, coquettish voice floated out from inside. "Hmm ... Mr. Norris, what if your girlfriend sees us like this? Won't she get mad?"

Robin froze at the sound. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Norris on the sofa, his arms wrapped around another woman. Her heart clenched violently.

Norris didn't notice her standing there. He kissed the woman sitting on his lap a few times and chuckled. "That woman? She's already been tamed. She's so obedient it's boring. I told her to go east; she wouldn't dare go west. What's there to be afraid of?"

"Oh, you're so bad." The woman giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck, her breath soft and sweet. "Then why bother marrying her at all?"

"My dad's obsessed with her," Norris said disdainfully. "If I don't marry her, the old man might cut me off from inheriting the company. That'd be such a loss, wouldn't it?"

He scoffed, his expression filled with contempt. "Besides, that woman's all fake innocence. She won't even let me touch her unless we're married. At the very least, I should get a taste, right?"

A man sitting nearby laughed maliciously. "Once Mr. Norris gets a taste, could we have a turn after?"

"Such a pretty girl. She must be fun to play with," someone else chimed in.

Norris waved a hand casually, smirking. "Sure, why not? One at a time, line up."

"Hahaha, Mr. Norris, you're so generous!"

The laughter in the room and Norris's mocking expression were like sharp knives, stabbing relentlessly into Robin's heart as she stood frozen outside the door.

Her entire body felt cold, her shoulders trembling as disbelief overwhelmed her.

She was right here.

And the man who was supposed to marry her tomorrow was just a door away, shamelessly tangled up with another woman, casually degrading her as nothing more than a plaything.

At that moment, Robin realized she didn't know Norris at all.

They had met in the hospital. Her father had fallen seriously ill and required an expensive surgery that her family couldn't afford. Norris's father had stepped in, paying the medical bills that saved her father's life and even giving him a position at Badman Group.

After that, with both families nudging them closer, Robin, feeling deeply indebted, had reluctantly agreed to Norris's pursuit.

Initially, he had been kind and attentive, the perfect gentleman. But everything changed the moment she refused to sleep with him.

From then on, he became a completely different person, constantly belittling her and making her feel worthless.

He would call her in the middle of the night for trivial errands—buying medicine, delivering alcohol—without the slightest consideration for her convenience or well-being.

Robin had become physically and emotionally exhausted in the year they had been together. At times, she even doubted herself, wondering if she was overreacting.

Was she his girlfriend, or just an unpaid servant?

Now, in this heart-wrenching moment of clarity, the answer hit her like a slap in the face.

To Norris, she wasn't his partner.

She was just a disposable toy that could be passed around whenever he pleased.

If Norris hadn't insisted on her delivering medicine last night, she wouldn't have run into that bloodied man.

And she wouldn't have been ...

Humiliation, bitterness, anger, and frustration surged in Robin's chest, twisting her heart so tightly it felt suffocating.

What had she done wrong?

Why was everyone intent on pushing her around?

Clenching her fists, Robin fixed her gaze on Norris, who was still pawing at the woman on the sofa. Her heart hardened.

There was no way she was going to marry him.

The next day.

At the Olson Residence.

Sunlight filtered through the light blue curtains of the bedroom, falling softly on the face of the girl sleeping fitfully on the bed. The room was calm and peaceful.

"Robin, wake up! Do you know what time it is? And you're still asleep!"

Dawn Olson stormed in and, upon seeing her daughter still lying in bed, lost her temper immediately. She landed a loud slap on Robin's back.

Robin yelped in pain, startled awake. She sat up instinctively, rubbing her sore back. Seeing her mother's stern face, she asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"

After leaving the hotel last night, Robin was in no mood to return to her apartment and came to her parents' house instead.

The rain had worsened her cramps, and the pain had been unbearable. Not wanting to disturb her parents, she endured the agony until morning before finally falling into a restless sleep.

Now, her body still ached all over.

Seeing her daughter looking dazed and clueless, Dawn placed her hands on her hips and glared. "You're asking me what's wrong? Today is the day you and Norris are getting married! Why aren't you up yet? Get washed up and ready—don't keep him waiting!"

The mention of "getting married" jolted Robin fully awake.

Robin dropped her gaze, her tone resistant. "Mom, I'm not marrying him."

She had already sent Norris a breakup text last night, clarifying that she wouldn't be showing up to register their marriage.

"What did you just say?" Dawn's voice shot up in pitch. "Are you out of your mind? The Badmans have such great conditions—marrying into that family is a blessing you could only dream of! Do you know how many people would kill for this chance, and you're saying you don't want it?"

"He's messing around with another woman. I'm not marrying a man like that," Robin replied firmly.

But her mother didn't even seem to register the first half of her words. "We've almost spent the wedding gift money from the Badmans! And if you call off the wedding now, how are we supposed to pay the tens of thousands in tuition fees for your brother next semester?

"Think about me and your father! What do you want us to do, sell our blood to make up the money?"

Robin stared at her mother in disbelief. She had been humiliated and wronged, yet her mother's first reaction was to care about money?!

And since when had they accepted the Badmans's wedding gift without telling her?

"Mom!" Robin's voice was filled with a hundred times more frustration than last night. "But I just don't want to get married!"

"Enough of your nonsense! If you keep stalling, Norris will get impatient waiting!"

Dawn didn't care about Robin's feelings. Returning the money they'd already spent was out of the question! She forcibly dragged Robin out of bed, made her wash up, and pushed her toward the City Hall.

Standing in front of City Hall, Robin felt like she was suffocating. Surrounded by couples brimming with joy and anticipation, she couldn't breathe.

She should have known better. In her family, no one cared about her feelings.

Her entire life had been dictated by her parents' expectations—what school to attend, what friends to make, what major to choose.

But this time, she couldn't let them control her. She couldn't marry a man who treated her like a toy!

For 23 years, she had been the perfect daughter, never once disobeying. But now, a wild and reckless idea formed in her mind.

Before Norris arrived, she'd find someone else to marry and end their plans once and for all!

The problem was, where on earth would she find a groom?

"So, my fiancée ran off with the bodyguard, and you're only telling me now?"

Just then, a deep, cold voice came from behind Robin. That familiar tone made her instinctively turn around.

Under a tree stood a tall and impeccably dressed figure, slightly angled away from her as he spoke into his phone.

The man's dark suit was pristine and sharp, his presence commanding and aloof, radiating an oppressive aura even from two meters away.

His breathtakingly handsome face was pale and icy. It instantly overlapped perfectly with the face she had seen on that rainy night.

Robin's eyes widened.

It was him. The man from last night!

On the phone, the man—Edward—curved his lips into a mocking smile. "No need to search. Are women extinct on this planet? Why would I be forced to marry someone who ran off with another man?"

The person on the other end, Edward's assistant, Ned Walton, hesitated before replying, "But Mr. Dunn, Mr. George—your grandfather— has made himself clear. He said you must pick another eligible young lady or grab someone off the street. Either way, you have to be married by the end of today. Otherwise, he said ... "

Ned's voice dropped with guilt. "He said he won't go on living."

That old man.

Edward rubbed his temples, clearly exasperated. He was just about to respond when a soft, familiar voice came from behind him. "Excuse me, Sir."

Surprised, Edward turned to see the young woman from last night standing before him. A flicker of astonishment crossed his deep black eyes, followed by a subtle, involuntary lips curl.

"It's you."

"It's me." Robin hesitated for a few seconds, her heart pounding as she tried to summon courage. Finally, she steadied herself and spoke firmly, "Last night, you said you owed me a wish. Does that still count?"

"It does." Edward nodded, his voice calm but curious. "What do you want?"

Her face turned scarlet as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"I ... I was thinking, since your fiancée ran away, would you consider marrying me?"

As soon as Robin finished speaking, the faint smile that had been lingering in Edward's eyes vanished completely.

When he looked back at her slightly flushed face, his gaze was now cold and calculating.

So, she wasn't asking for money or jewelry. She just wanted to marry me, huh?

Edward's mind clicked into place. It seemed that she hadn't asked for anything last night because she was waiting for this moment.

She must've recognized who he was and changed her mind. After all, marrying him was certainly a much better deal than simply asking for money or gifts.

So, all the softness and kindness she'd shown him last night? It was just a mask.

He couldn't help but feel a bit bitter. His gaze on her was distant and cold. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Robin was too nervous to notice the sudden shift in his mood. She nodded quickly. "Yes."

She knew it was reckless to ask a complete stranger to marry her.

Especially someone who clearly wasn't in a great situation. His suit was frayed at the edges, and based on what had happened last night, it seemed like he'd gotten himself into some trouble.

The worst part was that this man had forcibly kissed her last night, even if there was a reason behind it.

But there was no other choice.

At least this man was much more handsome than Norris. Just looking at him was enough of a treat.

Marrying him wasn't a loss.

But Edward was silent for so long that Robin began to feel uneasy.

Just as she was about to lose hope, thinking he might refuse, he lifted his chin disinterestedly. He said flatly, "Let's go."

After all, he needed a wife; honestly, any woman would do.

Robin was a bit distracted, still processing everything. "Where are we going?"

Edward looked at her as if she were a fool. "Didn't you say you wanted to get married?"

With that, he turned and walked toward the City Hall.

"Oh, right!" Robin quickly followed him.

Half an hour later, holding the freshly issued marriage certificate, Robin felt like her steps were floating. She couldn't quite believe what had just happened.

She couldn't help but glance at Edward's calm, handsome profile beside her.

This had to be the boldest thing she'd ever done in her 23 years of life—getting married to a stranger.

Even though he seemed distant and cold, he did not even smile during the process.

But now that they were married, she had to take responsibility.

Robin reached into her bag, pulled out her spare key to her apartment, and handed it to Edward.

"This is the key to my apartment. The address is Bauhinia Residence, Unit 8, on the tenth floor. You can move in whenever you're ready. By the way, I remember you're still injured. If it's inconvenient for you, I can help you move your things."

Move into her place?

Edward's dark eyes darkened. "Is this also your request?"

Robin nodded. "Although I don't understand why you're so badly injured and still haven't been hospitalized, I'll work hard to earn money and take care of things. You don't have to keep doing that kind of dangerous work."

She couldn't interfere before, but now that he was her husband, she hoped he'd live a safe and healthy life.

Edward furrowed his brows. So, just after they got married, she was already trying to interfere with his work?

And when did he ever need a woman to take care of him?

"There's something I think I need to make clear to you," Edward said, his voice more serious. "Even though we're married, it doesn't mean you can meddle in my private affairs. Please be aware of that."

Hearing the displeasure in his tone, Robin froze for a moment before nodding obediently. "Okay.

"Do you need me to help you move your things now?" Robin asked.

"No need, I have something else to do," Edward responded coldly, then turned and walked toward the road without even saying goodbye.

Before leaving, he did accept the key to her apartment.

Robin felt like he was a bit different from last night, but she couldn't pinpoint how exactly. She shrugged it off and took a cab to leave.

It wasn't long before she received a call from Norris.

After thinking briefly, Robin immediately hung up the phone and blocked his number.

She had already made herself clear in the message, and whether or not he had seen it was no longer her concern.

With that done, Robin glanced at the marriage certificate on her lap and smiled—a mix of unease and relief.

It would get better.

Not long after Robin left, a black Maybach approached the curb.

A person exited the front passenger seat, respectfully opened the back door, and spoke to Edward, who was standing by the roadside. "Mr. Dunn, please."

Edward got into the car, his long legs naturally crossing as he sat. His expression was slightly tired and pale—an aftereffect of getting out of bed before his serious injuries had fully healed.

"Contact the doctor; have him come to change my bandages."

Ned responded immediately, "The doctor is already on the way. Mr. Dunn, we've kept Mr. George's people outside, so they haven't discovered your injuries."

Though George knew, Edward didn't have to rush into a marriage with someone just to hide it. But once George knew, the rest of the Dunns would also find out, and they'd take actions that would not be in Edward's favor.

So, for now, it had to be kept a secret.

Edward leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest. He casually tossed the marriage certificate to the side, where it slid off the edge and was forgotten.

Bauhinia Residence.

Robin had taken the day off from work to clean up the room where Edward would be staying.

The room wasn't that big, but it still took her the entire afternoon to tidy up.

After dinner, Robin searched for bedding online. Things like that were usually overpriced in stores, but online, they were more affordable and practical.

She wasn't sure, though, which style Edward preferred.

Robin thought about calling him to ask out of politeness to her future housemate.

But then she realized she'd forgotten to exchange contact information with him!

It wasn't entirely her fault—during the entire marriage registration process, Edward had been cold and distant, so she had been somewhat intimidated by him.

Robin sighed, put away the clothes hangers, and was about to head to her room when she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

She jogged over to open it, only to be taken aback when she saw the man leaning against the wall with an unusually pale and cold expression.

It was Edward.

Looking around, she noticed he wasn't carrying any luggage. "Didn't you bring any luggage?" she asked in surprise.

Edward had come on a whim, with George's people keeping an eye on him at home. If the doctor came to check on his injuries, it would expose everything.

In addition to his family, people were watching the properties nearby under his name.

After thinking it over, the only place that wouldn't be under surveillance was his new wife's apartment.

"Can I come in?" Edward asked, his voice hoarse.

"Of course." Robin quickly noticed his discomfort and stepped aside to let him in.

Edward walked inside, his gaze sweeping across the modest, clean, tidy living room.

It wasn't a large space, but it was neat and had a sense of warmth. The flowers on the table, the wind chimes hanging by the window, and the stuffed animals on the couch all gave the place a homey feel.

The apartment wasn't particularly spacious, but it felt even more cozy and inviting than his villa in the city center, which occupied a prime spot.

Edward's eyes shifted slightly.

With a powerful presence now filling the space, Robin felt a little tense, even though he was her new husband.

"Um ... I didn't expect you to come tonight. I just finished cleaning your room this afternoon, but I haven't had the chance to buy furniture or bedding yet."

"No need," Edward said, glancing at her with distant eyes. "I'm only staying for a couple of nights. No need to bother yourself."

He paused momentarily, then added, "I can buy you a better apartment as compensation."

Robin was taken aback, then quickly waved her hand. "No, no need for that. I've already gotten used to living here. And your work is tough enough. No need to spend money on something like this.

"And," she added without thinking, "we're married now, so there's no need to keep everything so separate."

Married, huh?

Edward looked at her serious expression and suddenly felt a bit uneasy. He turned his head and cleared his throat.

He spoke indifferently, "Even as a married couple, some things still need to be clear. But if you insist, it's up to you."

"Mm ... " Robin pressed her lips together, feeling her ears grow warm, her palms starting to sweat.

The atmosphere in the living room shifted, becoming just a bit awkward.

"Do you have a first aid kit?" Edward asked, breaking the silence.

"I do. You can sit down; I'll look for it," Robin replied, nodding as she walked over to the TV stand to rummage through it.

She didn't ask why he hadn't gone to the hospital, figuring he must have some reason he didn't want to share.

Edward nodded and sat down in front of the sofa.

Soon enough, Robin found the first aid kit and placed it on the table. "Do you need any help?"

"No," Edward said softly, refusing her offer. He rolled up the hem of his shirt, revealing a bandage on his abdomen, faintly stained with blood.

Robin felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the injury. "Maybe you should go to the hospital to have it treated? No one's chasing you now, so it should be safe to go."

Her words sounded rather foolish, and Edward felt like laughing for some reason.

But as soon as a smile appeared on his face, it disappeared abruptly when he noticed a small red dot in the corner of the living room.

He suddenly stood up and walked over to the TV stand, grabbing the small bear-shaped plush toy that was sitting there.

"What's wrong?" Robin looked at him, confused.

In the next second, Edward twisted the bear's head off, revealing a tiny hidden camera behind its eyes.

"A camera?!" Robin gasped, her face going pale. "How could there be something like this inside the toy?"

And the toy was facing the sofa, so had she been watched every day without realizing it?

"This is your place. Why are you so surprised?" Edward's long fingers crushed the camera, and he turned to look at her mockingly. "Installing a camera in the toy's eyes—looks like I underestimated you."

He almost fell for the act she'd put on just now.

Robin's eyes widened in shock as she heard the suspicion in his voice. "You think I did this on purpose to spy on you? But I didn't do this! I didn't even know there was a camera in the toy!"

"You think I'll believe that nonsense?" Edward's gaze turned cold, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Marrying a woman like you, who's so scheming, looks like I made the worst life decision."