I Married the President

On Weibo’s hot search list, the news of Cecily Taylor being hospitalized after falling ill from the local conditions while doing charity work in a remote area ranked third. Ahead of it was a tech company’s new product launch. And the top spot on the hot search list was held by two glaring words: Shining Star.

Just as Claire Sinclair was about to check the contestants’ online rankings, her phone suddenly received a text message: Claire Sinclair, save me.

Sender: Ethan Kingsley.

Claire Sinclair raised an eyebrow. ’What is this man up to?’

She considered ignoring it, but then another text arrived from Ethan Kingsley: I’m Ivy Tanner.

’Ivy Tanner?’

Claire Sinclair didn’t recognize the name, but after a moment of thought, she immediately made a connection. ’Could it be Third Miss Tanner?’

Claire Sinclair replied: Third Miss Tanner?

The next second, her phone suddenly rang. The caller ID read: Ethan Kingsley.

Claire Sinclair hesitated for a moment before answering the call. "Hello?"

A pleading voice immediately came from the other end of the line. "Claire Sinclair, this is Ivy Tanner. Please, help me."

Claire Sinclair frowned slightly, asking in confusion, "What’s wrong with you?"

’Doesn’t she have the IQ of an 8-year-old? Her tone sounds completely normal, nothing like when I saw her at the airport.’

Ivy Tanner spoke quickly. "I can’t explain over the phone. Ethan Kingsley will be back soon. If he sends me back to the Tanner Family, those people will kill me. Please, help me. Don’t let Ethan Kingsley send me back."

Although she didn’t fully understand what was happening to the girl, Claire Sinclair could feel the fear in her voice and couldn’t help but ask, "Are you playing dumb?"

Ivy Tanner’s voice grew a little hoarse. "If I didn’t play dumb, I wouldn’t have survived this long. Claire Sinclair, I’m out of time. You have to help me."

"How do you want me to help you?" Claire Sinclair asked.

"Tomorrow, Ethan Kingsley is going with Young Master Quincy to record the show. I’ve already picked out an escape route. As long as you can help me distract Seth Payne, I have a way to get away."

Claire Sinclair stated honestly, "Third Miss Tanner, I don’t know Seth Payne well."

As the saying goes, you can’t be too careful.

After all, Third Miss Tanner was someone Ethan Kingsley had brought with him. Claire Sinclair didn’t dare to blindly trust her side of the story. Besides, it was already so late. ’What if it’s a trap?’

"I..." Ivy Tanner started to say more, but she suddenly paused and quickly added, "Ethan Kingsley is back. Don’t tell him I called you."

CLICK.

The call disconnected.

Claire Sinclair put her phone down and stared at the dark screen, an indescribable feeling in her heart.

’There’s no doubt Third Miss Tanner is playing dumb. It shows she must be a pretty shrewd woman, or she wouldn’t have gone undiscovered for so long.’

’The strange thing is, we only met for the first time today. Why would she tell me such a huge secret, and even ask me for help?’

Claire Sinclair couldn’t figure it out and decided to wait for Adrian Quincy to return before discussing it with him.

-

「The Hospital.」

Ivy Tanner quickly deleted her call history with Claire Sinclair, then opened up a tile-matching game and began to play, looking the part.

Ethan Kingsley appeared at the door. Seeing her clutching her phone instead of sleeping, he frowned sharply and strode into the room. "Little Idiot, put the phone down and go to sleep."

Ivy Tanner smiled with pure innocence. "Brother Kingsley, I can’t beat this level. Can you beat it for me?"

As she spoke, she handed the phone back to him.

Ethan Kingsley glanced at the level she was playing. It was only level 34—incredibly simple.

But it was already past midnight.

Ethan Kingsley exited the game and said in a low voice, "Sleep."

Ivy Tanner pointed at the phone in his hand, her eyes welling with tears. "Brother Kingsley, I can’t beat it..."