pter 9 Do you really not remember me at all ? Chapter 9 Do you really not remember me at all ? The firefighter who had carried her out of the blaze two nights ago ! Without the heavy gear , his features were sharper , his jawline stern , lips pressed into a thin line . His eyes were darker than right , fathomless . - The sheer force of his presence radiated masculine strength . Clara's heartbeat skipped a beat . He stopped in front of her , towering over her by nearly a head . His shadow all but enveloped her . " Clara ? " Not only was he handsome - his voice was deep , magnetic , with a husky edge , vibrating through her chest . Clara steadied herself and nodded . " Yes . And you are ... Wendy's cousin ? " He inclined his head , his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before sliding away . His voice was flat . " Ethan Vaughn Clara still found it hard to believe . Wendy really had a cousin like this . She bit her lip , then said sincerely , " Thank you ... for saving me the other night . " If not for him , she would have died in that fire - never getting the chance to live again . " Just doing my duty , " he said simply . Clara was momentarily speechless . Alright ... this matched exactly what Wendy had warned her : cold , not good with words . " Did you bring your ID ? " Ethan asked . " Yes . " Clara instinctively handed it to him . Ethan took it and turned toward the entrance . " Let's go . " " Mr. Vaughn , " Clara called after him , " aren't we rushing this ? Don't we need to get to know each other a little better ? " Ethan looked back , expression unchanged . " Wendy told me everything I need to know . Anything else would be a waste of time . " Clara : That big mouth of Wendy's ... clearly , he already knew her situation . " But before we register , I need to make a few things clear . " Ethan raised a brow , gesturing for her to go on . * First , this is a marriage of convenience . We both get what we need . I won't interfere in your private life , and I expect you not to interfere in mine . " " Fine . " " Second , our finances stay separate . I don't want your money , and you shouldn't covet mine . " He gave her a brief look . " Fine . " 11:57 C My Husband Left Me to Burn ? I Married a Billionaire Firefighter ! 4.0 % Chapter 9 Do you really not remember me at all ? " Third , and most important - I despise lies . Any form of deception , and this marriage ends immediately . Can you accept that ? " Deceit was the one line Clara would never allow crossed . At her words , Ethan's gaze sharpened . His easy , detached air fell away . He studied her in silence for several seconds . Clara held his eyes without flinching . At last , he gave one short answer . " Alright . " " I've said my conditions . Mr. Vaughn , what about yours ? " " I only have one condition . " Ethan lifted his chin slightly . " I'm not interested in women . Marriage is just a way to appease my family . So keep yourself in check - don't develop feelings you shouldn't . " Clara's eyes swept over him from head to toe once more . Broad shoulders , narrow waist , long legs . The T - shirt stretched over solid muscles , chest and arms outlined in sharp relief . Even through the fabric , she could feel the raw strength , the unrestrained masculinity . A man like this , full of vitality ... no desires ? If he wasn't interested in women , then ... men ? So this really was a pure arrangement . A partnership . He'd fend off his family's pressure to marry , while continuing his " colorful " life . Seeing Clara's shifting expression , Ethan frowned . " What ? You can't accept that ? " Clara curved her lips , dimples faint on her cheeks . " What a coincidence , Mr. Vaughn . I'm not interested in men either . Especially ... your type . " She blinked playfully , her smile all innocence . " Don't worry . I won't develop any feelings for you . We'll keep it clean - just a mutually beneficial partnership . " Ethan : " ... " Why did he feel something off in her gaze ? The two walked toward the bright glass doors of the civil affairs bureau , sunlight casting sharp shadows across the polished tiles . Just as he was about to push the door open , Ethan's steps suddenly halted . Clara instinctively stopped as well , turning to him with a puzzled look . He stood there sideways , his gaze heavy on her face . After a few seconds of silence , his Adam's apple bobbed , a barely perceptible tension in his voice : " Clara , " he called her name , eyes locking onto hers . " ... Do you really not remember me at all ? " Clara froze . She stared back into his deep eyes , where something heavy seemed to churn - expectation , and ... a trace of carefully buried loss . Under that gaze , she hesitated , then slowly nodded .