Sham Marriage Quit, Real Heiress Strikes Back Free Preview

"I'm sorry, Ms. Sterling, but according to our system, there's no legal record of your marriage to Mr. Hawthorne."

The woman behind the counter at the County Clerk's Office slid the paperwork back across to Elena Sterling.

Her tone was professional, but the faint smirk at the corner of her mouth made it feel personal.

Elena blinked, stunned. "That's impossible."

She and Nathan Hawthorne had been married for five years. He'd always treated her like she mattered. If he hadn't, she wouldn't have spent her twenty-fifth birthday finally updating her records and listing him as her emergency contact.

The clerk didn't respond. She just looked at Elena with flat, practiced indifference. Like she was another woman chasing a story that existed only in her head.

But county officials don't just make this stuff up.

A chill crept down Elena's spine. The shock was finally sinking in—something was wrong, deeply wrong. There had to be some kind of mistake, and she needed to hear it straight from Nathan.

But before she could even call him, her editor, Andy Boyd, beat her to it.

"Elena, there's been a crash on Evermist Avenue. Get there now."

"Andy, I'm in the middle of something—"

"It's Nathan's car."

Elena froze. Nathan had told her just yesterday that he was flying out for a business trip.

A strange, hollow feeling opened up in her chest. Maybe this accident would give her the answers she wasn't getting anywhere else.

She got the location from Andy, grabbed the first cab she could find, and headed out. By the time she arrived, the street was crawling with press. Her assistant was already waiting.

And there it was.

A mangled Rolls-Royce Phantom. The license plate was impossible to miss. It was Nathan's!

Elena's stomach clenched. She pushed through the crowd, eyes locked on the scene ahead. Paramedics were still working to extract the injured from the wreck.

And then she saw him. Nathan.

He looked terrible. His face was streaked with blood, his white dress shirt soaked in it. Over it, he wore the black suit she'd picked out for him just last month.

She instinctively stepped forward—but before she could call his name, another stretcher came into view.

And lying on it was Camille Hart, Nathan's first love.

Unlike Nathan, Camille looked barely scratched. Just a gash on her forehead. She was gripping a paramedic's jacket, trying to sit up.

"Is Nathan okay? Please, tell me he's okay!"

Someone whispered nearby, "Isn't that Camille? The war correspondent? Didn't she just come back from an overseas assignment? D*mn, she's intense."

"Dude, I saw the scene. Her head was, like... in his lap. What do you think they were doing?"

"Wait, what? But Nathan's married!"

Yeah, he was—at least, that's what she had always believed. Five years of marriage. Five years spent thinking her life was real, that she was happy. But now? The man who said he was out of town was just found in the backseat of a car with another woman—doing s*x.

Elena just stood there, motionless. Nathan and Camille were loaded into the ambulance and taken away.

She stayed where she was, holding her umbrella as rain misted around her, watching the red lights fade in the distance.

"Elena... should we still go live?" her assistant asked cautiously.

"We go live," Elena said coldly.

She instructed her assistant to start filming.

The car was mangled, but the story was explosive. Anything involving the Hawthornes was instant headline material—and she was going to make sure the world knew exactly what kind of people Nathan and Camille were.

The livestream took off within minutes.

Elena stood tall in front of the camera, her long hair swept into a flawless bun, face calm, voice steady as she broke down the scene.

And yes—she hinted, very carefully, at the compromising position Camille had been in when the firefighters pulled her out of Nathan's car.

When the broadcast ended, she went straight to the Swiftline office. The moment she stepped in, Andy dragged her into his office.

"Elena, what the hell was that?! I told you to cover the accident, not give the public a rundown of their positions inside the d*mn car! Twitter's going insane—people are accusing Nathan of cheating and Camille of being a homewrecker. You trying to settle a personal score on camera?!"

Andy was practically foaming at the mouth. Everyone at the office knew about her relationship with Nathan.

Elena stayed calm. "Isn't a reporter's job to tell the truth?"

"You—!"

Andy nearly choked with his rage. But he couldn't afford to fire her; he knew better than that. So he could only swallow all his anger. "If the Hawthornes come after us, you're taking the heat. Get out."

Elena left without a word, ignoring the looks from her coworkers. Back at her desk, she opened up Camille's social media.

She hadn't checked it in years—this was the first time. Their relationship had always been cold. After Camille left the country and Elena married Nathan, there was almost no contact.She found it instantly, yet the second she opened the profile, a chill shot through her hands. Dozens of photos filled the screen.

Camille's social feed was filled with photos that screamed romance. Always just her face in the frame—soft lighting, carefully posed smiles—but always with the same man by her side, just out of view. He never looked at the camera. Same white button-down shirts, the same buzzed haircut. Some shots showed them kissing, others showed them wrapped in intimate embraces. And a few... looked like they were doing a lot more than just kissing.

But Elena knew that man. It was Nathan.

The latest post had been uploaded just the night before.

"Someone's buying me the Everlove Heart necklace from JewelYield. He says I'm the love of his life."

Elena felt physically sick. She was about to close the app when her phone rang again.

"Hello?"

"Miss Sterling?" a man asked politely.

"Yes?"

"I'm calling on behalf of Malcolm and Vivian Sterling. As their attorney, I'm reaching out per their will. The full value of their estate—just over fifty billion dollars—is to be transferred to you. When would you be available to begin the process?"

Elena's breath caught. These familiar names, Malcolm and Vivian—her adoptive parents!

She had learned on her eighteenth birthday that she wasn't their biological child. She was the real daughter of the Hart family, switched at birth. Camille had grown up in her place.

Shortly after the truth came to light, she was taken back by the Harts. But Camille never returned to Malcolm and Vivian's side.

Malcolm and Vivian had tried to welcome Camille back, but Camille had rejected them, dismissing their background and playing the emotional card—saying she "couldn't handle the truth."

Helpless, Malcolm and Vivian had no choice but to agree—especially with the Hart family's firm insistence. And so, Camille went on living under the Harts' roof.

But even after their deaths, Camille hadn't called, hadn't sent a message. Nothing.

Elena had handled the entire funeral by herself. And now, surprisingly, they'd left everything to her.

"I'll need to verify that," she said, keeping her voice steady.

"Of course," the lawyer replied. "I'll email the documents immediately. Once you've reviewed them, we can proceed."

He wasn't lying. Within minutes, the paperwork arrived in her inbox.

She clicked on it and many documents were revealed. The will, notarized. Records, photos, signatures. Vivian had been a deputy director at a national research institute. Malcolm... a member of the old-money Sterling family.

Everything was real. Elena read it all twice. Then called the lawyer back.

"I'm available tomorrow morning."

"Miss Sterling... did you read all of the documents carefully?" the man asked, his tone a bit hesitant.

"What do you mean?"

She scrolled down again, afraid of missing something. Sure enough, she did. A final clause. Her eyes suddenly widened.

"The full estate will be transferred under the condition that the beneficiary marries Alexander Kingsley, eldest son of the Kingsley family."

The name Alexander Kingsley was practically legendary.

If Nathan was considered a golden boy—polished, charming, and well-mannered—then Alexander was that, and more. But rumors swirled about his health. Ever since the car crash that left him in a coma for six months, something in him had changed. He'd become cold, ruthless, and completely unpredictable.

But what did that matter? After five years of being lied to, Elena figured marrying a ghost would be better than dealing with Nathan ever again.

"I agree." She accepted the condition.

The next day, Elena met with the lawyer at a local café. She reviewed every part of the will again before signing her name.

Just as she handed the pen back, the lawyer added, "The Kingsleys are very pleased with your decision. However, Mr. Kingsley hasn't been well lately. The family has asked that you marry him within a month and assist with his care."

Elena almost laughed out loud. Sick body, rushed marriage. Put it together and it's obvious. They don't want a wife. They want a caretaker.

"You should've mentioned that earlier. Is it too late to back out?"

The lawyer gave her a pitying look. "It's too late. Backing out would be seen as a breach of agreement. For the sake of your safety and career, I suggest you move forward."

Elena clenched her jaw. The Kingsleys were powerful enough to make that threat real.

"Fine. One month. I'll do it."

One month was plenty of time. Time to deal with the Hawthornes. Time to make them pay for what they did. After the lawyer left, Elena checked her phone—thirty missed calls. All from the Hawthornes.

Victoria Hawthorne, Nathan's mom called the most. And as if on cue, her phone started ringing again.

"You call this being a wife? Get to the hospital, now!" Victoria barked, rattling off the hospital name and room number before hanging up.

Perfect. I'm dying to hear Nathan's explanation anyway.

Elena drove to the hospital. As she approached the room, she could already hear voices.

"Camille, I know this has been hard on you," Victoria said gently. "You and Nathan grew up together. You've always been the only one in his heart. But my father-in-law's an old fool. He's obsessed with Elena. If he ever finds out about you two, Nathan won't get his inheritance. And we can't have that. You two have already been married for five years. You're the one I see as my real daughter-in-law."

Camille replied sweetly, "Mom, I understand. Nathan and I are both just playing our parts. If he can pretend to be with Elena, I can put up with it too."

"I'm sorry you've had to go through all this, baby."

Nathan's voice was weak but full of tenderness.

All this talk of sacrifice, pretending, and suffering for love, and it turns out Nathan had married Camille five years ago, legally.

And Elena? She was the fake. The placeholder. The woman who gave him everything, who treated his family like her own.

Elena's eyes turned icy cold. She pushed open the door just in time to see Camille snuggling against Victoria's shoulder.

"Mom." Her voice rang out calmly.

Victoria turned around, startled. She shoved Camille away like she'd been caught stealing.

Camille's face darkened, but she quickly masked it with her usual sweet smile.

Victoria regained her composure and switched into mother-in-law mode. "Nathan's lying in bed injured, and where have you been? Camille's been picking up your slack."

Camille added, "Victoria, I'm just doing what I should. Elena and I are family, after all. Nathan got hurt because of me. I couldn't just stay away."

Elena ignored them both and looked directly at Nathan, who was sitting on the hospital bed. Thanks to the Rolls-Royce's safety features, he only had a bandage on his forehead. No other injuries. Still, his expression was annoyed.

"I called you. Why didn't you pick up?"

"I was working."

Nathan's eyes flickered. He'd seen her report. He knew the truth was out. He was annoyed, but not with her. If Camille hadn't been flirting with him in the car, none of this would've happened.

He softened and reached for her hand.

"Elena, I know you're upset. Yesterday was your birthday. I wasn't really on a business trip. I was trying to surprise you. Camille just happened to be there, so I gave her a ride."

The lies came effortlessly now—after five years of pretending, maybe he even believed them himself. Elena felt her chest go cold, locking her eyes on him. Nathan looked at her, unsettled, as if trying to read her expression. Does she believe me? Or is the truth finally starting to show?

"You don't trust me, hmm?"

He pinched her cheek playfully.

Elena forced a smile, ignoring the nausea in her throat. "Of course I do. We're so in love. Camille wouldn't be shameless enough to be the other woman, right?"

The color drained from both their faces. Especially Camille's.

She was a war correspondent, adored by thousands. And yet, in this moment, she was the homewrecker? But she said nothing. Couldn't risk upsetting Nathan.

"I'm glad you trust me," Nathan said gently. "Then can you please take down the article? Camille just got back. The backlash isn't good for her... or the company."

Elena nearly laughed. The company—or Camille? Did he think she couldn't tell?

Camille cut in, "Nathan, it's okay. As long as Elena's not upset, I can take a little hate."

"No, it's not okay! You're a public figure!"

Victoria rolled her eyes at Elena. "Didn't you hear Nathan? You're going to take that post down and apologize for spreading false information. Don't make things harder for Camille."

Elena knew Victoria never liked her. Even when she learned Elena was the real Hart heiress. In her eyes, Camille was always the better choice. The one who should've married Nathan.

But back then, it was Nathan who chased Elena for a whole year before she agreed to marry him.

She was done feeling heartbroken.

Her red lips curled into a smile. "Fine. I'll delete the article." Nathan grinned. "That's my good girl."

"But I'm still a little upset. My birthday kind of... sucked."

Elena lowered her lashes, looking kind of upset.

"I'll make it up to you. Name it. What do you want?"

In the past, he'd always let her pick a small gift to cheer her up.

Every single time before, she'd hated to spend his money, always settling for something affordable. But not this time. This time, she was going big.

"Didn't JewelYield's head designer release a new jewelry collection last month? That pink diamond necklace and bracelet set—I'm in love with it. Can you get it for me, honey?"

Elena looked at Nathan with the same soft, affectionate gaze she used to, her voice sweet and a little playful.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the air in the hospital room went... weird. Her gaze flicked casually past Camille, who was biting her lower lip, the corners of her eyes red. She looked furious, helpless, and honestly, a little ridiculous. Like a clown clinging desperately to the stage.

"Since when are you into jewelry? Never heard you mention it before."

Nathan's smile was stiff, his lips barely twitching at the corners.

Elena pouted a little, voice even gentler. "Who doesn't love jewelry? This collection's called Everlove Heart. It's all over Twitter. Just treat it as our fifth anniversary gift, okay? Show me you'll always love me."

Nathan pressed his lips together, barely a reaction.

He'd looked at that set before. It cost a whopping sixty million. That kind of money wasn't a big deal to him.

What really gave him pause was that Camille had just told him she wanted that necklace too.

He glanced over at her. Camille's eyes were welling with tears.

The glance between them didn't go unnoticed by Elena. She held Nathan's hand gently, pretending to be thoughtful and considerate. "Is this hard for you? Are you tight on funds right now? Should I talk to Grandpa?"

The second she said Grandpa, Nathan made up his mind, pulled Elena close, and said, "I'll have the money wired to you right now. If you want it, it's yours."

Once he got those shares, sixty million would be nothing.

And truth be told, Elena had been pretty solid these past few years. Giving her something extravagant wasn't unreasonable.

A few minutes later, Elena got the payment confirmation on her phone. The full sixty million had landed in her account.

Camille and Victoria were already gone from the room. Camille had probably stormed out in a rage, and Victoria must've gone after her to smooth things over.

Elena tucked her phone away. Since she'd just received such a generous gift, she figured she'd stay in the hospital room a little longer before making up an excuse to leave. She said Swiftline needed her. Nathan didn't stop her.

After Elena left, Victoria and Camille came back. Camille's eyes were red and swollen. Nathan's heart ached at the sight.

"You really gave that woman sixty million? She came out of nowhere, some no-name town in the middle of nowhere. Five years of a decent life should've been more than enough for her. I can't watch Camille suffer anymore. Just give it a month. Once you get Grandpa's shares, dump her."

Victoria was clearly irritated. She was still holding out hope for a grandchild. But how could Camille ever get pregnant with Elena still in the picture?

Camille gently tried to calm her. "Mom, don't be mad at Nathan. He's always been kind."

Nathan felt even worse. Camille was so understanding. And Elena... truthfully, hadn't done anything technically wrong.

"Camille, I'll get you something even better, okay? Let her have this one."

Camille smiled through her tears. But deep down, she felt awful. That necklace wasn't just sixty million—it had meaning.

After leaving the hospital, Elena went straight to the JewelYield flagship boutique. She had to get that set.

Only a handful of them had been released worldwide.

She was worried Nathan might check and find out she never bought it. That would blow her cover entirely.

She stepped into the boutique. A woman in uniform walked over. "Hi there, what can I help you with?"

Elena pointed at the Everlove Heart set inside the secure glass case. "That one. I want it."

"Absolutely, I'll take it out for you."

The associate slipped on black velvet gloves, unlocked the case, and gently lifted the necklace out.

No denying it, the set was stunning. No wonder Camille wanted it.

Elena pulled out her card and handed it over. "I'll pay with this."

"Right away, Miss—"

The associate had just turned toward the register when—"Hold up." A voice rang out. Both Elena and the associate turned to look.

Standing at the entrance were several bodyguards in black suits. Leading them was a young woman in a sleek black designer dress. She tilted her chin slightly, eyeing Elena with open disdain.

"Miss Kingsley, welcome!" The associate's attitude flipped instantly. Her back straightened, her voice turned syrupy.

The girl walked in confidently in heels, plopped herself down on the boutique's leather couch, and pointed her chin toward the necklace. "I want that one."

The associate froze, glancing at Elena awkwardly. "Um... Miss, this customer has already shown interest in the set."

"She hasn't paid yet, has she?" The girl raised an eyebrow. "If she didn't pay, then it's fair game. Sixty million, right? I'll give you seventy."

Elena was speechless. Who is this spoiled little rich girl, throwing around an extra ten million just like it's pocket change?

The associate didn't hesitate anymore. She turned back to Elena with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Miss. Miss Kingsley has claimed the piece. If you'd like, we can help you find something similar—we'll offer you our VIP pricing."

Elena didn't kick up a fuss. She only needed the jewelry to show Nathan. Any piece expensive enough would do. "She can have it. Looks like she needs it more than I do."

She stepped aside and browsed a few other cases. Found something around the same price range. Just as she was about to swipe, the girl on the couch suddenly spoke up again, "Wait a second!"

What now?

Elena looked up, card in hand. "You want this one too?"

The girl looked... conflicted. "You know what? That Everlove Heart set? Give it back to you. I'm not buying it."

Elena and the associate exchanged blank stares. The girl looked barely twenty and was acting like a complete wildcard.

"Okay, thanks," Elena replied, keeping her tone light.

The girl gave it up, and Elena didn't hesitate. She swiped her card, completed the purchase, and walked out with the jewelry.

The girl left too, stepping into a black stretch Bentley. The moment the car door closed, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Ugh, why did you stop me? I was gonna buy that necklace for your future wife. I was literally about to pay and you made me let her have it!"

"She was going to get it either way."

A cold, calm voice responded on the other end of the line. Back home, Elena placed the necklace into her personal safe. She finally felt like she could breathe. But this wasn't enough. Not by a long shot.

She thought about the past five years—busting her ass for the Hawthorne family, working full-time, taking care of Nathan and Victoria, being their live-in housekeeper while smiling through it all.

No way she was letting this go.

She deleted the article she'd written earlier, then called up a contact—a gossip blogger known for breaking scandals.

"I've got a real juicy scoop for you. You in?"

In the hospital room, Camille sat by Nathan's bedside, her lashes fluttering low. Her expression was soft yet laced with worry. "Nathan, what if Elena refuses to delete those posts?"

Nathan reached out to soothe her. "Elena's not the type to go back on her word. Don't worry."

Hearing the unwavering trust in his voice, Camille's chest tightened. She managed a weak smile. "I guess I'm just overthinking things."

Nathan was confident—over the five years they'd been married, Elena had never once said no to him. Whatever he asked, she did it without hesitation.

But Camille couldn't bring herself to smile. Every time she thought about Elena using the pretense of deleting those posts to steal away the jewelry she loved most, it made her want to scream in frustration.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Camille grabbed it quickly. "Natalie? What’s wrong?"

Whatever Natalie said on the other end, Camille's face drained of color in an instant. "What did you just say?"

She hung up and promptly burst into tears, throwing herself into Nathan's arms.

"What's going on?" Victoria asked, rubbing her lower back as she stepped into the room, her face etched with alarm.

Nathan's brows furrowed, his concern evident. "What happened?"

Camille choked out the words between sobs. "Some gossip accounts are claiming I'm having an affair with you. They even posted photos— the whole internet's tearing me apart."

She handed Nathan her phone. He glanced down at it—and sure enough, the gossip posts were everywhere. Some were subtle, others outright blunt, all hinting at something inappropriate between them. They'd even dug up Camille's old Twitter posts.

[No face, but that's definitely Nathan. He was on a business trip to Northbridge last month, and Camille's location was tagged there too.]

[This is absurd! A war journalist turned homewrecker?]

[Didn't they trend together yesterday? Seems like the rumors might actually be true.]

It wasn't just Camille getting torn apart; Nathan was getting slammed online too—branded a cheater, a liar.

His face darkened. Over 28 years, he'd never been humiliated like this. He immediately grabbed his phone to call his assistant. "Track down where those posts are coming from."

The assistant called back moments later. "Nathan, most of them trace back to Bend Media. You know they make their living off celebrity scandals."

"I don't care what it takes—shut it down."

"We're trying, but the story's gone viral—spreading too fast to stop…"

Even if Bend Media and the others took down the posts, the damage was already done. People were reposting it everywhere, and the scandal was out in the open.

Nathan hung up, seething with rage. Camille and Victoria didn't dare utter a word; they exchanged a nervous glance but kept silent.

He shot Camille a sharp look. "I told you to stop posting things online."

Nathan took a deep breath, his voice low but laced with annoyance.

Camille felt like she was about to explode. She was the one who should've been Nathan's wife—but because he needed to play the dutiful grandson to get his grandfather Charles Hawthorne's shares, she had to stay in the shadows. She couldn't even post a single sweet couple photo.

The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. "Nathan, no one's ever dug through my Twitter before—why now? What if it was Elena…"

She didn't finish the sentence, but the implication hung in the air. Nathan rubbed his temples, his head throbbing, and pulled up Elena's page—only to find the article was gone.

"She deleted the story. She wouldn't stoop to something like this."

"…So what do we do now?" Camille asked, voice thick with frustration.

Nathan closed his eyes for a moment, then turned to her with a softer tone. "I have an idea—but you'll have to play along."

Half an hour later, Elena was at an upscale beauty spa, lying comfortably as she got a facial. Her phone buzzed softly.

She glanced at the notification: Nathan and Camille had just posted a joint statement. She couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

God, they're really something, claiming Camille is dating Nathan's assistant, Ethan. And Camille occasionally visits him at work, which just happens to be in the same building as Nathan. That's why their IP addresses keep overlapping.

Elena leaned back with the facial mask on, a faint amusement playing on her lips. Her phone rang again, and the esthetician quickly handed it to her.

Caller ID: Babe.

Ugh. She'd been so caught up in stirring the pot that she'd forgotten to change that revolting contact name.

Elena fought the urge to roll her eyes before answering, her voice as sweet as ever. "What's wrong?"

Nathan's voice came through the line, sharp with suspicion. "Have you seen what's been going around online?"

"What do you mean? I'm at the spa." She played dumb, her tone feigning confusion.

Nathan's jaw tightened. He was stuck in a hospital bed, and she was off relaxing? She had to know about the rumors. Did she delete the article just to deflect suspicion, secretly leaking the gossip to screw over Camille?

"People are spreading rumors about me and Camille," he said. "If you still have doubts, talk to me. There's no need to go after her."

Wow. Even now, he's still rushing to Camille's defense?

Elena's red lips twisted into a sarcastic smile, but her voice remained soft and hurt. "I saw it. But I trust you, so I didn't ask. Clearly, that trust isn't mutual. You don't believe me—it hurts. I don't feel like talking anymore."

Before Nathan could respond, she hung up and immediately blocked his number. She also changed his contact name from "Babe" to "Jerk."

She tossed the phone aside and turned to the esthetician. "Go ahead and charge another two hundred thousand to my account, thanks."

She handed the esthetician the black card Nathan had given her years earlier. As she thought back to how she used to pinch every penny he gave her, Elena laughed at her own foolishness. She'd been such a fool.

If you've got money and don't spend it, you're a d*mn idiot. She wasn't just going to spend it; she was going to savor every single cent.

Back in the hospital, Nathan's phone buzzed with a message from the bank. Two hundred thousand dollars had just been deducted, and the charge was from a beauty spa.

Elena used to refuse to spend even a dime on herself. The cards he gave her? She'd use them to buy gifts for his business partners' wives, all to keep his network running smoothly.

She'd always been sharp in social situations; she knew how to handle people and always knew just what to say. That was nothing like Camille. Camille hated those social gatherings; all she ever wanted was quiet time alone with him.

But today, Elena had dropped two hundred thousand on a spa membership.

Something felt off. Nathan dialed her again, only to hear a robotic voice: "The number you are trying to reach is unavailable."

He texted her on WhatsApp, but there was no response.

Victoria walked in, still rubbing her back. "Didn't Elena go to buy that necklace? She's done, right? Why isn't she coming back to take care of you?"

Nathan had always been particular about how he was cared for. He hated having strangers around, not even housekeepers—especially when it came to meals. He liked everything just so. Annoyed, Nathan flung his phone aside. "We had a fight."

"A fight? So she's just not coming back to take care of you?"

Nathan said, "Right."

Victoria felt her lower back twinge with pain. She was starting to regret sending Camille away earlier—her poker friends were still waiting on her at home.

But now she had to grit her teeth and keep looking after Nathan.

Meanwhile, Elena wasn't exactly relaxing either. She had to deal with a man, yes, but work couldn't be put on hold. By the time she walked out of Swiftline, it was already 7 p.m.

A sleek black Mercedes-Maybach pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down, and a man in a black suit stepped out, bowing respectfully toward her. "Miss Sterling, I've been asked to escort you to see Mr. Kingsley."

Elena looked at the understated luxury of the car in front of her and simply nodded. The driver opened the rear door. Once she was seated, the car pulled away smoothly.

She thought they'd be heading to the Kingsley estate.

Instead, the driver pulled up at an upscale private restaurant. A server led Elena down a quiet corridor to a private dining room.

The door opened. Sitting by the window was a man in a deep navy suit. His hair was neatly trimmed, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose.

She stepped in, cutting straight to the point. "Alexander's not coming?"

Ryan froze for a second.

Then he smiled slightly. "What made you think I'm not Mr. Kingsley?"

"I heard Alexander isn't doing well physically. You seem full of energy."

Elena sat across from him without a trace of awkwardness.

Her long, thick curls fell down her back. She wore barely any makeup, and her features weren't exactly striking—there was a softness to them. But the sharp glint in her eyes made it clear she wasn't someone to push around.

"I'm Alexander's assistant. You can call me Ryan."

"Nice to meet you. So, why did you ask to see me?"

He was being polite, so Elena wasn't going to be rude.

"Mr. Kingsley wanted to come himself, but he wasn't feeling well today. So he asked me to speak on his behalf."

"He couldn't even make it out the door?" Sound serious.

Elena frowned. Her instinct kicked in. "Is he... dying or something?"

She raised an eyebrow. Her meaning couldn't have been more obvious.

Ryan's smile faltered. He hadn't expected Elena to be so different from how she seemed on-screen. He rubbed his forehead and explained, "No, you're overthinking it. Mr. Kingsley has an old condition, but nothing that would lead to an early death."

Elena simply said, "Oh."

"Mr. Kingsley's family places great importance on this marriage. I'm here to ask what you'd prefer in terms of a wedding dress and ring."

He pulled out two elegant books and handed them to her.

"These are the designs Mr. Kingsley had commissioned. You can pick whatever you like, so we can get the process started."

Inside were more than a dozen wedding dress sketches and dozens of ring designs, every piece breathtaking.

They were all custom work by top designers. Elena felt a wave of bitterness rise in her chest.

Her wedding to Nathan had no gown, no ring ceremony. Just a quiet meal between both families. The ring had been a cheap silver band.

Back then, Nathan had said, "I made this ring myself. There's only one like it in the world. It belongs only to you."

She'd cried tears of joy. Back then, she was touched. Now? She just felt like a fool.

He'd had the money to buy her a six-figure ring. And instead, he gave her a $100 band. Because in his mind, that's all she was worth.

"Miss Sterling?"

Ryan called her gently when he noticed her zoning out. Elena came back to herself. She didn't rush to choose anything. Instead, her amber eyes landed on him. "Can I ask a blunt question?"

"Of course."

"Why me? Why did Alexander agree to marry me? The Kingsleys are top-tier old money. Even if he were disabled or dying, women would still be lining up to marry him."

Ryan adjusted his glasses.

"This was part of your adoptive parents' will. They had a close relationship with the Kingsley family. If things between you and Nathan had been peaceful, the will would've directed their estate to be donated and the marriage agreement canceled."

In other words, because she and Nathan had fallen apart, her adoptive parents' will had come into effect—forcing her to go through with this arranged marriage to Alexander.

Whether they wanted her as a caretaker or not, she still had to marry him. There's no point agonizing over it now.

Elena quickly accepted her new reality. Her eyes moved past a few designs, then she casually pointed to a strapless gown.

"This one."

She picked a ring, too.

Over dinner, Ryan discussed more details of the wedding. It was clear the Kingsleys were planning a grand ceremony.

In the middle of the conversation, Victoria called. Elena answered.

"It's late already and you're still not back? Nathan's been discharged. What kind of wife just vanishes like that? Cough, cough—"

She started coughing hard, probably from getting too worked up.

"Get back here. And tomorrow, take me to see Dr. Mercer."

Her tone sounded more like a boss speaking to a maid. Elena smiled faintly. "I'm busy." Then she hung up.

Not even a full minute passed before both Victoria and Victor started blowing up her phone. If she hadn't already blocked Nathan's number, he'd probably be calling too.

Elena calmly stared at the screen lighting up and going dark, leisurely savoring her dinner. She even ordered dessert.

But for some reason, she felt a chill on the back of her neck. Like someone was watching her.

She shifted in her seat and glanced behind her. A translucent folding screen stood at the back of the room. Is someone behind it?

She gave it a look, puzzled, but then Ryan's voice cut in. "Miss Sterling, I need to get back to report to Mr. Kingsley."

He didn't sound as composed as before. Actually, he sounded nervous.

Elena didn't think much of it. Maybe Alexander was the kind of perfectionist who demanded his staff report down to the minute.

She put down her spoon, grabbed her purse, and headed home—ready to face the firestorm from the Hawthorne family.

Once she was gone, Ryan returned to the private room.

The screen was now closed. Behind it sat a man in a carved mahogany chair, his long legs crossed. His face was sharply handsome, his features cold and distant. Even a simple black button-up looked starkly restrained on him.

"Sir, Miss Sterling has left."

Ryan lowered his head respectfully. This was Alexander Kingsley, the man in charge of the Kingsley family now—the CEO of Pinnacle Group.