After Thea was sent to the hospital, she banned Leonard from visiting her.
A beautiful woman sat by her bedside. "You must be Thea, right? Don't be afraid. I'm Kate Rogers, Dylan Larkin's mother."
Thea was surprised.
Kate looked young, but her hair was already streaked with gray. Her eyes were red and swollen, clear signs she'd cried many times.
She held Thea's hand gently. "Finding a bride for Dylan to bring him good luck is actually just a show for his grandfather.
"The old man has grown senile. He couldn't accept Dylan's condition, so he kept praying and asking around, and finally someone suggested bringing in a bride to bring good luck to Dylan.
"After the wedding, I can help you get abroad. You're still young. Do you want to continue your studies?"
Thea shook her head softly and squeezed Kate's hand back. "Don't give up so soon, Mrs. Larkin. Maybe I can help with Dylan's condition."
…
When she was discharged and returned home, she found the Storme residence's living room filled with boxes of gifts.
Clara smiled brightly. "Thea, these are all from Mr. Falkner. He's already proposed to me. Once that loser from the Larkin family dies, I'm going straight to marry into the Falkner family. You can come to my wedding then."
After saying that, she sighed. "It's just how the world works. We're both human, yet the gap between us is just so huge. The Larkins and the Falkners are practically fighting to marry me, each offering more lavishly than the last.
"But you only have a poor fiance. Our family even has to pay to keep him fed. Honestly, it's just pathetic."
Thea grew curious. "You're always calling Leonard's name and running into his arms whenever something happens. You two look pretty close. Are you not mad that he wants to marry me?"
Clara shrugged casually. "He's just a poor student. I can find plenty of those at college. He's nowhere near Mr. Falkner. Money alone can't buy that kind of status."
Thea almost laughed. She couldn't wait to see Leonard's reaction when he heard all this.
She asked the system in her mind, "Did you record all this?"
Clara's words earlier echoed in her mind.
"Of course, Thea," the system replied.
…
Thea went to visit Deanna Merrill, the director of the orphanage who had cared for her.
The old woman's face was a map of kindness and smiles. "Thea, I heard you're getting married. I don't have much to give, but take this lucky charm. I hope it brings you safety and happiness. By the way, how's your fiance? Does he treat you well?"
Thea's nose stung, but she smiled sincerely. "I haven't met him, but he's a good man. He's a soldier willing to sacrifice his life for the country. Even if he doesn't love me, I believe he wouldn't treat me badly."
"Doesn't love you?" Leonard's voice came from behind.
He studied Thea's expression carefully, then handed the fruit basket to Deanna. "Don't worry. I'm Thea's fiance. After we marry, I'll treat her well."
Deanna looked puzzled. "But Thea said…"
Seeing Thea's numb expression, she sighed and said nothing more.
As Leonard and Thea walked out of the orphanage, he handed her a bottle of medicine. "You mentioned your stomach was always hurting, so I had a friend prescribe some medicine for you. Remember to take two pills before you go to bed."
Thea held the bottle tightly. The label said it was just common stomach medicine.
But the system warned inside her mind, "It contains sedatives. You'll be unconscious within 30 minutes of taking two pills."
Leonard was ready on all fronts.
If Thea took the sleeping pills, she would be quietly sent to the Larkin family. If she didn't, his men would tie her up and force her there.
Thea wanted to laugh.
Leonard didn't know that all his efforts were wasted.
…
As soon as they returned home, Jeremy came rushing over in a frantic hurry.
"Bad news. The Larkins sent word that Mr. Larkin was rushed to the ICU last night. The doctors say he's only on life support now and could die any moment. We have to send a bride over first thing tomorrow morning."
Before Thea could say anything, Leonard gasped, "So soon?"
He seized Thea's hand, gripping it with an unprecedented force, as if he couldn't bear to let her go.
Clara's face went pale. She collapsed on the couch, clutching Jeremy's sleeve. "Jeremy, I'm scared. What if Mr. Larkin dies right after I marry him? Do I have to spend a night with a dead man?"
Jeremy's heart ached. He pulled Clara into his arms. "Don't worry. That won't happen. I'd never let you go through that."
As he said that, he glanced at Thea but saw no fear in her eyes. Only mockery.
Suddenly, Jeremy felt his face burn and avoided eye contact.
Thea went upstairs. In the shared second-floor living room lay the ready-made wedding dress.
Clara never even tried it on. If she did, she'd find it didn't fit at all.
Leonard wrapped his arms around Thea from behind. "Thea, get to sleep early tonight. You'll need to wake up early to see Clara off for her wedding."
He couldn't see Thea's expression, but holding her close today made him hesitate to let go.
However, he quickly pushed the strange feeling aside.
Leonard had already made arrangements. Soon, he would bring Thea out of the Larkin residence.
By then, he'd be her savior. He was convinced that Thea would come to see him as her only lifeline.
Even if he married Clara with a grand wedding, Thea would never escape his grasp.
That night, Leonard didn't sleep well.
He dreamed again of the alley. In the dream, while he was escaping his enemies, a young woman bent down and carried him on her back.
Her warm body temperature reached his chest even through the dream.
He suddenly bolted upright in bed.
Just then, his phone rang. His subordinate's frantic voice came through the line. "Mr. Falkner, we searched Ms. Thea's room but couldn't find her."
"She ran? Damn it! Who leaked the news?"
"No, that's not it. We asked Mr. Stratton. He said Ms. Thea already got in the Larkin family's wedding car and left."
Leonard stood up sharply.
But before he could rush downstairs, a sharp pain shot through his legs. Though used to injuries, he still collapsed with a heavy thud.
