"Enough!" Daniel Harrison roared. "Stop acting like a spoiled brat. Whether you want to or not, this wedding is happening!"

Linda's eyes sparkled with barely concealed satisfaction, though her voice sounded full of fake concern.

"Dad, don't be angry," she said softly. "Maybe Navia's just acting impulsively..."

"And you're still defending her?" Daniel snapped. "It's because Evelyn spoiled her rotten growing up that she turned into such a useless disappointment! If she had even half your maturity and obedience, she wouldn't be humiliating this family today!"

Members of the Crawford family also began mocking her openly.

"Come on, Miss Harrison. We'll pretend we didn't hear what you just said."

"If you still care about your family's reputation, you'll cooperate and finish the ceremony."

"You're marrying into the Crawford family now. Stop acting like some untouchable princess."

"Keep making a scene and you'll regret it."

Every gaze directed at Navia carried either contempt or ridicule, as though she were foolish for resisting.

Her heart turned completely cold.

She had expected the Crawford family's reaction.

But she never imagined her own father would stand against her too-especially while Linda kept fueling the fire from the sidelines.

To them, Navia wasn't exposing betrayal.

She was simply embarrassing the family.

"Fine," Navia said softly.

"Fine. Fine."

She slowly looked around at every face surrounding her, memorizing each expression.

Then she took a deep breath.

"If all of you are so desperate to watch me make a fool of myself..." A smile suddenly appeared on her lips-beautiful, heartbreaking, and strangely calm. "Then open your eyes and watch this."

A small remote appeared in her hand.

She pressed the button.

The next second-

"Ah... Liam, you're amazing... If you keep this up, won't you be too exhausted for your wedding night tomorrow?"

"Still worried about my wedding night, baby? Guess I haven't worked you hard enough yet..."

The giant screen behind the ceremony had originally been prepared to display childhood photos and romantic memories of Liam and Navia growing up together.

Instead-

An explicit video suddenly filled the screen.

The faces of the groom, Liam Crawford, and the bridesmaid, Linda, were unmistakably clear.

Their tangled bodies.

Their intimate sounds.

Broadcast through the wedding speakers for every guest to hear.

And worst of all-

The ceremony was being streamed live.

The surrounding media reporters froze in shock, completely blindsided by the disaster unfolding before them. Even though someone rushed to cut the broadcast, fragments of the footage had already gone out to the public.

The guests exploded into chaos.

Every pair of eyes turned toward Liam and Linda simultaneously.

Linda's face turned deathly pale.

Unable to handle the shock, she let out a scream before collapsing unconscious onto the ground.

Liam completely lost control.

He lunged toward Navia like a madman.

"Navia Harrison, you bitch!" he roared. "You ruined me!"

At that moment, the fake tenderness vanished completely.

The handsome, devoted fiancé mask shattered, revealing something ugly and vicious beneath.

Navia grabbed a flower vase from one of the nearby tables and smashed it directly into his face with all her strength.

CRASH!

"AAAGH!"

Liam screamed as blood poured down his forehead. He collapsed to the ground clutching his head.

The entire wedding descended into complete chaos.

"Why won't the video shut off?! Turn it off now!"

"Did they cut the livestream yet?! Don't let any clips leak online!"

"My son! Are you okay?!" Liam's mother shrieked hysterically. "Navia Harrison, you vicious woman! Someone grab her right now! She has to pay for this!"

"Linda! Linda, wake up! My poor daughter... how could you do something so stupid..."

Dark storm clouds rolled overhead.

Even the sky itself seemed to know this wedding was doomed.

Ignoring everyone's furious stares, Navia lifted the hem of her wedding dress and walked away from the ceremony.

Only after leaving did she realize one major problem.

The wedding venue was far outside the city.

There were no taxis.

She stood by the roadside as luxury cars passed one after another without slowing down.

No one intended to help her.

After all, she had publicly humiliated the Crawford family and dragged her half-sister into scandal as well. At a time like this, the smartest choice was to stay far away from her.

Navia almost wanted to laugh.

At least her mother was unconscious in the hospital and couldn't witness any of this.

Back when Navia had still been the beloved heiress of the Harrison family, countless people had rushed to flatter and please her.

But now that she was in trouble?

Not a single person offered help.

All those so-called friendships had vanished the instant she became inconvenient.

Rain suddenly poured from the sky.

Within moments, the storm became torrential.

Navia walked alone down the empty road, soaked to the bone.

Her high heels slipped repeatedly against the wet pavement until she twisted her ankle.

A sharp pain shot through her leg.

Finally, exhausted, she collapsed onto the ground.

Her once-pristine white wedding dress was stained with mud.

Like a swan with broken wings, dragged down from the sky.

Navia wrapped her arms around her knees and lowered her head, forcing herself not to cry as rainwater washed over her face.

Impulsive?

Maybe.

Pathetic?

Absolutely.

Did she regret it?

Not even a little.

If she had to choose again, she would still destroy them without hesitation.

No one was allowed to steal what belonged to the Harrison family.

And she, Navia Harrison, was not some weak girl who could be trampled on.

Just then-

A car horn sounded faintly behind her.

Beep. Beep.

Navia thought she was imagining it.

But when she turned around, she saw a black Bentley parked behind her.

And then-

A tall figure stepped out into the rain.

Leonel Crawford approached slowly beneath a black umbrella, dressed in a dark overcoat.

The headlights behind him glowed through the heavy rain, blurring the world into something dreamlike and hazy.

Drops of water dampened the edges of his coat, yet his sharp features only appeared colder and more imposing beneath the storm.

He stopped in front of her.

The rain above Navia disappeared beneath the shelter of his umbrella, allowing her to regain a sliver of awareness.

"Uncle Leonel..." she murmured instinctively.

The man lowered his eyes slightly.

"Whose uncle am I?" he asked calmly.

Navia pressed her lips together.

Only then did she remember-

After publicly ending her engagement to Liam, she no longer had the right to call him that.

"...Mr. Crawford," she corrected softly.

Leonel said nothing.

Instead, he extended his hand toward her.

"Get up."

His fingers were long and defined, rough with faint calluses. The warmth of his hand felt almost scorching against her freezing skin.

Navia took his hand awkwardly and struggled back to her feet.

"Get in the car," he said.

She hesitated before asking quietly, "Why are you helping me?"

Leonel's voice remained calm and distant.

"You saved my life," he replied. "Didn't you?"

At that moment, Navia silently thanked herself for rescuing him the night before.

Otherwise, she might really have been left alone to collapse in the middle of nowhere.

She glanced down at her injured ankle and soaked, filthy wedding dress.

"But my clothes are dirty," she said hesitantly. "I might ruin your car."

Leonel handed her the umbrella.

"Hold this."

"Huh?"

Navia instinctively took it.

The next second, before she could react, Leonel bent down and swept her into his arms.

***

Instinctively, Navia wrapped her arms around his neck, her face burning bright red.

Leonel carried her to the car and gently set her down inside.

The interior of the black Bentley was spotless and immaculate, but the moment Navia sat down, rainwater and mud stained a large section of the leather seats.

Guilt immediately flooded her chest.

"I'm sorry," she said awkwardly. "I got your car dirty. I'll pay for the cleaning."

"Is that all you plan on paying for?" the man asked calmly.

Navia blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"The clothes," Leonel replied. "Are you compensating me for those too?"

As he spoke, he removed his overcoat and tossed it onto her lap.

"You can wear it."

Only then did Navia realize what he meant.

Her soaked wedding dress was dripping everywhere, and the coat he had wrapped around her earlier was already ruined.

If she stayed in wet clothes much longer, she would definitely get sick.

But...

Change here?

Inside the car?

Navia hesitated immediately.

The driver, however, seemed experienced enough to raise the privacy divider without being asked.

Even so, Leonel was still sitting beside her.

Too close.

Even though he wasn't looking at her directly, his presence alone felt impossible to ignore.

Powerful. Dangerous. Overwhelming.

Leonel tapped a finger lightly against the armrest.

"You can keep hesitating," he said lazily. "Or you can wait for your family to catch up and drag you back."

That instantly killed Navia's hesitation.

He had already helped her this much. It would be ridiculous to suspect him now.

"...Sorry," she mumbled softly.

Sneaking a quick glance at him, Navia turned her back and carefully began removing her wedding dress.

A few moments later, the soft rustling sounds suddenly stopped.

Then Leonel heard her awkward voice.

"My zipper's stuck..." she said quietly. "Can you help me?"

Only then did he glance toward her.

She wore a strapless wedding gown, exposing smooth pale shoulders that glowed softly beneath the dim car lights.

Her waist was so slender it looked as though it could fit perfectly beneath one hand.

Because the zipper refused to move, she had become increasingly flustered. When she looked back at him nervously, even the tips of her ears were red.

Embarrassed.

Anxious.

Leonel lowered his gaze and reached out.

His fingertips brushed lightly against the smooth skin of her back before sliding the zipper down effortlessly.

"There," he said calmly.

Only then did Navia finally slip out of the wedding dress and wrap herself tightly in Leonel's oversized coat.

The fabric still carried his warmth, along with the crisp scent of cedarwood.

Cold and commanding.

Yet strangely comforting.

Her ruined wedding dress and broken heels were abandoned in the corner of the car.

Navia curled herself into a small ball against the seat, her bare feet tucked beneath her, even her toes tense with embarrassment.

The car moved steadily through the rain.

Now that she had escaped the chaos of the wedding, exhaustion crashed over her all at once.

Her eyelids slowly began to droop.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, a low voice sounded beside her.

"Navia Harrison."

The man had leaned closer without her noticing.

His warm breath brushed against her chilled skin.

Startled, Navia jumped like a frightened rabbit and turned toward him with wide eyes.

"Don't sleep," Leonel said simply as he leaned back again. "You'll catch a cold."

"...Got it."

Navia pinched her own thigh beneath the coat, forcing herself to stay awake.

Right now, she absolutely could not afford to collapse.

Just then, a phone began vibrating inside the coat pocket.

Navia pulled it out instinctively.

Only after seeing the unfamiliar name on the screen did she realize it belonged to Leonel.

Richard Crawford.

Navia's eyes widened slightly.

The old chairman of the Crawford family?

Leonel took the phone from her hand. The moment he saw the caller ID, his brows furrowed faintly before he answered.

"What is it?"

"What, I can't call my own son now?" an elderly voice barked through the speaker.

The old man's booming tone echoed clearly through the quiet car.

Leonel's voice remained cold and detached.

"If there's nothing important, I'm hanging up."

"Hold on," Richard snapped. "I heard you attended Liam's wedding today. How was it?"

The moment Navia heard that, she instinctively glanced toward Leonel awkwardly.

Unfortunately, her eyes met his immediately.

For a split second, she thought she saw amusement flicker in his gaze.

"It was interesting," Leonel replied calmly. "The most entertaining wedding I've ever attended."

Navia nearly choked.

Was he mocking her on purpose?!

"I'm serious," the old man continued. "You usually hate attending family events. Don't tell me seeing everyone else getting married made you start having ideas too? When are you bringing someone home for dinner?"

The atmosphere inside the car instantly cooled.

Leonel clearly had no interest in continuing the conversation.

"If that's all," he said flatly, "then we're done here."

His complete lack of patience only infuriated the old man further.

"You're already twenty-eight," Richard snapped angrily. "Are you still hung up on that woman after all these years?"

"Leonel Crawford, let me make this clear. I don't care if you're running the family now. If you refuse to settle down and handle your responsibilities, the board can replace you at any time. That's the family's decision."

The call ended abruptly.

The silence afterward felt suffocating.

Navia said nothing.

She hadn't met Leonel many times, but she had heard rumors.

Years ago, there had supposedly been a woman he loved deeply.

A woman he had never forgotten.

Now, despite being twenty-eight and at the height of his power, he remained completely unattached and notoriously distant from women.

No wonder Richard Crawford was panicking.

Suddenly, a bold thought surfaced in Navia's mind.

"Mr. Crawford."

Her soft voice broke the silence.

"Mhm?" Leonel responded quietly.

Navia clutched his coat tightly around herself.

Before she could lose her courage, the words blurted out.

"How about..." She swallowed hard. "You marry me instead?"

Silence filled the car.

Then-

SCREECH!

The car suddenly swerved sharply as the driver slammed on the brakes.

Navia, who had been curled in the corner, was thrown forward by the momentum straight toward Leonel.

Meanwhile, Leonel remained perfectly steady.

He wrapped one arm around her waist effortlessly, pulling her securely against his chest before she could fall.

His brows furrowed as he looked toward the front seat.

"Jason," he said coldly, "do you even know how to drive?"

Jason coughed awkwardly.

"Sorry, sir. I almost missed the turn."

At the same time, he glanced into the rearview mirror toward Navia.

After all-

What she had just said was absolutely shocking.

Navia hurriedly pulled herself out of Leonel's arms, still shaken. Her heartbeat was completely out of control.

"Where do you live?" Leonel asked calmly. "I'll take you home."

Navia gathered her courage again.

"You really won't consider it?"

"I'm not interested in jokes," Leonel replied coolly.

"I'm not joking," Navia said immediately. "I'm serious."

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

"You're single. I'm single."

"You need a wife to stop your family from pressuring you into marriage."

"And I need a husband if I want control of the Harrison Group shares."

She took a breath.

"So why don't we help each other?" A faint smile appeared on her lips. "Honestly... we'd make a pretty good match."

***

A good match?

Was that really how she was using the phrase?

A quiet snort of laughter came from the driver's seat.

Jason couldn't help himself.

The moment he sensed the icy glare from the backseat, however, he immediately straightened up and focused on driving.

Leonel's dark eyes remained fixed on the woman in front of him.

She looked like a fallen swan-soaked, exhausted, and miserable, wrapped only in his oversized coat.

Yet her eyes still burned brightly.

Like stars refusing to go out.

One careless glance was enough to scorch their way straight into someone's heart.

Navia knew he was studying her carefully.

Even so, she forced herself to meet his gaze without backing down.

After a long silence, Leonel finally spoke again.

"What you said..." His deep voice was calm and measured. "Does make some sense."

Navia's eyes lit up instantly.

"You mean..."

Nervous anticipation flickered in her gaze.

Leonel slowly extended his hand toward her.

His fingers were long and elegant, his voice low and steady.

"Deal."

That single word made Navia's heart leap.

After publicly destroying things with Liam, she had honestly worried she wouldn't find anyone suitable to marry in time.

But now-

Not only had she found someone...

He was Liam's own uncle.

Jason cautiously cleared his throat from the front seat.

"Sir, we're back in the city now. Where should I head?"

"The hillside villa," Leonel replied.

Navia blinked. "Mr. Crawford... when should I contact you?"

"About what?"

She paused awkwardly.

"The marriage," she said. "The thing we just discussed..."

"There's no need to contact me later," Leonel replied calmly. "You're coming home with me."

"...What?"

Leonel raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Or were you planning to walk into the courthouse looking like that?"

Courthouse?

Marriage license?

Navia hadn't expected things to move this fast.

But there was no way she would refuse now.

"Okay," she said quickly. "I'll follow your arrangement."

The car stopped.

Leonel stepped out first before extending his hand toward her.

"Hold on to me."

"Huh-?"

Before she could react, he lifted her into his arms once again.

Startled, Navia instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

This was the second time he had carried her.

And she had never been this close to a man before.

Even during her relationship with Liam, the furthest they had ever gone was holding hands.

She shifted awkwardly in his arms.

"I can walk myself..."

Leonel carried her effortlessly toward the villa without slowing down.

"Are you sure?" he asked calmly. "Can your ankle handle it?"

Navia instantly fell silent.

He had a point.

Without another word, Leonel carried her all the way upstairs and into his bedroom.

"You got caught in the rain," he said. "Take a hot shower so you don't get sick."

Then he added casually:

"Once you're done, we'll go register the marriage."

With that, he turned and left the room.

Navia's cheeks felt burning hot.

She had never entered a man's private residence before-let alone his bedroom.

The bathroom suited Leonel perfectly.

Cold gray marble.

Minimalist. Expensive. Immaculate.

Under the bright lights, the mirror reflected her current state clearly.

Her face was pale from exhaustion, but flushed from embarrassment and cold after being drenched in the rain.

She sneezed softly.

Not daring to waste any more time, Navia removed Leonel's coat and stepped beneath the hot water.

Warm water cascaded over her frozen body, slowly easing the tension in her muscles.

But just as she finished showering and prepared to leave the bathroom, she suddenly realized-

She had no clean clothes.

After hesitating for a moment, Navia wrapped a white bath towel tightly around herself and carefully cracked open the bathroom door.

"Mr. Crawford?" she called softly.

She had never felt this embarrassed in her life.

Her voice trembled slightly, quiet and cautious like a frightened kitten.

After peeking outside, she realized Leonel wasn't in the room.

She couldn't exactly stay trapped in the bathroom forever.

Barefoot, Navia hurried out into the hallway and finally spotted him downstairs near the staircase.

Leonel sat alone on the living room sofa.

His tie had been loosened, his suit jacket tossed carelessly beside him.

A cigar burned between his fingers, the smoke curling around him as he sat there silently, almost like some untouchable sculpture carved from shadow.

Mysterious.

Cold.

Impossible to read.

"Mr. Crawford..." Navia called nervously.

Only then did Leonel look up.

The moment he saw her, his gaze paused briefly.

Her long damp hair clung to her pale cheeks, making her look like a drenched stray kitten fresh out of the rain.

The white towel wrapped around her body barely covered enough, exposing her long slender legs beneath.

As Leonel's eyes swept over her, Navia instinctively curled her bare toes against the floor, unsure whether she was nervous or simply embarrassed.

"I don't have any clothes to change into," she explained softly.

Leonel looked away calmly.

"My mistake," he said. "There aren't any women's clothes here."

He picked up his phone.

"I'll have Jason bring something over."

Navia hesitated before speaking again.

"Could I... borrow one of your shirts first?"

"Mhm." Leonel nodded casually. "They're in the closet. Take whatever you want."

After getting his permission, Navia hurried back upstairs.

Inside the walk-in closet, every piece of clothing was immaculate-tailored suits, dress shirts, luxury fabrics.

Everything about it screamed wealth and discipline.

Eventually, she found a white dress shirt tucked near the corner and slipped it on.

When she returned downstairs, Leonel glanced up.

Because of his height, the shirt hung loosely on her frame, oversized enough to conceal most of her body.

She had even used one of his belts around her waist, unintentionally accentuating her slender figure.

Instead of looking messy, it somehow resembled a carefully styled outfit.

A flicker of surprise crossed Leonel's eyes.

"It looks good on you," he said.

His low voice made Navia's cheeks warm again.

Still thinking about the marriage, she quickly sat across from him.

"Mr. Crawford, before we go register, we should probably discuss the important details first-"

Before she could finish, the lingering cigar smoke made her cough suddenly.

She clearly wasn't used to it.

Leonel immediately lowered his legs from the coffee table and crushed the cigar into the ashtray beside him before standing up.

His tall figure moved toward her, casting a shadow overhead.

Then his warm hand rested gently against her back.

"You okay?"

Navia coughed until tears filled her eyes.

"I'm fine," she managed softly. "I'm just not used to cigarette smoke."

A trace of apology appeared in Leonel's expression.

"Sorry," he said quietly. "I won't smoke around you again."

Again?

Navia looked up at him in surprise.

Even though they were only entering a contractual marriage, not a real relationship...

Why was he accommodating her so naturally?

"Thank you," she said softly.

Then, after hesitating briefly, she added:

"Mr. Crawford... before we register the marriage, shouldn't I sign something first?"

Leonel raised an eyebrow.

"Like what?"

"A prenuptial agreement," Navia replied cautiously.

Leonel looked completely unconcerned.

"There's no need for something like that."

Navia hesitated.

"For the Harrison family, maybe not..." she said carefully. "But aren't you worried that I might..."

***