Having dealt with numerous figures who stood at the peak of authority, Ryann had never once felt pressure this suffocating.

Before her, the man did nothing more than stand still, yet the presence he carried forced her instincts into full alert.

Once she sensed clear hostility from the man, the heat burning in Ryann's gaze sharpened even further.

Without a hint of fear, she met the man's eyes directly, brushed aside the gun aimed at her, and spoke with open mockery. "This does not concern you! Move!"

Almost immediately afterward, black-suited bodyguards with stone faces poured into the villa and surrounded the terrified mother and daughter cowering on the floor.

Raising his gaze, the man spoke in a low and raspy voice that allowed no refusal. "These two are guests under the protection of the Yates family. I am taking them with me today."

"And if I refuse?"

Holding her position, Ryann did not retreat as the cold light in the man's eyes sharpened and the oppressive pressure around him grew heavier.

"So you intend to stop me?"

While the tension hung in the air, another man rushed over and spoke in a low, urgent voice. "Mr. Yates, your grandfather is waiting at the Yates Mansion. We are running out of time."

After that, he faced Monica and spoke with courtesy that felt distant rather than warm. "Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Yates and Miss Sullivan are about to be married. We are here to escort Miss Sullivan to complete the marriage registration. The court officials are already waiting at the Yates Mansion."

Mr. Yates. The Yates family. Marriage.

Those words linked together instantly in Ryann's mind, and the man standing before her was finally revealed.

Jayden Yates, the eldest grandson of the Yates family head—the wealthiest man in Elessall—and the designated future heir.

Everything suddenly made sense.

The killing intent in Ryann's eyes slowly faded, giving way to measured thought.

Facing someone from the Yates family meant that pushing back today would only lead to unnecessary consequences.

Bit by bit, she relaxed her clenched fists, and the sharp edge of her presence eased.

Seeing Ryann's posture ease, Monica finally released a breath she did not realize she had been holding.

Taking advantage of the moment, Maren immediately shifted tactics and rushed to Jayden's side, her face full of grievance.

"Jayden, you have to speak up for me… My mother and I barely said anything, and Gabriela completely snapped. Look at my arm. She dislocated it, and it hurts terribly…"

A deep frown settled on Jayden's face, and impatience flickered clearly in his cold expression.

It was obvious that her act had failed to move him in the slightest.

From where she stood, Ryann observed everything with detached calm while quietly registering the trace of irritation in his reaction.

Turning his attention toward her, Jayden studied Ryann closely and spoke with faint amusement in his voice. "You are the Sullivan family's adopted daughter, Gabriela?"

Mistaking his attention for support, Maren hurried to press the advantage. "That's right! She's the ungrateful girl my family took in! After my father died, she grew more and more arrogant. She stole my family's money and even abused my mother and me repeatedly!"

Holding her injured face, Monica let out broken sobs as blood trickled from the scratch left by the porcelain shard. "Mr. Yates, it would be one thing if she only do this to me. But Maren is your future wife! Her actions show complete disrespect toward you and the Yates family!"

Listening to their accusations pile up, Ryann let out a cold, mocking laugh. Regret crept through her thoughts, and she briefly wondered if she should have been far more ruthless earlier.

"A wedding is supposed to be a happy event." She spoke without warning, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "I think I should see such a lively occasion for myself."

"Absolutely not. You are not going!" Monica protested at once, and panic leaked into her sharp tone.

Worried that Gabriela would stir trouble at the Yates residence, Maren hurried to scold her. "Why would an adopted orphan like you show up at my wedding? Do you honestly believe you belong to the Sullivan family?"

A slight crease formed on Ryann's forehead, and her cold stare moved from Monica to Maren until neither dared to speak again.

She never expected Jayden to support her, yet his deep and steady voice suddenly cut through the tension. "If you want to attend, then you may."

After saying that, he turned away and walked straight out of the Sullivan villa.

Surprise briefly flashed across Ryann's eyes.

Had he really agreed just like that?

Was he not concerned about the trouble she could cause at the Yates Mansion?

"Jayden! How can you allow her to come?" Maren stomped her foot in frustration before shooting Ryann a furious glare. "If you dare say or do anything out of line at the Yates Mansion, I will make you pay for it!"

Without offering a single word, Ryann casually raised her hand and smoothed the loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Reacting on instinct, Maren retreated a step, fear flashing across her face as she hurriedly pulled Monica along with her.

In their panic, they slammed the car door shut, fully convinced it would keep Ryann away, never realizing she had no intention of following them at all.

Inside the Bentley, Jayden reclined against the headrest and closed his eyes, and the dim lighting traced the sharp lines of his profile.

Moments later, the car door swung open, and a slender figure slipped inside with unhurried calm.

As if the world around them did not exist, Ryann settled into the seat beside Jayden, and her red lips brushed close to his ear while her warm breath almost touched him.

"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Yates."

Jayden gave no response, and his presence remained steady and unreadable. Then, beneath the low glow inside the car, his eyes opened slowly, and his deep gaze fixed firmly on Ryann's face.

"So you really dared to climb into my car."

Coldness seeped from Jayden's voice like winter water, yet Ryann kept her smile intact, clearly unbothered and almost expectant.

"You're about to marry my sister. At this rate, we are practically family anyway." Turning her head slightly, she looked at him with playful eyes. "Adopted or not, I still fall under the Sullivan name, which makes me part of your future circle. Sharing a ride with family hardly seems strange, does it?"

Her tone dropped into something gentle and deliberately provocative, carrying a quiet charm. "It's only a ride. I'm sitting in your car, not on your lap. Calm down."

"Do I look like I'm not calm enough?" Jayden answered, and his stare cut toward her with sharp intensity.

Reaching out, he caught her chin between his fingers, and his low voice carried unmistakable aggression.

Even with her clothes stained in blood, Ryann's striking features and commanding presence remained impossible to ignore.

From the corner of her vision, she caught sight of Maren right outside the car, staring at them and burning with barely contained fury.

Closing the distance on purpose, Ryann leaned nearer to Jayden and let her eyes sharpen with playful provocation. "Mr. Yates, your fiancee is watching right now, so you might want to keep your hands where they belong."

Unmoved by her approach, Jayden let a faint curve touch his lips. "If this is your attempt to get even because I stopped you from killing them, then you should rethink your strategy. Such cheap tricks do nothing for me."

A gentle laugh escaped Ryann. "Really? Is that how you see it?"

Getting back at Jayden was never her true intention. What she wanted was to make use of the circumstances laid out before her.

If this marriage was going to fall apart, then Jayden was the first piece that had to be shaken.

Here in Elessall, she stood alone and without support, while the Yates family held power, influence, and protection.

Removing that shield was the only way she could confront her enemies properly.

Her eyes dropped to the delicate box resting near her feet, and she bent down to pick it up. "You have good taste. This dress fits me perfectly. Thanks."

Without hesitation, she began changing out of her bloodstained clothes right there inside the car.

Startled, the driver immediately turned his head away and kept his eyes firmly on the road.

Beside her, Jayden pressed his lips together while studying her closely, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

One piece of fabric after another fell away, and her elegant white lace underwear came into view, accentuating a figure impossible to ignore.

Startled by the sight, he turned his head aside, and his pulse sped up while his breathing grew uneven. A faint shift passed through his throat, and his composure clearly wavered.

At that moment, her gentle voice reached him once more. "Why pretend to be a prude when you have already seen everything?"

Despite himself, his eyes followed the sound of her voice, and when he finally looked back, Jayden froze.

A strapless satin gown traced her curves flawlessly, and when she slowly lifted her face under the dim light, the beauty before him felt unreal.

...

After fifteen minutes passed, the car arrived at the Yates Mansion.

Trailing behind Jayden, Monica and Maren followed closely, and smug satisfaction showed plainly on their faces.

Within the lavish living room, members of the Yates family had already been waiting for a while.

The moment they stepped inside, warmth and enthusiasm greeted them from all sides.

Just as Maren prepared to move forward and greet everyone, she froze when she saw them walk straight past her and gather around Ryann instead.

"Goodness, could this be the woman joining our family soon? She is even more stunning than any actress on silver screen!"

"That deep burgundy dress looks made for you, and your figure is remarkable!"

Jealousy burned through Maren at those words, and she said sharply, "I am the one who's about to marry Jayden and join the Yates family. She is nothing more than an adopted daughter from the Sullivan family!"

Awkwardness spread through the group, and they quickly shifted their attention to greet Maren instead.

With a gentle push to move things along, Jayden's stepmother, Rhonda Yates, spoke up. "We should proceed with the registration. Gael is waiting to hear the good news."

Gripping Jayden's arm tightly, Maren felt her excitement swell at the thought of marrying into immense wealth.

Lifting her chin with blatant provocation, she fixed Ryann with a smug look and whispered so only the two of them could hear, "With a background as low as yours, do you honestly think you can charm Jayden and marry into money? You should stop dreaming."

A cold calm stayed on Jayden's face, though a faint and unreadable curve lingered at the corner of his lips.

A sharp glint flashed through Ryann's eyes as she quietly mapped out how to ruin this arrangement.

But just as she was about to act, a startled cry from the staff shattered her focus.

"Please wait, the records show that Mr. Yates is already married! And the registered wife is not Miss Maren Sullivan, but Gabriela Sullivan!"

What?

The announcement struck like a bolt of thunder and instantly threw the Yates Mansion into chaos.

Shock rippled through Ryann, her pupils shrinking while her fingers trembled slightly. Was Gabriela already married? And the husband listed was Jayden?

How could something like this even happen?

Turning her head abruptly, Ryann looked toward Jayden and once again met that unreadable gaze.

In that instant, Maren's fantasy of marrying into wealth collapsed completely, and panic overtook her. "No way! How could Jayden end up marrying her?"

Losing all restraint, Monica rushed forward and screamed, "How dare you steal my daughter's fiance?"

Reaching out in fury, she tried to seize Ryann while shouting, "Say it clearly right now! What exactly is going on?"

Before her hands could touch anything, Ryann shifted aside with ease, and Monica lurched forward, slamming into the floor as blood spilled from her mouth.

"Mom!" Ignoring the pain in her injured arm, Maren hurried to Monica's side and glared up at Ryann with burning hatred. "You vicious woman! How dare you hurt my mother!"

Remaining perfectly still, Ryann looked down at Monica's trembling figure with cold indifference, and a faint, mocking smile curved her lips. "What are you even talking about? She fell all by herself."

"You!"

"Enough!" A sharp command tore through the chaos as Lorenzo Yates, Jayden's father, spoke with cutting authority, his piercing gaze locking onto his son. "Explain this right now. What exactly is happening?"

Seizing the moment to fan the flames, Rhonda stepped in at once. "Jayden, you married the adopted daughter from the Sullivan family without telling any of us? How could you do this?"

Long accustomed to Rhonda's manipulations, Jayden showed no reaction and answered with detached calm, "I don't know any of this. It could be a system error."

At once, the staff conducted another check, yet the system showed no sign of malfunction.

What stunned everyone was the result tied to Gabriela's record, which clearly listed her as married, with Jayden Yates named as her husband.

Even more unbelievable was the date of registration, which was marked as exactly three days ago.

Hearing this, Lorenzo slammed his palm against the table and jabbed a finger toward Jayden, his voice shaking with fury. "You idiot! Are you really saying that you are married and you know nothing about it?"

The revelation caused Monica and Maren to exchange a stunned look as the words "three days ago" echoed in their minds.

How could Gabriela have registered for marriage when they had locked her away in the wilderness during that time?

All eyes shifted toward Ryann, and she only said coldly to Monica and Maren, "Three days ago, you both know exactly where I was. Do you really want me to lay everything out here?"

Panic struck Maren without warning.

Worried that their ugly secrets would be exposed and damage how the Yates family viewed her, she hastily changed her approach.

Turning toward Lorenzo and Rhonda, she forced tears into her voice as she spoke. "Everyone in Elessall knows that I am Jayden's fiancee. Now his legal wife became my adopted sister. How is the Sullivan family supposed to live with such humiliation? Gabriela is nothing but a lowly orphan my family took in. She is not worthy of the Yates family, much less Jayden. We cannot allow this marriage to stand!"

Her emotions spiraled further, and she shot Ryann a vicious glare. "You shameless woman! Divorce Jayden right now!"

Rhonda observed the chaos in silence, recalling how she had arranged the engagement in the first place to keep Jayden under control after the Sullivan family began to decline.

Learning that Jayden had accidentally married an even less favored daughter in the family brought her quiet satisfaction.

Putting on a mask of concern, she spoke in a gentle and measured tone. "Maren, don't panic. Divorce is not that simple. There are rules that must be followed."

Turning her head toward the staff, she sought confirmation with a pointed question. "Is that correct? If I remember properly, there is now a one-month cooling-off period before a divorce can be finalized, isn't there?"

Without hesitation, the staff nodded in agreement and answered promptly, "Yes, ma'am. Under the current regulations, a mutual divorce must go through a thirty-day cooling-off period."

Picking up from there, Rhonda spoke again with a composed tone. "Everything I say is for Jayden's sake. Divorce isn't really a badge of honor to wear on your chest, not even these days, not even for a man. It would be better for Gabriela to remain and see how things go from here. She and Maren are both daughters of the Sullivan family, after all. If Jayden develops feelings, then marrying either one makes no real difference."

Already inclined to side with Rhonda and harboring resentment toward his difficult son, Lorenzo immediately gave a stern nod. "Exactly. In the Yates family, divorce is not permitted. That is our rule."

Shock overtook Maren, and she shouted, "Rules can be changed! If we keep quiet about it, who would ever know—"

"That's enough!" An authoritative and aged voice thundered from the entrance, cutting Maren off instantly.

Silence swept through the room as everyone turned to see Gael Yates, the true head of the Yates family, stepping inside with the butler at his side.

The entire living room fell into absolute stillness.

"Grandpa." Jayden stood up at once and moved to support him.

Even Lorenzo, still burning with anger, forced himself to hold back and greet respectfully. "Dad, what brings you here?"

Rhonda hurried to add her own bright greeting, eager to appear agreeable.

Paying her no attention, Gael allowed Jayden to guide him to the main seat, and his commanding gaze moved slowly across everyone present.

His eyes settled on Maren first, and then he spoke at an unhurried pace. "In the Yates family, divorce is never treated casually. Our ancestors set this rule to remind every generation to respect marriage."

Turning his attention back to Maren, a trace of conflicted emotion showed in his eyes. "That said, rules are not unchangeable. What the Yates family values most is responsibility, and commitments must be honored once made. Since their marriage has already been registered and the law requires a one-month cooling-off period, we will follow the procedure and handle the divorce after that time."

Relief washed over Maren at his decision.

Although a month of waiting remained, knowing Gael supported her was enough.

She quickly dabbed at her tears and bowed obediently. "Thank you, Mr. Yates, for your fairness."

After everyone unrelated was dismissed, Gael summoned Jayden and Ryann to the study.

"Whether what happened today was intentional or a misunderstanding no longer matters. Since the marriage exists, let it stand for now. Gabriela, the Yates family will not wrong you, so stay here without worry."

With a respectful nod, Ryann responded calmly, "Understood, Mr. Yates."

Once Gael left and the room fell quiet, Ryann instinctively stepped away, and her sharp gaze settled on the man standing nearby.

"So now that no one else is here, would you like to explain yourself, Mr. Yates?" she asked.

Fixing her eyes on Jayden's unfathomable stare, Ryann searched his expression for any hint of intention.

Instead of reacting, Jayden answered with calm interest, "Shouldn't that question be directed at you, Ms. Sullivan? You seem awfully determined to marry me."

Surprise flashed through Ryann.

Her goal had been to sabotage his engagement to Maren, yet it seemed he had drawn a very different conclusion entirely.

Closing the distance, Jayden moved forward and pressed her back against the desk, his voice dropping as he spoke close to her ear. "I don't know how you managed to do that, but given the current situation…" A ghost of smile crossed his face. "I suppose I'll go along with it—despite my reluctance."

The closeness felt overwhelming, and Ryann turned her head instinctively, avoiding the warmth of his breath brushing near her ear.

Her gaze dropped briefly to his pronounced Adam's apple, and on impulse, she leaned in and pressed her lips against it.

As soon as her gentle warmth touched him, Jayden's breathing faltered, and a visible tremor passed through his pupils.

A quiet laugh escaped Ryann. "Mr. Yates, that doesn't look like reluctance at all."

Sound and contact blended, sending a sudden rush of heat through Jayden.

What he had barely managed to restrain earlier in the car flared back to life without warning.

Tension pulled tight at Jayden's lips.

With one swift sweep of his arm, he cleared the desk and forced her back against it, trapping her beneath him.