The night fell.

The Cross family was preparing to marry off two daughters at the same time today.

Wearing a wedding dress, Elena Cross sat in front of the mirror, her makeup done to perfection.

She was happy.

Today was her wedding day with Ethan Caldwell.

They had been in love for a year and were finally tying the knot.

“Sister, you’re so lucky. You’re marrying into the Caldwell family, an aristocratic family from Detroit.”

Wearing the exact same wedding dress, Selena Cross walked in, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Seeing how beautiful her sister looked, Selena was consumed with envy. How she wished she could scratch Elena’s pretty face!

Elena’s expression hardened. “I also want to congratulate you, Selena. You’re about to become the fourth wife of Damian soon. By the way, I heard that Mr. Blackwell had a car accident recently, and they say he can’t walk and doesn’t have long to live. If you marry him, you’ll be a widow before you even know it.”

“Elena Cross!”

Selena was so angry her face turned purple. The thought that Elena was about to marry into the Caldwell family while she had to marry a disabled man made her fists clench tightly.

“Elena, you don’t know what the future holds. Do you really think you’ll be Mrs. Caldwell forever?”

“Elena, Selena, here you are!” With two cups of coffee in her hands, Vivian Cross walked in, a smile on her face. “Have some caffeine. The groom’s car is still on the way.”

The fake smile on her stepmother’s face made Elena frown. They’d been living together for over ten years; how could she not know what kind of person Vivian was?

Elena took solace in the fact she would soon be moving out of the house and wouldn’t have to see Vivian and her daughter anymore. She reluctantly took the cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” Elena muttered, taking a sip.

“You’re welcome, dear.” Seeing Elena drink some, Vivian let out a sigh of relief.

“Even though you’re not my biological daughter, I’ve always treated you like my own. I’ll be sad to see you go.”

Vivian’s eyes reddened as she spoke.

Elena sneered inwardly. Vivian was such a good actress.

When Elena was eight, only a month after her mother had passed away, her father brought Vivian and Selena into their home. It was then Elena realized her father had betrayed her mother and had an affair during their marriage.

“Ma’am, the Caldwell family’s car is here,” a servant reminded Vivian at the door.

“Very well,” Vivian nodded, winking at the servant. “Grace, take Elena to the car.”

Hearing this, Elena stood up, but suddenly, she felt a little dizzy. Her vision blurred, and she could barely keep herself upright, so she let the servant guide her.

A black car was parked at the gate of the Cross family home. Grace, the servant, helped Elena into the back seat.

From the balcony, Vivian watched them drive away, a deep smile on her face.

“Mom, are you sure this will work?”

“What if Elena notices something wrong along the way?” Selena Cross asked nervously.

“Don’t worry. I’ve arranged everything. She will marry into the Blackwell family for you,” Vivian reassured.

It turned out the black car wasn’t from the Caldwell family, but from the Blackwell family.

Selena was still anxious. “But how will I get through tonight with Ethan?”

Vivian handed her a bottle of pills and whispered, “Give these to Ethan tonight. After that, the Caldwell family won’t be able to deny you. But remember, don’t let him see your face.”

“Got it,” Selena nodded, hiding the bottle carefully, her face twisted with jealousy and hatred. “Mom, I’ll make Elena’s life a living hell. Then she’ll know the consequences of stealing my man.”

Vivian sneered. “I doubt Elena will survive tonight. Do you know what happened to Louis’s ex-wives? They all disappeared mysteriously.”

Sitting in the back of the car, Elena still felt dizzy. Her body temperature kept rising, and her cheeks burned.

She thought of the coffee Vivian had given her and felt a sinking sensation.

She had fallen into Vivian’s trap.

There was something wrong with the coffee.

Looking out the window, Elena noticed they weren’t headed in the direction of the Caldwell house. Her alarm bells went off, and she started to panic.

“Stop the car! Stop the car right now!” Elena shouted at the driver anxiously. “Who are you? Where are you taking me?”

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, confusion clear on his face. “Miss Cross, the Blackwell family sent me to pick up their bride. This is the way to the Blackwell estate.”

“The Blackwell family?”

It suddenly dawned on Elena.

She hadn’t expected Vivian to play such a trick.

“Stop the car. I should be marrying the Caldwell family. You’ve made a mistake.”

“How can there be a mistake, Miss Cross? The veil you’re wearing was personally chosen by the late master Blackwell himself.”

Elena looked at the veil in her hand and finally understood.

Vivian Cross, you are so cruel, she thought.

She didn’t want to marry the Blackwell family.

She wouldn’t let Vivian and her daughter get away with this.

But the drug’s effect on her body was making her feel terribly uncomfortable. “Stop the car.”

Elena tried her best to control herself and growled.

“Miss Cross, we’re almost there… Miss Cross, what are you doing?”

The driver was shocked when Elena suddenly opened the door and jumped out of the car.

Elena tumbled to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a complete stop. The sharp pain immediately sobered her up.

“Miss Cross, please get back in the car.”

Seeing that the car had stopped and the driver was catching up with her, Elena gritted her teeth and limped away, trying to endure the pain.

The pain was the only thing that could keep her grounded right now.

Elena’s mind raced. She knew the consequences of being dragged back to that mansion.

“Miss Cross, please don’t run. Come back with me.”

Hearing the driver’s shouts from behind her, Elena ran faster. She was so desperate that tears nearly escaped her eyes. She couldn’t marry Damian Blackwell.

The night around her was thick with darkness. The man chasing her was getting closer, and the dizziness in her head was almost unbearable.

Elena felt like she was going to collapse from the weight of it all. She had no idea where she was running. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a black car parked ahead. A man in a casual suit was leaning against it, engrossed in a phone conversation.

Just as the man was about to get into the car and drive away, Elena ran toward him, using every last bit of strength in her body. Panting and nearly in tears, she cried out, “Please, help me! Please help me!”

The man glanced at Elena, his expression unreadable.

At that moment, the voice on the other end of the phone shouted impatiently, “Your bride is almost here. Why aren’t you here yet?”

“Shut up!” Without giving the caller a chance to respond, the man hung up the phone, his face hardening.

Just then, the driver caught up to Elena. She didn’t hesitate. Without thinking, she threw open the car door and climbed in, ignoring the man’s presence. With a pleading look in her eyes, she begged in a soft, trembling voice, “Please help me!”

The driver approached the car. “Miss Cross, please come out of the car. We’re already running late. Mr. Blackwell…”

The driver froze when he clearly saw the man’s face.

Before the driver could say another word, the man cast a cold, dangerous look at him and snarled, “Get lost!”

The discomfort was so unbearable that Elena felt as though her blood vessels were about to burst.

How cruel Vivian had been! Elena had only taken a sip of the coffee, and yet the drug’s effects were already so potent. She hated to think what would have happened if she’d drunk more.

Elena felt as though her head was going to explode. At the same time, there was a strange numbness, along with an overwhelming, unquenchable thirst, as though she had been wandering through a dry desert for ages.

Water… I need some water…

She managed to croak out the words, her throat dry and her body burning with feverish heat, desperate for relief.

“I’ll take you to the hospital.”

The man in the front seat had already recognized what was happening to Elena.

“Help me, please. I’ll do anything for you…” Elena clutched the man’s hand in desperation. He was her last hope in this desolate, lonely place.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

The man frowned. He wasn’t someone who usually meddled in other people’s problems. On any other day, he would’ve thrown her out of the car. However, for some reason, when he saw the fear and desperation in Elena’s eyes, something stirred inside him.

“Thank you…”

Elena kept her words simple. In truth, at that moment, it never crossed her mind that the man might have bad intentions.

Her only thought was to survive.

Elena’s grip tightened on the man’s hand as she cried, “I don’t want to die.”

The man’s gaze softened, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You’re a lucky woman. You’re not dying tonight.”

In that moment, Elena was like a stranded mermaid. The lace dress she wore clung to her form, her flushed face making her all the more alluring.

The man stiffened. The woman in the backseat, vulnerable and desperate, was incredibly tempting.

His voice became hoarse. “I’m Damian Blackwell. You owe me.”

Elena, too weak to comprehend, had already lost consciousness. The pain and exhaustion had taken over.

Damian slammed his foot on the accelerator and sped toward the nearest hospital affiliated with the Blackwell group. Minutes later, he was handing Elena over to the waiting doctor.

That night, Elena had a vivid, erotic dream. It was a dream about a night from years ago that she wished she could forget.

When she woke up, it was already past noon the next day.

The memories of the night before rushed back into her mind. When she realized where she was, a heavy lump formed in her throat.

Her life had been saved, but now Elena Cross realized she couldn’t stay with Ethan Caldwell any longer.

She glanced around and noticed a man lying on the edge of the bed, sound asleep. He was incredibly handsome, and even she, a woman, couldn’t help but admire his appearance.

His features were strong and angular, with defined brows and a high nose that gave him an almost regal look.

Her eyes traveled down to his upper body, where his lean, toned muscles were clearly defined. He exuded a quiet strength.

The previous night, Elena had found herself in an impossible situation, yet this man had not taken advantage of her. Instead, he had gotten her to safety, even taking her to the hospital.

Thinking about it now, Elena felt herself blush.

What on earth had she been thinking?

Was she hoping for something more?

Noticing the man still asleep, Elena quietly sat up. The movement made him stir.

“So, you’re just going to slip away after I saved you?”

Damian Blackwell stretched lazily and fixed his gaze on Elena with a teasing smile.

He’d already been awake, and if he hadn’t stirred, she likely would have slipped away unnoticed.

“You owe me for last night. Were you really going to leave just like that?”

“Huh? No, I didn’t…” Elena stuttered, momentarily at a loss for words. This man had, after all, been her savior in her darkest hour, and his pointed remark made her feel guilty.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft.