Jessica strode forward in her four-inch heels. Surrounded by a group of bodyguards and assistants, she radiated charisma.

Her features were sculpted to perfection. She was tall, poised, and had lips as red as flame. Every step she took carried a commanding aura.

The moment Leo saw her, he broke into sobs and ran to Jessica, but her bodyguards stopped him.

She frowned in visible disgust.

"Who the heck are you?"

Leo froze on the spot. He then wailed even harder.

He used to be fairly handsome. He could have been endearing even when he cried.

However, with his face swollen beyond recognition, it was hard to even look at.

It wasn't until her assistant leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear that realization flickered across her eyes.

"Leo?"

Anger appeared on her cold, beautiful face.

"Who had the nerve to beat my secretary into this state? Do they think I'm a joke?"

Leo, who was moved to tears, tried to approach Jessica again, but she took a step back.

"Come talk to me after your face heals."

She waved him off with open disdain before finally turning her attention to me.

I had been observing her for a while now.

Just like Steven said, his granddaughter was stunning, bold, and sharp-edged. She was truly unique.

Unfortunately, the way she looked at me now was full of contempt. It felt almost like she was looking at something dirty.

"Hello, I'm Christopher Sutton."

I stepped forward to introduce myself, but she cut me off immediately.

"You seem ordinary."

She smirked. "I have no idea what kind of spell you cast on my grandfather to make him insist I meet you."

She looked me up and down. Her gaze grew cold.

"If you know what's good for you, go back to wherever you came from.

"And if you dare say anything bad about me in front of Grandpa–"

She didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was clear.

To be honest, I had planned to leave right after meeting her anyway.

My condition was too dangerous. I could lose control anytime.

I had already accepted that I'd spend my life alone.

This trip was purely out of respect for Steven.

Even so, her arrogance sparked a fire in me.

"So you're the one Steven set me up with?"

I met her gaze directly. "We haven't even exchanged a few words, and you're already telling me to get lost. Is this what passes for manners in the Gardner family?"

Her expression darkened instantly.

"Do you even realize where you are?"

She sneered. "This is my turf! How dare you lecture me on how to behave?"

Her gaze swept over my plain clothes. She seemed even more disgusted.

"Grandpa must be losing it. He's trying to force me to marry a loser like you."

She clenched her jaw. "He even threatened to shut down my company if I refuse!"

There were gasps from around us.

People looked at me with shock written all over their faces.

Was this unremarkable man actually Jessica's fiancé?

Was he favored by that mysterious commanding general in the Gardner family?

"Why him?"

"Is he even worthy?"

Whispers rippled through the room.

When their gazes landed on the bodyguards lying unconscious all over the floor, their voices grew soft.

"Tsk. He's just some brute."

"He's an ugly man trying to get with a pretty girl."

I smiled.

"It's fine if you don't like me. I'm not forcing anything. You can explain it to Steven yourself."

I suppressed the violent urge inside me.

"But right now, I need to get to my room."

I could feel it. I was about to lose control of that thing inside me.

"Ms. Gardner! You can't let him go!"

Leo suddenly leaped forward and pointed at me as he shouted with all his might.

"He's the one who did this to me! He even took all those bodyguards down!"

He kept piling it on. "He knew I was reserving that presidential suite for your meeting, and he still tried to steal it!

"He clearly has no respect for you or the Gardner family!"

Jessica's expression turned ice-cold as soon as she heard what Leo said. The way she looked at me was like she's staring at a dead man.

"You really are just a loser. You have no class at all."

Enraged, Jessica glared at me harshly. "Do you seriously think you can do whatever you want here?"

I knew there was no point explaining. She already had a terrible impression of me.

"I'll take responsibility for hurting others."

I forced myself to endure the pounding in my head as it worsened by the second. "Name your price. I'll pay whatever it takes, but I need to get to that room right now!"

"How will you pay? Do you even have that much money?"

In spite of his swollen face, Leo didn't miss the chance to take a jab at me.

"Did you not hear Ms. Gardner saying she has a meeting in that presidential suite?"

His saliva was splattering everywhere. "You trying to take my room is one thing, but how dare you try to take Ms. Gardner's room?"

I looked at him. All I could think about were the words 'spineless watchdog'.

Clearly, he hadn't been beaten hard enough.

"Ms. Gardner, Steven should've told you."

I stared into Jessica's eyes. "About my unique status. This room was specifically prepared for me–"

"Shut up!"

She suddenly grabbed a vase from the desk and smashed it against my head. Warm blood trickled down my face.

"I hate people like you. You're always using Grandpa to pressure me!"

Her nails dug deep into her palm. "Unique status? Who are you trying to fool?

"If you want that room so badly, I definitely won't give it to you. Someone go upstairs and check if there's anything strange about it!!"

Jessica gave her bodyguards a look, and four of them immediately pinned me to the ground.

Her four-inch heel ground down hard on the back of my hand.

"You beat my men up. Breaking one of your hands doesn't seem excessive, does it?"

I was in so much pain that my vision started turning dark. "If Steven finds out you did this–"

"So what if he does?"

Jessica kicked my ribcage hard. "I've worked myself to the bone running this company, and he still tries to force me to marry a loser like you!"

She suddenly choked on her words. "In his eyes, am I really only worthy of being with someone like you?

"Do you know something? There's someone I've liked for a long time."

Her gaze suddenly turned gentle. "He's the ace of the Special Forces. Seven years ago, he saved my life during a mission. No matter how much I begged, Grandpa refused to tell me where he was!"

Her stern gaze shifted back to me. "Listen up. Stop dreaming. He's so much better than a loser like you!"

My heart jolted.

'Seven years ago? Could Jessica be–"

I opened my mouth and was about to tell her who I was, but suddenly a wave of dizziness hit me.

My heart sank. 'Oh no!'

"Jessica, I don't have time to explain. Get me to that room–"

"Ptooey!"

Leo spat right in my face. "You've got a death wish, haven't you? Still acting tough?

"Weren't you really bold earlier? Listen up. These people around Ms. Gardner all used to be part of the Special Forces. Try acting up again!"

He turned around and put on a flattering smile. "Ms. Gardner, why don't I teach this guy a lesson for you?"

Jessica shoved him aside impatiently. "Get lost."

The pointed tip of her high heel pressed against my throat. There was something unhinged in her eyes.

"If I break your arms, cut off your legs, and turn you into a cripple, do you think Grandpa will still force me to marry you?"

"Oh? Is that what you're thinking?"

My head suddenly tilted upward at an unnatural angle.

My gaze swept lazily across the onlookers before settling on Jessica. I suddenly grinned.

"Gorgeous lady." I cocked my head and gently licked my lips. "Why don't you give it a try?"

The red glow in my pupils intensified.

That was when one of her assistants stumbled down the stairs in a panic.

"Ms. Gardner! T-That room is completely sealed with military-grade steel!"

His face was pale. "It doesn't look like a place for someone to stay. It looks more like a cage for a monster!"