This story quickly spread through Zaivine, stirring public outrage and sending the Shaw family into a frenzy. They pulled every string they had, and before long, Lainey was found in a remote village, living with the farmer who had adopted her. Along with her return came the long-buried truth.

With the rightful heiress restored to her place, Adelina's world began to collapse. Branded as a fraud, she became the target of endless gossip and cruel stares.

Even within the Shaw family, the whispers never stopped; she lived like a trespasser under their watchful eyes.

Lorenzo was the only one who hadn't turned his back on her.

When the news broke, he didn't end their relationship. Instead, he doubled down and threw a grand engagement party, cementing their bond in the eyes of society.

What Adelina hadn't known was that Lorenzo had been entangled with Lainey all along—and worse, he had orchestrated her downfall from the shadows.

Even catching them red-handed now would change nothing. No one would believe a word she said.

Swallowing the bitter truth, Adelina brushed away her tears and walked out of the villa, the weight of betrayal pressing down on every step.

With nowhere to turn, her fingers retrieved the crisp business card the stranger had left behind at the hotel.

The inked number swam before her eyes as a reckless, impossible thought slowly took shape in her mind.

…

On the top floor of Clark Group's headquarters, Colton Clark leaned back in his leather chair, immaculate in a tailored charcoal suit. His cold, sharp gaze swept over Jorge Simpson, the assistant standing rigidly at attention across the desk. "Track down whoever drugged me last night," Colton ordered, his voice cold and unyielding.

"Understood." Jorge straightened, then hesitated awkwardly. "Mr. Clark..."

"Anything else?"

From behind the stack of financial reports, Colton's gaze lifted, his expression impossible to read.

Jorge rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Uh… your grandmother called again. She wants to set you up on another date. She said you're thirty now, and it's time to think about settling down. At this age, most people have kids old enough to..."

Colton set the financial reports aside, his brows knitting as he cut him off. "That's enough. I don't need you turning into my grandmother. I'll handle my marriage plans in my own time."

Jorge had pestered Colton about settling down countless times before, but this was the first time his boss hadn't brushed it off entirely.

Plans? That single word rattled around in his head. Had Colton, stubborn as ever, finally started to change his mind?

While Jorge was still reeling from the unexpected response, the desk phone rang.

Colton reached for the receiver. A woman's voice came through, light and clear, carrying a soft tremor. "About what you said earlier… about taking responsibility. Does that still stand?"

Though her words were steady, the fragile edge in her tone made it sound as if she were speaking to something dangerous.

A quiet laugh slipped past Colton's lips. Was he truly that terrifying?

He didn't bother to deliberate. "Of course," he replied smoothly.

"Good… Then tomorrow morning at ten, at the City Hall."

Once they settled on the time and place, a faint, satisfied smile ghosted across Colton's face. He ended the call and rose from his chair with deliberate ease.

As he strode toward the door, he tossed the words over his shoulder like an afterthought. "If my grandmother starts hounding me about marriage again, just tell her I already have someone in mind."

The spacious office swallowed his voice, leaving the soft hum of the central air as the only reply. Jorge remained frozen in place, his mind spinning.

For the first time since he'd started working for Colton, the usually unflappable assistant completely lost his composure.

Colton already had someone in mind? Who on earth could possibly capture the heart of a man that untouchable?

...

The following morning, Adelina climbed out of a cab and stood in front of the Shaw family's estate.

"Adelina, so you finally decided to show up. You vanished after the engagement party—where exactly did you run off to?"

Before she even stepped into the living room, a sharp, mocking female voice sliced through the air to greet her.

Lainey lingered at the foot of the staircase in a flowing white nightgown, her hair mussed just enough to look soft and innocent. Anyone else might have believed she was the picture of fragile purity—not the woman tangled in Lorenzo's sheets the previous day.

In the past, Adelina had fallen for that performance, even feeling guilty for existing in Lainey's place.

Now, a cold sneer curved her lips as she brushed off the hand reaching for her. "Why bother pretending you don't already know?"

Lainey's lashes fluttered, her face carefully arranged into a mask of concern. "Adelina, you disappeared the whole night of your engagement. Do you have any idea how worried Lorenzo was? You've put him in such an awkward spot."

Then, with an almost delicate smile, she tilted her head and added sweetly, "Why don't you just give up on him? The Clark family wants to join forces with us. You can marry Bruce Clark in my place."

As Lainey's voice trailed off, her gaze swept over the Shaw family members gathered behind her.

That was when Adelina realized Lainey hadn't been alone—her parents and a handful of relatives were all here for the same reason: to make her marry into the Clark family in Lainey's place.

Every face wore a mask of concern, voices overlapping in practiced persuasion. "Adelina, be sensible. Lainey has suffered for twenty years in your stead. The least you can do is return the favor and take her place in this marriage to the Clark family."

"Think about it," another chimed in. "Becoming Bruce's wife guarantees you a life of wealth and security."

"That's right," someone else added with a condescending tilt of the head. "Your birth mother was just a servant. Without this marriage, your future doesn't look bright."

At last, Lainey's father, Michael Shaw, rose from his seat with the air of a man sealing a deal. "The Shaw family raised you for two decades," he declared. "Now it's time for you to repay that debt. You'll marry Bruce for Lainey."

His domineering tone left no room to argue. Around him, the gathered relatives exchanged smug glances, their smiles practically dripping with self-satisfaction. "This really is for the best," someone chimed in approvingly.

Once Adelina became Bruce's wife, the Shaw family would reap enormous benefits. Their company had been bleeding money for two straight years, but with the Clark family's investment, they could not only steady the ship—they might even claw their way into high society.

But Adelina's lips curved in a bitter sneer. Everyone in Zaivine knew Bruce's reputation. The man was a spoiled heir with a vicious streak, notorious for the cruel games he played with women.

To marry him would be like walking into a gilded cage where every bar cut deep.

"I'm not doing it," she stated in an even tone, her words slicing through the tension in the room.

"You ungrateful brat!" Michael roared, shocked that the usually compliant Adelina dared defy him. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a porcelain cup from the table and hurled it in her direction.

The cup hit her arm with a sharp sting and exploded against the floor. Color drained from her face as she instinctively lifted her arm to check for bruises, but before she could move, Michael's palm came swinging toward her.

Adelina squeezed her eyes shut.

She braced for the slap's burning impact—only to hear Lainey's syrupy voice cut through the air. "Dad, don't hit her."

"Why are you stopping me?" Michael barked, his face flushed with fury.

Lainey tilted her head sweetly, her voice dripping with false concern. "If you leave a mark on her face, Bruce won't be satisfied with such a flawed woman."

For a fleeting second, Adelina thought Lainey was showing mercy—until the cruelty laced beneath those gentle words sank in like a knife.

Michael's anger ebbed, and he reached out to ruffle Lainey's hair with fatherly indulgence. "You're absolutely right, sweetheart. The Clark family won't accept damaged goods."

Lainey leaned into his touch, her voice sweet as honey. "I knew you'd understand, Dad. You're the best."

Their easy intimacy only drove the point deeper—it was as if Adelina existed merely as a pawn, called upon when convenient and discarded when her purpose was served.

Disgust rising in her chest, Adelina pivoted sharply and strode toward the hallway.

Lainey trailed after her, feigning fragile innocence even as menace threaded her words. "Walking out of the house now means walking away from everything you've ever had. Don't forget, Adelina—your birth mother was just a servant here. Without us, you and she wouldn't last a day out there."

Michael's voice boomed from behind, hurling accusations of Adelina's ingratitude, painting a picture of her future as a castoff with nowhere to go but the streets.

A sharp laugh slipped from Adelina's lips as she quickened her steps, refusing to dignify their words with a single glance.

So what if her mother had once been a servant?

Who decided she couldn't build a future without the Shaw family?

She flagged down a cab and rode straight to the City Hall, arriving exactly at ten, just as she'd arranged with the man.

At the entrance, her gaze snagged on a striking figure dressed in black.

The man stood beneath the sunlight, the sharp lines of his dark, tailored suit traced by a faint golden halo. Every inch of him radiated quiet power and precise control, as if the world itself paused around his presence.

An unmistakable air of poise and effortless elegance surrounded him.

For a heartbeat, Adelina found herself frozen in place, fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeve.

An unfamiliar flutter rippled through her chest. Was this man truly about to become her husband?

There was no denying it—his looks and bearing were striking, almost too polished.

He had clearly taken care to present himself well today.

If she hadn't stumbled upon that hotel staff badge earlier, she might have easily believed Colton was a high-ranking executive walking straight out of a glossy magazine spread.

"Hello, my name is Adelina Shaw."

Adelina took a step closer, deciding it was better to bridge the awkward gap herself since she still didn't know what to call the man.

Colton's dark gaze lingered on her face, the weight of his stare steady and unreadable. "Colton Clark," he answered, his voice low and even.

They headed into the City Hall together. The halls were unexpectedly crowded, and by the time the paperwork and ceremony were finally done, the clock was pushing noon.

Adelina stepped out into the sunlight, a hollow ache blooming in her chest.

Her engagement was over. The family she had known was gone.

What she had now was a hasty marriage—bound to a man she barely knew.

Beside her, Colton stood with calm composure, the sharp lines of his suit catching the light. She wondered if this stranger was truly someone she could lean on.

Sensing the shift in her mood, Colton spoke in a quiet, deliberate tone. "How about we get something to eat?"

A small pause followed before he added lightly, "My treat."

Adelina blinked herself out of the daze and instinctively shook her head. "That's not necessary."

His expression darkened. Plenty of women had turned him down before, but those rejections had always been part of the game. Could she be doing the same thing? The answer blindsided him.

Adelina took a moment, then found her voice again. "You're just an ordinary hotel worker. I know you earn every penny through hard work. We shouldn't waste money just because we got married."

Silence settled between them.

The idea of the Clark Group's CEO needing his wife to pinch pennies for him… if his friends ever heard, they'd never let him live it down.

If his grandmother ever caught wind of this, she'd tear into him without mercy.

Wait a minute... Hotel? The single word snagged his attention.

His gaze sharpened, and he asked slowly, "How did you know I work at a hotel?"

Keeping her face composed, Adelina slipped a badge from her purse and held it out. "I found this on the sink. I figured I should return it to the owner."

Words failed Colton for a moment.

The realization clicked into place—she hadn't recognized him at all. She'd assumed, because of that nameless badge, that he was nothing more than a hotel staff member.

After a quiet beat, Colton's mouth curved into a mischievous smile.

She had mistaken him for a hotel worker… and still agreed to marry him?

For someone long accustomed to reverence and deference, that twist of fate struck him as both absurd and oddly entertaining.

His Adam's apple dipped as he pressed his lips into a thin line, deciding to keep the truth to himself. "Alright," he said lightly.

Maybe this was exactly what he needed.

Their marriage had come together in a rush, and her ignorance of his identity gave him the perfect chance to see how sincere she truly was.

If she cared for him and not the name, he'd make damn sure she never regretted it.

He needed a wife—and the Clark family needed someone to hold the title of its lady.

With a quiet motion, Colton tucked the badge away and gave a small cough. "If we're skipping the meal, where do you want to head next?"

Adelina hesitated before answering, her voice steady but soft, "I got kicked out of my house. I don't have anywhere to stay yet."

"Kicked out?" Colton's brow furrowed at that.

He hadn't looked into her background, and the revelation of a fractured family caught him off guard.

Lowering her gaze, Adelina murmured, "I'll explain everything someday. Just… not right now."

The thought of his wife sleeping on the streets didn't sit well with Colton. He didn't press further. "Since we're married, you'll stay with me," he stated, his tone firm but calm.

The offer caught Adelina off guard.

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut in with quiet authority. "We should also spend time getting to know each other better."

After a brief internal struggle, Adelina gave a quiet nod, accepting because she truly had nowhere else to turn.

The car cut through the quiet streets, eventually pulling up in front of a modest, timeworn house tucked away on the edge of town.

Adelina stepped out, glancing at the emblem gleaming on the hood.

She didn't know much about cars, but the logo stirred a faint sense of recognition.

Was this some luxury brand?

With her brow furrowed, she reached for her phone, ready to snap a photo and search it up later.

Colton's low, deliberate throat-clearing cut through the night air. "Ahem…" He rounded the car with an even stride, catching her frozen in place, phone half-raised, eyes fixed on his prized vehicle. A hint of amusement flickered in his gaze as he said smoothly, "Come on inside with me."

He made a mental note to have Jorge swap the car for something far less conspicuous.