Elliana glanced nervously around as she made her way to her boyfriend Andrew's condo unit. Her heart raced, afraid that her stepfather might have sent someone to follow her. She had escaped from the restaurant where Sir Manciano had introduced her to the old man she was supposed to marry.
Since childhood, Elliana had been under the care of Manciano King after her mother, who had worked as a maid in his mansion, passed away. Owing him a great debt of gratitude, she couldn't refuse when the sixty-five-year-old man asked her to marry someone to save the King family's failing business.
Earlier, she had met the man she was supposed to marry-the owner of the Mendevil Empire. She had barely held back the urge to gag; he was even older than Manciano, with crooked teeth and a single gold one that stood out.
He may have been filthy rich, but he was a complete slob.
She wondered if it might be better to just run away with Andrew. She simply couldn't bear the thought of marrying that old man. The thought made her shudder with disgust.
"Ashley, you're so good at this, huh?" Andrew's voice floated with a seductive and teasing tone.
She froze in her tracks, her heart sinking as the sound of heavy moans followed.
"Andrew," she called out, her voice breaking as she pushed open the door to the living room. There, she saw him sitting with Manciano's granddaughter, Ashley, straddled on his lap.
Her disgust deepened as she saw Ashley's glistening lips while Andrew's pants lay unzipped.
Instead of feeling ashamed, Ashley grinned at her. She moved her hips, and Elliana almost wanted to cover her ears as her shameless boyfriend moaned in pleasure.
"There she is, Andrew. The woman who cheated on you," Ashley taunted.
"You two are disgusting!" Elliana shouted, rushing toward them in fury.
But before she could grab Ashley by the hair, Andrew shoved her hard. She fell to the floor with a thud.
"You're going to marry an old man for money!" Andrew yelled, his words making her mouth drop open in shock.
"H-How did you-"
Ashley let out a mocking laugh, her grin widening. Her chest was exposed, littered with marks.
"Don't act all innocent, Elliana. You offered yourself up to marry that old man. Did you really think I didn't know that you and Granddaddy met with your soon to be old hag husband today, for his money?"
"T-That's not true!" Tears welled up in her eyes. She was doing it for their family, and yet this was the betrayal she received in return.
"Shut up, Elliana!"
Andrew grabbed her arm so tightly that Elliana thought it might break.
"So that's why you wouldn't let me touch you-because you had another plan. How much is that old man paying you, huh? I'll triple it! Just sleep with me. D*mn it, I'll wear you out-"
A loud slap silenced him.
She yanked her arm free, furious at his insult. But Andrew only grinned more wickedly. "What? Has he already slept with you?"
The tears she had been holding back burst forth. She shoved him hard and ran out of the condo, her vision blurred as she frantically pressed the elevator button. She didn't care about the people staring at her as she rushed by.
In her haste, she collided headfirst into something-or rather, someone-hard as a wall.
"Careful," a deep voice said, the tone almost commanding.
Elliana lifted her gaze, only to be met with a pair of piercing ash-gray eyes. Despite her tear-blurred vision, the man's appearance registered in her mind. His brows were knitted together in a harsh line, his expression cold and unreadable.
"A-Are you single, Sir?" she asked, her voice trembling.