A rare flicker of astonishment crossed Adrian's gaze.

Life had exposed him to just about everything, yet Eleanor's actions actually caught him off guard.

When silence was the only response she received, Eleanor repeated the question. "Adrian Moore, will you marry me?"

Adrian lifted his eyes and regarded the woman standing before him.

She was gorgeous, tears still clinging to her lashes, looking so vulnerable that it was hard to say no.

"Tell me why." His reply was calm and concise.

The fact that Adrian hadn't dismissed her immediately filled Eleanor with renewed courage. Gathering herself, she spoke quickly, yet every point was deliberate and clear. "You're close to me in age, and you're a Moore. Most importantly, you're unattached—no wife, no girlfriend. So—would you marry me?"

Her voice grew firm. "I swear I'll be faithful to you. I'll never lie to you or betray your trust."

One of Adrian's brows lifted slightly.

His eyes remained fixed on her as he asked, "The scar on my face doesn't bother you? What about these useless legs?"

Eleanor's gaze instinctively drifted to the scar etched across his right cheek. It was undeniably intimidating.

And his inability to walk meant he would face countless hardships for the rest of his life...

Yet at this moment, escaping the disaster Cary had dragged her into mattered far more than any of that.

"A person's worth isn't measured by looks or physical limitations. What matters to me is character and how we connect. Besides, I can take care of you. Marrying me isn't a bad deal for you."

Never in his life had Adrian heard someone claim that marrying her would benefit him.

The faintest curve touched his lips. Something unreadable stirred in the depths of his eyes.

After what felt like an endless pause, just as Eleanor prepared herself for rejection, Adrian slowly lifted his hand toward her. His fingers were elegant, slender, and impeccably clean.

"Then put it on."

Though his tone remained level, the icy edge from earlier had softened noticeably.

The instant the words left his mouth, shock swept through the crowd like a wave.

Adrian had actually accepted?

No one could have predicted such a turn of events. After all, Adrian was known for being cold and aloof.

Surely Adrian was only stepping in to preserve his family's dignity and prevent a public spectacle. That had to be the reason behind his reluctant agreement.

That conclusion quickly became the consensus among everyone present.

Drawing a steady breath, Eleanor carefully slipped the ring onto Adrian's left ring finger.

To her surprise, it fit perfectly.

"Uncle Adrian!" Cary shouted, disbelief etched across his face as he lunged forward.

Adrian responded with nothing more than a frigid glance.

There was no visible anger in that look, yet it rooted Cary to the spot. Cold sweat broke out on his back, and a chill ran down his spine.

Even confined to a wheelchair, Adrian remained one of the most formidable figures in the Moore family—a man no one dared openly challenge.

If Adrian chose to stand behind Eleanor, Cary knew he had no chance of opposing him.

Even then, Cary refused to believe Adrian genuinely intended to marry Eleanor. In his mind, this was merely a temporary measure to shield the family's reputation.

Without another glance at him, Adrian maneuvered his wheelchair toward Eleanor and spoke in an even tone. "We're leaving."

"Leaving for where?" Eleanor stood motionless, still struggling to process everything.

"To the City Hall." His answer was brief and direct. "We're registering our marriage."

......

Eleanor walked out of City Hall, clutching both the marriage certificate and a photo the photographer had just handed her. It still didn't feel real—her head was still spinning.

The entire day felt like an impossible fantasy that had somehow become reality.

In the photo, she had removed her bridal veil, leaving her hair disheveled, while hours of tears had left her eyes red and swollen.

Beside her sat Adrian in his wheelchair, his expression as inscrutable as ever. The scar on his face only seemed to enhance the cold authority he naturally carried.

If one overlooked the wheelchair, the scar, and Eleanor's lingering stiffness, they appeared surprisingly harmonious together.

"What happens to today's wedding?" Eleanor asked quietly.

"It's canceled." Adrian's gaze never left the road ahead.

"But your family—and my family—" Eleanor murmured anxiously.

Adrian turned his wheelchair toward her.

The golden glow of the setting sun softened the sharpness of his features.

"In my family, my word is final." Lowering his gaze, he absently rotated the ring on his finger, his voice calm yet impossible to challenge.

"As for the wedding itself—" He paused briefly before adding with unmistakable disdain, "I have no interest in accepting what someone else has discarded."

The meaning behind his words couldn't have been clearer. There would be another wedding, but it certainly wouldn't be the one Cary had arranged.

Heat rushed to Eleanor's face. Before she could think of a response, a black Maybach glided silently to a stop before them.

The rear door opened, and a sharp-featured young man in an immaculate suit stepped out. Bowing respectfully toward Adrian, he reported, "Mr. Moore, everything at the hotel has been resolved, and the guests have begun leaving. However, your sister is furious."

He was referring to Cary's mother, Adrian's half-sister.

"I know." Adrian's expression remained unchanged. Turning toward Eleanor, he added, "There's something we need to discuss."

Eleanor blinked in confusion. "What is it?"

Meeting her gaze, Adrian spoke evenly. "For now, our marriage needs to remain confidential."

Eleanor hesitated briefly before understanding dawned on her.

Adrian was Cary's uncle. After being publicly betrayed by Cary, she had immediately married his uncle instead. If news of that spread, the rumors would be vicious and relentless.

It would become a source of embarrassment for both the Moore family and herself.

Agreeing to marry her at the wedding was one thing, but legally becoming husband and wife changed everything.

"I understand." Eleanor nodded. "You mean we keep the marriage secret for now?"

A trace of surprise surfaced in Adrian's eyes, as though he hadn't anticipated her agreement to come so easily.

"That doesn't bother you?" he asked.

Eleanor shook her head. "Not at all. Honestly, I need time to sort out matters within my own family as well."

She hesitated before continuing carefully, "Things on my father's side are complicated. If they learn I've married you, it could create all kinds of problems."

She left the rest unsaid, but Adrian needed no further explanation.

Her family was plagued by enough internal conflict already.

"Then what about where we live?" Eleanor asked cautiously. "It probably wouldn't be appropriate for me to move in with you right away, would it?"

Adrian fell silent for a brief moment.

No, it wouldn't.

If Eleanor moved into his place immediately, his family's prominence would ensure news of their marriage spread across the city within days.

"We'll address that once things settle down." Adrian made the decision without hesitation. "For now, continue living where you are."

Relief washed over Eleanor. She had feared he might insist otherwise, but thankfully, he seemed entirely reasonable.

"Alright." She nodded gently. "I'll go home first and deal with everything that happened today."

Adrian studied her for a moment before saying suddenly, "Don't forget your promise."

Eleanor blinked. "My promise?"

"Faithfulness. No betrayal." Adrian articulated each word with deliberate clarity.

The memory of her vow came back to her, and she felt her cheeks warm, yet she nodded with complete sincerity. "I remember. And I meant it."

Adrian offered no further comment and instead instructed his assistant, Kevin Collins, "Take her back to her home."

"Understood."

A wheelchair lift extended automatically from the vehicle, and Kevin carefully guided Adrian inside.

Once seated comfortably, Adrian glanced back toward Eleanor, who remained standing where she was.

The dying sunlight wrapped him in a warm golden glow, softening even the severe scar that marked his face.

"If anything happens, contact me immediately." His voice was low and steady.

Eleanor nodded. "Alright."

The Maybach gradually disappeared into the distance.

Kevin approached Eleanor with a courteous smile. "Mrs. Moore, I'm Mr. Moore's personal assistant, Kevin Collins. Anything you need, just let me know."

"Okay. Thank you." Though hearing herself addressed as "Mrs. Moore" felt strange, Eleanor chose not to correct him.

Kevin presented her with two cards. "This is Mr. Moore's access card to his villa at Crestlake Estates. The address and security code will be sent to your phone shortly. The other is a credit card he prepared for you. It has no spending limit, and you're free to use it however you'd like. Mr. Moore asked me to give you both, even if you're living separately for the time being."

Crestlake Estates?

That was the most prestigious residential district in town, a place rumored to house only the city's most influential figures under exceptionally tight security.

Caught off guard, Eleanor quickly waved her hands. "I'll accept the access card, but I can't take the credit card. I work and earn my own income. I can take care of myself."

Kevin didn't argue. Slipping the card away, he opened another car door for her. "Then allow me to take you home first."

Eleanor ducked into the vehicle. As the City Hall faded into the distance through the rear window, an indescribable feeling rose within her chest.

She was married now. Married to a man she had barely exchanged a few conversations with before today.

As for what awaited her in the days ahead, she had no way of knowing.

But at the very least, she had escaped that humiliating wedding and the despicable Cary.

For now, that was enough.

Everything else, she would face one day at a time.

The car came to a stop outside a residential neighborhood in the western part of the city. Though the area showed its age, it had clearly been taken care of over the years.

After thanking Kevin, Eleanor stepped out of the car. She lifted the heavy skirt of her wedding dress and headed toward the building she knew so well.

As soon as she opened the door and entered the house, a woman's voice rang out.

"So you finally decided to come home? Nice going, Eleanor! You called off your wedding in front of everyone and humiliated our whole family! Did you forget the promise you made to your grandpa before he died?"

The woman shouting at her was Brenda Shaw, her stepmother.

A fitted dress clung to Brenda's figure, and thick makeup covered her face. Anger showed plainly in her expression.

Without responding, Eleanor lowered herself and removed the high heels that had been tormenting her feet.

"Eleanor, did you bring me something to eat?" A plump little boy sprang from the couch and hurried toward her. The moment he reached her, his hands searched through the pockets of her wedding dress.

The boy was Leo Shaw, her twelve-year-old half-brother.

"Leo! Don't touch her. She's filthy!" Brenda pulled her son back and hid him behind her.

Leo struggled against her grip. "She didn't bring me anything! She never buys me anything! Dad, are you just going to stand there?"

Eleanor stared at the little boy. Though he was her brother by blood, disgust rose inside her.

He was born out of wedlock, yet he had spent years being treated like royalty. The irony wasn't lost on her.

"That's enough, Leo," said Robert Shaw, Eleanor's father, as he came out from one of the rooms.

Leo's eyes shifted before he suddenly pointed at Eleanor. "I'm not doing anything, Dad! She didn't bring me any food!"

"Maybe you should stop eating so much. Look at yourself—you're getting fat," Eleanor said, her face darkening.

"Eleanor!" Robert's expression immediately hardened. "Leo is just a kid. How can you talk to him like that? And why are you just getting home now?"

Eleanor found his words unbelievable.

A twelve-year-old child was still allowed to act like this?

When she had been twelve, she spent her days bringing food to the hospital for her sick grandfather.

"You already know what happened at the wedding today, don't you? I needed time to settle down before I came back. Is there something wrong with that?" Eleanor said as she tried to hold back her anger.

"What's with that attitude?" Robert snapped.

Brenda chipped in with a mocking laugh, "Forget it, Robert. She's practically part of the Moore family now. She didn't even want Leo and me at her wedding. Once she marries into that family, she'll think even less of us."

"You're horrible, Eleanor!" Leo dropped onto the floor and kicked his legs as he cried out. His cries filled the apartment from one end to the other.

Eleanor drew in a slow breath as pain pulsed through her temples.

This was the family she was supposed to call her own.

Everything had changed after her mother died and her grandfather became bedridden. Not long after, Robert brought Brenda into the family. The woman had already given birth to his illegitimate son.

To Robert, Leo could do no wrong. The little boy always received the best of everything. His weekly allowance alone exceeded what Eleanor spent in an entire month. Yet he had grown up without restraint. He picked on classmates at school and spoke disrespectfully to older people, but Robert had never truly punished him.

"Enough!" Robert barked. Irritated by Leo's crying, he shot Eleanor a harsh look. "Why are you still standing there? Do you want him to cry until he gets sick? Go upstairs and stay in your room!"

The fabric of Eleanor's dress tightened in her grasp. Her nails pressed so deeply into her palms that they almost broke the skin.

Still, she forced herself to swallow her anger.

Without another word, she turned toward the staircase and headed for her room.

"Hold on!" Robert suddenly called after her. "Tell me what happened at the wedding."

Only then did he remember what should have concerned him first.

Eleanor came to a stop, though she made no move to face him. "What?"

"What made you cancel the wedding? And what is going on with you and Adrian?" Robert said, stepping in front of her to block her way.

Slowly, Eleanor raised her eyes to the man she called her father.

Their gazes locked. Nothing could be found in her eyes.

"You witnessed everything yourself, didn't you?" Eleanor said, each word sharp. "Cary was screwing my maid of honor right in front of everyone at our wedding. After seeing that, did you really think I should've married him?"

A crease formed between Robert's brows. "Then explain Adrian."

As her father, he had been present at the wedding and had seen the entire incident unfold.

Thoughts rushed through Eleanor's mind.

Under no circumstances could they learn that she and Adrian had already registered their marriage.

If her family discovered the truth, they would never leave Adrian alone. Knowing the kind of people they were, they would use the marriage as an excuse to ask for money and demand favors.

She still intended to reclaim her mother's company and recover everything that rightfully belonged to her. Until then, she couldn't afford to completely fall out with them.

"Adrian only stepped in because he couldn't ignore what happened," Eleanor said. She lowered her eyes as she spoke. "He's Cary's uncle. What kind of relationship do you think we could possibly have?"

Robert studied her with suspicion. "That's the whole story?"

"If you're doubtful, ask the Moore family yourself," Eleanor said. Her expression remained indifferent.

After considering it for a moment, Robert found her explanation reasonable.

Someone like Adrian held too much status. Even with his disability, it seemed unlikely that he would notice Eleanor, much less marry her.

Robert's tone hardened. "That doesn't change the fact that you acted recklessly! Calling off the wedding was bad enough, but then you had to drag Adrian into this mess too! Do you know who the Moores are? If your grandfather hadn't pulled strings, you would've never had a chance to marry into that family. And you threw it all away—how stupid can you be?"

"Dad is right!" Leo said after getting up from the floor. He walked over and pointed directly at Eleanor. "You're so stupid, Eleanor! If I were in your place, I would've married into the family first and then secretly taken all their money!"

The confidence in his voice made it sound as though stealing from others was something worth admiring.

With a smile, Brenda said, "That's my smart little boy, Leo."

Eleanor looked from one face to another and suddenly found the entire scene ridiculous.

At twelve years old, Leo wasn't thinking about school or learning how to be a decent person. Instead, he was thinking about taking someone else's money.

"She's glaring at me!" Leo cried as he slipped behind Robert. "Dad, look at her! She's staring at me!"

At once, Robert pulled Leo behind him and glared at Eleanor. "Why are you looking at Leo like that? He's only a child. What does he know? You're a grown woman, picking a fight with a kid. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Eleanor had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

As she looked at Robert, who was once again taking Leo's side without hesitation, her grandfather's words surfaced in her mind. "Robert lacks conviction. Other people's opinions influence him too easily. I don't think our family can depend on him in the future."

Her grandfather had seen him clearly.

For a long time now, she had stopped thinking of this place as home.

"It doesn't matter anymore. The Moore family won't want anything to do with me after this," Eleanor said. She stepped farther away from them before continuing, "If having me here bothers everyone so much, I'll leave."

The words caught Robert off guard.

"Leave? Where would you even go?"

"I'll rent a place near the company. Besides, you already have a son. He'll be the one taking care of you later on. You don't need me," Eleanor said, her voice remaining steady.

"You—" For a moment, Robert couldn't find a response.

Brenda's gaze shifted between the two of them. In truth, she had been hoping Eleanor would leave. As long as Eleanor remained in the house, she had to keep pretending to be cordial. Once Eleanor moved out, everything here would belong to her and Leo.

"Robert, if she wants to move out, then let her. Children don't stay children forever. Eventually they make their own choices," Brenda said.

Leo spoke up before anyone else could. "Then I get her room! I'll finally have space for all my toys!"

Without saying a word, Eleanor looked at him briefly before heading toward the stairs.

Robert's voice rang out behind her. "Look at the way you're acting! Leo is your brother! Is that how a sister should treat her own brother?"