I Dumped My Cheating Fiancé and Married His Uncle

On the night before her wedding, Navia Harrison discovers her fiancé in bed with her step-sister-and worse, the two of them are already planning how to get rid of her after the marriage.

Humiliated and consumed by hatred, Navia exposes their affair during the wedding ceremony itself, destroying both families' reputations in a single move.

Then, she meets him.

Leonel Crawford - the cold and dangerously powerful head of the Crawford family. Untouchable. Ruthless. A man no woman has ever been able to keep close.

He's also her ex-fiancé's uncle.

One impulsive proposal changes everything.

"If you need a wife... marry me instead."

"Honestly... we'd make a pretty good match."

The Accident

Navia Harrison stood outside the hotel room, her fingers trembling around her phone.

An anonymous text message glowed on the screen.

[Grand Hotel. Room 1001. Password: 123456.]

[There’s a surprise waiting for you.]

At first, she had assumed it was some kind of prank.

But something about it made her uneasy enough to come anyway.

Tomorrow was her wedding day.

Tonight, her fiancé had told her he was busy preparing a surprise for her.

Now, standing in front of Room 1001, a strange chill crept up her spine.

After a brief hesitation, she entered the password.

The door unlocked with a soft click.

Navia slowly pushed it open.

The moment she stepped inside, her entire body froze.

A man and woman were tangled together on the hotel bed.

The woman beneath him was glamorous and heavily made up, her scarlet nails tracing lazy circles across his chest as she pouted.

“Liam, you’re marrying Navia tomorrow. Why are you here with me tonight? Haven’t I suffered enough already?”

At the mention of the wedding, disgust flashed across the man’s face.

“Linda, you know exactly why I’m marrying her,” he said, pulling the woman closer. “It’s for the Harrison Group. Once we’re married and I get control of the shares, I’ll deal with her.”

The woman’s eyes lit up with anticipation.

“And how exactly are you planning to deal with her?”

A cold smirk curled on his lips.

“How hard could it be? A honeymoon accident. A fall off a cliff. Or maybe complications during childbirth.” He shrugged casually. “Women die from hemorrhaging all the time.”

The woman gasped dramatically, covering her mouth.

“Liam… she’s still my sister. Isn’t that a little cruel?”

“Cruel?” he sneered. “She stole your place in the family and left you carrying the shame of being the illegitimate daughter all these years. She should’ve disappeared a long time ago. I’m just getting justice for you.”

Linda threw herself into his arms, touched beyond words.

“Liam… you really care about me that much?”

“You’re the one I love.” His grin turned wicked as he tightened his hold on her. “Of course I do. And tonight, I plan to spoil you properly.”

“Stop it…” she giggled flirtatiously.

Their laughter echoed through the suite.

Navia stood motionless by the doorway, her face drained of color.

An icy numbness spread through her body, squeezing tightly around her heart until she could barely breathe.

The man on the bed was her fiancé.

The woman in his arms was her father’s mistress’s daughter—her so-called stepsister.

And the two of them were discussing her murder as casually as if they were talking about tomorrow’s weather.

A wave of nausea surged through her stomach.

No.

She would never let them get what they wanted.

Fighting back the urge to vomit, Navia quietly raised her phone and recorded every disgusting second.

Then, before they could notice her presence, she turned and stumbled out of the room.

Her mind was in chaos.

So shaken that she failed to notice the dark pair of eyes silently watching her retreating figure from the shadows at the end of the corridor.

...

Navia returned to the underground parking garage and drove away from the hotel.

It was late. The roads were nearly empty.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, forcing herself to breathe, trying desperately to calm down.

But the conversation she had overheard replayed endlessly in her head.

A honeymoon accident.

A fatal fall.

Death during childbirth.

Her stomach churned violently.

She slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road, leaning forward as she dry-heaved.

Suddenly—

SCREEECH!

A piercing sound shattered the silence behind her.

Navia spun around in panic.

A black Mercedes-Maybach came speeding down the road in the distance. The car swerved violently before smashing through the roadside barrier and slamming into the rocky hillside with a deafening crash.

Her knees nearly gave out beneath her.

Someone had been in that car.

Her first instinct was to call emergency services, but when she looked at her phone, there was no signal.

Without hesitation, Navia ran toward the wreckage.

Through the cracked driver’s-side window, she could make out the silhouette of a man slumped over the wheel.

“Sir!” she shouted, pounding on the glass. “Can you hear me? Sir!”

When he didn’t respond, she grabbed a rock from the ground, preparing to smash the window open.

But just then, the man inside slowly stirred awake.

His gaze lifted toward her.

The moment their eyes met, a shiver ran down Navia’s spine.

It felt as though she had just been locked onto by a dangerous predator.

The man was devastatingly handsome despite the blood running down from a wound on his forehead. His skin was unnaturally pale, and his dark eyes were deep and unreadable—like a whirlpool capable of swallowing anyone whole.

A dangerous man.

A mysterious one.

He reached over and unlocked the door.

Click.

Navia forced down the strange feeling twisting in her chest, tossed the rock aside, and hurriedly pulled the door open.

“Are you okay?” she asked anxiously. “If you can still move, I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

The man exhaled heavily, one hand pressed against his bleeding forehead. His voice was low and rough.

“Where’s the ambulance?”

“There’s no signal out here,” Navia replied.

He closed his eyes briefly and tried to unbuckle his seatbelt, but his hand trembled too badly to manage it.

“Don’t move,” Navia said quickly. “I’ll help you.”

The cramped interior of the car carried the faint scent of blood, mixed with the crisp smell of cedarwood and warm sandalwood from the man beside her—a mature, intoxicating scent.

Navia bit her lip nervously.

Her heart pounded wildly as she leaned closer to unfasten the seatbelt, her cheeks and ears burning bright red.

The man lowered his gaze.

His long lashes cast shadows over his eyes as he quietly studied the vulnerable curve of her neck, breathing in the soft sweetness lingering around her.

For a moment, he lifted his hand as though he wanted to touch her face.

But in the end, he restrained himself and lowered it again.

Completely unaware of his gaze, Navia finally managed to free the seatbelt.

“Careful,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’ll help you out.”

He gave a quiet acknowledgment.

His large hand—warm and rough with faint calluses—brushed against her fingertips as he took it.

Navia rarely had any physical contact with men.

The simple touch sent a strange tingling sensation racing through her body, like a mild electric current.

Then suddenly, his fingers tightened around hers.

He leaned part of his weight against her, his warm breath brushing against her ear as he murmured in a deep voice:

“Thank you.”

Instinctively, Navia tried to pull away.

But the moment she pushed him back, she remembered—

He was injured.

The man sucked in a sharp breath, his body swaying weakly as though he might collapse at any second.

Navia immediately wrapped her arms around him again.

“Careful!”

She mentally cursed herself.

The man had just survived a car accident, and she was still worrying about keeping her distance because he was a man?

Saving him mattered more.

After struggling for several minutes, Navia finally helped him into her car and rushed him to the hospital.

Fortunately, his injuries turned out to be minor.

Not long after, the police arrived to investigate the accident. From their conversation, Navia learned that one of the Maybach’s tires had suddenly blown out, causing the crash. The vehicle had already been sent for inspection and repairs.

By the time everything was settled, it was already past midnight.

Navia glanced at the time.

“Well, since you’re okay now… I should get going.”

The man handed her a business card.

“This is my contact information,” he said. “You saved my life tonight. If you ever need anything, come find me.”

Navia accepted the card casually and glanced down at it.

Then her eyes widened in shock.

She looked up at him abruptly.

“You’re Leonel Crawford?!”

Leonel Crawford—the youngest son of the powerful Crawford family. After spending years overseas, he had returned six months ago and taken control of the Crawford Corporation almost overnight, becoming one of the most powerful men in the country.

And there was another connection.

He was also Liam Crawford’s uncle.

“I am,” the man replied calmly.

Because Leonel had spent most of his life abroad—and because his branch of the family had never been close to Liam’s side of the family—this was Navia’s first time meeting him.

Before she could stop herself, the question slipped out.

“Do… do you know who I am?”

***

The Wedding

The man paused briefly and turned to look at Navia.

Their eyes met.

In the reflection of his dark gaze, Navia could see herself clearly. For some reason, she thought she caught a hint of expectation in his eyes.

“Why would you ask that?” he asked softly. “Do I seem familiar to you?”

Navia instinctively shook her head.

“This is the first time I’ve met you,” she admitted. “Though I’ve heard your name plenty of times.”

“Is that so?”

Something shifted in his expression, his eyes darkening slightly. Even his tone cooled.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “I’ll have someone drive you home.”

He was injured and clearly needed rest, so Navia didn’t want to disturb him any longer.

“It’s fine,” she replied. “The police are still downstairs. I’ll be okay.”

With that, she turned and left.

The moment the door closed, Leonel Crawford slowly rose from the hospital bed and walked to the window, his eyes following Navia’s figure until she disappeared completely from sight.

A few minutes later, a man dressed in black hurried into the room.

It was Jason Cole, Leonel’s most trusted aide.

“Sir, I had the vehicle inspected immediately,” Jason reported. “The tire was definitely tampered with. We should know who did it very soon—”

Leonel was still holding a copy of the hospital paperwork.

Because everything had happened so urgently, Navia had signed her name in the emergency contact section when admitting him.

His gaze lingered on her signature.

His fingertips brushed lightly across the handwriting as the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“There’s no need to investigate,” he said calmly. “I did it myself.”

Jason froze.

“What?”

Then realization dawned on him.

“Since your return and takeover of the Crawford family business, the other branches have been targeting you nonstop,” Jason said carefully. “By getting into a car accident now, you’ve made the old chairman suspicious of them. It limits their ability to move against you while protecting yourself at the same time.”

Leonel lowered his gaze slightly.

“No,” he said in a calm voice. “It serves three purposes.”

Jason frowned. “There’s a third?”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Leonel’s lips, unreadable and cold.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

He folded the document with unhurried precision before slipping it into his pocket.

—

Navia returned to the Harrison family villa.

The mansion felt cold and empty.

Silent.

Her mother, Evelyn Harrison, had once been the chairwoman of the Harrison Group. But after a devastating car accident years ago, she had fallen into a coma and never woken up.

Her father, Daniel Harrison, was now acting CEO.

At least, publicly, he claimed to be busy with work and social obligations.

In reality, he had long been living with his mistress and illegitimate daughter behind closed doors.

The family still looked complete from the outside.

But in truth, it had already fallen apart.

Thinking about everything that had happened that night, Navia rushed into the bathroom and splashed cold water against her face again and again.

She stared at herself in the mirror.

Long dark hair framed delicate features and porcelain skin. Her beauty was undeniable.

But tonight, her face was deathly pale.

Tomorrow was supposed to be her wedding day.

Once upon a time, she had been genuinely excited about her future with Liam Crawford.

Now, after discovering his true nature, the thought of marrying him made her physically sick.

Taking a deep breath, Navia opened the anonymous text message again.

[Who are you?!]

If it weren’t for that message, she never would have uncovered Liam and Linda’s affair.

But who sent it?

And what did they want?

Navia gripped her phone tightly, but no reply came.

Just as she was about to give up, her phone suddenly rang.

A distorted mechanical voice came through the line, impossible to identify as male or female.

“So,” the voice said, “you saw everything.”

“Yes,” Navia replied coldly. “I saw all of it.”

“Quite the surprise, wasn’t it?”

She let out a self-mocking laugh.

“Yeah. One hell of a surprise. So who are you? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

The mysterious caller ignored the question.

“If you don’t cancel tomorrow morning’s wedding immediately,” the voice said calmly, “it’ll be too late.”

Navia narrowed her eyes.

So this person’s goal was simply to ruin her marriage to Liam?

She knew she wouldn’t get any real answers.

After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath.

“Cancel the wedding?” she repeated softly. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll be there tomorrow morning.”

The caller sounded shocked.

“Are you crazy?”

“Maybe I am,” Navia replied with a faint smile. “You’ll probably be there too, won’t you? Whatever your real goal is…” Her eyes turned icy cold. “Just watch carefully.”

Then she hung up.

—

Navia didn’t sleep all night.

At dawn, she changed into her wedding dress.

Because of her mother’s condition, the wedding had been kept simple. There was no lavish ceremony or extravagant celebration—only invited guests and a handful of media outlets covering the event live.

Soon, the car arrived at the outdoor wedding venue on the outskirts of the city.

At the end of the red carpet stood her father, Daniel Harrison.

Beside him was Linda, dressed in a bridesmaid gown.

And next to her stood Liam Crawford in a tailored white suit.

Liam was undeniably handsome.

Elegant. Charming. Perfect.

He walked toward Navia and extended his hand, his eyes filled with affection.

“Navia,” he said softly, “you’re here.”

If she hadn’t heard the conversation between him and Linda with her own ears the night before, she might truly have been deceived by him.

The more loving and devoted he appeared in front of others, the more horrifying it became to remember the cold calculations he hid behind that mask.

Navia ignored the hand he offered and walked straight down the red carpet alone.

Liam paused in surprise, assuming she was merely nervous, then smiled and followed after her.

Soon, the two stood before the officiant.

Around them, cameras streamed the ceremony live.

“Liam Crawford,” the officiant began, “do you take this woman to be your lawful wife, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?”

Liam looked at Navia tenderly.

“I do.”

The officiant then turned toward Navia.

“And do you, Navia Harrison, take this man to be your lawful husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?”

Navia lifted her chin.

Every word fell sharp and clear.

“I do not.”

Silence.

Navia stood there in her white wedding gown, graceful and poised like a swan, her slender neck lifted proudly.

Yet the words she had spoken struck the crowd like thunder.

Liam’s expression froze.

“Navia…” he said stiffly. “You misspoke just now, didn’t you?”

“No,” she replied calmly. “I didn’t.”

“And all of you heard me correctly too.”

Her gaze swept across the crowd.

“The man I planned to marry was supposed to love me, protect me, and take responsibility for me.”

Her voice turned colder with every word.

“Not a lying hypocrite who pretends to be one person in public while hiding his true face behind closed doors.”

Without even looking at Liam, Navia turned toward the cameras surrounding the ceremony.

“So today, in front of everyone, I have an announcement to make.”

She took a steady breath.

“I, Navia Harrison, am officially ending my engagement to Liam Crawford.”

The instant those words fell, Liam’s face darkened completely.

Not only because Navia had humiliated him without mercy—

But because this was happening live, in front of nearly every influential family connected to the Crawfords.

The entire city was watching.

“Ending the engagement?” Liam snapped, his handsome face twisting with fury. “Have you lost your mind?!”

Beside him, Linda covered her mouth dramatically.

“Oh my God, Navia,” she exclaimed. “This is a wedding between the Harrison and Crawford families! This isn’t the time to throw a tantrum!”

Daniel Harrison’s face also changed instantly.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!” he shouted furiously. “Calling off the engagement in public—are you trying to humiliate this family to death?!”

Navia looked at him steadily.

“Dad, I know you’re angry. But I’ve already made my decision. I will never marry Liam Crawford because—”

SLAP!

Daniel’s hand struck her hard across the face.

A burning red mark instantly appeared on Navia’s cheek.

***

Exposing the Scandal

“Enough!” Daniel Harrison roared. “Stop acting like a spoiled brat. Whether you want to or not, this wedding is happening!”

Linda’s eyes sparkled with barely concealed satisfaction, though her voice sounded full of fake concern.

“Dad, don’t be angry,” she said softly. “Maybe Navia’s just acting impulsively…”

“And you’re still defending her?” Daniel snapped. “It’s because Evelyn spoiled her rotten growing up that she turned into such a useless disappointment! If she had even half your maturity and obedience, she wouldn’t be humiliating this family today!”

Members of the Crawford family also began mocking her openly.

“Come on, Miss Harrison. We’ll pretend we didn’t hear what you just said.”

“If you still care about your family’s reputation, you’ll cooperate and finish the ceremony.”

“You’re marrying into the Crawford family now. Stop acting like some untouchable princess.”

“Keep making a scene and you’ll regret it.”

Every gaze directed at Navia carried either contempt or ridicule, as though she were foolish for resisting.

Her heart turned completely cold.

She had expected the Crawford family’s reaction.

But she never imagined her own father would stand against her too—especially while Linda kept fueling the fire from the sidelines.

To them, Navia wasn’t exposing betrayal.

She was simply embarrassing the family.

“Fine,” Navia said softly.

“Fine. Fine.”

She slowly looked around at every face surrounding her, memorizing each expression.

Then she took a deep breath.

“If all of you are so desperate to watch me make a fool of myself…” A smile suddenly appeared on her lips—beautiful, heartbreaking, and strangely calm. “Then open your eyes and watch this.”

A small remote appeared in her hand.

She pressed the button.

The next second—

“Ah… Liam, you’re amazing… If you keep this up, won’t you be too exhausted for your wedding night tomorrow?”

“Still worried about my wedding night, baby? Guess I haven’t worked you hard enough yet…”

The giant screen behind the ceremony had originally been prepared to display childhood photos and romantic memories of Liam and Navia growing up together.

Instead—

An explicit video suddenly filled the screen.

The faces of the groom, Liam Crawford, and the bridesmaid, Linda, were unmistakably clear.

Their tangled bodies.

Their intimate sounds.

Broadcast through the wedding speakers for every guest to hear.

And worst of all—

The ceremony was being streamed live.

The surrounding media reporters froze in shock, completely blindsided by the disaster unfolding before them. Even though someone rushed to cut the broadcast, fragments of the footage had already gone out to the public.

The guests exploded into chaos.

Every pair of eyes turned toward Liam and Linda simultaneously.

Linda’s face turned deathly pale.

Unable to handle the shock, she let out a scream before collapsing unconscious onto the ground.

Liam completely lost control.

He lunged toward Navia like a madman.

“Navia Harrison, you bitch!” he roared. “You ruined me!”

At that moment, the fake tenderness vanished completely.

The handsome, devoted fiancé mask shattered, revealing something ugly and vicious beneath.

Navia grabbed a flower vase from one of the nearby tables and smashed it directly into his face with all her strength.

CRASH!

“AAAGH!”

Liam screamed as blood poured down his forehead. He collapsed to the ground clutching his head.

The entire wedding descended into complete chaos.

“Why won’t the video shut off?! Turn it off now!”

“Did they cut the livestream yet?! Don’t let any clips leak online!”

“My son! Are you okay?!” Liam’s mother shrieked hysterically. “Navia Harrison, you vicious woman! Someone grab her right now! She has to pay for this!”

“Linda! Linda, wake up! My poor daughter… how could you do something so stupid…”

Dark storm clouds rolled overhead.

Even the sky itself seemed to know this wedding was doomed.

Ignoring everyone’s furious stares, Navia lifted the hem of her wedding dress and walked away from the ceremony.

Only after leaving did she realize one major problem.

The wedding venue was far outside the city.

There were no taxis.

She stood by the roadside as luxury cars passed one after another without slowing down.

No one intended to help her.

After all, she had publicly humiliated the Crawford family and dragged her half-sister into scandal as well. At a time like this, the smartest choice was to stay far away from her.

Navia almost wanted to laugh.

At least her mother was unconscious in the hospital and couldn’t witness any of this.

Back when Navia had still been the beloved heiress of the Harrison family, countless people had rushed to flatter and please her.

But now that she was in trouble?

Not a single person offered help.

All those so-called friendships had vanished the instant she became inconvenient.

Rain suddenly poured from the sky.

Within moments, the storm became torrential.

Navia walked alone down the empty road, soaked to the bone.

Her high heels slipped repeatedly against the wet pavement until she twisted her ankle.

A sharp pain shot through her leg.

Finally, exhausted, she collapsed onto the ground.

Her once-pristine white wedding dress was stained with mud.

Like a swan with broken wings, dragged down from the sky.

Navia wrapped her arms around her knees and lowered her head, forcing herself not to cry as rainwater washed over her face.

Impulsive?

Maybe.

Pathetic?

Absolutely.

Did she regret it?

Not even a little.

If she had to choose again, she would still destroy them without hesitation.

No one was allowed to steal what belonged to the Harrison family.

And she, Navia Harrison, was not some weak girl who could be trampled on.

Just then—

A car horn sounded faintly behind her.

Beep. Beep.

Navia thought she was imagining it.

But when she turned around, she saw a black Bentley parked behind her.

And then—

A tall figure stepped out into the rain.

Leonel Crawford approached slowly beneath a black umbrella, dressed in a dark overcoat.

The headlights behind him glowed through the heavy rain, blurring the world into something dreamlike and hazy.

Drops of water dampened the edges of his coat, yet his sharp features only appeared colder and more imposing beneath the storm.

He stopped in front of her.

The rain above Navia disappeared beneath the shelter of his umbrella, allowing her to regain a sliver of awareness.

“Uncle Leonel…” she murmured instinctively.

The man lowered his eyes slightly.

“Whose uncle am I?” he asked calmly.

Navia pressed her lips together.

Only then did she remember—

After publicly ending her engagement to Liam, she no longer had the right to call him that.

“…Mr. Crawford,” she corrected softly.

Leonel said nothing.

Instead, he extended his hand toward her.

“Get up.”

His fingers were long and defined, rough with faint calluses. The warmth of his hand felt almost scorching against her freezing skin.

Navia took his hand awkwardly and struggled back to her feet.

“Get in the car,” he said.

She hesitated before asking quietly, “Why are you helping me?”

Leonel’s voice remained calm and distant.

“You saved my life,” he replied. “Didn’t you?”

At that moment, Navia silently thanked herself for rescuing him the night before.

Otherwise, she might really have been left alone to collapse in the middle of nowhere.

She glanced down at her injured ankle and soaked, filthy wedding dress.

“But my clothes are dirty,” she said hesitantly. “I might ruin your car.”

Leonel handed her the umbrella.

“Hold this.”

“Huh?”

Navia instinctively took it.

The next second, before she could react, Leonel bent down and swept her into his arms.

***

The Proposal

Instinctively, Navia wrapped her arms around his neck, her face burning bright red.

Leonel carried her to the car and gently set her down inside.

The interior of the black Bentley was spotless and immaculate, but the moment Navia sat down, rainwater and mud stained a large section of the leather seats.

Guilt immediately flooded her chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said awkwardly. “I got your car dirty. I’ll pay for the cleaning.”

“Is that all you plan on paying for?” the man asked calmly.

Navia blinked in confusion.

“What?”

“The clothes,” Leonel replied. “Are you compensating me for those too?”

As he spoke, he removed his overcoat and tossed it onto her lap.

“You can wear it.”

Only then did Navia realize what he meant.

Her soaked wedding dress was dripping everywhere, and the coat he had wrapped around her earlier was already ruined.

If she stayed in wet clothes much longer, she would definitely get sick.

But…

Change here?

Inside the car?

Navia hesitated immediately.

The driver, however, seemed experienced enough to raise the privacy divider without being asked.

Even so, Leonel was still sitting beside her.

Too close.

Even though he wasn’t looking at her directly, his presence alone felt impossible to ignore.

Powerful. Dangerous. Overwhelming.

Leonel tapped a finger lightly against the armrest.

“You can keep hesitating,” he said lazily. “Or you can wait for your family to catch up and drag you back.”

That instantly killed Navia’s hesitation.

He had already helped her this much. It would be ridiculous to suspect him now.

“…Sorry,” she mumbled softly.

Sneaking a quick glance at him, Navia turned her back and carefully began removing her wedding dress.

A few moments later, the soft rustling sounds suddenly stopped.

Then Leonel heard her awkward voice.

“My zipper’s stuck…” she said quietly. “Can you help me?”

Only then did he glance toward her.

She wore a strapless wedding gown, exposing smooth pale shoulders that glowed softly beneath the dim car lights.

Her waist was so slender it looked as though it could fit perfectly beneath one hand.

Because the zipper refused to move, she had become increasingly flustered. When she looked back at him nervously, even the tips of her ears were red.

Embarrassed.

Anxious.

Leonel lowered his gaze and reached out.

His fingertips brushed lightly against the smooth skin of her back before sliding the zipper down effortlessly.

“There,” he said calmly.

Only then did Navia finally slip out of the wedding dress and wrap herself tightly in Leonel’s oversized coat.

The fabric still carried his warmth, along with the crisp scent of cedarwood.

Cold and commanding.

Yet strangely comforting.

Her ruined wedding dress and broken heels were abandoned in the corner of the car.

Navia curled herself into a small ball against the seat, her bare feet tucked beneath her, even her toes tense with embarrassment.

The car moved steadily through the rain.

Now that she had escaped the chaos of the wedding, exhaustion crashed over her all at once.

Her eyelids slowly began to droop.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, a low voice sounded beside her.

“Navia Harrison.”

The man had leaned closer without her noticing.

His warm breath brushed against her chilled skin.

Startled, Navia jumped like a frightened rabbit and turned toward him with wide eyes.

“Don’t sleep,” Leonel said simply as he leaned back again. “You’ll catch a cold.”

“…Got it.”

Navia pinched her own thigh beneath the coat, forcing herself to stay awake.

Right now, she absolutely could not afford to collapse.

Just then, a phone began vibrating inside the coat pocket.

Navia pulled it out instinctively.

Only after seeing the unfamiliar name on the screen did she realize it belonged to Leonel.

Richard Crawford.

Navia’s eyes widened slightly.

The old chairman of the Crawford family?

Leonel took the phone from her hand. The moment he saw the caller ID, his brows furrowed faintly before he answered.

“What is it?”

“What, I can’t call my own son now?” an elderly voice barked through the speaker.

The old man’s booming tone echoed clearly through the quiet car.

Leonel’s voice remained cold and detached.

“If there’s nothing important, I’m hanging up.”

“Hold on,” Richard snapped. “I heard you attended Liam’s wedding today. How was it?”

The moment Navia heard that, she instinctively glanced toward Leonel awkwardly.

Unfortunately, her eyes met his immediately.

For a split second, she thought she saw amusement flicker in his gaze.

“It was interesting,” Leonel replied calmly. “The most entertaining wedding I’ve ever attended.”

Navia nearly choked.

Was he mocking her on purpose?!

“I’m serious,” the old man continued. “You usually hate attending family events. Don’t tell me seeing everyone else getting married made you start having ideas too? When are you bringing someone home for dinner?”

The atmosphere inside the car instantly cooled.

Leonel clearly had no interest in continuing the conversation.

“If that’s all,” he said flatly, “then we’re done here.”

His complete lack of patience only infuriated the old man further.

“You’re already twenty-eight,” Richard snapped angrily. “Are you still hung up on that woman after all these years?”

“Leonel Crawford, let me make this clear. I don’t care if you’re running the family now. If you refuse to settle down and handle your responsibilities, the board can replace you at any time. That’s the family’s decision.”

The call ended abruptly.

The silence afterward felt suffocating.

Navia said nothing.

She hadn’t met Leonel many times, but she had heard rumors.

Years ago, there had supposedly been a woman he loved deeply.

A woman he had never forgotten.

Now, despite being twenty-eight and at the height of his power, he remained completely unattached and notoriously distant from women.

No wonder Richard Crawford was panicking.

Suddenly, a bold thought surfaced in Navia’s mind.

“Mr. Crawford.”

Her soft voice broke the silence.

“Mhm?” Leonel responded quietly.

Navia clutched his coat tightly around herself.

Before she could lose her courage, the words blurted out.

“How about…” She swallowed hard. “You marry me instead?”

Silence filled the car.

Then—

SCREECH!

The car suddenly swerved sharply as the driver slammed on the brakes.

Navia, who had been curled in the corner, was thrown forward by the momentum straight toward Leonel.

Meanwhile, Leonel remained perfectly steady.

He wrapped one arm around her waist effortlessly, pulling her securely against his chest before she could fall.

His brows furrowed as he looked toward the front seat.

“Jason,” he said coldly, “do you even know how to drive?”

Jason coughed awkwardly.

“Sorry, sir. I almost missed the turn.”

At the same time, he glanced into the rearview mirror toward Navia.

After all—

What she had just said was absolutely shocking.

Navia hurriedly pulled herself out of Leonel’s arms, still shaken. Her heartbeat was completely out of control.

“Where do you live?” Leonel asked calmly. “I’ll take you home.”

Navia gathered her courage again.

“You really won’t consider it?”

“I’m not interested in jokes,” Leonel replied coolly.

“I’m not joking,” Navia said immediately. “I’m serious.”

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

“You’re single. I’m single.”

“You need a wife to stop your family from pressuring you into marriage.”

“And I need a husband if I want control of the Harrison Group shares.”

She took a breath.

“So why don’t we help each other?” A faint smile appeared on her lips. “Honestly… we’d make a pretty good match.”

***

A Prenuptial Agreement

A good match?

Was that really how she was using the phrase?

A quiet snort of laughter came from the driver’s seat.

Jason couldn’t help himself.

The moment he sensed the icy glare from the backseat, however, he immediately straightened up and focused on driving.

Leonel’s dark eyes remained fixed on the woman in front of him.

She looked like a fallen swan—soaked, exhausted, and miserable, wrapped only in his oversized coat.

Yet her eyes still burned brightly.

Like stars refusing to go out.

One careless glance was enough to scorch their way straight into someone’s heart.

Navia knew he was studying her carefully.

Even so, she forced herself to meet his gaze without backing down.

After a long silence, Leonel finally spoke again.

“What you said…” His deep voice was calm and measured. “Does make some sense.”

Navia’s eyes lit up instantly.

“You mean…”

Nervous anticipation flickered in her gaze.

Leonel slowly extended his hand toward her.

His fingers were long and elegant, his voice low and steady.

“Deal.”

That single word made Navia’s heart leap.

After publicly destroying things with Liam, she had honestly worried she wouldn’t find anyone suitable to marry in time.

But now—

Not only had she found someone…

He was Liam’s own uncle.

Jason cautiously cleared his throat from the front seat.

“Sir, we’re back in the city now. Where should I head?”

“The hillside villa,” Leonel replied.

Navia blinked. “Mr. Crawford… when should I contact you?”

“About what?”

She paused awkwardly.

“The marriage,” she said. “The thing we just discussed…”

“There’s no need to contact me later,” Leonel replied calmly. “You’re coming home with me.”

“…What?”

Leonel raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Or were you planning to walk into the courthouse looking like that?”

Courthouse?

Marriage license?

Navia hadn’t expected things to move this fast.

But there was no way she would refuse now.

“Okay,” she said quickly. “I’ll follow your arrangement.”

The car stopped.

Leonel stepped out first before extending his hand toward her.

“Hold on to me.”

“Huh—?”

Before she could react, he lifted her into his arms once again.

Startled, Navia instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

This was the second time he had carried her.

And she had never been this close to a man before.

Even during her relationship with Liam, the furthest they had ever gone was holding hands.

She shifted awkwardly in his arms.

“I can walk myself…”

Leonel carried her effortlessly toward the villa without slowing down.

“Are you sure?” he asked calmly. “Can your ankle handle it?”

Navia instantly fell silent.

He had a point.

Without another word, Leonel carried her all the way upstairs and into his bedroom.

“You got caught in the rain,” he said. “Take a hot shower so you don’t get sick.”

Then he added casually:

“Once you’re done, we’ll go register the marriage.”

With that, he turned and left the room.

Navia’s cheeks felt burning hot.

She had never entered a man’s private residence before—let alone his bedroom.

The bathroom suited Leonel perfectly.

Cold gray marble.

Minimalist. Expensive. Immaculate.

Under the bright lights, the mirror reflected her current state clearly.

Her face was pale from exhaustion, but flushed from embarrassment and cold after being drenched in the rain.

She sneezed softly.

Not daring to waste any more time, Navia removed Leonel’s coat and stepped beneath the hot water.

Warm water cascaded over her frozen body, slowly easing the tension in her muscles.

But just as she finished showering and prepared to leave the bathroom, she suddenly realized—

She had no clean clothes.

After hesitating for a moment, Navia wrapped a white bath towel tightly around herself and carefully cracked open the bathroom door.

“Mr. Crawford?” she called softly.

She had never felt this embarrassed in her life.

Her voice trembled slightly, quiet and cautious like a frightened kitten.

After peeking outside, she realized Leonel wasn’t in the room.

She couldn’t exactly stay trapped in the bathroom forever.

Barefoot, Navia hurried out into the hallway and finally spotted him downstairs near the staircase.

Leonel sat alone on the living room sofa.

His tie had been loosened, his suit jacket tossed carelessly beside him.

A cigar burned between his fingers, the smoke curling around him as he sat there silently, almost like some untouchable sculpture carved from shadow.

Mysterious.

Cold.

Impossible to read.

“Mr. Crawford…” Navia called nervously.

Only then did Leonel look up.

The moment he saw her, his gaze paused briefly.

Her long damp hair clung to her pale cheeks, making her look like a drenched stray kitten fresh out of the rain.

The white towel wrapped around her body barely covered enough, exposing her long slender legs beneath.

As Leonel’s eyes swept over her, Navia instinctively curled her bare toes against the floor, unsure whether she was nervous or simply embarrassed.

“I don’t have any clothes to change into,” she explained softly.

Leonel looked away calmly.

“My mistake,” he said. “There aren’t any women’s clothes here.”

He picked up his phone.

“I’ll have Jason bring something over.”

Navia hesitated before speaking again.

“Could I… borrow one of your shirts first?”

“Mhm.” Leonel nodded casually. “They’re in the closet. Take whatever you want.”

After getting his permission, Navia hurried back upstairs.

Inside the walk-in closet, every piece of clothing was immaculate—tailored suits, dress shirts, luxury fabrics.

Everything about it screamed wealth and discipline.

Eventually, she found a white dress shirt tucked near the corner and slipped it on.

When she returned downstairs, Leonel glanced up.

Because of his height, the shirt hung loosely on her frame, oversized enough to conceal most of her body.

She had even used one of his belts around her waist, unintentionally accentuating her slender figure.

Instead of looking messy, it somehow resembled a carefully styled outfit.

A flicker of surprise crossed Leonel’s eyes.

“It looks good on you,” he said.

His low voice made Navia’s cheeks warm again.

Still thinking about the marriage, she quickly sat across from him.

“Mr. Crawford, before we go register, we should probably discuss the important details first—”

Before she could finish, the lingering cigar smoke made her cough suddenly.

She clearly wasn’t used to it.

Leonel immediately lowered his legs from the coffee table and crushed the cigar into the ashtray beside him before standing up.

His tall figure moved toward her, casting a shadow overhead.

Then his warm hand rested gently against her back.

“You okay?”

Navia coughed until tears filled her eyes.

“I’m fine,” she managed softly. “I’m just not used to cigarette smoke.”

A trace of apology appeared in Leonel’s expression.

“Sorry,” he said quietly. “I won’t smoke around you again.”

Again?

Navia looked up at him in surprise.

Even though they were only entering a contractual marriage, not a real relationship…

Why was he accommodating her so naturally?

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Then, after hesitating briefly, she added:

“Mr. Crawford… before we register the marriage, shouldn’t I sign something first?”

Leonel raised an eyebrow.

“Like what?”

“A prenuptial agreement,” Navia replied cautiously.

Leonel looked completely unconcerned.

“There’s no need for something like that.”

Navia hesitated.

“For the Harrison family, maybe not…” she said carefully. “But aren’t you worried that I might…”

***

Get Married

The Crawford family was the most powerful house in all of Kingsley.

Even if Leonel only intended for her to act as a temporary wife, their marriage would still be legally binding.

That wasn’t something that could simply be erased whenever convenient.

“And would you?” he asked quietly, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Navia shook her head immediately, her expression sincere and unwavering.

“Of course not.”

“Then there’s no problem.”

Leonel withdrew his gaze and gestured toward the sofa.

“Sit. Your clothes will take a while.”

The man carried an overwhelming presence—cold, commanding, impossible to ignore.

Navia still wasn’t entirely comfortable being so close to him.

After glancing toward the kitchen, she said softly, “I’ll make some ginger tea. You got caught in the rain too, Mr. Crawford. It’ll help keep you from getting sick.”

“You enjoy cooking?” he asked.

Navia nodded.

“I do.”

Cooking had always been one of her hobbies.

She loved experimenting with recipes, desserts, and new dishes whenever she had time.

Leonel watched quietly as she entered the kitchen.

Soon, she had already tied on an apron and moved around with practiced ease.

Steam drifted through the air as the sweet scent of brown sugar mixed with the sharp warmth of ginger, filling the previously cold and silent villa with unexpected life.

Leonel simply watched her from afar.

Her waist looked so slender it seemed breakable.

Yet she stood perfectly straight, focused entirely on what she was doing.

Still…

The thought that she might have learned all of this for Liam made something in his eyes turn colder.

Dark.

Unreadable.

A few minutes later, Navia returned carrying two steaming mugs.

“Mr. Crawford, try some?”

Leonel looked down at her silently without speaking.

His gaze lingered long enough to make her nervous.

“Mr. Crawford?” she called again softly.

Her wrist was beginning to ache from holding the mug up so long.

Just as she was about to lower it, Leonel reached forward and took the cup from her hand.

His rough fingertips brushed against her delicate skin.

Navia instinctively flinched slightly.

Leonel noticed.

“Thank you,” he said calmly as he released her wrist.

Under Navia’s watchful gaze, he took a sip.

Then, unexpectedly, he raised an eyebrow.

“It’s sweet,” he commented.

Navia blinked.

“Did I accidentally add too much sugar?”

“No.” Leonel took another drink. “I don’t like the taste of ginger. I prefer sweeter things.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he finished the tea in one smooth swallow.

Apparently, he wasn’t just being polite.

Navia nodded thoughtfully, quietly remembering the detail.

People who had spent years overseas often preferred sweeter flavors.

It seemed Leonel was no exception.

Not long after, Jason arrived at the villa carrying a newly released Chanel outfit from the current season.

After changing clothes, Navia followed Leonel back into the Bentley as they headed toward City Hall.

Only when the building finally came into view did Navia begin to feel genuinely nervous.

Couples walked in and out constantly, smiling, chatting, holding hands.

“Scared?” Leonel glanced at her lazily. “If you regret it, I can still take you home.”

Navia shook her head immediately.

“No. I won’t regret this.”

Then she added firmly:

“Let’s go inside.”

The opportunity she needed was right in front of her.

Only by inheriting twenty percent of Harrison Group’s shares would she have the power to fight back against Liam and Linda.

There was no way she would run now.

As if trying to gather courage, Navia boldly slipped her arm around Leonel’s.

He didn’t reject her.

Instead, he simply guided her inside.

When it came time to take their marriage license photo, even the photographer became visibly enthusiastic.

“You two need to stand closer,” he instructed excitedly. “Closer! This is a wedding photo—smile a little! And miss, feel free to lean against your husband’s shoulder!”

Blushing fiercely, Navia carefully rested her head against Leonel’s shoulder and looked toward the camera.

It was the closest they had ever been.

Close enough for her to catch the faint scent of tobacco lingering on him beneath the crisp cedarwood fragrance she had already begun associating with Leonel.

The smell was mature.

Dangerous.

Oddly comforting.

For a moment, the entire situation felt unreal.

Like a dream.

Click.

The flash went off.

Their photo was finished.

In the picture, Navia leaned shyly against Leonel’s broad shoulder while his deep-set eyes rested quietly on her.

Maybe it was just her imagination…

But she could almost see a trace of tenderness in his expression.

Today was her wedding day.

And the man standing beside her wasn’t Liam—

but Leonel Crawford.

A man she had only met twice.

Fate truly had a strange sense of humor.

As they walked out of City Hall, Navia stared blankly at the marriage certificate in her hands while unconsciously holding tightly onto Leonel’s hand.

It wasn’t until they reached the black Bentley that she noticed the strange look coming from nearby.

Jason stared openly at their joined hands, his shock completely undisguised.

Navia snapped back to reality and hurriedly tried to pull away.

Their marriage was only an arrangement.

A formality.

In reality, they were still practically strangers.

They should probably keep some distance between them.

But before she could fully withdraw her hand, Leonel caught it again.

Firmly.

His large hand enclosed hers completely, rough calluses contrasting against her soft skin.

“Even if we entered this marriage for different reasons,” he said calmly, “marriage isn’t a game.”

His low voice carried effortless authority.

“Since we’re legally husband and wife now, it’s better to get used to each other sooner rather than later.”

His reasoning sounded perfectly logical.

And yet—

Leonel Crawford was still a man.

A dangerously attractive one at that.

The mature aura surrounding him was unlike anything Navia had ever experienced before.

Even standing still, he radiated a magnetic charm impossible to ignore.

And Navia, despite her upbringing, was still inexperienced when it came to men.

Her face turned crimson almost instantly.

“O-Okay…” she stammered. “I understand…”

Seeing the obvious nervousness on her face, Leonel’s expression softened with faint amusement.

“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s go home.”

“Wait.” Navia suddenly stopped him. “Mr. Crawford… I can’t go back with you yet.”

“???” Leonel assumed she was simply shy.

“There’s no reason for newlyweds to live separately, Mrs. Crawford.”

Mrs. Crawford.

The two words rolled effortlessly from his deep voice.

To him, it was merely a reminder—

just another part of married life she needed to get used to.

But to Navia, the words exploded in her mind like thunder.

Her pale ears flushed such a deep red they looked ready to burn.

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to disappear into the ground.

“I—I didn’t mean it like that…” Navia finally managed to say. “I need to go to the hospital. I want to visit my mother.”

Ever since Evelyn Harrison’s car accident, she had never regained consciousness.

No one knew how long she would remain in a vegetative state.

Even though professional nurses took care of her around the clock, Navia still believed her mother could hear the world around her.

Family mattered.

Talking to her, staying beside her—it might help bring her back sooner.

Leonel already knew everything about the Harrison family situation, so he didn’t ask questions.

“I’ll take you.”

“That’s okay. I can go by myself.”

Before he could object, Navia hurriedly pulled away from him and practically fled, as though staying near him any longer was dangerous.

Leonel watched her retreating figure silently.

Her steps were hurried and slightly unsteady.

His dark eyes deepened as he slipped their marriage certificate into his coat pocket.

At last…

She belonged to him.

His alone.

And this time—

there was nowhere left for her to run.