Eleanor pressed her back against the wall of the hallway. She forced her breathing to slow down. "Julian? What do you want? Are you calling to laugh at me?"

She heard the sharp, metallic clink of a Zippo lighter opening and closing on the other end of the line. Julian's voice was terrifyingly calm. "No. I am calling to offer you the perfect way to retaliate."

Eleanor frowned. Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Retaliate? You are his flesh and blood."

A low, dark chuckle vibrated through the phone speaker. It sounded entirely dismissive. "That is a biological fact, it doesn't mean I tolerate his stupidity. Bring your ID. Meet me at the south entrance of City Hall."

The words "City Hall" made Eleanor's heart skip a beat. A wild, insane thought flashed through her brain. Her throat went dry, and she swallowed hard.

"What... what do you mean?" Her voice shook. She was terrified to say her guess out loud.

Julian's tone shifted. It became low, smooth, and incredibly persuasive. "Since you planned on getting married today anyway, you might as well just change the groom. Become his sister-in-law. From now on, every time he sees you, he will have to bow his head and greet you with respect. Doesn't that sound appealing?"

The proposition was like a contract handed over by the devil himself. It struck a match directly into the pool of anger sitting in Eleanor's chest. The mental image of Caleb being forced to call her 'sister-in-law' sent a rush of heat to her brain.

She closed her eyes. The image of Caleb shielding Isla flashed behind her eyelids. She opened her eyes, and the hesitation was gone. "Fine. I'll be right there."

Eleanor hung up the phone. She walked out of the club, her heels hitting the concrete fast and hard. The cold wind hit her face again, but she didn't look back at the neon sign.

She flagged down another taxi. She told the driver to get back to City Hall as fast as legally possible.

Twenty minutes later, the taxi pulled up to the south entrance. Eleanor pushed the door open. The first thing she saw was a massive, pitch-black Rolls-Royce Phantom parked illegally at the curb.

The rear door opened. Julian Blackwood stepped out onto the pavement. He was wearing a pure black bespoke suit. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his presence was so heavy it felt like the air pressure around him dropped.

Julian walked up to her. His dark, intense eyes scanned her face. He noticed her messy hair and the slight redness around her eyes. A tiny muscle in his jaw twitched.

He didn't say a word. He simply raised his hand. His rough thumb brushed against the corner of her eye, wiping away a smudge of ruined makeup. His touch was shockingly gentle.

The heat of his skin burned her cheek. Eleanor flinched and instinctively tried to step back.

Julian's other hand shot out and wrapped around her waist, holding her in place.

"If you want to back out, now is the time," Julian said. He looked down at her. His voice was low, but his grip on her waist left no room for escape.

Eleanor looked up into his dark eyes. She clenched her jaw. She reached into her purse and pulled out her ID card. "I never regret my decisions."

The corner of Julian's mouth lifted into a satisfied smirk. He kept his hand on her waist and turned her toward the building. They bypassed the main doors and walked toward a side entrance.

Because of Julian's name, they didn't wait in any lines. They were escorted directly into a private, quiet registration room.

The city clerk looked terrified of the Wall Street billionaire standing in her office. Her hands shook as she quickly printed out the marriage documents and laid them on the desk.

Eleanor stared at the paper. The name Julian Blackwood was printed in bold black ink. Her fingers trembled. The entire situation felt like a hallucination.

Julian picked up the heavy fountain pen. He didn't hesitate for a single second. He signed his name with sharp, aggressive strokes. Then, he turned and held the pen out to her.

Eleanor took the pen. The metal was still warm from his hand. She pressed the nib to the paper. The memory of her three years of suffering flashed through her mind one last time. She pressed down hard and signed Eleanor Vance.

The clerk stamped the paper. The heavy thud of the seal echoed in the small room. Legally, they were now husband and wife.

The moment she was handed the certificate, Eleanor felt like she was floating. Her feet didn't feel connected to the floor.

Julian handed both certificates to his assistant, Leo, who was standing quietly in the corner. Then, Julian turned to look at Eleanor.

His eyes had changed. The cold, calculating look was gone. It was replaced by something dark, possessive, and deeply predatory.

"Mrs. Blackwood," he said, intentionally emphasizing the title. His voice was raspy. "Welcome to my world."

He suddenly stepped into her space and lowered his head. He pressed his lips firmly against her forehead. It was a restrained kiss, but it claimed absolute ownership. Eleanor froze completely, her brain short-circuiting as the scent of cedarwood and mint washed over her.