The carved double mahogany doors of the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Royal Valmont Hotel remained tightly shut.

Standing in the quiet private corridor behind them, Elina Rosswel smoothed the folds of her white silk wedding gown. Her hands trembled slightly as her fingers brushed the delicate French lace.

"Could you turn off your phone for a moment, Jeremy?" Elina whispered, looking at her fiancé standing beside her. "The doors will open in two minutes."

Jeremy Valmont did not even glance at her. His fingers moved rapidly across the screen of his phone.

"Just a second, Elina. Rachel hasn't replied to my messages for the past hour."

Elina froze at his words.

Once again, her fiancé was thinking about Rachel—his childhood friend.

"This is our wedding day," Elina said firmly, staring straight at the man in the black suit beside her. "Not the day to worry about your childhood friend, Jeremy."

In truth, Elina was exhausted. Every time, Jeremy chose Rachel over the woman who was supposed to become his lifelong partner. Yet no matter how upset she became, Jeremy never took her anger seriously.

"She's alone in her apartment," Jeremy replied impatiently. "She's sick, Elina. Can't you have a little compassion?"

"I've been patient for three years, Jeremy!" Elina cut in sharply. Her voice trembled as she struggled to contain her emotions. "Every date we had, every important family event, you always put her calls before me!"

The moment she finished speaking, Jeremy's phone rang, breaking the silence in the hallway.

Without the slightest hesitation, he answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Rachel? Where are you?" Jeremy asked anxiously.

Soft sobs mixed with frantic breathing came from the other end of the line.

"Jeremy... please help me..." the woman whispered weakly. "I'm... I'm in the emergency room. My nose is bleeding again... I'm scared..."

Jeremy's face immediately turned pale.

"It's bleeding again? You're there all by yourself?"

"Yes... My head hurts so much, Jer... The doctor said I need a family member to stay with me..."

"Wait for me! I'm coming right now!" Jeremy shouted in panic.

Elina's eyes widened in disbelief as she heard his response.

"Jeremy!"

She grabbed his arm with both hands, staring at him in shock.

"What are you doing? You can't leave. The opening music has already started!"

Jeremy roughly shook her hands away, forcing her to stumble backward.

"Rachel is bleeding again and she's at the hospital, Elina! She has no one else in this city except me!"

"What about me?" Elina demanded, her voice rising as her eyes burned with unshed tears. "I'm your bride! There are three hundred guests inside, my father, and the entire city's business media waiting for us!"

"You can wait! We can postpone the ceremony for a while!" Jeremy snapped, glaring at her with annoyance. "Rachel could die if no one takes care of her! Stop being so selfish!"

"Selfish?"

A bitter laugh escaped Elina's lips.

The pain squeezing her heart became almost unbearable.

"This is our wedding day, Jeremy! You're choosing to run to Rachel instead of standing beside me at the altar?"

"Don't start another argument, Elina!" Jeremy barked as he hurriedly straightened his suit collar. "I'll only be gone for an hour! Tell everyone the ceremony is delayed!"

His voice was completely indifferent.

"If you dare walk out of this hallway, Jeremy..."

Elina drew a shaky breath.

Her lips trembled violently as she looked into his eyes.

"...don't ever come back into my life."

Jeremy paused briefly.

He looked at her with cold impatience.

"Stop acting like a child. Rachel is in critical condition."

He truly did not care about Elina.

Without another word, he sprinted toward the emergency exit. His footsteps echoed down the corridor before disappearing as the heavy steel door slammed shut behind him.

A suffocating silence settled over Elina.

"Miss Rosswel?"

One of the event coordinators approached with a pale face.

"Mr. Valmont... where did he go? The main doors will open automatically in ten seconds!"

Elina stood frozen.

She stared at her cold, empty hands.

An overwhelming exhaustion suddenly spread throughout her body.

For years, she had understood.

For years, she had given in because of the excuse of a "childhood friend."

Today, the last thread of her patience finally snapped.

The hurt ran so deep that even tears refused to fall.

"He's not coming back," Elina murmured flatly, looking expressionlessly at the woman before her. "Cancel the wedding."

"What?! But Miss Rosswel, all the guests have already—"

**Click!**

The automatic locking mechanism released with a sharp metallic sound.

Before the staff could stop it, the massive mahogany doors slowly swung open.

The elegant melody of the *Bridal Chorus* filled the ballroom.

The enormous crystal chandeliers illuminated the entrance with dazzling light.

Three hundred pairs of eyes belonging to aristocrats and prominent business elites turned toward the doorway in unison.

At the end of the red carpet...

Elina stood alone.

Without a groom beside her.

An oppressive silence swept across the ballroom.

The orchestra came to an awkward stop, replaced by whispers that spread rapidly among the guests.

"Where's Jeremy Valmont?" a woman in an evening gown whispered from the front row.

"Look! The bride is standing there alone!" another guest exclaimed.

"I saw Jeremy running toward the back exit," someone else said quietly. "Maybe he went to see Rachel. Doesn't Jeremy care more about Rachel than Elina?"

"My goodness... Was she abandoned on her wedding day for another woman?"

"The Rosswel family has been completely humiliated today."

Every whisper pierced Elina's ears like sharp blades.

At the far end of the altar, Xavier Rosswel stood frozen.

The middle-aged man stared at his daughter in disbelief before hurrying toward the red carpet.

"Elina?"

His voice trembled as he stopped in front of her.

"Where's Jeremy? What happened?"

Elina looked at her father.

Her sorrowful gaze was filled with guilt and quiet resignation.

She gathered part of her wedding gown and prepared to announce the collapse of her future before everyone present.

"Father... I—"

Before she could finish speaking, a tall figure suddenly emerged from the side corridor.

A cold, commanding aura radiated from the man, causing everyone nearby to instinctively hold their breath.

Before Elina could react, a strong arm reached toward her.

The man gently took her cold hand and confidently slipped it through the crook of his arm beneath his impeccably tailored suit.

Elina gasped in surprise.

Her eyes widened as she turned to look at him.

Standing beside Elina was a man dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes were as unyielding as steel.

Nathan Valmont.

Jeremy's older half-brother.

"What are you trying to do, Nathan?" Xavier asked, seeking confirmation. "Don't make this situation any worse."

Nathan looked at him calmly.

"Please don't worry, Uncle."

Then he turned his attention back to Elina, ignoring Xavier's confusion.

"Keep walking, Elina," Nathan whispered beside her ear. His voice was calm, yet carried an unmistakable authority. "Don't let them see you fall apart."

Elina held her breath.

She looked at him in confusion.

"Nathan? What are you doing?"

"Saving what's left of your dignity," Nathan replied flatly without looking at her. His eyes remained fixed on the stunned guests. "Hold onto my arm a little tighter if you want to walk out of this hell as the winner."

Elina could hardly believe what Nathan was doing.

He urged her forward with unwavering determination.

The whispers throughout the ballroom suddenly vanished, replaced by an oppressive silence as Nathan Valmont escorted Elina down the red carpet.

His steps were calm and steady, his commanding presence intimidating everyone in the room.

Elina tightened her grip on Nathan's arm.

Her heart pounded violently, torn between confusion and disbelief.

"Nathan," she whispered without taking her eyes off the aisle. "What does all of this mean?"

"You have two choices, Elina," Nathan replied quietly, his voice barely audible to anyone else but perfectly clear to her. "Leave this room as the woman who was abandoned, or finish this wedding with me and make Jeremy pay for what he did to you."

Elina glanced sideways at Nathan's sharply defined profile.

"Have you lost your mind? You're Jeremy's brother!"

"And Jeremy has just dragged your family's reputation through the mud," Nathan answered coldly. "Marry me instead of letting you and your father live with this humiliation for the rest of your lives. Roswell Corp.'s stock will plummet tomorrow morning if you walk away now."

Elina caught her breath.

Nathan's words struck the deepest part of her heart.

She looked ahead.

Xavier Rosswel had returned to his place near the altar, standing motionless. His face was deathly pale, and the devastation in his eyes was unmistakable.

Her father had sacrificed everything to raise her.

She could not bear to see him become the laughingstock of the city's upper class because his only daughter had been abandoned at the altar.

Jeremy had chosen Rachel.

He had treated Elina like nothing more than an option he could discard whenever he pleased.

*If Jeremy isn't the one marrying me, then I'll accept anyone else.*

The pain inside her froze into cold determination.

She would never beg Jeremy for love again.

Elina tightened her grip around Nathan's arm and straightened her back.

"Do it."

Nathan showed no surprise.

He merely gave a slight nod before leading Elina onto the altar to exchange wedding vows with him—the man she had never imagined would become part of her life.

Xavier hurried toward them, breathing heavily.

"Nathan! Elina! Are you both certain about this?"

"Uncle," Nathan said firmly, looking the older man directly in the eyes. "Jeremy has abandoned his place. I will take his place instead. Trust me. This is the best way to protect Elina's honor."

"But—"

"Father, please," Elina interrupted gently yet firmly, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Let this happen."

Xavier stared at his daughter for a long moment.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, he finally clenched his fists and stepped back, giving them his blessing even though the confusion had not completely disappeared from his face.

In the front row of the Valmont family...

Velicia—Jeremy's mother—stood frozen in disbelief.

Her breathing became uneven as she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

She was about to rush forward to stop the wedding, but Trevor Valmont's firm grip on her arm held her back.

"Trevor! Stop him!" Velicia hissed through gritted teeth. "Nathan is stealing Jeremy's bride!"

"Keep your voice down, Velicia," Trevor growled without taking his eyes off the altar. "Look around you. The reporters are everywhere. If you cause a scene now, the Valmont family will be ruined."

The ceremony proceeded quickly and without warmth after the unexpected change of groom.

There were no sweet words.

No loving gazes.

Only solemn vows spoken by Nathan in a steady voice without the slightest hesitation, followed by Elina's equally resolute response.

When the vows were complete, Elina officially became Nathan Valmont's wife.

Nathan turned to face her.

His long fingers gently lifted the bridal veil from her face.

When their eyes met, Nathan lowered his head.

His lips brushed lightly against Elina's cheek in a brief, formal kiss—a gesture of protection rather than desire.

"This marriage is now official," Nathan whispered into her ear before meeting her gaze once again.

The wedding reception ended shortly afterward.

Nathan canceled the traditional first dance and the lengthy speeches, citing health concerns as an excuse to conclude the event quickly before the media.

The hundreds of guests continued whispering among themselves, but no one dared to ask a single question after seeing the icy look in Nathan Valmont's eyes.

Exactly one hour after they exchanged their vows, Nathan's black sedan pulled away from the entrance of the Grand Royal Valmont Hotel, leaving behind a scandal that was destined to shake City the following day.

Nathan's black sedan cut through the darkness of the city before passing through the towering iron gates of the Valmont family's main estate.

Silence lingered inside the car.

Elina rested her head against the window, watching the blurred glow of the city lights.

Her silk wedding gown felt stiff, wrapping around a body that had grown colder by the minute.

The car came to a stop in front of the Valmont mansion.

"Get out," Nathan said shortly as the engine was turned off.

Elina gave a small nod.

She stepped out of the car and followed Nathan toward the front entrance.

Her footsteps came to an abrupt halt when Nathan turned to face her.

He extended his hand.

"Hold my hand."

Elina obeyed.

She slipped her hand into Nathan's, feeling the gentle yet reassuring grip of his large fingers.

They entered the mansion together.

The moment they stepped through the front door, a shrill voice shattered the silence.

"Have the two of you completely lost your minds?"

Velicia stood in the center of the grand living room.

The middle-aged woman's face was flushed with fury, and her eyes glared at Elina as though she wanted to tear her apart.

"What exactly were you thinking at the wedding?" Velicia demanded as she strode toward them. She pointed a finger directly at Elina's face.

"You shameless woman! Jeremy only left for an emergency, and you took advantage of the situation to seduce his brother!"

Elina closed her eyes briefly and took a slow, deep breath to steady herself.

"Jeremy didn't leave because of an emergency, Aunt Velicia. He ran away."

"He went to help his sick friend at the hospital!" Velicia shouted hysterically, refusing to listen. "Jeremy called me! He said he was coming back to the ballroom as soon as he finished! He still intended to go through with the wedding!"

A hollow laugh escaped Elina's lips.

It sounded cold, unfamiliar even to herself.

"Come back?" Elina repeated flatly, meeting Velicia's gaze without fear. "He knew the doors would open in two minutes. He knew three hundred guests and the media were waiting inside. Yet he still chose to run to Rachel Laurent."

"Rachel was in critical condition!" Velicia snapped. "Why are you being so petty and jealous?"

She continued blaming Elina for marrying Nathan instead.

"Jealous?"

Elina raised an eyebrow.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her gown.

"I'm not jealous. I simply realized that neither my dignity nor the Roswell family's honor meant anything to your son. I refused to wait for him."

"Watch your mouth!" Velicia screamed. "Jeremy was your fiancé! If you had even a little patience, none of this scandal would have happened!"

"Enough, Mother."

Nathan's voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.

He stepped forward, positioning himself beside Elina and blocking Velicia's line of sight.

"Elina made the right decision," Nathan said coldly. "She is not a backup option to be abandoned at the altar."

"Nathan!"

Velicia stared at him in disbelief.

"You're his brother! How could you stab your own brother in the back? You planned this to ruin Jeremy's position in the company, didn't you?"

The accusation reflected the long-standing rivalry between Nathan and Jeremy over the future leadership of Valmont Group.

Nathan remained perfectly composed.

One hand rested casually in the pocket of his tailored trousers.

"Jeremy ruined himself. He abandoned his responsibility, and I simply took what he threw away."

"You—"

"What's all this commotion?"

A deep, commanding voice echoed from the grand staircase.

Trevor Valmont descended the stairs.

The stern lines on his aged face hardened, radiating an intimidating presence that immediately silenced Velicia.

His gaze briefly swept over Elina before settling on Nathan.

"Trevor! Look at what your son has done!" Velicia complained, her voice trembling with rage. "He married his own brother's bride! This is a massive scandal! The media will destroy us!"

Trevor ignored his wife.

He stopped three steps in front of Nathan.

"Do you understand the consequences of what you've done tonight, Nathan?"

"I understand them perfectly, Father," Nathan answered without blinking.

"Valmont Group's stock could become unstable tomorrow morning," Trevor said in a low voice filled with the weight of business concerns. "You replaced the groom in front of all our most important associates. Did you think this through?"

Nathan let out a quiet, sarcastic chuckle.

"Shouldn't you be thanking me instead?"

Trevor narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"If I hadn't stepped in to replace Jeremy," Nathan continued calmly, "tomorrow's headlines wouldn't just be about the stock market. Every newspaper would be reporting how your favorite son—the heir you've always been so proud of—ran away from his own wedding for another woman."

Velicia's face instantly turned pale.

Trevor clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tightening.

"Aren't you afraid of becoming the laughingstock of every business associate in this city?" Nathan continued, meeting his father's eyes. "Were you prepared to be humiliated because your favorite son turned a multi-million-dollar wedding into a joke? I merely cleaned up the mess he created."

The room fell into complete silence.

No one dared interrupt Nathan.

Trevor exhaled heavily and closed his eyes for a brief moment, struggling to suppress the anger building inside him.

When he opened them again, his gaze shifted to Elina.

"Are you certain about this, Elina?" he asked coldly. "Your marriage is legally valid."

Elina met the older man's eyes before squaring her shoulders.

"I'm absolutely certain. Jeremy chose to leave, and I chose never to accept him again."

Velicia clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.

"You'll regret this, Elina! Once Jeremy returns from the hospital, he won't let this go!"

"Let him come back," Nathan interrupted immediately.

He cast Velicia a dismissive glance.

"And when he does, make sure you teach him how to be a real man."

Nathan gently placed a hand around Elina's shoulder.

"Let's go, Elina."

Without waiting for anyone else's response, Nathan led Elina upstairs, leaving behind a room filled with suffocating tension.