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.

# Chapter 4: Don't Think About Him Anymore

The door to Nathan's master bedroom closed firmly behind them, shutting out the tension they had just left outside.

The spacious room was dominated by dark gray tones and minimalist décor, giving it a cold, understated atmosphere. There were no romantic decorations befitting newlyweds, only the faint scent of sandalwood and a masculine fragrance lingering in the air.

Elina walked inside, her voluminous wedding gown trailing across the thick carpet.

She neither trembled nor appeared frightened.

Her steps were calm, though exhaustion weighed heavily behind her eyes.

Turning around, she looked at Nathan, who was casually unbuttoning his black suit jacket.

"Thank you, Nathan," Elina said calmly, without hesitation. "For what you did in the ballroom and in front of your parents."

Nathan hung his jacket over the back of the sofa near the window.

He did not turn around immediately. Instead, he straightened the front of his shirt before finally facing her.

His expression was steady, distant, and unreadable.

"Don't thank me," Nathan replied in a cold, emotionless voice. "I didn't do it out of sympathy."

Elina raised an eyebrow.

"I know."

Nathan studied the woman standing before him.

There was no hysterical surprise or dramatic reaction.

Only calm, rational acceptance.

"You know?"

"You needed a reason to pressure Jeremy and Aunt Velicia," Elina answered calmly, folding her arms across her chest. "Marrying the woman Jeremy abandoned in front of everyone was the most effective way to provoke him. I know exactly what your relationship with him is like."

Nathan let out a quiet chuckle, the faint smile on his lips carrying a trace of bitterness.

He walked toward her and stopped just two steps away.

His tall frame cast a commanding shadow beneath the room's soft lighting.

"You're remarkably perceptive for a woman whose fiancé just ran away from their wedding," Nathan murmured, his eyes locking onto hers. "But from this moment on, erase Jeremy's name from your mind. You are my wife now—Nathan Valmont's wife."

Elina met his piercing gaze without blinking.

The intimidating aura surrounding him sent a slight chill through her body.

"I understand. To me, Jeremy is nothing more than a wound from the past that no longer deserves to be remembered."

"A wound?"

Nathan narrowed his eyes.

His jaw tightened.

"You'd better get rid of that wound as soon as possible, Elina. I have no intention of keeping a woman in my house who is still haunted by another man."

Elina was about to respond, but Nathan stepped even closer, closing the distance between them.

"Remember one thing," Nathan said in a low voice carrying an unmistakable warning. "Tonight, I protected you and your father's company. But if you act recklessly and bring Jeremy into this marriage, I can destroy Roswell Corp. far more thoroughly than a canceled wedding ever could."

His words were cold, precise, and carefully calculated.

Elina held her breath for a moment, both admiring and remaining wary of the perfectly measured threat before her.

"I understand," she replied immediately. "You don't have to worry about that."

Nathan looked at her for a moment, silently judging the sincerity in her expression.

Then he turned toward the connecting door leading to his private study.

"Change your clothes. There's a set of clean clothes in the wardrobe beside you."

With that, he walked through the adjoining door connecting the bedroom to his study.

The study door closed softly behind him, leaving Elina alone in the unfamiliar room.

She let out a long sigh, finally releasing the composed façade she had maintained all evening.

Walking to the vanity, she slowly removed the pins and fastenings of her wedding gown one by one.

As the silk dress slipped gracefully onto the floor, a faint vibration from the vanity caught her attention.

Her phone lit up.

Her father's name appeared on the screen.

Elina quickly picked it up and answered the call.

"Father."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Elina?"

Xavier Rosswel's anxious voice came through the phone.

His breathing sounded hurried.

"How are you now? Did Nathan take you to the Valmont family home?"

"I'm fine, Father," Elina replied softly.

She sat on the edge of the bed, gently massaging her aching temple.

"I'm in Nathan's room."

"Please be honest with me," Xavier urged, his voice filled with guilt and regret. "What really happened between you and Nathan? Why would he make such an extreme decision? I... I feel like I failed to protect you tonight, Elina."

"Father, listen to me," Elina said firmly, making sure her voice sounded confident enough to reassure him. "This was the best decision we could make. Jeremy started this, and we can't allow Roswell Corp. to be destroyed because of his actions."

"But Nathan isn't an easy man to deal with, Elina," Xavier whispered worriedly. "He's a cold businessman. I'm afraid he's using you."

Elina looked toward the closed door of Nathan's study.

A faint smile appeared on her lips—not one of happiness, but one of quiet acceptance from a woman who had already chosen her path.

"It's alright, Father," she said softly but with certainty. "What matters most is that the wedding went through, our family's reputation has been preserved, and your company has been protected. I can handle everything else from here."