It all happened in a flash.
Evelyn knew what her father was about to do.
And there was no way she was going to let it happen.
Not to Damian —the man she had promised her future to.
Without thinking for another second, almost on instinct, she lifted her gown slightly and rushed off the stage toward the very man standing at the entrance …
The man who had come here for her.
The long train of her dress swept behind her, trailing through the air like the silver streak of a falling star.
“Evelyn!”
Lyla, her older sister, stepped forward to stop her.
But Evelyn dodged past her and kept running straight toward Damian.
Her sudden dash left the guests confused.
They could only stare as the bride ran straight into the arms of a man none of them even knew.
Evelyn, however, wasn’t thinking about the guests.
She wasn’t thinking about her father.
She wasn’t even thinking about the consequences.
She was simply running towards Damian.
In her rush, she had completely forgotten about Gilbert’s body lying on the floor.
She only realized it when her foot nearly caught against him.
Stumbling, she almost lost her balance and fell.
But just as she did, a strong arm immediately wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
She looked up.
And for that brief second, she saw the man she had come to know well and close.
His gaze was warm.
And his attitude was familiar.
Seeing him this close, recognizing the man she had been waiting for all this time, eased the last trace of doubt she had started feeling for him in her heart.
A small smile curved across her lips.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered softly.
“I’m here.
I’ll protect you.”
Damian looked into her eyes.
His jaw tightened ever so slightly.
The scene reminded him of a story he’d once read.
A delusional little lamb believing it could save a beast.
He almost smirked.
But then he looked into her eyes again.
She was staring at him with such absolute faith that he couldn’t bring himself to laugh at her delusion.
He could only grit his teeth.
Evelyn gave him another small smile before turning back toward her father, placing herself between Damian and Charles as though she could shield him from everything that was coming.
“Father, he’s here for me.” Her voice rang clearly through the hall.
She glanced briefly over her shoulder before meeting her father’s eyes again.
“I gave him the courage to show up here.” Her fingers tightened around Damian’s hand.
“My love did.”
The guests finally understood what was happening.
The Beaumont daughter had invited her lover to steal her away.
And her lover had actually dared to come.
Right into Beaumont territory.
Did he not care about his life?
Or had he simply never heard enough about the dark side of the Beaumonts?
The way they end people and everything that dares to offend them.
The guests had all heard the confident arrogance in Damian’s voice.
They had also seen the lifeless body that came flying and was now lying on the floor.
Yet no one believed that if he truly confronted the Beaumonts head-on, this handsome lover would survive.
Over the years, several men had shown up with the same intention —to challenge the power of Don Alexander Caldwell and Capo Beaumont.
None had survived the night unscathed.
By the next morning, they were either found groveling on their knees… Or buried several feet beneath the earth.
This new man would be no different.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
What they didn’t know was that the entire Apex city of Maridia was about to witness a surprise.
A change that would reshape the entire power structure —not just of the city, but of the state itself.
“Evelyn.” Lyla’s voice cut through the murmurs.
She had stepped forward, her expression dark with disapproval.
“Don’t forget who you are and what’s happening today.”
Evelyn turned toward her.
“It’s your wedding,” Lyla continued, her voice lowered but firm.
“You’re supposed to marry into the Mercers.
Don’t create a scene in front of all these guests and insult Father and the family.”
Evelyn stared at her sister.
Of everyone in this hall, Lyla should have been the last person trying to force her into this arrangement.
After all, this marriage had once been meant for her.
It was Lyla’s name that had originally been tied to the Mercer family.
But when circumstances changed, Evelyn had been pushed into taking her place.
And now, the same sister who had once escaped the arrangement pushing her into it was standing here, telling Evelyn that she had no right to do the same.
A bitter feeling stirred in Evelyn’s chest.
She had wanted Lyla to understand.
Perhaps more than anyone else, she had wanted her older sister to understand.
But Lyla had never been that sister —not the kind Evelyn needed.
Not the kind who would stand beside her when their father made a decision she couldn’t accept.
For twenty-two years, Evelyn had slowly learned one thing.
Never expect anything from Lyla.
Especially not understanding … or warmth.
“It’s funny hearing that from you, Sister.”
Lyla’s brows furrowed.
“What?”
Evelyn didn’t answer.
There were guests everywhere, and even if Lyla had never given her the warmth of an older sister, she was still her sister —the daughter of the same mother.
Evelyn wouldn’t humiliate her in front of everyone.
So she turned away, back toward her father.
“Father, I’ve said this to you before.
But perhaps, at the time, I didn’t seem serious enough for you to believe me.” She paused.
“So today, I’ll say it again.”
“I…” Evelyn hesitated only for a moment before stepping closer to Damian.
Her fingers slipped into his and held on firmly.
“I don’t accept the arrangement with the Mercers.”
Her voice was steady.
“I won’t marry for an alliance.” She looked directly at her father.
“I’ll marry for love.”
Then she glanced toward the man beside her.
Her gaze softened.
“And I, Evelyn Beaumont, love this man.” Her fingers tightened around his.
“I’ll marry him.”
A beat of silence.
“Only him.”
Charles saw red.
His fingers clenched tightly around his pistol as he glared at his daughter.
He had always known his second daughter was a rebel.
She had never been particularly obedient.
But he had never imagined she would dare defy him so openly —especially in front of so many people, all for some man.
Had he been too lenient with her?
His grip tightened around the trigger.
“Who is he?” Charles demanded.
“You think he can simply walk into my territory and take you away?
Does he even have such an identity?”
“Father.” Evelyn frowned.
“You can’t look down on him.”
She turned slightly toward Damian.
“He’s the man you trained.
He’s served you loyally and—”
“My man?” Charles repeated the words coldly.
“Since when did my men grow ambitious enough to covet something that doesn’t belong to them?”
His jaw clenched.
The more he looked at Damian —the fearless eyes, the unfazed expression, the complete lack of fear —the more the fury inside him burned.
Men like him were meant to protect and serve, and nothing more.
How dare this brat lay eyes on his daughter?
How dare he make her rebel against him?
If he had a death wish, Charles would be more than happy to grant it.
His eyes turned cold.
And finally—
He pulled the trigger.
BANG!