“They left the venue?” he asked, his voice steady and calm.
Mark lowered his head slightly.
“Yes,” he answered curtly.
Damian exhaled slowly.
“How long until they arrive?” Mark glanced at the live feed and then at the watch on his wrist.
“The car just pulled away from the venue, and if there’s no accident they should be here in an hour’s time.” There was one hour left before another stranger crashed into his carefully controlled life.
One final hour to enjoy the silence around him.
One last hour without the Evercrest family interfering in his affairs or reminding him that even his future was no longer his own.
Damian’s fist slowly uncurled against his wheelchair.
“What are her details?” Mark swallowed, his brow furrowing slightly for a moment before relaxing immediately.
He pressed the button on his tablet and the screen came to life.
His calm voice filtered through the study.
“Miss Leslie Quinn is 24, the first daughter of Morgan and Eloise Quinn.
Majored in Business Administration and Management, works with her family company.” “Appearance?” “Fair skin, brown hair and eyes.
Height at about 5 ‘3, body weight was 56kg.
Tall, statuesque, and fashion-model elegant.” “Facial features?” “A sharp jawline, high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, a defined nose.
Thin brows and lips, while a few other features are bold, glamorous.
She captures attention easily.” Damian’s lips curled up slightly.
“Achievements?” “Nothing much on her profile though an award-winning student of the prestigious South City Business School.” “Character?” Mark swallowed, his lips parting a few times.
“Difficult to say?” Damian interrupted calmly, his finger tapping the arm of his wheelchair in a calculated rhythm.
Mark shook his head even though he couldn’t see him.
“Not actually difficult.
But I just think we have to wait for her to arrive, interact with her, and then make a better decision.” Damian’s lips curled up slightly.
“Are you saying you didn’t trust your own investigation?” “Not at all.
But people’s character could change based on interactions and the first impression of another.” “Really?
Why do I have the feeling that you are praying for her character to be different from what you found out?” Mark’s lips parted a few times and finally he closed them, not uttering any word.
Damian had been right.
Every investigation he conducted for the past one month had portrayed her in a bad light.
But since the Evercrest family insisted on marrying her, he could only pray she treats his boss well.
Mark’s fist clenched tightly.
Otherwise he wouldn’t be letting her go.
“Mark Osborne,” Damian called, his cold tone sent shivers rushing down Mark’s back, the threat was clear.
“I am sorry.
I will tell you her character,” Mark responded swiftly.
“That’s more like it,” Damian answered with a cold smirk.
With no option left, Mark had to bite the bullet and say the few things he found out about her.
“Leslie Quinn is a proud, haughty lady.
Self-centered and had a thing for wealth.” “Had a thing for wealth?” Damian repeated, tasting the words on his tongue and his lips curled into a cold sneer.
“I thought as much,” he began, his fist tightening around his chair.
“Otherwise why would she let herself be bound to me.” Mark rubbed his brow helplessly.
He couldn’t help but wonder what he would think if he told him that half the ladies in the city were ever ready to become Damian Evercrest’s wife.
The Evercrest name was a promise of a life in luxury, or so they thought.
And Damian, the once-golden bachelor, was the key.
A bitter smile crossed Mark’s lips.
If not for that accident that had destroyed everything and the unexpected disappearance of his fiancée, how would his boss have ever let his name be tied to the Quinn family?
But the next moment, Damian’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Any clue about her?” Mark’s heart dropped.
For the past six months, they had continuously searched for her whereabouts, but it was to no avail.
Mark lowered his head regretfully.
“No.” Damian drew in a deep breath.
“It’s been more than six months.” “I am sorry.
I will expand the search,” Mark responded.
“Keep me updated about the Ashford family…” Mark’s brow furrowed slightly.
“But…” “Something doesn’t feel right,” Damian answered curtly.
He slowly removed the glasses from his face and closed his eyes.
Mark shook his head, then glanced at his wrist.
Thirty minutes to their arrival.
He exhaled.
He slowly turned around to leave the study.
With just thirty minutes left, he thought Damian might need this time to himself.
At least to adjust to the impending situation.
“I will be outside the door,” he said gently, and without waiting for his response, he left the study, closing the door behind him softly.
Meanwhile, in a luxury car speeding towards the upper district of South City, Sylvia and the old man sat side by side.
Sylvia’s grip on her wedding dress hadn’t loosened in the least, her gaze locked outside the window as she watched the scenery rush past.
She couldn’t help thinking that the rushing scenery mirrored her own life.
Everything had happened too quickly, leaving her no chance to stop, breathe, or change direction.
Like a train racing at full speed, her fate seemed destined to reach a destination she had never chosen..
“Leslie,” Valen Evercrest called gently, cutting through her thoughts.
“I know this might be too difficult, but I hope you can understand my heart as a grandfather.” Sylvia swallowed.
She dared not deny his words.
This was one hell of a difficult journey, but she really couldn’t do anything to him.
If there was anyone to be angry with, then it should be her parents, who were the architects of her misfortune…who, because of greed, had sold her away.
“I am Valen Evercrest,” the old man continued.
“The patriarch of the Evercrest family.” Sylvia’s head snapped to the side to look at the man beside her.
His name echoed in her head.
Her heart thumped hard against her chest.
‘Patriarch of the Evercrest family?
The dark horse of South City?
How on earth was that possible?’ Shouldn’t he be the family butler?’ Sylvia swallowed as her thoughts spun nonstop over the details she had heard about him.
It was said his grandson, Damian Evercrest, took after his nature…cold-blooded, heartless, and unforgiving.
Sylvia swallowed, her hands suddenly turning clammy at the revelation.
The name Valen Evercrest was synonymous with everyday news, yet not many people had ever seen him because he had always kept himself away from the media.
Several thoughts coursed through her mind.
‘Why was he the one who came personally for the wedding?’ ‘Was that to make sure they never backed out of the bargain?’ Her fists clenched tighter.
She could already smell her doom from afar.
She stared at him for a few seconds longer before swiftly lowering her head.
“I am sorry.
I didn’t recognize you earlier,” Sylvia explained.
Valen lifted his hand and patted her back.
“You don’t have to be so nervous.
I am not going to eat you up.
Besides, I would give my all to hear you call me Grandpa.” Sylvia’s eyes widened.
She wasn’t dreaming, right?
Valen Evercrest wanted her to call him Grandpa?
It couldn’t be that the devil had woken up on the wrong side of the bed and decided to do good.
Unaware of whatever was going through Sylvia’s mind, Valen continued.
“My grandson, like the rumors said, is crippled and blind.
I hope you won’t feel repulsed by him.” Sylvia swallowed and nodded.
Valen sighed softly “And he can be difficult sometimes…but he isn’t entirely bad.” Sylvia glanced at him briefly and retracted her gaze.
She couldn’t help wondering if he was saying his reputation as the “Devil” was a joke.
Valen stretched a file towards her.
“I have prepared brief information about him…you might want to take a look.” Sylvia nodded.
She really needed this.
She stretched out her hand and took the sealed envelope from him.
“Also, this is a copy of your marriage certificate…you might want to keep this.” Sylvia nodded as she took the certificate.
She was grateful for the old man’s thoughtfulness.
A soft smile crossed her lips, and the moment she turned her gaze ahead, the smile vanished.
A magnificent white mansion loomed ahead.
A large white gate stood dominantly.
And even from a distance, the inscription on the gate was clear.
“Welcome to Evercrest.”