Elena hurriedly looked up, only to meet Richard’s lowered gaze.
He was tall—well over six feet three—and his broad frame stood like a solid wall, casting her completely in his shadow.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a powerful, muscular build were sharply outlined beneath his black suit. Everything about him looked restrained and commanding.
As he quietly looked down at her, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his breath brushed against the damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead.
Elena’s face, already pale from the cold, suddenly flushed as the warmth returned to her skin.
The color spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, even leaving a faint pink hue along her neck, like the first flush of dawn appearing across a field of snow.
Her lips had regained their color as well, becoming soft, full, and slightly parted. Water glistened faintly across them, making her look delicate and vulnerable, as though the slightest touch might send a bead of moisture trembling from them.
There were still droplets clinging to her eyelashes.
She slowly lifted them and looked at him.
The lingering shock in her eyes had yet to fade. They were damp and soft, carrying a trace of nervousness and an almost effortless, natural allure.
For a moment, she looked painfully vulnerable.
“…Mr. Sterling,” Elena said awkwardly. “You might not believe me, but I really didn’t do that on purpose.”
God knew she meant it.
If Richard hadn’t caught her just now, she could have taken a nasty fall.
Elena wanted to win him over, but she would never risk a concussion or broken bones just to test whether she could get closer to him.
“Hmm?”
Richard raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Why wouldn’t I believe you?”
“Because…”
Elena lowered her head slightly.
“I don’t really know much about your world, but I’ve seen enough to know that someone like you must have encountered all kinds of people trying to get close to you…”
Richard looked at her without revealing anything.
“Then you should also understand that after experiencing so many things, I can tell the difference between a real fall and a fake one.”
Elena blinked.
“Really?”
That was a relief.
Elena was happy for all of two seconds before she quickly came back to her senses.
“Anyway, thank you, Mr. Sterling—”
She instinctively tried to pull herself free, but the large hand around her waist didn’t move at all.
Instead, it tightened slightly against her lower back, as though he were worried she might slip again.
Elena could clearly feel the strength in his entire arm—from the web between his thumb and index finger all the way to his elbow. The powerful muscles beneath his sleeve pressed against her back, hard and radiating heat.
He steadied her against him, drawing her slightly closer until she regained her balance.
Water droplets fell from the ends of her hair and the hem of her dress, landing on his polished leather shoes and dampening a small section of his trouser cuff and the lower edge of his suit.
Richard looked down at her clear, misty eyes.
“…Go take a shower and change your clothes. Don’t catch a cold.”
Only then did he loosen his hold slightly, though his arm remained loosely around her waist, seemingly afraid she might lose her balance again.
The courtyard lights blurred behind him, casting his shadow over her completely.
Elena took a small step backward.
“Okay.”
She answered softly.
She picked up her phone from the long table nearby, then carefully made her way toward the main house.
Every step was cautious, as though she were afraid of slipping again.
Her wet hair clung to her slender back, droplets falling steadily behind her as she disappeared into the shadows of the corridor leading to the side entrance of the mansion.
Richard remained where he was, watching the figure disappear through the door.
He watched for a moment before slowly lowering his eyes to his soaked leather shoes and trouser cuffs.
The bodyguards and assistants were still facing away, like silent figures in the background.
The mansion was brightly lit, yet strangely quiet.
The young heirs had all fled, leaving behind only the faint scent of perfume and alcohol in the air as proof that the place had been lively just moments ago.
Elena stepped barefoot onto the cold, smooth marble floor.
She looked around the two-story living room.
The interior was luxurious but understated, with a massive crystal chandelier casting a brilliant yet cold light across the room.
Earlier, Victoria had taken Adrian and the others upstairs using the spiral staircase on the western side of the house.
The study was most likely over there as well.
Without hesitation, Elena turned toward the eastern side.
There was another, more discreet curved staircase there, covered with thick carpeting and leading to the second floor as well.
Elena went upstairs.
The hallway was spacious and quiet.
She casually pushed open the nearest door.
It was a guest room.
The room had a minimalist modern design, dominated by shades of gray and white. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the courtyard and the distant night view.
It also had its own bathroom and shower.
Elena stepped into the bathroom.
Inside, everything was finished in white marble.
There was a huge round soaking tub, a double vanity, and a mirrored cabinet filled with all kinds of high-end toiletries, most of them still unopened.
Elena couldn’t help feeling amazed.
Before transmigrating into this world, she had come from a relatively well-off family. Her parents had fully supported her dance training, so she had seen her fair share of nice things.
And yet, she was still shocked.
This one bathroom was bigger than her old bedroom.
And this wasn’t even the master bedroom.
A random guest room was already this luxurious.
Was this what a top financial dynasty looked like?
She locked the door behind her, quickly stripped off her soaked dress, and stepped beneath the warm stream of water.
The heat quickly washed away the chill that had settled into her body, along with the faint smell of chlorine from the pool.
Little by little, her tense nerves began to relax.
Elena quickly went over everything that had just happened in her mind.
In the original novel, the head of the Sterling family had barely appeared.
And the original Elena had never met Richard either.
What had just happened proved one thing—
the plot could be changed.
If that was true, then she wasn’t necessarily destined to die.
There was still a chance to save herself.
Downstairs, in the living room.
When Victoria received Charlotte’s message, she was still discussing a model parameter with Adrian.
When she learned that Richard had arrived, she quickly called everyone downstairs.
The four young men and women hurried down the stairs.
Richard was already seated on the sofa in the center of the living room, his posture relaxed yet carrying an invisible pressure that filled the space around him.
An assistant was quietly reporting something to him.
The man listened absentmindedly, his fingertips tapping lightly against the armrest.
“Dad.”
Victoria stepped forward with a perfectly measured smile.
“Why did you suddenly come over?”
She was wearing a champagne-colored knee-length dress, her long hair falling loosely over her shoulders in soft waves.
Victoria was beautiful, with a gentle and graceful presence. Every movement was elegant and composed, the unmistakable air of a well-bred heiress.
Only—
the fingers of her clasped hands tightened slightly, betraying a trace of nervousness that was almost impossible to notice.
Adrian and the other two stood a little farther back, somewhat restrained as they gave a slight bow.
“Mr. Sterling.”
Richard lifted his eyes and calmly swept his gaze over the group.
His eyes lingered on Adrian for two extra seconds.
His assistant had already told him.
This young man was the girl’s boyfriend.
Adrian was dressed simply in a white shirt and khaki trousers. He had a tall, lean build and handsome features, his expression calm and composed, with a hint of arrogance and aloofness.
Standing before a truly powerful man, the arrogance that belonged to a young man of talent had been restrained somewhat.
But his back remained perfectly straight.
“Hmm.”
Richard gave a brief response, acknowledging both his daughter’s question and the greetings from the others.
His tone was flat.
“I was at the golf estate discussing some business with a few guests from Europe. I happened to be passing by, so I came over to pick something up.”
Victoria smiled and nodded.
“I didn’t know you were coming, so I invited a few friends over. Some of them are also members of my project group. We were just discussing our topic…”
Richard gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.
“You need to improve your judgment when it comes to making friends.”
Victoria froze.
It felt as though she had just been slapped across the face.