Chapter 2:

“My name is Elyse Lloyd. If you don’t mind, we can get married today,” she proposed confidently. Her bold proposal shocked the crowd, prompting several people to record the moment on their phones.

“Miss Lloyd, are you certain about this decision? Given my disability, I may not be able to provide the future you envision,” the man replied openly, gently urging her to reconsider.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Elyse responded with determination.

“I’m Jayden,” he introduced himself.

Seeing her resolve, Jayden Owen took her hand and expressed his concern. “I fear you may regret this later.”

Elyse remained silent, sure of her decision. She had once been focused solely on marrying Theo, who had never reciprocated her love. Now, her choice of husband seemed inconsequential.

After efficiently completing the wedding formalities at City Hall, Elyse and Jayden were married, officially husband and wife.

With the marriage certificate in hand, Elyse felt a profound sense of relief. Theo had broken her heart, and she was determined never to return to him. As for her father, since she wasn’t marrying into the Ward family, he had another daughter to consider. She understood her younger sister Mabel too well. Driven by greed, how could Mabel resist becoming Theo’s wife and a member of the Ward family?

Marrying Jayden was Elyse’s perfect escape from her family. She had no intention of returning home.

Gazing thoughtfully at the marriage certificate, Jayden asked, “What’s on your mind? Regretting marrying a disabled man?”

Elyse shook her head, grasped his wheelchair, and replied, “I think it was a good decision.”

Jayden smiled faintly, though his eyes betrayed skepticism and mistrust. How could any woman genuinely want to marry a disabled man? He suspected she was acting—an act that couldn’t last.

He needed a bride temporarily to distract his family while he pursued his own goals. He decided to see what she was up to.

Elyse helped Jayden into the car, and they drove to his house. Jayden’s home was opulent, with a garden, a swimming pool, a butler in a tuxedo, and uniformed maids. As Elyse stepped onto the plush wool carpet, she realized her new husband was far from ordinary.

The butler, Driscoll Lee, approached respectfully and asked, “Mr. Owen, is this your bride?”

Seeing the opulent house and recalling her husband’s full name, a realization dawned on Elyse. The Owens were the town’s most influential family, and Jayden Owen was particularly renowned for his business acumen and exceptional talent. He was one of the wealthiest men around. However, a car accident a year prior, which cost him his legs, had removed him from the public eye, and his achievements were largely forgotten.

She had married the legendary Jayden Owen.

Elyse remembered rumors of his engagement to a Foster girl. The bride who had disappeared on her wedding day was supposedly that Foster girl. At City Hall, she hadn’t considered Jayden’s full name. Had she known his background, she wouldn’t have had the courage to propose marriage.

Jayden noticed her shock and panic but remained silent, still doubting she hadn't recognized him. After all, his disability was well-known.

“This is Elyse Lloyd, my wife. From now on, she will be the hostess here,” Jayden announced firmly. “Joanna Foster escaped on our wedding day because she didn’t want to marry a disabled man,” he added bluntly.

“Joanna Foster disappeared on the wedding day?” Driscoll expressed surprise. The Foster family had been eager to marry into the Owen family, pushing for Jayden to marry Joanna. However, the bride had disappeared—a deliberate humiliation of Jayden.

Driscoll felt sympathy for him and offered consolation. “Sir, perhaps it’s for the best that she left. It seems you might have found the right person after all.”

Elyse’s unconcern for Jayden’s disability and her willingness to marry him meant something.