Chapter 3:

Elyse felt a wave of sympathy for Jayden as she looked at his legs. Once at the pinnacle of success, he now seemed vulnerable. His bride had callously abandoned him at the altar, showing him no respect, simply because he was disabled. He must have been even more devastated than she was.

Approaching Jayden, Elyse took his hand and said earnestly, "Don't worry. We are husband and wife now. I will take care of you for the rest of our lives."

Jayden's expression hardened. Could she really mean it? He doubted her sincerity, suspecting she was merely acting compassionate. Without a word, he maneuvered his wheelchair into the first-floor study.

"I'm sorry," Driscoll apologized. "Since his accident, he's been a bit more temperamental."

"It's fine. I understand," Elyse replied, waving dismissively. Anyone in his situation might be.

She then followed Driscoll upstairs to a second-floor room.

In the study stood Vinny Bailey, a bald man in a tight black shirt that accentuated his prominent tendons. Respectfully, Vinny lit a cigar for Jayden with a lighter.

"Joanna has gone abroad," Jayden said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "The Foster family is desperately seeking a solution. They've taken thirty million and five major projects from me. Is this their repayment? If I don’t teach them a lesson, others will see me as a pushover. The Fosters need to learn a few things."

"Do you want us to bring Joanna back?" Vinny inquired, nodding. "And regarding your new wife, should we… make some introductions?"

"No need," Jayden replied.

Cigar clenched between his teeth, he lifted a document from the desk and strolled to the window, leaving his wheelchair in a corner. The document detailed Elyse's life: childhood, college, and her romance with Theo.

He flipped through the pages casually. "An ordinary woman," he drawled. "She married me for my money."

The Owens' search for a wife for Jayden had been solely to secure an heir. Only the Fosters, who had profited greatly from their daughter's marriage, had offered their daughter. Their motive was clear: a trade of their daughter for resources and money. Vinny saw no other reason for Elyse's marriage to Jayden.

However, there was a twist: she was originally going to marry Theo Ward.

"Ward? The prominent Ward family?" Jayden raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. But the groom ran off to reunite with his ex-girlfriend after a phone call," Vinny paused. "Perhaps she married you to spite Theo Ward."

Jayden ceased reading and glanced at Vinny with annoyance. "You're oversimplifying. By marrying me, she stands to gain more. That's the real reason."

In Jayden's eyes, Elyse's true intentions remained hidden. But he didn't mind her interest in his money. He needed a wife to appease his family; a marriage of convenience would simplify a future divorce.

Perched on the edge of her bed, Elyse scrolled through trending topics: #BridegroomRanAwayForHisEx and #BrideMarriesStrangerToAngerHerRanawayGroom. She casually read the comments. The public found the situation unbelievable and both parties' actions unreasonable. Nevertheless, the situation had thrust Elyse into the spotlight. Some even discovered her violin playing and found videos of her performances.

Elyse was watching these videos when Theo called. "Where are you, Elyse? Let's meet and talk."

…