“I, Elior Crestfall, hereby vow…"His voice rang out, steady, and unwavering. “To live the rest of my life with you. No matter what happens after today... I am yours, Liliane. In heart, name, and soul.”A thousand golden lights sparkled across the Crestfall ancestral manor, casting a warm glow over the hushed, breathless hall.He slid the golden ring onto her finger.Liliane Whitmore—radiant in her ivory gown—let out a soft, tearful laugh and threw her arms around him.“I love you, Elior,” she whispered against his shoulder. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this day…”A soft murmur rippled through the crowd. Then a gentle applause and a few warm chuckles.Elior Crestfall—the revered heir of the legendary aristocratic Crestfall dynasty was finally home. For ten years, he'd been the unseen spearhead behind the family's expansion abroad. It was his brilliance, not just blood, that raised the Crestfall armies and built empires across borders.Tonight, the prodigal heir had returne

WHITMORE ESTATE“Why are you so stubborn, Liliane? Take off that cursed ring before you poison our bloodline any further.”Lady Virelle-Her stepmom’s voice cut through the silence like a bladeLiliane sat still, spine rigid, fingers unconsciously curled over the band on her ring finger. Her eyes burned, but her voice remained calm."No way, ma'am. I’ll die wearing this ring.”Lord Whitmore slammed the arm of his chair. "Five years, Liliane. Five! And you still disgrace me like this?” He barked in anger as he shoved a set of papers across the table, it's the divorce papers Darian helped prepare.“Sign it and marry Mr. Darian. He’s loyal and more than capable. And you know he’s been funding this family’s debts for half a decade.”Liliane slowly rose to her feet. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, like she was holding herself together by force. "You can threaten me, starve me, strip me of everything, but I will never betray my husband. He loves me and I love him too”Darian stood n

TWO WEEKS LATER“If you don’t sign that divorce paper within a month, I’ll kill that lunatic myself, I promise.”Darian’s voice still echoed in Liliane’s mind like a loaded gun. It was the threat she received two days ago, and she knew better than to take it lightly.She knew how evil Darian can be when he's obsessed. All this started when he framed Elior five years ago, after all.She turned her gaze to Elior, lying shirtless on the bed, eyes glued to the phone she bought him, playing a video game. He looked peaceful and naive.But Liliane knew better—He’s not safe. Not with Darian counting days. She started pacing the room, heart pounding in her chest.“What should I do? What should I do?” she kept whispering over and over, like a mantra battling madness as she thought of tricks and possible outcomes, panic building.Then she stopped mid-step, a wild idea struck. “Yes... If I can manage to get pregnant before the month ends, Darian won’t be able to bring up some ridiculous divorce a

“Unhand her. NOW!” Elior’s voice cut through the hall like a whip, sharp and commanding as he strode into the room slowly, with the commanding presence of a lion reclaiming his den.The guards, terrified, dropped Liliane as though burned. She stumbled back to her feet and ran straight into Elior’s arms, sobbing into his chest.“Wow! He's really mad, look at his eyes" Louisa muttered.Elior wrapped a firm arm around her waist, steadying her. His gaze swept the hall coldly.“Just what exactly is your problem with her? Huh? Is your humanity really worth less than money?” Elior shouted, his voice echoing through the hall. “Would ten billion dollars be enough for you to treat my wife like a human she is, then?” He continued.A beat of silence then a few chuckles rippled across the family members."Ha! I swear he’s crazier than I thought.” "Ten billion? Even filthy beggars now daydream in billions?” "She’s practically hugging a lunatic. In public. This is pathetic.”Then Lord Whitmore rose,

They pushed through the banquet doors, stepping into the cool night air. The echoes of cruel laughter trailed behind them, fading into the distance as they walked down the dimly lit street. The glitter of the city lights bounced off the wet pavement, and Liliane’s worn-out dress clung to her with every gust of wind.Her fingers tightened around Elior’s hand. She swallowed hard, forcing a smile, though her voice cracked when she spoke.“Babe… I’m sorry this is all I could afford for you. A secondhand dress… and still, they mocked me. After all these years, I should’ve given you more.”Elior stopped abruptly, turning to her. His hands rose to her shoulders, steady and firm, making her look straight into his eyes. The faint glow of the streetlamps caught the sharp edge of his jaw, his gaze burning with something fierce.“Don’t you ever apologize for that again. You’ve already given me more than anyone ever could. You waited, Liliane. Through shame, through scorn, through five long years—