Jordan offered Ste a yful grin. “Well? bWhat /bdo you think?”

A wave of emotions crashed over Ste, leaving her momentarily speechless. She lowered her hand from the microphone, ready to reply

But before she could speak, Kevin’s urgent voice filled her ear. “Ste, I know your family’s in trouble, but you can’t let them drag you under. Divorce him. If he refuses, I’ll help you.”

“Kevin.” Ste’s voice was unnervingly calm.

Kevin froze, instantly recognizing the quiet finality in her tone.

“Kevin, I’m an adult,” said Ste. “My decisions are my own, and they’re made with care. I’ve known Jordan far longer than you realize. I know him. I appreciate your concern, but honestly? It’s unnecessary.”

Kevin’s voice tightened with desperation. “I don’t buy it. How could you possibly know him? Your worlds are gxies apart. Ste, don’t concoct stories just to shield me. I told you, I’m here. We can face this together.b” /b

Ste remained calm, her voice level. “Remember that online friend I mentioned to you and Emily?”

A heavy silence stretched across the line. Then, understanding seemed to bdawn /bon Kevin.

“This conversation is over. We’re heading home now. Thank you, Kevin.” Without waiting for a reply, Ste ended the call.

A yful smirk tugged at Jordan’s lips. “So… married less than an hour and I already havepetitionb?/b”

“He’s my friend, Jordan. Nothing more.” Ste’s gaze dropped briefly to her hands. ‘Who could possibly love someone like me now?‘ The thought flickered, but she pushed it aside. From this moment on, learning to love herself was enough.

On the drive home, Jordan directed the car to an exclusive boutiqueb, /bemerging with an extravagant pile of gifts. Ste caught his wrist. “Why are you buying all this? They don’t deserve it.”

Jordan gently disengaged her hand. These aren’t for them. Isn’t your grandma at home?”

A genuine smile touched Ste’s lips. The realization struck her: in the short time since meeting Jordan, sheughed more than in the entire past three years.

An Altair Karman sedan glided smoothly into the Hayes residence. This was no ordinary car–it was a limited–edition model, with only ten units produced worldwide, and their owners were no secret to anyone,

Yet here it was, being driven right into their gates, leaving the entire Hayes family dumbstruck.

Their disbelief turned to utter shock when Jordan himself emerged, then walked around to open the passenger door for Ste. Inside the house, stunned silence reigned.

The driver began unloading gifts from the trunk. The sheer volume required five trips bback /band forth.

As Ste and Jordan entered the living room, Fiona finally stammered, “Ste. Wh–what is going on?”

Ste ignored Fionapletely. Spotting Mary descending the stairs, she called her directly. “Mary, is Grandma at home?”

“Yes, she’s upstairs,” Mary replied.

“Would you please help me invite Grandma down?” Ste asked politely.

“Certainly,” Mary answered, a familiar warmth spreading through her chest. Ste’s consistent politeness and respect stood in stark contrast to the dismissive attitude of the other four Hayeses.

Eleanor walked downstairs with Mary’s help, her arm gently resting on Mary’s for bnce. Andrew, Fiona, and the others quickly stepped aside to let her pass.

“Grandma,” Ste said, stepping slightly forward, “this is Jordan Erwin.” She drew a steadying breath. “We were married, and here’s our certificate.” She handed the document to Eleanor. “And these gifts,” she gestured towards the impressive pile, “are all from Jordan, chosen especially for you.”

Eleanor took the marriage certificate and examined it with deliberate care, Andrew and Fiona immediately jostled to peer over her shoulders. Max and Anna also craned their necks for ba /bbview/b.

Ste noted, with cold satisfaction from her periphery, the dark clouds of displeasure gathering on the four faces.

Ste’s gaze fixed on Anna, her voice icy. “Recovered remarkably fast, I see. Discharged already?”

Anna opened her mouth, but Fiona cut across. “Your sister… well, the hospital environment wasn’t conducive. The doctor rmended home rest. Her leg is fractured. Perhaps, when Dr. Martin visits you, he could check her too.”

Ste kept her eyes locked on Anna. “A fractured leg requires strict bbed /brest, bdoesn’t /bit?”

“She was justing down for dinner. Wait!” Fiona’s voice sharpened. “You still haven’t apologized to Anna. How dare you interrogate her now? And this,” she gestured wildly at Jordan and the gifts. “Exin yourself. How could you marry without our consent?”

“I gave my consent,” Eleanor dered, her voice cutting through Fiona’s tirade. She mmed the marriage certificate onto the coffee table. “You forfeited the right to care about Ste’s choices long ago. She asked me. And I gave my blessing”

“Eleanor,” Fiona interjected hastily, “it’s only concern. bSte’s /bso young. And Mr. Erwin…” she gestured nervously towards Jordan, “she’s never brought him home, never introduced him properly. We’ve only heard rumors…”

The warmth Jordan showed Ste was gone. He sat perfectly still on the sofa, radiating a bone–chilling aura of menace. It was as if an arctic wind had swept into the room, pushing everyone back instinctively. “Well?” he raised his eyebrow.

Ty, yet you’re

Andrew began, finding his voice, “Mr. Erwin, this is profoundly unexpected. You and Ste never met befor married? Surely you understand a parent’s concern. She is our daughter. Given her hardships, we only desire, er eventual happiness.

Jordan reached out, drawing Ste protectively against his side. Ste tensed momentarily, then allowed herself to lean in. “I’ve recently be acquainted,” Jordan said, his voice dangerously quiet, “with the depths of suffering Ste has endured.”

Jordan’s gaze rested on Ste, filled with a tenderness that vanished as he turned back to Andrew and Fiona, his expression hardening. “Ste and I knew each other online. Years ago. Then, she vanished.” His voice grew bcolder/bb. /b“I didn’t know she’d beent kidnapped.

“I heard…” His voice abruptly btrailed /boff, creating an almost suffocating tension in the air. “Back then, because you refused to pay the ransom, the kidnappers sold her off to Middle–South Yaria, and even cut out one of her kidneys.

“After she miraculously escaped, fate dealt her another cruel hand, dragging her into a remote town.

“If she bhadn’t /bbeen strong enough, smart enough to save hersell, I wouldn’t have found her standing here today. Is that right?”

b50/bb% /b

The final three words struck like physical blows. Stark panic red across the faces of Andrew, Fiona, Max, and Anna. They knew Jordan only by his fearsome reputation. And yet, here was Ste, bringing the monster himself into their living room.

“Because of you, we lost years. And after everything you put her through,” he pointed a finger at Andrew and Fiona, “you tried bto /bsell her to that bastard Henry?”

Andrew and Fiona, who had intended to confront Ste, found themselves pinned under Jordan’s cial fury. They stood frozen, utterly speechless, as a thick, suffocating silence engulfed the room.

Jordan turned back to Ste, his expression softening infinitesimally. “My Ste exined,” he said, his voice regaining a hint of warmth, “bthat /bgiven your history, bseeking /byour opinion was never a consideration.

“Only yours mattered, Mrs. Hayes.” He shifted his focus fully to Eleanor, his voice softening further. “Do we have your blessing?”

Andrew and Fiona exchanged frantic looks, then directed urgent, pleading stares towards Eleanor.