Chapter 2  

The skies had already darkened when they all left the Hunt family’s residence.

Eden followed Edmund and Melinda, returning to their residence.

Several years ago, the Hunt siblings had already moved out from where Catherine was staying.

The Hunt family was an old, prestigious family in Estburg. In terms of assets, they could probably rank second highest. That was why the children of the Hunt family would leave home as soon as they were married.

“Master Edmund, Madam Melinda.” A middle-aged woman opened the door. Melinda called her Mrs. Thompson.

Mrs. Thompson looked at Eden, who was behind them. There was a hint of disdain in her eyes, but she still respectfully said, “This must be Ms. Eden.”

“Mrs. Thompson, take care of her luggage and bring it up to her room. Give her the pajamas that I bought earlier and make sure she takes a shower.” Melinda’s thoughts were in shambles on the way home.

She couldn’t forget how her brother-in-law and his family had looked at her.

When they were teasing Eden about being uneducated, Melinda knew that they were also mocking her for how she was willing to sacrifice her daughter just so she could become related to a wealthy family.

Even though Melinda didn’t dare to show her anger in front of the rest of the family, she hadn’t smiled at Eden since then. “Your grandmother has already been admitted to the hospital. A VIP room. She needs 400,000 a month. Allow me to remind you that we’re spending a lot on her, so you have to go along with our arrangements.”

“Enough!” Melinda had just finished speaking when Edmund scolded her in a crisp voice. “She’s still your daughter. How can you speak like that as a mother?”

Melinda felt hurt as tears appeared in her eyes. “I’m doing all of this for our family. Don’t tell me you want Jas to marry the Wards instead?”

Edmund said nothing as his brows furrowed together in a moment of silence. He then looked at Eden. “If you’re not willing to get married to Alain, I can find a way to reject the marriage.”

Eden looked at him. Edmund was already fifty, but he had groomed himself well; she couldn’t see the scars that time had left on him. However, a sense of acuity would appear in his eyes every once in a while, but in front of Eden, he would maintain a warm composure.

Eden pursed her lips as she looked away. “I’m okay with it.”

“You...”

Edmund still wanted to say something when Eden cut him off. “I’m going to rest now.”

She looked down. While there was barely any expression on her clean face, a hint of annoyance slowly showed itself.

She was getting tired after spending a whole day riding in the car, and she wasn’t in the mood to entertain anyone’s nonsense.

Edmund looked at her slender figure. He didn’t know why, but he felt something clenching his heart. After a moment of silence, he asked her again, “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? Your whole life is on the line.”

Edmund was never on board with Melinda’s suggestion to have Eden marry into the Ward family.

Eden had never had her mother with her since she was little and lived a life of hardships with her grandmother in the countryside. He couldn’t watch a girl like her give up on her future like this.

“It’s fine.” Eden didn’t even turn around and followed Mrs. Thompson upstairs.

After putting away her luggage, Eden immediately switched on the black computer on her desk.

The computer’s desktop was empty. There were no applications on it at all.

Eden’s pale fingers started swiftly tapping away on the keyboard. Very quickly, a window popped up on the computer screen, and line after line of codes started to appear.

Two minutes later, she stopped.

On the computer screen was some information. Eden’s red lips formed a smile as she looked at the information.

Alain Ward?

She put her fingers under her chin as she looked at the photo of the man with a hint of assertiveness.

After a moment, she closed it and went to take a shower.

After she was done with her shower, someone requested a video call through Facebook.

She grabbed her towel and dried her hair as she accepted the request.

“I’ve been exposed.”

On the screen was a man with his hair dyed brown with green eyes, fair skin, a tall nose, a perfect figure and an aristocratic aura.

Eden’s fingers paused as she sat properly in her chair and threw her towel to the side. Then, her fingers danced on the keyboard.

After a moment, she grabbed her towel again and dried her hair. “All done.”

Eden realized that she was different from others even when she was little. When she was seven, she had already completed all there was to study from elementary school to senior high school.

When she was ten, she had already built her own computer and hacked a hacker website. No one found out who it was, even till today.

The person on the video call was Ryan Olson, a genius scientist. He had come up with countless great works that had shaken the entire world. Each of his work, if put on the market, could fetch a price beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

Many people wanted to capture him so he could develop dangerous weapons.

If it hadn’t been because of Eden, he would have died plenty of times already throughout these years.

Their relationship was beyond life and death. Eden knew Ryan was a genius scientist, but she also knew that he was more than that. She had never asked him about his other identity.

They respected each other’s boundaries.

Ryan found a safe place with a cigarette in his mouth. He looked relaxed, no longer tense about being pursued.

Eden glanced at him. “Is it very troublesome?”

“A little,” Ryan nodded. “But it’s fine. They’re no match against me when they come at me solo, but I hate it when they effing gang up on me.”

Ryan couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

“Want me to take care of it for you?” The droplets on her hair were finally dried out, and Eden once again threw the towel away. She then poured herself a glass of water and took a sip.

“It’s fine,” Ryan waved his hand. “I can deal with them. Are you investigating Alain Ward? Don’t expose yourself because of me.”

Eden shrugged and crossed her legs. She sounded a little exhausted. “Alright, then.”

“I’ll go look for you when I’m done...” Ryan said, before pausing for a moment. “You know that temper of yours better than anyone. That Alain guy is no ordinary guy.”

“Shut up,” Eden said, somewhat agitated. “I’m hanging up now.”

Skygarden, Estburg.

Alain stood in front of the picture window, the soft light showering from outside of the window, casting a long shadow behind him. His facial features seemed to be sculpted by the gods themselves, with a tall nose and thin lips.

There was barely any emotion shown on his face as his lips remained tightly closed. His dark eyes were like deep pools of water. As the light and shadow danced, he seemed to be enveloped by a regal aura.

“Master Alain, initially, the Hunt family wanted Jasmine Hunt to be part of the Ward family. But now, they changed it to Eden Griffith,” Caelus Dixon, who was wearing a black suit, stood behind Alain as he reported to him respectfully with a deep voice. “She’s the first daughter of Edmund Hunt’s wife. Shall we speak with them?”

“No,” Alain said in an indifferent tone as he turned around.

“I heard that she’s of ill character. She had been involved in fights and played truant from elementary school until high school. She was expelled before she could even complete her senior year and didn’t even have a high school diploma. How is she worthy of calling herself Madam Ward?” Caelus was quite irritated. Didn’t they know the consequences of fooling Alain?

Alain raised his eyebrow, his eyes darkening. “What kind of woman do you think is worthy of becoming Madam Ward?”

“She has to be exceptional, at least.” How could an ordinary woman be worthy of becoming his wife?

Alain narrowed his eyes. “Who’s willing to marry their outstanding daughter to someone with my physical condition?”

Caelus lowered his head and gritted his teeth. “I’ll find Nosoi to treat your sickness.”

“Nosoi won’t be that easy to locate.”

If Nosoi could be found that easily, there would be news by now, especially now that several months had passed.

Alain waved his hand. “Prepare some gifts. I cannot show disrespect when seeing my fiancée for the first time.”

“But...”

Caelus had more to say, but Alain simply gave him a stony stare. He had no choice but to shut up.