Chapter 5

Dumbstruck, everyone stared at the nylon string on the table.

"How impudent!" Carl snapped as he stared after Elijah's retreating figure. "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Even if you did get a fake, it's not your fault. The fact that he tore the painting apart just like that proves that he's the one who doesn't know how to act with propriety!"

He proceeded to console Jared by saying, "Plus, looking at the painting now, it's evidently the work of a master forger. It's completely normal for you to have failed to notice it was a fake. You don't need to feel bad about it, Jared."

Looking utterly red in the face, Jared jumped up from his seat and declared, "Mr. Ludwig, I'll pay top dollar to get a real one for Ciara right away!"

"Jared, desperate times call for desperate measures," Carl said earnestly. "The Greers are moving aggressively against us. We can't delay any longer. You and Ciara should get married as quickly as possible!

"I think you two should get married within the next three months. Let's have a grand wedding ceremony at Gallian Hotel and invite all of the most prominent figures in Ashford. We will announce to everyone that the Ludwigs and the Hudsons will officially be joined in matrimony!"

"Of course, Mr. Ludwig!" Jared exclaimed in reply as he shot to his feet, his face flushed. He couldn't resist looking over at Ciara. His heart was pounding wildly.

At least, his dream was about to come true! He sorely wished he could skip ahead to their wedding night. He couldn't wait any longer.

Under his gaze, Ciara turned crimson, too, though she felt somewhat lost and uneasy. Was she going to get married just like that?

She couldn't stop herself from looking out the door at Elijah, who had just left.

…

After leaving the Ludwig residence, Elijah shook his head and decided to look for Lynette. After asking around in Ashford, at last, he arrived at Peak Heights, a wealthy neighborhood perched halfway up a hill, at nightfall.

Standing at the entrance, he marveled, "Is she that rich?"

Having asked around about Lynette, he knew who she was and couldn't help but be amazed.

Who were these people that Alaric had set him up with? They were all accomplished or prominent figures in one way or another.

The first fiancée he encountered had been Ashford's famed genius doctor, and now, his second was the heiress of the Gray family!

At the guardhouse, Elijah approached the security guards and said sincerely, "Listen to me. I really am Lynette Gray's fiancé, and I'm here to see her. Look. I have the marriage agreement right here. Do I not look like I could be her fiancé?"

Alas, they stared at him as though they were eyeing a fool.

"Guys like you show up here in droves every single day!"

With flashlights in hand, the guards eyed Elijah with hostility. It was clear they thought he was some kind of clown. How could someone dressed so shabbily claim to be Lynette's fiancé? He seemed more like a beggar who was here to get money!

"Get lost! Scram!" the guards yelled at Elijah.

Elijah couldn't do anything but sigh. He couldn't help it that everyone was so ignorant. Taking a seat under a tree outside the residential compound, he clutched his bag with one hand and rubbed his abdomen with the other.

He hadn't eaten all day, and his stomach was growling from hunger now.

He started looking around.

Just then, a red sports car drove up to the entrance, the engine giving off a luxurious purr. The arrogant security guards immediately bent over backward to greet the driver.

"You're back, miss! I'm sure you must be tired from inspecting the company today. Please, do proceed right in!"

Miss?

Could it be that Lynette was back?

Eyes brightening, Elijah clambered onto his feet and ran toward the red sports car. Before it could enter the compound, he pounded on one of the windows and cried out, "I've finally found you, my love! If you'd returned any later, these people would've made me starve to death!"

The security guards were outraged. They had never met anyone as brazen and shameless as Elijah before.

The car window slid down to reveal two women who looked slightly flabbergasted.

Elijah looked at Lynette, who was in the driver's seat. She had fair skin, elegant features, and cherry-red lips, but everything was tinged with frostiness. Just one look at her face was enough to chill someone to the bone.

If one were to describe Ciara as a cold yet charmingly beautiful woman, Lynette surpassed her by being a cold and regal beauty. With how commanding her presence was, no one would dare to overlook her.

Elijah was startled. The driver wasn't a total stranger to him. He recognized her! It was the woman who had fainted at the bus stop this morning.

He glanced down at her collar, only to find that she had changed out of the Chanel blouse he had ripped open earlier. He couldn't resist gulping.

"It's you, the pervert!" Wendy, who was sitting beside Lynette, screeched in fury. "Grab him!"

She recognized him, too. He was the country bumpkin from the bus stop earlier today. She couldn't believe he was shameless enough to camp out here and wait for the two of them!

"Sorry to disturb you!" Elijah hastily said before running off. He inwardly cursed his rotten luck today.

"Stop right there!" Wendy yelled angrily.

Elijah sped up, running as fast as he could, but soon, he was hauled back to the car.

Seeing the hostile expressions on both women's faces, especially Lynette's, he asked meekly, "Are you going to settle the medical fee? I shouldn't have asked for ten thousand dollars. That's a bit much.

"Tell you what, I'll give you a hefty discount. I'll only take eight thousand dollars. Do you want to pay by cash or make a transfer?"

"You even have the nerve to ask for money?" Wendy snapped sarcastically, her eyes blazing with rage.

Yet, to everyone's shock, Lynette gave Elijah a once-over before saying curtly, "Get in."

"Huh?"

Elijah was stupefied.

"Hey, now. I'm warning you. My fiancée is—"

Ignoring Elijah's protests, the security guards stuffed Elijah into Lynette's car, and she drove through the residential neighborhood before arriving at a lavish villa. Then, she led him into the house.

Not long after, Thomas Gray, a man with a severe-looking expression, came down from the second floor.

"Dad," Lynette greeted. "This is the man who saved me this afternoon when I had an episode due to my heart condition."

Thomas immediately frowned and chided Lynette, "I've already spoken to you about this. You couldn't possibly have had an episode earlier. Moreover, we have Dr. Larson here with us. You don't need to seek any other doctor. You must be misremembering things!"

"That's impossible!" Lynette swiftly refuted. "I'm the patient. I know my condition the best!"

Thomas' frown deepened as he eyed Elijah in hostility.

Lynette's fragile heart syndrome was known as one of the Five Major Declines, a concept in traditional medicine. It was an incurable condition. He had hired countless medical experts from all over the world, but none could find a way to treat her.

Each time Lynette got an episode, all they could do was tend to her unfailingly for three days to save her from the brink of death. But now, she was saying that a country bumpkin had treated her?

He couldn't believe a word of it.

"Just let Dr. Larson check on me and see for yourself," Lynette adamantly insisted. "Please come over here, Dr. Larson."

Throughout the whole time, Elijah stood on the side, feeling completely perplexed.