Dylan had been working through the night, and by now, his patience was nearly depleted. He really didn't have the energy to argue with his grandfather any further.

"I'll have someone take you back to the estate," he told his grandfather. Though his tone was polite, it left no room for negotiation.

Senior Mr. Lockwood was briefly taken aback by the aura of authority his grandson unintentionally exuded.

Despite maintaining a cold and dignified image as the heir of a wealthy family in public, Dylan had always been reserved, obedient, and respectful in front of him.

Senior Mr. Lockwood's mustache twitched, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Dylan's long legs were already moving, and he had stepped into the car.

As he watched the Bentley drive away, Senior Mr. Lockwood was left feeling uncertain...

...

Meanwhile, Elowen weaved through the streets on her electric scooter, her mind replaying Dylan's icy expression. She couldn't deny that it bothered her.

That's why she hadn't even bothered to say goodbye to him.

After all, she had saved Senior Mr. Lockwood's life. Even without the marriage, Dylan should at least treat her with some basic courtesy, right?

But his sour face seemed to say that she was marrying him solely for his family's wealth.

The more Elowen thought about it, the angrier she got. Suddenly, she remembered what Grandpa Lockwood had said:

"...My grandson may look grumpy all the time, a bit fierce, with a bad temper. But don't take it personally; deep down, he's a good person. He just doesn't think like normal people..."

Ah, she had been too distracted by his good looks and forgotten Grandpa Lockwood's warning.

Recalling Grandpa Lockwood's words, Elowen suddenly felt less upset. Everyone had different personalities, after all. As long as Dylan stuck to the agreement after marriage, she could be understanding.

Her mind kept drifting back to when the 300,000 dollars would be transferred to her account. She kept checking her phone for the bank notification while riding.

Maybe she was too distracted, because when she reached an intersection, she failed to notice a car making a right turn. The vehicle was almost upon her before she realized it, forcing her to slam on the brakes in panic!

Luckily, she wasn't going fast, or else she would have crashed.

The car's driver was startled and rolled down the window to shout, "Do you even know how to ride?!"

To make matters worse, there was a large puddle nearby. The car sped through it, splashing muddy water all over Elowen before driving off.

This entire scene was witnessed by Dylan, sitting in the back seat of the Bentley behind her.

His expression remained indifferent, but inwardly, he sneered: Foolish woman.

The driver, aware that their boss had just registered his marriage today, was meeting the future Mrs. Lockwood for the first time.

Observing the situation, the driver slowed down. Before he could ask if Dylan wanted to stop and help his wife, he caught a glimpse of Dylan's piercing, cold gaze in the rearview mirror.

"Don't want your job? Speed up."

The words were light yet chilling. The driver quickly averted his gaze, clutching the steering wheel with both hands as he pressed the gas pedal and drove past Elowen.

Unfortunately for her, the Bentley hit the same puddle. The dirty water splashed over Elowen once again.

Elowen, "... Are you kidding me?!"

Driver: Apologies, Mrs. Lockwood.

...

The Bentley's windows were tinted to prevent prying eyes, so Elowen had no idea that the passenger inside was the husband she had just married.

As the luxury car sped off arrogantly, she waved her fist angrily at the air, muttering, "Rushing to reincarnate or something?!" Her round face puffed up with frustration.

She was on the verge of tears. Fortunately, her mental resilience kicked in, reminding herself not to stoop to the level of rude people.

Pressed for time, she managed to arrive at Ronan Dental Clinic five minutes before clock-in.

Ronan Dental Clinic was one of the top clinics in Tainfield, known for its strict management and large scale. The recruitment process was notoriously tough due to the good benefits.

When Elowen pushed the door open, the meeting room was already full. She tried to sneak in unnoticed, but her eyes quickly caught sight of her friend, Ophelia Barrett, waving at her.

Ophelia had saved her a seat. Elowen ducked her head and hurried over, sitting down next to her friend.

"Elowen, why are you so late today? That's not like you," Ophelia whispered in her ear.

Elowen was known as the model intern of her group. She was always the first to arrive at every morning meeting, and her diligence was evident to everyone. So, even though she wasn't late today, her last-minute arrival was surprising.

Elowen glanced at her boss, Ronan, who was sitting at the head of the table, reviewing meeting notes. She leaned closer to Ophelia and whispered, "Don't ask. I could have been here earlier, but something happened on the way... I think Mercury is in retrograde for me today. I got splashed twice by the same puddle."

Ophelia gave her a sympathetic look. "Are you okay?"

Elowen shook her head and replied lightly, "I'm fine. See, I'm sitting here perfectly well."

Ophelia nodded knowingly and then motioned toward Ronan. "I've got good news! I just heard that if nothing unexpected happens, my cousin will announce your official hire today."

"Really?" Elowen's eyes widened with joy. "That's wonderful!"

She couldn't help feeling thrilled, as the base salary plus commission after becoming a full-time employee would amount to at least 20,000 dollars a month.

She needed the money badly, and this was undoubtedly the best news of the day.

Elowen managed to keep her excitement in check until the meeting was nearly over. As expected, her dashing boss cleared his throat and announced her official hire.

When the meeting ended, Elowen felt like she was walking on air as she began her workday.

At lunchtime, she stretched her stiff neck, changed into a spare set of clothes at the clinic, quickly grabbed lunch, and rode her scooter to the hospital to bring food to her mother.

However, as Elowen arrived at the hospital, a sense of anxiety crept in. She was now married, but she hadn't told her mother about it yet.

She hadn't decided how to break the news, so she planned to keep it a secret for now. But when her mother's gentle gaze met hers, an inexplicable sense of grievance welled up, turning into a lump in her throat.

No matter how strong and independent she tried to be, she was still just a young woman who had barely stepped out of college...

She had married without consulting her mother. It was a big decision, and she would have to face whatever came next alone, whether good or bad.

Fearing that her expression might betray her and arouse her mother's suspicion, Elowen decided to eat her own lunch in the hallway. Besides, her mother usually ate by herself and didn't like to be fed.

She placed the chicken soup she had bought for her mother on the bedside table, adjusted the bed, and then retreated to the hallway with her own simple sandwich.

The hospital's overhead lights were always on. During the day, only a few were illuminated, casting a soft glow that offered a sense of hope.

From the elevator, a pair of long legs stepped forward, stopping at the corner.

The man wore a well-tailored black suit, the stark contrast highlighting his pale skin. His cold, noble aura carried a distinct chill.

When he spotted the little girl sitting in the hallway, taking big bites of a sandwich, his chiseled jawline tightened, and his sharp eyes darkened.

It was her?

"That's Mr. Lockwood." His assistant, Jasper Pierson, noticed his boss had suddenly stopped and asked curiously.

Dylan turned his head, shooting Jasper a silencing look.

Then, his gaze returned to the girl, his deep black eyes narrowing slowly with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny...