Margaret knew that true love is revealed in hardship. Seeing Elowen’s hesitation, she felt doubtful but chose not to press further. "Elowen, I can’t accept this money. You should return it. That boy’s good intentions alone make me grateful and content..."

This money had been obtained through an agreement between Elowen and Dylan, specifically to fund her mother’s surgery. There was no way she would return it.

Seeing her mother’s firm stance, Elowen decided to secretly hand over the 300,000 dollars to the hospital later. Once the payment was made, there’d be no turning back, and her mother would have to accept the treatment.

With this plan in mind, she put the bank card away for the time being.

Margaret sighed, "It truly makes me happy to see you settled down... But marriage is no joke, my dear..."

Elowen pressed her lips together. She knew that unless she promised to bring Dylan to visit, her mother wouldn’t feel at ease. Determined, she finally said, "Mom, Dylan is currently on a business trip. I’ll bring him to see you as soon as he’s back!"

Margaret’s eyes brightened, her doubts eased considerably. She nodded, "Good... good..."

Perhaps exhausted by the recent events, Margaret’s eyelids drooped, and her voice grew weak. "I’m tired. I’ll rest for a while. You two should go home."

Elowen watched her mother drift into sleep. She tucked the blanket around her gently, then stood up with her niece in her arms and whispered to Iris, "Sis, let’s go."

Iris nodded.

The sisters left the room and headed straight to the payment counter to settle the 300,000 dollars.

Since Iris needed to care for her child and Elowen had to work during the day, Margaret had refused any night-time companionship since her hospitalization, worrying that they wouldn’t be able to rest properly.

However, after finishing her side jobs as a designated driver at night, Elowen would quietly return to the hospital to sleep by her mother’s bedside and leave for home to freshen up before work in the morning.

Elowen had become something of a celebrity at the hospital after the story of her saving Senior Mr. Lockwood spread, and the night nurses often paid extra attention to Margaret’s care.

Elowen had exchanged phone numbers with all the nurses. In case of any emergency, they could quickly reach her.

Holding her niece, Elowen walked out of the hospital with Iris. "Sis, are you going back tonight? Why don’t you and Emma come stay at our place?"

Given what had happened today, Elowen didn’t think it was wise for Iris to return home.

Iris nodded. "Okay."

She needed some time to clear her mind.

Her husband’s behavior today had hurt her deeply.

She hadn’t figured out how to face him when she returned.

"I’ll take you and Emma home first. I also need to pick up my folding bike," Elowen added. It was still early, and she planned to do a few more trips as a driver.

Iris knew her sister was picking up the bike to earn extra money, and she felt guilty. "Elowen, I’m useless, making you work so hard..."

She regretted marrying early and believing a man’s sweet lies. Now, tied down by her child, she was powerless to share the burden.

And seeing Elowen’s partner so willing to cover their mother’s surgery expenses today only made her feel more ashamed.

"Sis, what are you saying? We’re family. Besides, you’re taking care of Emma, which isn’t easy at all. Don’t overthink it. The surgery has been paid for, and we’ll ask the doctor to schedule it as soon as possible. Mom will be fine."

With that, Elowen gently patted her sister’s shoulder, "Sis, everything will be okay."

Iris nodded. "Once Emma’s a bit older and starts school, I’ll feel more at ease. Then I can go back to work--I can’t let you handle everything on your own."

Her husband was no longer reliable. It was only through this crisis that Iris realized who truly cared.

To comfort her sister, Elowen didn’t refuse Iris’s offer to share the burden. Once Emma was older, she fully supported Iris returning to work.

After chatting a bit more, Elowen finally dropped Iris and Emma off at home.

By the time Elowen fetched her bicycle, night had fully fallen. Wearing a reflective vest, she wove through the bustling streets, heading toward the only five-star hotel in Tainfield--Glorise Grand Hotel.

Elowen had become quite experienced at being a designated driver.

Guests at Glorise Grand Hotel were generally generous and often arrived in luxury cars, frequently attending drinking events. As long as she provided good service and ensured the clients reached their destinations safely, a good tip was almost guaranteed.

Fifteen minutes later, Elowen arrived at the hotel entrance. As soon as she parked, her ride-hailing app notified her of a new job.

Two minutes later.

Seeing Ronan emerge from the hotel, swaying unsteadily and waving his car keys at her, Elowen wasn’t surprised. After all, this wasn’t the first time her boss had given her business.

She quickly approached to support him. "Ronan, didn’t you just drink with Ophelia at lunch? How come you drank so much again tonight?"

...

Meanwhile, Dylan, fresh from a business dinner, was exiting the hotel surrounded by bodyguards.

The Glorise Grand Hotel was owned by the Lockwood family of Tainfield. As a result, Dylan always chose to entertain important clients at his family’s hotel.

After dinner, the clients would typically retire to the VIP suites within the hotel.

Tonight, Dylan was in a good mood, having just secured a multimillion-dollar deal.

Business was his only passion.

Even in the dim night light, the large group’s presence and aura were hard to miss.

Elowen’s attention was drawn to them.

While supporting a heavily drunk Ronan, she couldn’t help but glance in that direction.

The men, all in suits, stood tall with steady, powerful strides, like a group of elite soldiers.

And the man they surrounded, the center of attention, was exceptionally tall--probably around 6.3 feet.

One look, and Elowen found it hard to look away. Without comparison, there was no hurt...

The man stood out like a crane among chickens. Although his face was unclear, his distinguished features were evident even through the shadows. His aura was so strong that even his steps seemed to carry a gust of wind, exuding an emperor-like presence.

Curious, she asked, "Who’s that in the middle?"

"Hm?" Ronan, his mind dulled by alcohol, sluggishly followed Elowen's gaze. His voice was slurred but tinged with admiration. "Judging by that air, it must be Young Master Lockwood, head of the Lockwood family, the richest man in Tainfield. This hotel is his..."

Young Master Lockwood?

Elowen shrugged, losing interest.

Tainfield was a prosperous city, home to many prominent families. But she knew that ordinary people like her had no connection with those at the top of the pyramid, so she rarely gossiped about them.

Today was just an unexpected encounter--a fleeting glimpse that caught her attention. She knew she’d forget about it soon enough.

"Ronan, where’s your car? I’ll help you get in."

Elowen had already shifted her focus back to her work.

"Over there." Ronan pointed in a direction. Half of his body was practically draped over Elowen.

He couldn’t help but inhale deeply, catching the faint scent of her hair.

But Elowen was oblivious.

However, Dylan, who was walking straight toward his Bentley, was suddenly stopped by his assistant, Jasper. "Mr. Lockwood, I think I just saw Madam."

Dylan, flanked by his bodyguards as he headed toward the Bentley, paused slightly at Jasper’s words.

Thinking of the cunning schemer, he looked in the direction Jasper indicated. He immediately spotted the short, skinny little girl, half-carrying a man toward a Mercedes.

His eyes narrowed sharply, the gaze icy.

So he hadn’t misjudged her.

She had rushed to cozy up to another man right after getting their marriage certificate? And at night, no less, leaving from a "suggestive" place like a hotel?

Hmph.

While he felt no emotional attachment toward this nominal wife, he suddenly remembered being blocked by her earlier...

Yes, earlier today, he had generously lowered himself to call her several times. But all he got was the "busy line" message. Dylan was smart enough to figure out that she had blocked him too.

At first, he wasn’t angry; he simply found her too audacious. Blocking him--what nerve.

In all his life, Dylan had never been blocked by anyone!

But now, seeing the audacious little girl acting intimately with a stranger, his face darkened instantly.

Oh, it must be because she had seen him driving a minivan earlier, so she had shifted her target to a big spender with a Mercedes.

He had to admit he was glad he had tested her by driving a minivan.

"Look into it," he said, his voice low and cold, barely squeezed through his teeth.

He wasn’t interested in his nominal wife’s personal life. But since they were legally married and she had been personally chosen by his grandfather, he needed to gather evidence to present to his grandfather if her behavior was truly disgraceful.

It is better for the doer to undo what he has done. It would be best for his grandfather to annul this marriage himself.

"Yes, sir," Jasper nodded.

Once inside the car, Dylan massaged his temple, which was throbbing from the alcohol. His cold expression softened slightly.

Good. The very night after getting married, he had caught her misbehavior. It looked like it wouldn’t even take a month--just one day--to rid himself of this absurd marriage.

His mood improved significantly.