Skye

In the fall of 2015, Elena Xia sat quietly on a slow train heading from the countryside back to Darenvil. She had been sent away at the age of nine and left there for more than a decade. Now, she was being brought home—not for love, but for a marriage arranged by the Xia family.

The man she was to marry, the heir of Green Garden, was rumored to be dying. Her two half-sisters had refused to wed a man on his deathbed, so the Xia family brought back the forgotten daughter they had abandoned.

Elena lay on her narrow sleeper berth, reading a book, when the door suddenly burst open. A cold gust of wind swept in, carrying with it the metallic scent of blood.

Elena looked up.

A tall figure staggered through the doorway, collapsing heavily onto the cabin floor—unconscious.

Before she could react, several men dressed in black stormed inside.

“Boss, there’s no one here. Let’s finish him off,” one of them said.

“Who said there’s no one?”

Her breath caught. The stranger collapsing into her cabin had dragged danger straight to her. The Scar Man’s eyes were sharp, murderous. There was no doubt he intended to kill her.

Elena’s lashes trembled as she took in the guns in their hands. She whispered, voice shaking, “I didn’t see anything. Please… don’t hurt me.”

The Scar Man stepped closer. He couldn’t see her full face beneath her veil, only a pair of bright, delicate eyes watching him—pleading, trembling.

He froze, momentarily stunned.

He had never seen such eyes.

“Well,” he said with a filthy grin, “maybe we don’t need to kill you. You can keep us company instead.”

Elena’s slender body trembled. Her voice cracked beautifully.

The Scar Man, already twisted by desire, dropped his weapon and reached for her, starting to unfasten her buttons.

But before he could touch her, a pale hand shot forward.

He stared at her eyes again—no longer trembling, no longer frightened.

“You—”

A silver needle pierced precisely into his temple.

Scar Man collapsed without another word.

“Boss!”

Before the others could react, the unconscious man on the floor suddenly opened his eyes. In one swift motion, he seized a fallen gun and fired. One by one, the men in black dropped to the ground.

It ended in seconds.

Elena stared, stunned.

The man stood up slowly. His gaze met hers—dark, deep, like two silent abysses. Anyone who looked too long might drown in them.

“Master, we’re late,” his subordinate rushed in, quickly cleaning up the mess and handing him a fresh veil to wipe his hands.

The man approached Elena.

He reached out and held her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look up.

“What should I do with you now?” he asked softly, amusement curling at his lips.

His presence was overwhelming—cold, powerful, dangerous. Even after wiping his hands, she could still smell blood on him.

Elena slapped his hand away.

“Ridiculous. I am the woman betrothed to the man of Green Garden,” she declared. “If anything happens to me, do you have any idea what trouble you’ll bring upon yourself?”

His brows lifted in interest.

“A Darenvil native, then?” he asked slowly. “You should know the whole city is talking about the Xia daughter who’s set to marry into Green Garden.”

“That’s me. So let me go. I didn’t see anything, and I won’t say anything.”

Her voice was steady, confident—nothing like the trembling girl from moments ago.

The man’s eyes lingered on her. Despite her pale complexion and messy clothes, her gaze was sharp, intelligent. Unusual.

He finally turned away, glancing back only once.

“We will meet again,” he murmured.

…

The Li Palace Manor was alive with wedding preparations.

“Elena, your mother died when you were nine, and you pushed our grandfather down the stairs yourself,” Yosline Xia hissed in the bridal lounge. “You’re a disgrace. A dog of the Xia family, not a daughter. Don’t forget your place today.”

Elena looked at her reflection calmly, then asked,

“You are!” Yosline snapped.

Only then did Yosline realize Elena had walked around her without fear. Even with her veil on, Elena’s bright eyes glimmered like gemstones. Jealousy twisted in Yosline’s chest.

She prayed Elena’s face was ugly—how could a girl raised like dirt possibly be beautiful?

“Elena, this is your lucky day,” Yuan Li and her husband, Zander Xia, entered with important guests behind them. “Be grateful. You’re finally useful to the family.”