로그인Elaine's POV. The next morning, Cyrus and I prepared to leave early. We even had to stop by a parlor to get me styled since the mansion didn't have an in-house makeup artist. Cyrus hadn't been content with me doing my own makeup; he insisted that I be styled by professionals so I would look my best. And he wasn't wrong—the result was a stunning outfit and flawless makeup. I wore a trendy yet elegant dress that looked sophisticated. When I finished, Cyrus stood behind me, gripping both of my shoulders as we looked at my reflection in the full-length mirror. "Look at that. You look completely different when professionals handle you. You really need to learn how to style yourself properly," he remarked. "I know that, but you have to remember that back in the province, I barely went anywhere except the fields or the theater. What did I know about makeup and hairstyling?" I retorted. He understood, though he still wanted me to explore and learn new things, especially since I would
Minutes passed as the party continued. Deciding to shift the conversation to keep Ivy from asking any more questions about Elaine's relationship, Maxine suggested that they all hang out the following day. "Let's drop it. You guys are probably just too stressed out with life. It's not right to dwell on depressing things in a place like this," Maxine said. "Why don't the four of us go out tomorrow? That way, you'll get to meet Cyrus and decide for yourselves whether he's a good person or not," Maxine added. "What? The four of us?" Elaine asked. "Since you're both in a similar situation—having your families arrange your marriages—a double date would be a great way to get to know each other," Maxine replied. Ivy was thrilled by the idea and immediately agreed. She hugged Xian, nudging him to see if he was on board. "Maxine is right. This way, we can find out if Elaine's boyfriend is actually a good guy. Come on, Xian, agree to come with us," she cajoled. Xian shook his head in dis
Inside the venue, the party was in full swing as guests mingled and conversed. The event was held to promote the restaurant, drawing in various shareholders alongside several prominent vampire families. Lu Fun Restaurant was a high-end establishment favored by the elite. Because it was famously owned by vampires, only a handful of werewolves were in attendance. Among them were Xian and Ivy, both of whom held shares in the company managing the venue. It was their obligation to attend such gatherings to attract customers and network for future events. As they were talking with some acquaintances, Ivy stepped away for a moment and returned to Xian with a drink. "Xian, are you hungry yet? The food is ready, so we can go join the other guests if you'd like," Ivy offered. "Alright, let's go eat with them," Xian replied. As they walked toward their table, murmurs swept through the surrounding crowd. "Wait, who is Lady Maxine with?" "She is stunning. Which family does she belong to?"
While inside the car on our way home from shopping for clothes, Cyrus and I talked about his situation. He admitted that he tried to obey and simply remain a good son, but he couldn't bear the thought of living with his fiancée, especially since she had no interest in the things he loved to do. "She almost never wants to come with me, and she always has an excuse because things that are my hobbies are forbidden in her family," he said. "Most of the time, I just end up tagging along at elite parties and talking to people I don't even know," he added. "Well, I suppose that isn't any different from what you do on the streets," I replied. "You don't understand. I want to be a normal person with freedom, and if I marry the woman they chose for me all those years ago, I'll be trapped in a relationship where I'll never be happy," he murmured. "That's one of the reasons why I finally decided to push through with my plan," he added. He simply sighed and asked me to stop bringing up the
After our conversation in the living room, Cyrus's family invited us out to eat at a restaurant. According to them, Cyrus's father couldn't stay long at the mansion because he had a business meeting that afternoon, leaving them with very little time. I had no choice but to tag along and simply listen. As they talked, they brought up the Brass family's businesses and just how immense their wealth was. He even mentioned that the very building we were heading to—a soaring structure with nearly a hundred floors—was owned by the Brass family. The gap between their wealth and my family's was astronomical, making me feel utterly small by comparison. Even so, I didn't feel like they were looking down on me. I knew they were sharing those details so I would understand what kind of family I was tying myself to. "Ten members of the noble Brass family are businessmen, and I want all my children to be businessmen as well." He stated that after Cyrus graduated and completed his two-year ser
The meeting had finally taken place between myself and Cyrus's family—the very people who had promised to help my family rise from the ruins of our collapsing businesses. To be completely honest, if I looked at the bigger picture, I should simply be thankful to them and accept this arrangement for the sake of the thousands of people who depended on the Volt lands. Yet, I was taken aback, completely unprepared for the warm greeting I received from Cyrus’s mother. Her voice was soft, and she was so breathtakingly beautiful that she looked like a celebrity. "No, she looks like a real princess in that elegant dress," I whispered to myself. Her soft hands, smooth and fair skin, rosy lips, and graceful movements—she was simply mesmerizing. "Mother, please let me introduce her to you first. It isn't right to just hug her straight away," Cyrus interjected. His mother smiled and stepped back to the sofa she had been sitting on earlier. "I apologize, I was just so excited that we finally







