Chapter 5 Stepping into Christian's Mansion

A hand reached out and grasped Elena's.

The elderly lawyer helped her to her feet before turning his icy gaze toward the surrounding servants and the approaching members of the Campbell family.

Meeting the old lawyer's eyes, Mr. Campbell instinctively paused.

Since when did that girl Elena know someone like this?

The lawyer, however, paid no attention to anyone else.

He handed Elena a contract along with a pen and got straight to the point.

"My master wishes to marry you, Miss Elena. As long as you sign this agreement, you will be free to leave the Campbell family. From this day forward, they will no longer be able to trouble you."

Elena stared at him in astonishment before absentmindedly taking the contract.

It was indeed a contract.

Every clause was cold, precise, and devoid of emotion.

The man she had never even met would provide for all her needs, solve every problem she faced, and ensure she lived without worry.

In return, she only had to appear whenever he needed her and satisfy his physical desires.

Behind her, Mr. Campbell exploded with rage.

"Elena, throw that thing away! You're not actually planning to sell yourself, are you? The Campbell family isn't so desperate that we'd let you do something like this!"

Elena's grip on the contract tightened.

The hesitation wavering in her heart vanished in an instant.

She picked up the pen and signed her name without another moment's thought.

Only then did her eyes drift to the signature already written on the other side.

Christian Forbes.

Forbes...

That was Ashton's surname as well.

But it was probably just a coincidence.

Just then, Vivian's shrill scream snapped Elena back to reality.

"Elena! How could you?! You bitch! Do you even realize what you've just done?!"

Mrs. Campbell looked equally disappointed.

"Elena, if you're so eager to get married, we've already arranged a match for you. You're still our daughter. Surely it's better to follow our arrangements than to marry a man you've never even met, isn't it?"

Elena let out a soft laugh.

She turned to face them and replied without the slightest hesitation,

"But I simply don't want your chosen man to gain even the slightest advantage."

The faces of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell instantly darkened with fury.

Vivian, on the other hand, lunged at Elena, seemingly intent on tearing the contract to pieces.

Elena sidestepped her effortlessly.

At the same time, the bodyguards behind her stepped forward, blocking Vivian's path.

Looking at Vivian screaming helplessly from the other side, Elena sneered.

"If the man you picked is really that wonderful, then I'll gladly give him to Vivian. Isn't she supposed to deserve the very best?"

The expressions of the Campbell family twisted in anger.

Without sparing them another glance, Elena turned around and walked away.

Although she had appeared calm and decisive, the moment she sat inside the luxurious car, she couldn't stop herself from feeling uneasy.

Her heart pounded so hard it almost hurt.

She turned toward the elderly lawyer.

"They..."

The lawyer answered immediately.

"After today, all ties between you and the Campbell family will be severed. They will no longer be able to use your blood relationship as an excuse to control or coerce you."

His voice was slow but firm, as though the matter had already been decided beyond any possibility of change.

Such confidence could only come from overwhelming power—

Power so great that even the Campbell family could not stand against it.

Thinking that, Elena found herself growing increasingly curious about the man who was now her husband in name.

The car eventually arrived at a magnificent, secluded mansion perched atop a mountain.

Its grand architecture and complete isolation made Elena feel as though she had wandered into a hidden castle known only to her.

Inside, rows of servants stood waiting in perfect formation.

The moment they saw her enter, they respectfully bowed.

"Ma'am."

After Elena walked past, they couldn't help glancing after her.

Exchanging looks, each of them saw the same curiosity reflected in the others' eyes.

Yet in this place, no one dared utter even a single unnecessary word.

As soon as they arrived, the elderly lawyer excused himself to attend to business.

The one guiding Elena now was the estate's butler—a refined man in his forties with an impeccably straight posture and an air of effortless elegance.

He led Elena to the largest bedroom on the second floor.

The moment the door opened, what greeted her was a palette of cold black and pristine white. The room felt elegant, yet strangely lonely and lifeless, making one wonder whether its owner ever came home at all.

As if answering the question lingering in the depths of Elena's heart, the butler spoke.

"Ma'am, the master is a very busy man. He frequently travels overseas on business. When he returns, I hope you will obey him and follow his instructions without question."

Unlike the ordinary servants, the butler clearly knew the truth about Elena's relationship with his master.

Turning to look at her, his aged eyes remained bright. There was no malice in them—only a sincere reminder.

"This is the only advice I can give you. Do not make the master angry, and do not do anything that displeases him."

Elena had already formed her own impression of the man who was now her husband in name.

He was probably an overbearing and domineering man who couldn't tolerate even the slightest imperfection.

But he was also undoubtedly powerful enough to command absolute loyalty from everyone around him.

Looking at the butler, she nodded.

"I understand. Thank you for the warning."

The butler smiled politely, bowed to Elena, and quietly took his leave.

He never believed Christian would develop feelings for Elena.

In fact, he had never believed Christian was capable of falling in love with anyone.

Marrying Elena was probably nothing more than fulfilling his late father's will...

Left alone, Elena sat down on the large, plush bed.

It was nothing like the bed she had slept on in the Campbell family's villa.

The room carried a faint scent of cedar, cool and refreshing, allowing her tense mind to relax ever so slightly.

Only slightly.

She looked around what would become her room and recalled the butler's words about her future husband.

Her heart was filled with both unease and curiosity.

Still, there was one thing she couldn't deny.

For the first time in a long while, she felt significantly lighter.

At the very least...

She had escaped the Campbell family.

She had escaped the fate they had chosen for her.

Even if the path before her now...

was far beyond anything she had ever imagined.