Chapter 2

Behind his dark glasses, his eyes seemed to shift.

Jayden did not answer. He only tilted his head slightly, as if he were trying to locate me by sound.

At once, whispers spread through the crowd.

"Has Charlotte lost her mind? Elijah just left her, and now she is going after Jayden?"

"Everyone knows Jayden has a strange temper. Last time, a socialite tried to approach him, and his bodyguards threw her into the sea."

"This will be interesting. The Sinclair heiress is going to embarrass herself today."

I ignored them. I kept my eyes on him, steady and intent.

"Mr. Hunt, my name is Charlotte. I am the only heir to Sinclair Group."

I lowered my voice and spoke quickly, so only he could hear me. "I know your situation. Your brother, James Hunt, is in control now, and you have been pushed aside. You need a wife with a clean background and enough power to block your family's pressure and their tests."

I paused for a breath, then continued. "And I need a husband who can stand above Elijah."

"This is an exchange. We both get what we need, so it is fair."

Jayden's fingers tapped lightly against his cane, and a steady rhythm filled the air.

Each soft tap seemed to land against my chest.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. His lips parted slightly, and his voice was low and rough, with a hint of amusement.

"Ms. Sinclair, you just got rid of your fiancé, and now you are in such a hurry to find someone else?"

"That is not what I am doing," I said, and I corrected him calmly. "I am choosing something better."

He let out a quiet laugh, and the corner of his lips lifted beneath the dark glasses.

"Choosing something better. Interesting."

Then he raised his hand. His long fingers found my chin with perfect accuracy, and he held it in place.

His grip was firm, and it left no room for resistance.

"You are not afraid of me?"

"I am," I answered honestly. "But I am more afraid of being disgusted to death."

Compared to a hypocrite like Elijah, someone like Jayden, who showed his nature openly, felt almost safer.

At least he would not claim to love me while pushing me toward death.

His thumb brushed lightly against my chin, as if he were weighing something in his mind.

A few seconds passed. Then he let go and spoke in a calm voice.

"As you wish."

He turned his head slightly and gave an order to the bodyguard behind him. "Go and inform the captain. Tell him to prepare for a wedding."

In an instant, the entire hall erupted.

Everyone had expected Jayden to throw me out. No one thought he would actually agree.

At that moment, Elijah came back with Mia in his arms.

Her hair was messy, and her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. She leaned against him and looked fragile, like a frightened rabbit.

Elijah's face was full of anger. It was clear that he had already heard the commotion.

"Charlotte, have you no shame?"

He rushed over and pointed straight at Jayden. "You would rather marry this blind cripple than admit you were wrong to me?"

I stepped forward at once and stood in front of Jayden. Then I looked at Elijah with a cold expression.

"Elijah, watch your mouth."

"He is my fiancé, and he is the second son of the Hunt family. Who do you think you are, speaking to him like that?"

Elijah let out a sharp laugh. "Fiancé? Charlotte, have you lost your mind? He is useless. What does he have besides money? Can he give you happiness? He cannot even walk on his own."

Mia spoke up softly from his side, her voice gentle and weak. "Charlotte, I know you are angry with Elijah, but you should not treat your future like a joke. Mr. Hunt has a disability, so how can you"

A sharp slap cut her off.

The sound echoed through the hall.

Mia covered her face and stared at me in shock.

Elijah's eyes widened with rage. "Charlotte, how dare you hit her?"

"I hit her because she deserved it."

I flexed my wrist and looked at them both with a hard gaze.

"First, this is between my fiancé and me, so it is none of your business. Second, if I hear one more word of disrespect toward Mr. Hunt, I will make sure you regret it."