The Bïllionaire's Retruutioñ

At Moon Bar, Elena drowned herself in glass after glass of alcohol, not knowing how much she had consumed. Her head spun, and her heart ached with every thought of her ruined happiness.

Vivian and Selena had schemed against her, and Ethan had abandoned her without a second thought.

"Elena, stop drinking!" Sophia Lane snatched the glass from her hand. Seeing the pain etched on Elena's face, Sophia's own heart ached. "It's horrible how they switched the bride. But at least you escaped from the Caldwell family's clutches. Otherwise, your life would've been completely ruined."

Sophia changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood. "Honestly, if Mr. Blackwell wasn't rumored to be dying, the title of Mrs. Blackwell would've been better than Mrs. Caldwell anyway."

The eldest son of the Blackwell family was a mystery. Few people had ever seen his true face, and countless rumors surrounded him.

"Sophia, I feel worthless," Elena admitted, her voice raw with pain. "In my father's eyes, I'm nothing. He stood by while Vivian and Selena pushed me into a living nightmare."

How could she not feel devastated after being abandoned and betrayed by her own family?

What hurt even more was that Ethan hadn't tried to contact her.

"Ethan abandoned me. I have nothing left, Sophia." Elena's voice broke as tears streamed down her face.

"You still have me. Don't cry, Elena." Sophia's voice trembled with both sympathy and anger. "It's just a man. I'll find you someone better—a man who's rich, handsome, and single."

A good man…

Suddenly, an image flashed in Elena's mind—the face of the man from last night. Her face heated as memories of that wild encounter resurfaced.

How could she be thinking about him now?

"I'm calling someone for you right now. You need a fresh start," Sophia declared before stepping away.

Elena, still intoxicated, giggled as she reached for more wine.

But then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar figure.

Her senses sharpened, cutting through the haze of alcohol. Stumbling to her feet, she hurried after him, her heart racing.

"Damian… Damian."

Elena Cross's voice trembled as she chased after him. She needed answers. Why was he here? Why hadn't he looked for her?

She finally caught up to him near the entrance of the bar, her heart racing. Desperation pushed her words out in a rush.

"Damian, it was a trap set up by Vivian and Selena. Let's explain everything to your family and fix this. We can still get married."

Damian's face remained expressionless as he said coldly, "It's too late."

Elena's heart sank. "What do you mean? Damian, what's wrong with you?"

A sense of dread clawed at her. If Vivian had been bold enough to drug her, she must have other schemes in place. That had to be the reason Damian hadn't come for her sooner.

Damian glanced around warily, then pulled her to a secluded corner away from prying eyes.

"Elena…" His voice softened as he pulled her into an embrace. "I heard you were married into the Blackwell family. I was worried sick. Are you okay?"

The memory of last night flashed through Elena's mind, filling her with guilt.

"Damian, I…" Her voice faltered. She knew the truth would come out eventually. Just as she was about to confess, Damian interrupted her.

"Elena, I'm sorry. But once I secure the Blackwell inheritance and take control of the family business, I promise I'll marry you."

Elena's chest tightened. "What are you talking about?"

"It was too late when I realized the bride wasn't you last night," Damian said, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Selena promised to help me claim the position of heir. Don't worry—once I'm in control, I'll divorce her and marry you."

Elena felt like the ground beneath her had crumbled. The man standing before her was a stranger.

Damian was nothing more than an illegitimate child in the Blackwell family, without any real claim to the inheritance. Yet now it all made sense—Selena must have promised to use her influence to help him seize power.

A sharp pain twisted in her chest. "So you abandoned me for the Blackwell inheritance?"

"Elena, it's not like that," Damian insisted. "I just want a better future for us. I love you, but you can't help me the way Selena can."

Elena's voice turned icy. "No, thanks. I was blind to what you really are. Loving you was the biggest mistake of my life."

Even though she'd braced herself for betrayal, the truth still cut deep.

"Elena…" Damian reached for her, but he froze when he spotted Selena approaching. He immediately let go of her and stepped back, his expression hardening.

"I'm married to Selena now," he said coldly. "Stop trying to seduce me so shamelessly."

Elena stared at him, stunned. Then her gaze shifted to Selena, who strutted over with confidence, naturally slipping her arm around Damian's. Her lips curled into a triumphant smile.

"Well, well, sister," Selena said sweetly, "did you have too much to drink? You look a mess."

Elena didn't spare her a glance. Her eyes remained fixed on Damian, disappointment etched into her face.

Unable to meet her gaze, Damian turned his head away.

Elena's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Brother-in-law," she said mockingly, "I hope you get everything you want."

Her words landed like a slap. Damian's face reddened with shame.

"That's enough, Elena," he snapped, his patience unraveling. "You should be grateful I didn't marry you. I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. Who wants a wife who acts like a shrew and drinks like a fish?"