Chapter 1
August, and the sun blazed like a furnace. Even the air felt incendiary, making each breath feel like swallowing fire. Inside the sprawling Hartford Manor, the only signs of life were a few gardeners perched on ladders, sporting sun hats as they trimmed the trees, and the spinning fountains that adorned the vibrant green lawns. Otherwise, the place was devoid of all energy. It was too hot, and with Thomas napping during the noontime lull, the house staff sought refuge in the cool corners of the grand hall, chatting idly to escape the heat. "Have you noticed how our Fourth Miss is basically a ghost? Ever since she got back to Hartford, she hasn’t set foot outside," one servant whispered, casting a cautious glance around. "I heard… the Fourth Miss, who was dragged back here, won’t be sticking around for long," another replied, lowering their voice conspiratorially. "The driver, old Zhang, mentioned that before Mrs. Edward Morrison passed away, the old lord went to the hospital. She was worried about Hartford swallowing up other businesses, and she couldn’t shake the fear that her grandson wouldn't be able to handle it. So the old man swore that he'd look out for him, but the lady still had her doubts." "But Morrison is no slouch either! They’re not just going to roll over and hand things over," the first servant retorted. "You know how ambitious our lord is. Remember when the George family was bigger than all of us? Hartford practically devoured them! And look at how things have played out... Morrison has been under Olivia Morrison's thumb all this time. Her two grandsons? One’s mute, and the other... well, I bet he’s just a spoiled brat. Can’t handle the pressure, so of course, the lady's worried." "So what's that got to do with bringing the Fourth Miss back?" the first servant asked, puzzled. "You really don’t get it, do you? Historically speaking, the best way to solidify power has always been through marriage alliances! Look at Hartford, three sons, while Morrison has two. Our original Fourth Miss? A mute who only knows how to smile. So... they have to bring her back." "Ohhh, I see now..." "I even heard old Zhang say that Olivia Morrison held onto the old lord’s hand tightly before she died. She didn’t let go until he promised there was a granddaughter out there—her normal grandchild would be married to one of the Morrison boys. Only then did she close her eyes." "That’s a bit eerie, don’t you think?" "Absolutely! You can ask old Zhang yourself! I wouldn’t be spreading any rumors if it weren’t true…" "Have you guys noticed? The Fourth Miss hasn't spoken a word since she came back. Do you think she could be mute, too?" "Two mutes would make a perfect pair!" Just then, Thomas Reynolds walked in, his brows furrowing at the sight of the clustered servants. "You all have nothing to do?" His commanding voice startled the group, and they quickly dispersed like startled birds. "Uncle Reynolds..." The soft, melodic voice floated down from the upper floor, a refreshing trickle in the summer heat. Eleanor Hartford, who had yet to speak a word since her return, possessed a voice that seemed to resonate with the purest of sounds, like a lark singing in a tranquil valley. The slight childlike lilt in her tone was enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings, a surprising contrast to her otherwise quiet demeanor.
Chapter 2
The soft, lulling voice floated down from the Upper Hall like a gentle summer breeze, fresh and clear. It was a sound that caught everyone off guard—Eleanor Hartford, who rarely spoke, had a voice like a songbird in spring, sweet yet tinged with a childlike timbre that made it impossible not to feel an ache of tenderness. Thomas Reynolds glanced up the staircase. Eleanor stood at the top, one hand delicately resting on the railing. Her big, dark eyes sparkled like polished onyx, their lashes glistening with a hint of moisture. Her petite nose was perfectly shaped, and her lips were a soft, rosy hue. She looked almost doll-like in her knee-length, cream-colored dress, embodying a fragile elegance. Eleanor was small and slight, her porcelain skin lacking any hint of color, giving her the appearance of one who might faint at a strong gust of wind. She emanated a purity, like a white lotus untouched by the muck of the world. “Miss Hartford…” Thomas said, straightening up and nodding slightly in her direction. “Grandfather mentioned we’re to meet Samuel Morrison at three?” Her voice was a silky thread that wrapped around the heart, almost melting it. “Yes, Miss Hartford, and we should be leaving now,” he replied, watching as she took the last step down, gripping the handrail tightly. She bit her bottom lip and, with a hint of hesitation, asked, “Oliver… they just said the Morrision heir is…” “Oh,” Thomas cut in, catching her drift immediately. A knowing smile crept across his face. “Don’t worry, Miss Hartford. The Morrison family has two sons. You’ll be meeting Henry, the eldest. The other brother… well, he has some issues.” Honestly, Eleanor felt no fear, even if her future husband turned out to be the one with the defect. “If you’re ready, Miss Hartford, we can head out,” he prompted gently. “Okay…” —————————Break—————————— “Boss, James Blackwell is waiting for you in your office,” William White called out as Henry stepped out of the conference room. Henry’s lips curled into a charismatic smirk, his dark eyes gleaming with an air of arrogance, as deep and unnerving as a bottomless well. “Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll handle things here,” William offered, eager to manage the chaotic conference aftermath. “You’ve got that meeting with Eleanor Hartford coming up soon.” “No need,” Henry replied nonchalantly, flicking through the stack of papers in his hands before playfully smacking it against William’s chest. “Since you already have the documents, you can take them to Eleanor. If she signs, great; if not, just come back. No need to set up another time.” “Um… I don’t think that’s a good idea!” William hesitated, rooted to the spot. After all, Henry marrying Eleanor was the old lady’s dying wish, and Henry had always held her in high regard. —————————Break—————————— ps: Our new male lead, Henry, makes his grand entrance…
Chapter 3
"Um… I don't think this is a good idea!" William White stammered, shifting uncomfortably in place. After all, arranging for Henry Morrison and Eleanor Hartford to get married was the late grandmother's dying wish, and Henry had always respected her. With uncertainty gnawing at him, William glanced at Henry's tall, statuesque silhouette before he abruptly turned and took off down the hall. "Damn it! I'm going to be late..." Inside Henry Morrison’s office, a rotund man lounged on the sofa, waiting for Henry's arrival. When Henry walked in, James Blackwell tilted his chin defiantly, adopting an air of superiority. "Well? Mr. Morrison, have you given any thought to our deal? Are you finally willing to part with that piece of land?" Henry casually tossed a stack of documents onto his desk and poured himself a drink. He turned back to James, his slender almond-shaped eyes crinkling with amusement. "Or are you planning to release that video of me and your daughter?" "In Goldborough, Mr. Morrison is quite a big deal…" James Blackwell's smug grin grew increasingly irritating. "Let me ask you something, James. Did you catch today’s headlines?" Henry’s tone shifted, catching James off guard. "I was too busy rushing over to seal the deal with you, Mr. Morrison. I hardly had time…" James replied, tapping the contract laid out on the coffee table. Henry chuckled darkly, pulling a stack of today’s newspapers from his desk and slamming them down in front of James. He sipped his drink, nodding toward the papers. "Take a look." James flipped through the pages, his pupils dilating in shock. The first thing that assaulted his eyes were scandalous photos of his daughter, entwined with various men in explicit poses. Her sultry expressions and the subsequent pictures of her kneeling, clutching Henry’s leg left him reeling. The headline screamed: *Goldborough's Diamond Prince, Henry, Has a Mysterious Girlfriend, Olivia Blackwell—Caught in a Wild Orgy, Pleading for Henry's Forgiveness!* James leaped to his feet, nearly crumpling the paper in his hands. His bloodshot eyes bore into Henry. "Henry! You… you vile snake!" Gone was the charming smile from Henry’s chiselled face. He spoke slowly, deliberately. “Vile? Surely you can't compare my actions to those of a man who exploits his own daughter. I was merely taking the initiative before you could make your move.” Grinding his teeth, James tossed the newspaper to the ground, turning to leave. "I won’t see you out," Henry replied, his voice low and smooth. He finished his drink, and the door slammed shut behind James with a heavy thud. Henry set down his glass and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, leaning against the glass. He gazed down at the city he owned—Goldborough. —————————Cut—————————— It was three in the afternoon when Henry and Howard agreed to meet at the Radiant Court Inn. In a spacious private room sat Eleanor Hartford and Thomas Reynolds. Eleanor perched at one end of the long table, waiting for the man destined to sit across from her. Eleanor held her handbag with both hands, poised and dignified. Her mother, the renowned neurosurgeon Isabella Gray, was a formidable woman in every way—except for her one little flaw: she had a penchant for gambling.
Chapter 4
Eleanor Hartford's mother, Isabella Gray, was a renowned neurosurgeon, celebrated and respected, with a career that most would envy. But beneath that polished exterior lay a darker secret – she had a weakness for gambling. This time, Isabella had taken a gamble at Silvergate, a high-stakes casino that glittered with promise yet shrouded in shadow. She went in with pockets overflowing, confident in her luck; however, the fates were not on her side. She lost it all. Desperate to recover her losses, she turned to a local lender, Shadowbank, for a lifeline but came up empty-handed once again. The more she tried to escape her fate, the deeper she fell; ultimately, she lost both her fortune and her legs. It was Benjamin Hartford—Eleanor’s grandfather—who saved Isabella in her moment of despair. Isabella laid it all out for Eleanor during one of their tense conversations. “The only way Benjamin will help with this mountain of debt is if you agree to go back to Howard and marry that Morrison boy. It’s your only option,” she insisted. “He’s also agreed to let me marry his son, Charles Hartford.” Eleanor gripped her handbag tightly, her mind racing as she replayed her mother’s words. “Eleanor,” her mother had said, her voice trembling. “For years, I’ve kept this from you. Your father, James… we loved each other deeply. It was your grandfather who forced me away. Now he’s willing to give us another shot, but it hinges on you. You’ve always wanted a happy family, right? This is your chance.” The stakes were high. “We’re over ten million in debt from Britannia alone, and another ten from Silvergate. I can’t go through surgery again, and you're still in school. If you don’t agree to Howard…” A pause filled the room, heavy and suffocating. “You might lose me. The things those lenders do… I can’t let them take you.” “Do you want to watch me die, Eleanor?” she pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. “Or worse, end up sold on the black market?” Isabella's voice turned frantic. “We have no choices left! Even if you refuse, you’ll never be with your boyfriend. He can’t save us.” The moment Isabella threw back the sheets, revealing the stumps where her legs had once been, Eleanor felt her resolve crumble. Her mother’s pained expression cut to the core as Isabella cried, threatening to jump from the window. Eleanor knew she couldn’t fight this – argument, tears, defiance… they wouldn’t matter against the throes of desperation pressing down on them. It wasn’t the typical adolescent rebellion against her mom; this was grim reality. She understood all too well how brutal the loan sharks could be, how the interest alone was spiraling out of control, a noose tightening around their already fragile existence. The numbers loomed large in her mind—over two hundred thousand a day in interest. Eleanor had no clue how she would ever pay that off in her lifetime, nor did she know if those sharks even had the patience to wait for her. In the end, it boiled down to one thing: they needed money. The simplest solution, marrying Morrison, would wipe the slate clean without any fuss. Just like that, three million would be settled. Three million… her entire future, her marriage, and her happiness sold down the river. Resigned, Eleanor chose the only path she could see, because losing her mother was not an option. Thomas Reynolds stood quietly in the corner, watching the girl with the red-rimmed eyes. He’d heard whispers about her boyfriend, how they were madly in love. And yet, Eleanor's heart felt as heavy as the debt they carried.
Chapter 5
Thomas Reynolds stood to the side, watching the girl with her head bowed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. He had heard the talk—Eleanor had a boyfriend, and they were very much in love. “Uncle Oliver, if Samuel agrees to marry me, then Mom can marry James too, right?” Eleanor’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Yes,” came the simple, yet weighty reply. Then, out of nowhere, there was a knock at the door. Eleanor's heart raced, tension pooling in her stomach. She looked up as the restaurant door swung open. A man stepped through, clad in a well-fitted gray-black suit. Could this be Henry? Eleanor stood, taking a good look at him. He had soft, silky brown hair, and his eyes mirrored the same gentle hue, radiating a subtle warmth. His nose was high, and his thin lips curved into a slight smile. In that moment, Eleanor knew he was not just good-looking; he had a charm that seemed rare these days. Maintaining a respectful distance, the man nodded at Thomas Reynolds before turning toward Eleanor with a friendly smile. “Hello, Miss Hartford. I’m William White, James’s chief secretary. James has an important meeting today and can’t meet you in person. He sends his apologies and asked me to bring this document for you to review. Once you sign, we can start planning the wedding.” Eleanor blinked in surprise. This wasn’t Henry. William unfolded the document in front of her, revealing a marriage contract. She had known from the start that she was destined to marry Henry—whether he was mute, ugly, or anything else, it didn’t matter. This was the price she had to pay; she had effectively sold her future. Eleanor flipped straight to the last page. The strong, confident script formed the name: Henry. It looked neat, with no unnecessary flourishes. She pointed to the large blank space following “Henry” and asked, “Is it to be signed here?” William hesitated, caught off guard. His gaze met Eleanor’s—those wide, jewel-like eyes—and he felt a stirring in his chest. When he had first walked in, he had been struck by how stunning she was, with an aura that felt purer than anything. Now, he was taken aback by the alluring quality of her voice; it flowed like crystal-clear spring water. “Here?” Eleanor prompted again. “Oh… yes.” William barely managed to nod, entranced. Eleanor penned her name with a flourish. William smiled as he folded the contract away, addressing both her and Thomas. “Well, I have other things to attend to. Miss Hartford, James will send someone later to discuss the wedding arrangements to make sure they meet both your and Howard’s expectations. I apologize again for James’s absence.”
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