Mrs Elena

"Calm down, man. You refused to eat the food, so I thought it best to have it in your stead," Kelvin said with a grin, casually leaning back in his chair, pretending like everything was perfectly normal.

He eagerly dug into the meal. "So yummy! Lily, your cooking is the best," he commented, his tone playful but genuine.

Lily's previously dull expression lit up as her cheeks flushed bright red. She tried to suppress her reaction but couldn't hide her embarrassment. "See you guys later," she said quickly, rushing out of the room before her brother could bombard her with questions or start harboring any suspicious thoughts.

Ford's eyes narrowed as he turned to Kelvin. "Kelvin, what's going on? Why was the tension her so uncomfortable?"

Kelvin, still focused on the food, looked up with feigned confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, his words muffled by the food in his mouth, making it almost incomprehensible.

Ford sighed in frustration. "Just forget it. Eat up. We have somewhere important to be this evening," he said, though his amused smirk betrayed his curiosity.

Kelvin shrugged and smiled. "Hmm, well, your life, your choices," he muttered before turning his attention back to the food.

Elena's joy was palpable. Her heart raced with excitement as she stared at her phone. He had asked if they could rush things, and without hesitation, she agreed. Within moments, he texted her the address to a courtroom.

She couldn't help but like his decisiveness. He was moving at just the right pace for her. What she loved most was that he had initiated it. If she had been the one to suggest it, it might have come across as desperate. They were set to meet that evening.

But then, a nagging thought crept into her mind. Why was he in such a hurry to marry her? After all, she was just a stranger to him. She quickly brushed the thought aside. It didn't matter.

Elena didn't need a forever husband—just one for a while. Her plan was already set: get married, shock her father, and leave everyone—including her stepmother and stepsister—speechless.

She smirked to herself, imagining their stunned faces. "Once they know I'm married, there'll be nothing they can do about it," she thought confidently. The outcome didn't concern her anymore. All that mattered was proving to her father and his so-called in-laws that she wasn't their pawn to manipulate.

It was almost four in the evening. Elena stood before the mirror, giving herself one final glance. Her hair was neatly tied into a bun, and her simple yet elegant outfit made her smile with satisfaction. Picking up her bag, she quietly opened the door. She needed to leave without anyone noticing, especially without drawing suspicion to what she was up to.

Most importantly, she couldn't let her stepmother know. Elena knew her stepmother would go to great lengths to keep her under surveillance, particularly with the introduction ceremony looming. Her stepmother's obsession with perfection meant she wouldn't tolerate any deviations from her plans.

But tonight, Elena thought with a mischievous smile, I'm going to give them something they didn't plan for.

She descended the stairs carefully, her flats muffling her footsteps. She hadn't dared to wear heels; the sound would give her away instantly. Just as she reached the bottom step, a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Elena, where are you going?"

It was Jane, her stepsister, standing at the top of the stairs with her arms folded, looking every bit like a teacher ready to scold a student.

Oh no, not now, Elena muttered under her breath before turning to face her.

"Can't I go out anymore?" Elena replied casually, trying to mask her irritation and avoid drawing her stepmother's attention.

"Then why were you sneaking out?" Jane shot back, her tone smug.

Elena felt her anger boiling. Jane was two years younger, yet she acted like she had authority over her— Her bad character was fueled by their mother's favoritism. Straightening her posture, Elena turned fully to face Jane.

"And what makes you think you can question me?" she said coldly. "Go cry to your mama and leave me the heck alone!."

Jane's eyes widened in disbelief. "How dare you? Seems like you've forgotten your place! MOM!!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the house.

Elena smirked, feeling triumphant. "Like I said, you're just a crybaby," she taunted, laughing as Jane glared at her. For once, standing up to her felt empowering. She was the eldest, after all, and it was time Jane remembered that.

But her victory was short-lived. The sound of footsteps approaching sent a jolt of urgency through her. If her stepmother caught her now, there would be no leaving. Without a second thought, Elena bolted for the door.

"Mom! She's running off!" were the last words Elena heard from Jane as she sprinted out of the house.

Reaching the street, she flagged down the nearest cab and jumped in, panting slightly as she finally took a deep breath of freedom.

As the cab pulled away, Elena glanced back at the house and couldn't help but laugh. The exhilaration of escaping their control filled her with joy.

If only I could feel this free every day, she thought wistfully. But she knew better. Her stepmother and Jane always made life unbearable, and moments like this were rare treasures she had to savor.

Ford checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. His pacing along the corridor had become almost mechanical, the echo of his footsteps blending with his mounting frustration. It was already five o'clock, a whole hour past their agreed meeting time, and his patience was wearing thin.

He hated tardiness, yet he had no choice but to wait. A pang of regret shot through him—he should have gone to fetch her himself instead of leaving it to chance. As the minutes ticked by, Ford noticed that Kelvin, sitting nearby, seemed completely engrossed in his phone. A faint smile played on Kelvin's lips, further irking Ford, who felt utterly ignored.

Annoyed, Ford strode over to his friend, stopping directly in front of him. "And who are you chatting with that's making you completely oblivious to my presence?" he asked, snatching the phone out of Kelvin's hands.

"Nobody! Just give me back my phone," Kelvin said quickly, his voice laced with panic. Though he tried to stay calm, his trembling hands betrayed him. His heart raced, pounding so loudly he was sure Ford could hear it.

Ford laughed as he noticed Kelvin's discomfort. "You must really like her—look at you, shaking like a leaf," he teased. Amused, Ford brought the phone closer to inspect the screen.

Kelvin's stomach dropped. If he reads my messages with Lily, I'm done for, he thought, desperate to retrieve the phone.

"Wait! You can't just go through my messages!" Kelvin stammered, his voice trembling as sweat began to form on his brow.

Before Ford could unlock the phone, a soft, feminine voice interrupted.

"Good evening, sir. I'm sorry I'm late," Elena said, her voice carrying both nervousness and sweetness.

Ford's attention immediately shifted to the source of the voice. Kelvin seized the opportunity, quickly snatching the phone back and exhaling in relief. His heart was still racing, but he did his best to steady himself.

He discreetly switched off his phone, making sure not to give Ford another chance to snoop. He was immensely grateful for Elena's timely arrival—she had unknowingly saved him from a potential disaster.

Ford, meanwhile, turned his gaze to Elena. His initial anger at her lateness softened as he took in her appearance. Still, he felt the need to assert himself. "Why are you late?" he demanded, his tone stern.

"I'm sorry, sir. There was a lot of traffic," Elena said quickly, grasping at the first excuse that came to mind.

Ford studied her for a moment, his irritation fading. Scolding her seemed unnecessary—what mattered now was finalizing the marriage. With the introduction ceremony scheduled for the next day, there was no time to waste.

"Let's go," he said curtly, gesturing toward a private room where the lawyer awaited.

The lawyer stood as they entered, greeting them respectfully. "Welcome back, sir. Good evening, Miss," he said, his tone professional. He was well aware of Ford's reputation as a disciplined and influential man, and he considered it an honor to handle his legal affairs.

"Show us the papers. Hurry up," Ford said impatiently, his voice sharp.

The lawyer nodded and placed the documents on the table. "Here are the papers, sir. You'll sign here, she'll sign here, and the witness will sign here," he explained, pointing to the designated areas.

Ford turned to Elena. "Where's your witness?" he asked, his tone expectant.

Elena froze. Witness? She hadn't thought of that. Her mind raced, but she had no one to call. She had no close friends and a family she wanted no part of. She couldn't admit any of that to Ford.

"I… I forgot to bring one. I'm sorry, sir," she said hesitantly, avoiding his gaze.

Before Ford could respond, the lawyer intervened. "It's alright, sir. One witness is sufficient," he said, attempting to diffuse any tension.

Elena took a deep breath and picked up the pen. Her fingers trembled slightly as the weight of the moment sank in. She knew this was a point of no return.

"No going back now, Miss Elena. We're in for a long ride," Ford said with a smirk, watching her intently before signing his own section of the papers.