4. The Man In The Shadows

He gave a playful shrug." That was my first time.Do you really think 'thanks' is enough?" Damain's eyes were filled with mock melancholy,as though blocking her from making any more excuses.

" What first time?

Elena asked confused.

Damain smirked as he spoke."The first time I got involved in someone's else business ".

Elena let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Then she regained her composure and explained,My stepmother tried to marry me off to a dying , disabled man.I rather die than be with him.But thank you,truly,for saving me."

You'd rather die than marry him?" Damian asked, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Seeing her nervous expression,Damain's smile grew wider. Last night was supposed to be my wedding night but with you running off,it looks like I'm not getting married anytime soon.You'll have to make it up to me".

"Wait , I'm sorry .I didn't know you were supposed to get married last night,

She said genuinely sorry.But compensating him seemed like too much to ask.

" Forget it you are beautiful enough.

Look at that dress you are wearing ____ it's worth a fortune . I'm just a poor man,after all." Damain signed disappointment clouding his face

When Elena saw the way he looked,her heart softened." It's not what you think."

Damain's smile returned as he grabbed her hand playfully." The how about you come with me to meet my parents?"

" What? No!, not now...." Elena quickly pulled her hand back.

" I have something I need to take care of first. I'll leave my phone number with you,and we can get in touch later."

First she had to confront her stepmother.

I'll be waiting,"

Damian said,his teasing tone softening.

She scrinnles down her number and hurriedly left.Little did she know that she had written down one wrong digit in a haste.

Damain watched her retreating form with intrigue,then glanced down at the necklace she had left behind on the bed .He chuckled quietly

At that moment his phone rang

Boss the bride ran away. We haven't heard a word from you since last night,where were you.was there something important more than your wedding ?".

Damain replied,his voice usually tender." I was with my bride."

Hale,who was on the other end of the line,was stunned.

" Boss,the bride runaway, by the way the Smith family has some nerve you were supposed to marry Selena cross but the one who showed up last night was the lesser known miss cross . Selena was married off to the cardwell family. instead a quick witted man like while hale pieced things together immediately." Boss the old man said you should handle it send someone to the cross family to break the engagement Damian instructed,his tone sharp.

Then after a pause he added no wait don't bother. Hale sounded even more confused ."Boss ,the cross family is playing tricks. Your supposed wife is already married to the Caldwell family.How can you let it go?

Damien's usual demeanor ,cold and calculating faltered."I don't let things go that easily ." Hale hesitated before speaking again ."Boss you have only left at the altar,not divorced or had a broken engagement before. if you go to break the engagement now the Cross family will suspect something off and everything we've have done so far will go to waste ."

Damien thought for a moment before replying .This one won't be 'dead'". Boss you have a new plan ?.Hale was baffled Damain. shifted the subject ."Get me a cheap car".! "For what?. "To chase my wife.". when Elena arrived at the entrance of the cross house, she saw a Rick cross and Vivan cross escorting a middle aged man out the door courteously.

This man has been sent by the Blackwell family to break off the engagement at first the blackwell family had fought the cross family to marriage her daughter off to them but now they had sent someone to annul the engagement. The bride had fled the wedding yet the Blackwell family hadn't made a scene ,leaving Henry puzzled.

As the man got into his car and drove away henry wiped the sweat off his brow then turn to Elena his voice full of frustration. "Elena look at what you have done," how dare you?" come back here ,if it went for the black well family, we would have been finished."Elena stared at her father coldly then said Dad do you know what happened last night?