A glass door muffled the lively chatter from the drawing room.

Evelyn Ross stared directly at Alexander Vance.

Hearing that form of address, the man’s entire demeanor turned icy.

His eyes darkened, radiating a chilling coldness.

His expression remained blank as he turned to leave.

Evelyn quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

Alexander frowned.

"Move aside."

His voice was deep, each word laced with an aristocratic chill.

It made her heart itch strangely.

Evelyn sensed something was off.

"You don't know me?"

Alexander looked down at her.

"Should I know you?"

He had felt a pair of eyes on him since entering the Ashcroft residence.

The gaze was bold, unlike the fawning looks from others.

He had glanced over a couple of times.

The girl was beautiful, with fair skin and bright eyes.

A teardrop mole near her eye added a touch of allure.

She seemed docile on the surface, but an untamed spirit lurked beneath.

Even after he noticed her staring, she didn't look away.

She met his gaze directly.

He had thought she was different.

But she was even bolder, addressing him as 'husband' right away...

Impatience flashed in Alexander's eyes.

"Miss, I am a married man. Please show some respect."

Evelyn was stunned.

He didn't know her, yet claimed to be married?

Did City Hall make a mistake?

She asked, "Who is your wife?"

"That is none of your concern."

The four words were frigid.

Evelyn pulled out a copy of her marriage certificate.

"Mr. Vance, is this you?"

Alexander looked at the document.

His eyes fell on the woman's name: Evelyn Ross.

He glanced up, his expression mocking.

"Miss Ashcroft, if you're going to forge a document, at least do it professionally."

He stepped around her and walked straight toward the parking lot.

Evelyn tried to follow, but two bodyguards in black suits stopped her.

She called after his retreating back, "The certificate is real! You can check at City Hall..."

Alexander didn't look back.

He got into his car and drove away.

His private assistant returned to the drawing room and encountered Isabella Ashcroft.

Isabella had just witnessed Evelyn pestering Alexander, but hadn't heard their conversation.

Seeing Alexander leave and Evelyn chase after him on her scooter, she immediately asked, "Why did Mr. Vance leave? Did someone offend him?"

The assistant smiled politely.

"Mr. Vance had urgent business to attend to. Please convey his apologies to the elders."

Since his boss hadn't ordered the girl to be taught a lesson, he was letting it slide.

Isabella nodded and politely saw the assistant out.

The wedding date was settled.

The Vance family left after lunch.

Once the guests were gone, William Ashcroft expressed concern.

"Why did Mr. Vance leave early? Was our hospitality lacking?"

Isabella thought of Julian Evans's distracted behavior all day, his eyes constantly searching the room.

She also recalled Evelyn's face.

Her fists clenched.

Her eyes shifted nervously.

"Father, I saw Evelyn harassing Mr. Vance. She angered him so much he left. Mr. Vance even left a message..."

"What message?"

"He said you should discipline your daughter properly." Isabella bit her lip.

"With Evelyn acting like this, the Vances will think we have poor family morals."

William's face darkened with anger.

Evelyn rode her electric scooter out of the villa district, but had already lost sight of him.

She was feeling frustrated when her phone rang.

It was James Klein, her subordinate.

"Boss, a lot of people are investigating Dr. Nan."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

"Did we get exposed?"

"Of course not! Who would guess the brilliant mind who cracked hydrogen fuel is a freshly graduated young woman..."

"Get to the point," Evelyn interrupted him.

"Right, right. We found information on Alexander Vance! Second son of the Vance family. Rumored to have a violent temper. Sent abroad as a child. Everyone thought the family business would go to his older brother. But he returned last week unexpectedly. Used ruthless methods to force the old man to step down. Now he controls the Vance Group."

James was curious.

"I thought you found someone easy to control for a marriage of convenience? How did the groom turn into this cold-faced king of hell? Boss, an unstable marital status could affect the company's IPO..."

Evelyn frowned.

"Find his contact information and schedule. I need to speak with him again."

She had agreed to Linda Lowell's demand for an immediate marriage only because having a married status as the company's legal representative was beneficial for the IPO.

Now she was inexplicably married, entangled in some unknown scheme.

Alexander's identity was complicated.

It was best to get a divorce quickly to avoid further trouble.

She ended the call and rubbed her temples.

This was troublesome.

Alexander traveled with bodyguards.

Getting close to him wouldn't be easy.

She shouldn't have called him 'husband' today and angered him...

She sighed, started her beat-up scooter, and slowly headed home.

Leaving the city center, she returned to the old urban village in the suburbs.

She had rented this old place when she moved out of the Ashcroft home in middle school, back when she had no money.

She had grown accustomed to it and never moved.

As she turned the corner toward home, an elderly woman suddenly darted into the road!

Evelyn slammed on the brakes, nearly hitting her.

The old woman didn't seem like a scam artist.

She was dressed well, unlike an ordinary person.

A placard hung around her neck with a contact number and the words: Reward if found.

...Alzheimer's.

Someone's grandmother was lost.

Evelyn took out her phone and entered the number.

The dazed old woman suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Her cloudy eyes lit up.

"Granddaughter-in-law! You are my granddaughter-in-law!"

Evelyn gave a wry smile.

Single for 22 years, and now she had another husband?

Was City Hall handing them out wholesale today?

She found it amusing and asked casually, "Grandmother, who is your grandson?"

The old woman frowned in thought.

What was her grandson's name...?

Oh, Alexander Vance!!