From Joy To Despair

“That's right! I'm here today to call off the engagement. Please stop harassing me, or I'll sue you for sexual harassment. Let's go, Hubby.”

Elena’s sharp voice sliced through the heavy, suffocating tension filling the lavish living room. Clutching her brand-new marriage certificate to her chest like an impenetrable shield, she locked her slender fingers around Kaelen's strong arm. Without offering the seething heir another glance, she spun on her heels and marched toward the towering double doors. She walked away from the opulent estate without looking back for even a second.

Deep in her heart, she intensely despised arrogant, wealthy playboys like Jaxon Blakely. She loathed men who treated women like disposable trophies, casually changing partners like clothes simply because their bank accounts gave them a free pass to rule the world. She frequently found herself secretly fantasizing about a true, heroic God of War who would save her. She dreamed of a mysterious protector who defended the country and shielded the innocent. Because of these grand daydreams, she remained completely and utterly oblivious to the true, world-shaking identity of the calm, stoic man walking right beside her.

Furious and humiliated beyond belief, Jaxon stood frozen by the expensive glass coffee table. He stared at the empty space they had just occupied, his knuckles turning pure white. He clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked in his jaw.

“Brat, name your price!” Jaxon roared at Kaelen’s broad back, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings.

Believing that his family's boundless wealth could buy anything and anyone in the world, Jaxon fully expected this random nobody to immediately fold under the financial pressure. He had never met a man who didn't possess a price tag.

Hearing the ruthless demand, Elena felt a brief, icy surge of panic grip her chest. Her confident steps faltered for a fraction of a second. Kaelen had literally just been publicly humiliated by the Mercer family for being unable to afford a mere three hundred thousand. He had been kicked to the curb. Surely, a man in his current position must be desperate for cash. What if he agreed to Jaxon’s terms and abandoned her right here?

“Keep that filthy thought to yourself, Mr. Blakely. Our relationship isn't something that can be bought and sold,” Kaelen declared smoothly.

He didn't even bother to turn around to face the enraged billionaire. His powerful, unwavering tone cut through the opulent room like a steel blade, instantly putting Elena’s racing heart at ease. His steadfast refusal made her view him in a slightly better light.

Unable to accept this unprecedented humiliation in his own territory, Jaxon rushed toward the grand entrance. He screamed hysterically after their retreating figures, his face twisted in pure malice. “I guarantee you that the Stanton family will be turned upside down in three days because of your stubbornness!”

Leaving the massive mansion behind, Kaelen and Elena walked out into the cool evening air. As the adrenaline from her grand defiance faded, a heavy wave of regret and dreadful realization set in for Elena.

She slowly realized the sheer recklessness of her actions. The Blakely family basically ruled Bancroft with an iron fist. They controlled the local economy and held immense power over every major industry. They could effortlessly crush her second-rate, struggling family like a tiny bug on the pavement. If Arthur Blakely, Bancroft's wealthiest man, decided to seek vengeance, the Stanton family would be wiped off the map by morning.

Her shoulders began to tremble as sudden gloom washed over her features. The thrill of breaking off the engagement evaporated, replaced entirely by mounting dread.

Noticing her sudden shift in mood and the slight shake in her arms, Kaelen stopped walking. He gently held her arms, turning her to face him. His dark gaze was incredibly soft and reassuring.

“Don't worry. The Stanton family will be fine. Trust me!” Kaelen said, his voice a steady anchor in her rising storm of panic.

Elena looked up into his eyes. Though she assumed he was merely trying to comfort her with empty words—after all, how could a man who just got thrown out of his own home fight the wealthiest dynasty in the city?—his unwavering, absolute confidence moved her enough to nod.

“All right. Let's take it one step at a time,” she whispered.

He then quietly escorted her away from the towering estate, eventually dropping her back to her small rented room to rest.

Meanwhile, at exactly eight o'clock in the evening, the main Stanton residence was glowing brightly with a lively celebratory atmosphere.

Completely unaware of the devastating storm brewing in the city, the entire extended family had gathered around a grand mahogany table. They had just finished a lavish dinner and were happily discussing the upcoming, highly anticipated wedding between Elena and Jaxon.

Patriarch Winston Stanton sat at the head of the table, a rare, beaming smile wrinkling his aged face. He had built the family business from a tiny garment factory to a modest enterprise, but they lacked the high-level connections to grow further. Winston saw this prestigious alliance with Bancroft's wealthiest family as their one and only miracle to finally rise above their stagnant, mediocre status.

Further down the table, Gareth—Elena’s constantly belittled father—puffed his chest out with pride. For the first time in his life, he felt a taste of genuine respect. As the second son, he had endured years of being relentlessly mocked by his older brothers, Victor and Derek, for failing to produce a male heir. In their conservative, traditional family, lacking a son to continue the bloodline was viewed as an unforgivable failure.

But tonight, the tables had completely turned. His brothers shamelessly showered him with obvious envy and loud praise. They were absolutely eager to reap the massive business benefits of the Blakely connection. Ever since the news of the impending wedding leaked, rival companies had backed off from major projects, clearing the path for the Stantons out of pure fear of crossing the Blakely family.

“Congrats, Gareth! Elena found a wonderful family to marry into,” Victor chuckled, pouring his younger brother another glass of expensive wine.

“That's right. You really hit the jackpot,” Derek chimed in, leaning across the table with a greedy gleam in his eyes. “We're all going to ride this wave.”

“Gareth has indeed made a great daughter,” Winston laughed heartily, raising his crystal glass in celebration. “Our family will be counting on her to see if we can rise to a higher level.”

Just then, Gareth’s phone rang loudly, slicing through the cheerful chatter. He pulled it from his pocket, checked the caller ID, and a massive, triumphant grin split his face.

“Quiet down, everyone!” Gareth smugly announced to the entire table, waving his hand for silence. “It's my ideal, billionaire son-in-law calling to greet me again.”

The table fell dead silent, everyone leaning in with bated breath, their faces painted with greedy anticipation. Gareth excitedly answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear.

“Mr. Blakely! Good evening—”

Suddenly, his proud smile shattered into pieces. The color violently drained from his face, leaving him looking as pale as a ghost. His jaw dropped, and his eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated terror.

The phone clattered loudly to the hard wooden floor, the sound echoing sharply in the silent dining hall. Gareth collapsed back into his chair in utter despair, all the strength leaving his body.

“Gareth?” Victor frowned, the first to break the heavy silence. “What happened? What did Mr. Blakely tell you?”

Gareth looked up, his face completely devastated as he looked at his shocked family. His lips trembled uncontrollably.

“Dad,” Gareth stammered out, looking straight at Winston with hollow eyes. “Mr. Blakely told me that today Elena went to City Hall and registered for a marriage with a wild brat.”

A collective gasp sucked the air from the room.

“She then went to the Blakely residence and directly called off the engagement,” Gareth choked out, panic seizing his throat. “Mr. Blakely is now threatening that the Stanton family will go... bankrupt.”

Dead silence reigned for one agonizing second. Then, a horrifying wheeze tore from the head of the table.

“What the hell is Elena, that silly girl, doing!” Winston gasped, his face turning an alarming shade of purple. He clutched his chest in sheer agony, his heart unable to take the massive shock. His eyes rolled back into his head, and he instantly lost consciousness, slumping sideways out of his heavy oak chair.

“Dad!”

“Grandpa!”

“Call the ambulance!”

Absolute chaos erupted in the dining hall. Wine glasses shattered as people bolted from their seats in a blind panic. The panicked family members frantically yelled, shoving each other out of the way as they rushed to the patriarch's side. The grand celebration had turned into a literal nightmare in a matter of seconds.

Completely oblivious to the massive disaster currently unfolding at her family's home, Elena sat quietly in her rented room. The small apartment was her only sanctuary. Because she had accidentally left her phone behind at the Mercer residence during the morning's chaotic events, she remained totally isolated from the explosive fallout of her rebellious actions.

She tucked her legs beneath her on the small sofa, enjoying the rare moment of quiet. The silence of the apartment felt stark compared to the drama at the Blakely mansion.

At exactly ten o'clock, heavy, persistent knocks sounded at her front door.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Elena jumped, her heart skipping a beat. Who could possibly be looking for her at this hour?

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she tiptoed to the entrance. She unlocked the deadbolt and slowly pulled the door open.

When she curiously opened it, she found Kaelen standing there looking rather silly in the dim hallway light, tightly holding a large suitcase.