At the same time, a mechanical and emotionless voice sounded in Elijah's ear. "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."
Nearby, Ashley had already picked up a call; her voice kept low as she turned her back toward him.
Lowering his phone slowly, Elijah watched the screen fade to black while his thoughts drifted back to the day of the marriage registration.
That memory felt blurred and indistinct.
What lingered most was the image of a woman hidden behind thick black-framed glasses and dressed in something plain and outdated, nothing like the strikingly beautiful woman sitting beside him now.
A faint, self-directed smile tugged at Elijah's lips, and the tension between his brows eased.
He must be reading too much into it.
Elsewhere in the car, Ashley was quietly speaking with her grandfather, Rory Scott.
"Sweetie, you left the country right after getting married," Rory said gently. "How does that count as being a proper wife?"
A frustrated pout formed on Ashley's lips as anger simmered beneath the surface. For three full years, that man had never called her even once, and it felt as though he had completely forgotten he was married.
With a gentle sigh, Rory offered his advice. "Since you have come back, you should make an effort to get along with him and take on your duties as a wife. If you can, give me a few great-grandchildren as well. That way, I will die a happy man."
From the start, Ashley had entered the marriage purely out of obligation and never planned to tie her future to a man she did not know.
Even so, she answered obediently, "Alright. I will talk things through with him. Grandpa, can you give me his contact number?"
"That is more like it. I will ask his grandmother and send it to you," Rory said with a chuckle before ending the call.
In truth, Ashley had only agreed to meet her husband so she could bring up the matter of divorce.
Lost in thought, she did not notice when the car slowed to a stop in front of a grand villa.
Casting her a sideways glance, Elijah spoke with a hint of playful curiosity in his eyes. "What is your name?"
"Ashley Scott," Ashley replied, offering a polite smile, and her eyes curved slightly even though a chill lingered within them.
Elijah only arched an eyebrow, falling silent.
Once they stepped away from the car, Ashley briefly thought about asking whether he needed support to make it inside.
That thought faded quickly when she noticed Elijah exit on his own, his pace steady and confident.
Never before had she witnessed someone with injuries that severe move as though their body felt no pain at all.
Within the villa, two people were already waiting in the living room.
One of them was a man with short red hair, a black earring fixed to his right ear, and a wing tattoo stretching along his neck. His gaze carried a cold and merciless edge.
Next to him sat a woman dressed in a mini skirt and a camel-colored trench coat, her makeup bold and heavy. The moment she looked at Ashley, open hostility flickered across her face.
Both of them were Elijah's most dependable subordinates, Darin Watson and Luciana Marsh.
Without hesitation, Luciana hurried forward, and concern showed plainly on her face. "Mr. Fletcher, I heard you were attacked by the Nocturne. Are you hurt anywhere?"
In a low and controlled tone, Elijah answered, "Everything has already been handled."
After that, Luciana shifted her attention to Ashley, who remained at his side. "Who is this woman?"
"She serves as my private physician." Elijah spoke in a tone that carried no trace of warmth.
For a brief moment, Luciana stiffened, and clear hostility showed in her gaze. "We already have a full-time doctor here. Why would you need to bring in someone else?"
Ever since she was fifteen, she had stayed close to Elijah, and during all those years, he had never once brought another woman into the villa.
Fixing her with a sharp and unyielding look, Elijah said, "She's exclusively for me."
After that, he shifted his attention to the butler and gave a short command. "Escort Ms. Scott upstairs and let her rest."
Color drained from Luciana's face, and she spoke again with urgency. "Mr. Fletcher, allowing someone we do not know to stay here puts you at risk."
Hearing that, Elijah narrowed his eyes, and the air around him grew heavy with warning.
He had no tolerance for being challenged.
Sensing the shift in his mood, Luciana quickly bowed her head. "I apologize, Mr. Fletcher. I spoke out of turn."
Once she straightened, her sharp stare followed Ashley as she went upstairs.
There was no chance she would allow that infuriating woman to remain here.
Without sparing a glance back, Elijah headed upstairs and made his way into the study.
He could not recall what his wife in name even looked like, and he knew Rita would not let it slide if he failed to recognize his own wife when they eventually met.
All at once, a memory surfaced about the marriage certificate he had casually tossed into a drawer inside the study.
Reaching the desk, Elijah pulled the drawer open, and the certificate lay exactly where he remembered leaving it.
After lifting it out, he opened the document, and shock spread across his face as his eyes fixed on what he saw.