Alexander stood rooted in place, shock written plainly across his face, hand pressed to his stinging cheek.
"You... Kylee, do you even know what you're doing?" His gaze hardened. "Stop putting on an act. You're jealous, and you followed me here. Apologize. Now. If you keep making trouble, don't expect me to marry you."
In her last life, she would have just caved and done what he asked.
Back then, everything she did revolved around him. Even when she disliked how close he was with Cathy, she forced herself to accept it.
All her constant patience and compromise had brought her nothing but a bleak future.
This time, Kylee didn't hold back.
Her foot drove forward, striking his knee. "Let go. And stop imagining things. The sight of you two disgusts me."
Pain flashed across Alexander's face. He stared at her, anger and confusion mixing together.
Why was she acting like this toward him all of a sudden?
Just the day before, she had been begging him to propose within a month. Now she had turned into someone else entirely.
Was it because of Cathy? Was that what pushed her this far?
Alexander steadied himself, his expression darkening as he stepped forward and reached for Kylee again.
"Kylee, answer me. Do you still want to marry me? Cathy and I were just talking. Why are you making a big deal out of it? The Wallace family won't accept a woman who behaves like this. If you won't apologize, then get out. You don't belong here. Security, remove her."
The guards exchanged glances before walking over, their expressions carrying faint ridicule.
"Miss Gordon, are you leaving on your own, or do you need assistance?"
They did not know much about Kylee, except that she was the Gordon family's daughter everyone ignored, always following behind Alexander.
Someone like that did not deserve much respect.
A laugh escaped Kylee, sharp with anger.
The Wallace family had once been on the verge of collapse. It was only because of her that Jerold had stepped in to support them.
Yet now, Alexander stood there as if he held all the power.
Today, she had only brought her driver. Against trained guards, that wasn't enough.
Her hands tightened as she stared at Alexander, at the confidence on his face as he waited for her to give in. That earlier slap had been too light.
Alexander caught sight of her clenched fists and let out a cold laugh. "Then apologize to Cathy. Now."
At his cue, the guards closed in, hands reaching toward her.
Just as one of them was about to grab her shoulder, a powerful hand lunged in from the side and knocked the guard's wrist away with brutal force.
A cry escaped the man as he dropped to the floor, clutching his arm, pain written across his face.
When he looked up and saw who had intervened, his expression drained of color. "B-Boss..."
The rest of the guards fell still.
Kylee lifted her gaze, only to meet a stern profile.
A man stood between her and the guards.
His dark gray suit fit him perfectly. His features were sharp, his expression unreadable.
Power seemed to follow him without effort.
Without sparing the fallen guard a glance, his eyes shifted to Alexander.
"That's enough, Alexander." The tone left no room for argument.
Alexander stiffened the moment he recognized him. The confidence he had shown moments ago vanished. "Mr. Yates... this is between my fiancée and me. There's no need for you to step in..."
Elijah Yates cut him off, "Since when did you get to call the shots in this place?"
Alexander's face lost what little color it had left. "She's not on the guest list. I was only enforcing the rules..."
"She is now." Elijah's voice stayed low, almost casual, yet his gaze on Alexander carried open disdain. "But you can leave."
He dug into his pocket, took out a handkerchief, and slowly wiped his fingers with it.
Afterward, he dropped it aside without a second thought and looked toward the security behind him. "Take them out. From this moment on, they are not allowed in any of my properties."
The guards acted at once, grabbing Alexander, who stood frozen between fear and disbelief, and dragging him away before he could argue.
Cathy remained in place, staring at Elijah, her expression filled with shock and something harder to read.
She barely had time to react before guards stepped in front of her and led her out as well.
Only then did Kylee fully recover. She lifted her head and spoke. "Thank you for stepping in... but that man's family isn't weak. This could cause you trouble."
She pulled out her phone. "If he tries anything later, please contact me. I'll deal with it."
The Wallace family held influence in Anestin, and she didn't want someone else paying the price for helping her.
Elijah looked down at her, a faint smile forming.
"I'll take the concern, but he's not someone who can trouble me."
There was certainty in his tone. It didn't irritate her. Instead, it made her curious.
She had seen most of the prominent figures in the city, yet he was unfamiliar. Who was he?
She murmured, "Thank you again... I'll return the favor when I can."
"There's no need." He gave a slight nod. "The auction is starting. Would you join me?"
Kylee stepped back slightly. "I can't. I'll be engaged soon."
Elijah lifted a brow, interest flashing in his eyes. "Then until you decide, I still have a chance."
Kylee paused.
His next words caught her off guard.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Elijah Yates. I arrived late, so I apologize for what just happened. I'm honored to be among your choices." He held out his hand. "If you're willing, we can marry at any time. I'll take care of everything. Whatever kind of wedding you want, I'll do my best to make it happen."
This man... was Elijah Yates?
Of the four candidates, he was the one she most wanted to avoid.
Not because he lacked anything. Because she didn't understand him.
She couldn't wrap her head around why someone like him would want to marry her.
Elijah's past wasn't so different from hers. He had lost his mother early.
His father surrounded himself with mistresses and even intended to hand everything over to illegitimate heirs.
Yet, Elijah moved with cold precision, taking over the company and cutting down every rival, from illegitimate siblings to plotting relatives, sparing no one.
A person like that... Getting close to him made her uneasy.
"Mr. Yates, why do you want to marry me?" She paused before continuing, "You already have everything. There's no reason for you to marry me just to gain something. And I'm sure many women admire you."
Elijah's thumb turned the ring slowly, his gaze growing deeper. "You really don't remember me?"
