Chapter 3 Your Woman Is Mine Now

"Ryan, just go, don't worry. I'll help you inherit the Howells' business, and Abigail, I'll take care of her. Hahaha ... " ... Ryan's thoughts were in turmoil, and before he realized it, he clenched his fists. It had been a long, long time since he had felt such emotional turmoil. For three years on the mountain, he had soaked in medicinal baths every day, followed the old man in practicing the The Celestial Mastery of the Soul, and studied The Golden Needle of the Ghost Sect, The Grand Compendium of Herbal Lore, etc. He had long become a cultivator, with a calm mind and spirit, traits that should have been ingrained in his bones. But it wasn't until this moment that Ryan realized it had all been an illusion. He would take his revenge! ... Fregend. Southeast Global Hotel. The most luxurious five-star hotel in all of Fregend. In the hotel's backstage area, Abigail sat before the mirror as a makeup artist carefully applied her makeup. She wore a stunning wedding dress that highlighted her tall, graceful figure. Her long, slender legs were encased in nude stockings, subtly veiled by the gown, creating a soft, almost dreamlike allure. Abigail had an oval-shaped face, with thick, jet-black hair and pale, flawless skin. Her features weren't exactly striking on their own, but together they formed a unique beauty that carried a cool elegance. Yet at this moment, she seemed distracted, her mind not fully present. "Why, at this moment, am I still thinking of you?" Abigail thought of Ryan. Even after three years, his face remained vivid in her mind. Perhaps this was why she had remained single for the past three years. Despite Joel's sincere pursuit, she had never agreed, even ignored him. It wasn't until recently, with her grandfather's severe illness, the company's major crisis, and the relentless pressure from her father and uncle—her mother even resorting to begging and threatening to commit suicide—that she could no longer hold on and had reluctantly agreed to marry Joel. Despite all the reasons, in the end, she still agreed to marry him. It was just like three years ago, during the darkest days of the Howells, when the family was on the brink of collapse, and when Ryan needed comfort the most ... She couldn't be by his side for all sorts of reasons. She couldn't offer him comfort or help him. She watched helplessly as his parents died, as his sister jumped into the sea, and as he walked toward his death. Although there had been countless reasons at the time, the result was that Abigail had done nothing. Nothing at all. Just then ... Knock, knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door. "Abigail, may I come in?" A voice called from the other side. It was Joel's voice—polite and warm, like a gentle spring breeze, comforting. But if you listened closely, there was a subtle quiver of anticipation in his tone. "No," Abigail replied coldly. "I'm in the middle of my makeup." A pause followed outside the door. A flicker of anger twisted Joel's refined face, framed by his gold-rimmed glasses, before he quickly masked it with a smile. "Alright, take your time with your makeup. I'll go greet the guests. If you need anything, just call me." His teeth ground together, the sound of them gnashing faintly audible. For three years, ever since the Howells' downfall and Ryan's death, he had devoted himself entirely to pursuing Abigail. Like a lovesick fool, he had tried every trick, and poured all his effort into winning her over. But he couldn't win her affection. If it weren't for all his effort to secure Abigail's grandfather's and parents' support—behind the scenes even targeting her family's business, pushing them to the brink—Abigail would never have agreed to marry him. What made it even more frustrating was ... Even though Abigail had agreed to marry him, she didn't see him as her fiancé. It was painful and almost laughable to admit, but the truth was, despite the wedding being just hours away, he and Abigail hadn't shared a single moment of intimacy. Not even the most basic touch. He hadn't even held her hand! "Ryan, Ryan ... You're still thinking about him?! That b*stard who's been dead for three years, what's so special about him?! Why can't you just move on?! D*mmit!" Joel was furious, and he wanted to rush into the dressing room and beat up this b*tch whom he had longed for three years but had never touched once. But, of course, he still had some restraint. He couldn't do that. After all, the Xanders were powerful. While the Kanes had rapidly grown in power over the past three years by taking control of the weakened Howells, and now they were one of the top families in Fregend, the Xander family was still a top-tier force. "Once the wedding's over, Abigail, you'll be my wife. By then, I want to see how you can still be cool and arrogant. I can play with you however I want!" Joel took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. After three years of waiting, what was one more day? "Hehe ... Ryan, after I sleep with Abigail tonight, I'll make a trip to Firesoul Mountain, to the place where you were buried. I'll light a candle for you and let you know, your woman is mine now."