Chapter 2 Mysterious Man

At that moment, the moon emerged from the dark clouds, bathing the surroundings in its pristine glow. Under this radiant moonlight, she saw a strikingly handsome man lying amidst a bed of flowers. Without betraying any emotion, Hazel took a quick glance, observing the weapon in his hand. In a state of panic, she pleaded, “Don't hurt me. I... I will save you.” When she was uncertain of the other party's capabilities, she was hesitant to reveal her own skills. For all she knew, this man could have been sent by Julia to test her. “Little beauty,” he said, “I assure you that I won't hurt you. However, you must help me tend to my wounds.” Hazel's delicate eyelashes trembled, her voice laced with pitiful fear. “I don't want to die. I'm so scared. As long as you don't hurt me, I promise to do my best to save you.” Hazel also found it peculiar. It was the first time she had seen someone wielding a gun to force others to save them. Shouldn't they be pleading more politely for someone to rescue them? If it weren't for the fact that they were in the Sullivan Manor, surrounded by housekeepers, making it difficult to dispose of a body, she really wanted to kill this uncultured brute and bury him in the ground. After exerting a great deal of effort, Hazel managed to help him back to her room. Just as she was about to check his wounds, he stopped her by placing his hand on her head, instructing, “Go and turn off the lights.” Hazel narrowed her eyes, listening to the man's powerful voice. Perhaps he wasn't injured at all. “What are you trying to do? I'm supposed to be Maplewood Manor's bride!” “Is that so? The bride?” “You're from Maritown, right? Then you must know about the daughter of the Sullivan family who's about to be wed into Maplewood Manor. This wedding has the whole city buzzing. I am that bride. If anything were to happen to me, don't you think you'd be in even bigger trouble? Let me go. I didn't see anything, and I won't say a word!” Hazel was genuinely grateful to her stepmother, Julia, at this moment. When Julia brought her back to Maritown, she had only allowed her to travel by a low-cost train. However, the wedding she had arranged was extraordinarily lavish and sensational, all to garner a good reputation for herself. The daughter of the Sullivan family was to be married into Maplewood Manor to bring luck. This had become the biggest piece of gossip in Maritown. Hazel was taking a gamble, betting that this man didn't want to stir up trouble. The man held onto her longer than she expected. Just as she was gearing up to resist, noises echoed from outside. She could hear the distinct sound of footsteps, and it seemed like there were quite a few people. “Make a sound!” In the darkness, the man's lips were once again by her ear, commanding. It seemed as though Hazel had just heard the joke of the century. He wanted her to make a sound? How was she supposed to do that? Was she supposed to cry out for help? Seeing that she remained silent for a prolonged period, the man pressed a gun against her head with one hand, while forcefully pinching her waist with the other. Subconsciously, Hazel let out a gasp of surprise, and sure enough, the footsteps outside came to a halt. “Continue.” So, was he trying to create the illusion that someone was making love in this room to evade the search from the group outside? What a terrible idea it was. Those fools outside actually didn't continue to approach, and they even ended up leaving. This incredibly foolish idea had surprisingly fooled the group of people outside. “You did well, my bride,” he praised. Taking advantage of Hazel's distraction, he stole a kiss on her cheek under the cover of darkness. Then, he opened the window and jumped out. “We'll see each other again.” Hazel's eyes widened in surprise. What did he just say? The minor hiccup from the previous night didn't disrupt Hazel's plans. Once dawn broke, she surveyed the surroundings of the manor. It turned out, as expected, that the Sullivan family was indeed on the brink of bankruptcy, given their surprisingly poor security measures. Of course, it was also possible that Declan and Julia hadn't considered her safety at all. Hence, they had arranged for her to stay in a secluded corner of the manor. The housekeeper had arrived early in the morning to help her get dressed and groomed. Afterward, she was escorted by a group of people to Castlewoods Estate. It was here that the Sullivan family's wedding was to be held that day. Declan led his daughter by the hand onto the stage. Unfortunately, there was no groom waiting by the minister's side. Hazel feigned ignorance, displaying the bashfulness of a young maiden. She looked around expectantly. “Dad, why... hasn't the groom arrived yet?” As soon as her words fell, Julia's expression changed abruptly. Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, wondering what was going on. Could it be that the bride was unaware she was marrying a man so ill he couldn't even make it to the ceremony? Declan stepped forward, his gaze filled with a hint of guilt and evasion. “Hazel, the groom... the groom is feeling a bit under the weather, so he won't be coming today. But don't worry. The minister will carry out all the necessary procedures.” And so, the peculiar wedding ceremony began. Standing alone before the minister, the bride was the only one making vows. Following this, she slipped a ring onto her own finger. “Does she know nothing at all?” The guests below began to whisper amongst themselves. Her docile and gentle demeanor stirred a wave of sympathy among everyone. People started to point and whisper about Julia, causing a buzz. “I heard the bride is the daughter of his ex-wife...” Julia's face turned sour. She had thought she was in control of this wedding, but Hazel had effortlessly turned the tables, leaving her embarrassed. It seemed she had underestimated Hazel. However, there was plenty of time ahead, and she had numerous ways to deal with her. Hazel arrived at Maplewood Manor, entering the room where her husband was. The lights were off in the newlywed's room, with the heavy curtains blocking any outside light. The room was shrouded in darkness, giving off a somewhat eerie ambiance. She approached the bedside, faintly making out the figure of a man lying on the plush bed. This was her newlywed husband. She had barely reached the edge of the bed when, in the next moment, her delicate, fair wrist was seized by a hand. Everything spun around her, and before she knew it, she was pinned beneath him. Upon seeing this, Hazel was taken aback. It was said that her newlywed husband was a ghostly figure, sick to the core. However, the grip on her fair wrist was strong and firm, clearly belonging to a very healthy man. Who was he? Hazel quickly bent her knees, pushing up toward him. However, the man was quicker. He effortlessly dodged her attack, and with a bend of his knee, he pinned her down, rendering her unable to move. His movements were swift, precise, and ruthless. “Who are you? Let go of me!” Hazel struggled intensely, their bodies rubbing against each other, separated only by a thin layer of fabric. A deep, magnetic voice echoed in her ears swiftly. “I didn't expect my bride to be so nimble.” This voice! It's the man from last night! “Do you remember me, my bride? Ah, no... My wife.” Suddenly, Hazel remembered what the mysterious man had said before he left last night - “my bride.” The person who appeared in this room was likely her newlywed husband. However, her husband was in perfect health, a robust young man. At that moment, the man's fingers had already traced their way down her jawline, landing on the buttons of her blouse, and were in the process of undoing them one by one. Hazel swiftly grabbed his hand. “I've already stopped moving. What are you doing?” “Make some noise. I know you can. You just learned it last night.” At that moment, Hazel heard a suspicious sound from outside their newlywed room. A housekeeper was trying to stop Matilda. “Old Mrs. Luellen, this isn't right. We should go back...” “Shh...” The elderly lady made a silencing gesture in annoyance. “I'll just listen, no need to watch!” Matilda was entirely sprawled against the window, eavesdropping. Hazel wanted to get up and see what was happening, but Zachary Luellen held her back, his hand firmly on her shoulder. “Make some noise now.” Hazel guessed that he was putting on a show for the elderly lady outside, needing her cooperation, but... “I don't know how.” Her outcry last night was solely because her waist was gently pinched all of a sudden. In the darkness, Zachary's deep-set eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He was looking at the girl beneath him. She was only twenty years old, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her eyes filled with a mix of dignity and embarrassment. “Then... I'm sorry.” After saying this, Zachary lightly pinched Hazel's waist once more. “Ah!” Hazel felt a tickle around her waist. She couldn't help but let out a sound, tinged with a hint of laughter. Zachary curved his lips. “Do you know now? Keep making noise, or I'll bruise your waist,” he warned in a low threatening tone. A shiver ran through Hazel, not doubting him in the slightest. Thus, with her eyes closed, she complied and continued making some noise. Outside, Matilda breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. My grandson isn't gay or impotent! Thank the heavens.” Matilda was overjoyed, her excitement evident in her animated movements. She left rather quickly. Hazel swiftly pushed the man off her, and this time, Zachary cooperated, releasing her. With a click, he turned on the wall lamp. She lifted her gaze, looking at the man. The man had already gotten out of bed, revealing a handsome face. He was extraordinarily good-looking, with facial features as if meticulously sculpted by the heavens. Every gesture he made exuded an inherent aloofness and cold nobility. Her pupils contracted slightly. She dared to say that the man standing before her was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. She was also quite astonished... “You! Weren't you supposed to be sickly patient?” Zachary's thin lips curved into a mysterious smirk. “I never said I was a dying patient.” In his eyes, a hint of curiosity emerged. The butler had informed him that the Sullivan family had arranged a marriage with a country girl, who spoke with a thick rural accent. Regardless of whether it was a marital stand-in or a rural accent, he didn't mind at all, as long as his grandmother was happy. However... he didn't detect any hint of a rural accent in the girl's speech. Contrarily, she was beautiful, as if she were a daughter of the divine.