Chapter 1 Heartbroken and Hurt by Loved Ones

• Raven Lancaster never expected that there would be an issue when she ate at home. Her legs trembled, and her body was so warm that she had only one thought in her mind—to rush to the hospital. She dashed out of her room, and a middle-aged man walked toward her. She recognized him, and Gideon Lancaster had just introduced her to him at the dinner table. He was Leonard Mortimer, the current chairman of Mortimer Group and Elias' father.
• "Miss Raven!" Leonard looked at Raven with a smile and fierce eyes as he scanned her up and down.
• She was so frightened when she saw Leonard approaching that she pushed open a door beside her, rushed in, slammed the door, and immediately locked it from the inside. She panted heavily with her back against the door, but before her heartbeat stabilized, a strong hand pulled her into an embrace.
• …
• When Raven opened her eyes the next day, she felt sore all over her body, like she would fall apart once she moved an inch. Then, she turned to one side and saw a man standing in front of the bed. He was lean and tall as he stood with his back to the bed and slowly buttoned his sleeves. His gestures were extravagant as if the act of wearing his clothes were a work of art. The whole scene was like a visual feast. The man turned around as if he sensed movement behind him. He had a pair of falcon-like sharp and cold eyes, which were daunting. At that moment, he stared coldly at Raven.
• "M-Mr. Elias?" Raven finally saw him.
• He asked her coldly, "Why are you in Iris' room?"
• Elias felt dizzy after dinner last night, so Iris Lancaster took him to her room to rest.
• Raven looked away and murmured, "I was tricked!"
• She would be a fool not to realize who drugged her food last night.
• Yesterday, the Mortimer Family came to discuss Elias' marriage with her sister, Iris, and they promised the megaproject as a dowry. However, Iris did not want to marry him due to his status as an illegitimate child, so she pulled such a dirty trick!
• Elias pulled a long face when he learned that Raven had been tricked. Was she being schemed? Were they both drugged? His brow furrowed as something flashed through his mind. Disappointment flashed in his eyes, and the temperature around him dropped instantly.
• When there was a knock on the door, he glanced at Raven indifferently and went to open it. She immediately slid under the blankets and covered herself up. When the door opened, the Mortimers and Lancasters were all gathered at the door.
• The Mortimer Family included Joseph, Elias' biological father, Leonard Mortimer, and his half-brother, Cayden Mortimer. Meanwhile, the Lancasters included Gideon and his wife, their eldest daughter, Aria Lancaster, and their second daughter, Iris. They appeared to have come to catch them having an affair.
• Iris glanced at the bed and spotted someone beneath the blankets. She lowered her eyelids to conceal the triumphant smile in her eyes after she achieved her goals. Now that there was proof he had an affair, she didn't have to marry an illegitimate child.
• To be honest, Elias was handsome and had a good temperament. One might even say he was more charming than Cayden. Unfortunately, his status as the Mortimers' illegitimate child could not guarantee a bright future for Iris. Since Joseph was the only family member who sided with him, what would he become after Joseph's death?
• "W-What on earth is going on?" Gideon deliberately looked at Joseph with a perplexed expression.
• Joseph spotted the women's blouse and jeans scattered on the ground from the corner of his eyes. He could even see a bra underneath the jeans.
• Gideon's face flushed, and he scolded sternly, "Elias, what the hell is going on?"
• Although the person in bed covered their head with a blanket, a woman was hidden beneath it.
• "It is what you see," Elias answered quietly.
• Elias had a meal at Lancaster Residence, but he was tricked. Would the Lancasters admit it if he said he was drugged last night? Moreover, if he said it, it would hurt his pride.
• When he glanced at Iris, she avoided his gaze instantly.
• How ironic! Did she do it solely because he was an illegitimate child?
• He cherished all the pleasant things and memories for fifteen years. The obsessions in his heart... Suddenly, he felt like a joke!
• "Nonsense!" Joseph's voice suddenly sank.
• A month ago, Elias suddenly told him that he wanted to marry Iris and hoped his grandpa would agree. They came to Lancaster Residence for dinner to discuss his marriage to Miss Iris. Just as both families agreed on the marriage, he slept with Miss Raven in the blink of an eye. What exactly was going on? There must be something fishy going on.
• Joseph's voice resounded as he recalled the "What's going on? Tell me the truth."
• As long as Elias admitted that there was something fishy, he would undoubtedly defend him.
• Elias responded indifferently, "Grandpa, if Miss Raven is willing, I'd like to marry her!"
• "Is Raven in there?" Lori Hutton asked and pretended to be surprised.
• Gideon's face suddenly sank, and he reprimanded with a fatherly demeanor, "Raven, what are you doing?! How could you act so indecently?"
• Raven sneered beneath the blankets as tears rolled down her face. How could they still act as if they didn't know anything about it? Were they not plotting against her from the get-go?
• Only then did she realize the true meaning of the words she had faintly heard when she passed by the study the day before.
• "If Iris does not want to marry, we can consider replacing her with someone else!"
• "We must take that megaproject no matter what."
• It turned out that the 'someone else' they mentioned was her. Their so-called plan was to drug her. Haha!
• "Miss Raven, I'll be waiting for you downstairs. If you're willing, we'll go to the marriage registrar later!" Elias uttered in a low tone and walked away while ignoring everyone.
• Since everything he had done for the past fifteen years had ended, it did not matter who he married now. He would take on the responsibilities of a husband after marriage. Furthermore, he wasn't as irresponsible as Leonard, so he wouldn't let a woman down.
• When Lori heard that, she embarrassedly said, "I am terribly sorry. It's my fault for not teaching my daughter properly. Gideon, take everyone to breakfast. I'll talk to Raven alone to find out what's going on!"
• Seeing that the situation had reached this point, Joseph had to take his son and grandson downstairs.
• Soon, only stood by the door. She entered the room, closed the door, and with the gentle tone of a doting mother, called out, "Raven."