The Refused Heiress

Chapter 3 I'll Marry You

Felix seemed caught off guard by Elena's sudden proposal, his gaze fixed on her intently.

Elena's heart sank—was he going to refuse?

She instinctively tightened her hold on his sleeve. Finally, he broke the silence. "Elena, are you saying you want to marry me?"

"Elena, what are you doing?" Edgar's voice thundered angrily behind her.

She knew exactly why he was furious.

Edgar had always been secure in his place because, despite Felix's superiority in every way, he was the one chosen to inherit.

Tyson had once said that whoever married her would inherit the Smith family fortune.

But now, if she married Felix, everything would change.

Ignoring Edgar's outrage, Elena held Felix's gaze. "Yes, I want to marry you!"

Her voice was steady. "You promised me you'd do anything I asked. Anything."

She'd saved Felix's life once, pulling his battered body off a deserted road when she was only fourteen.

She hadn't known then that he had barely escaped a k********g orchestrated by Tyson's enemies, aiming to make him abandon a project.

The doctor had said that without her intervention, Felix would have died from blood loss within minutes. Out of gratitude, he had promised to fulfill one request—whatever she wanted, whenever she needed it.

Felix smiled slightly, but his eyes remained cool. "So, you're cashing in that favor for me to marry you?"

Elena nodded, undeterred. "Yes."

She wasn't betting on Felix's desire for power.

After all, she knew he didn't need her to gain control of the Smith family.

Panic flickered across Edgar's face. "Uncle, Elena and I are engaged—she's my fiancée! You can't just agree to this!"

Felix glanced at him, his tone chilling. "Oh? So you do know she's your fiancée."

Edgar instinctively loosened his grip on Mia, his voice less assured. "Uncle, it's just an affair... That's common, isn't it? Why can't Elena accept that?"

Felix scoffed, casting a sharp look at Elena. "This is the man you once chose?"

The question sent a shiver down Elena's spine.

Tyson had once asked her over and over if she was sure about choosing Edgar over Felix.

But at the time, Felix had been living abroad, and Elena had only seen him a handful of times growing up.

Therefore, she had never considered marrying him.

Edgar, on the other hand, had been her constant companion. She'd genuinely believed he loved her, so she hadn't hesitated to choose him.

Felix watched her quietly, his voice unreadable. "Elena, I don't forget things easily."

For a moment, Elena thought he might reject her out of lingering resentment.

But then, a smile broke through his aloof expression. "But I did promise, didn't I? So yes, I'll help you with this."

Those words were like a lifeline, sparking hope inside her.

Edgar exploded. "Uncle!"

Felix shot him an indifferent look. "Edgar, it's only an engagement, not a marriage. If you don't respect her, then it's only fair she chooses someone who does."

Edgar's frustration was almost palpable. He stamped his foot in anger. "But Uncle..."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

The weight of that single look silenced Edgar instantly.

Elena could hardly believe this was happening. She had grasped the last lifeline just in time.

Felix met her gaze, his tone casual. "Like I said, I don't forget things easily. So to avoid any tricks, I'll pick you up tomorrow to make it official."

Elena blinked, taken aback. "Tomorrow?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Having second thoughts?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, of course not."

Felix gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Good. Now go home, take a hot shower, and rest. I'll see you in the morning."

Across the room, Angelina watched in shock as Felix agreed to marry Elena.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She had planned to ruin Elena's reputation tonight, but Felix's appearance had changed everything. And now, he was going to marry her?

How could it be?

Felix wasn't just better than Edgar—he was taller, stronger, with strikingly chiseled features that made him far more attractive.

And now this incredible man had chosen Elena?

Fury and resentment twisted inside Angelina. She had worked so hard to sabotage Elena's relationship with Edgar, only for an even better man to swoop in at the last minute.

No way. She wasn't about to let Elena live a better life than her!

"Wait a minute," Angelina interrupted, stepping forward and cutting through the tense air.