You're Mine Until the Contract Burns

Chapter 3 Apology Accepted

Carlos stood before them, as imposing and divine as a god, his gaze coolly sweeping over them.

As Ella opened her mouth to speak his name, Carlos raised a long finger and made a graceful silencing gesture.

Ella, quick to understand, fell silent, stepping back obediently to stand behind Benjamin.

"Mr. Harrison, I deeply apologize for the disturbance," Benjamin said, his voice unexpectedly humble. "My daughter, Ella, made a foolish mistake and ruined the wedding. I know this is an extremely serious matter, so we've brought a small token of our apology, and Ella is here to express her regret."

Ella had never seen her usually stern father so deferential. Sophia, too, bowed deeply to Carlos, her movements anxious and apologetic.

At that moment, Ella realized that because of her rash actions, her parents had been forced to humble themselves before this stranger.

A wave of guilt washed over her. She had caused this mess, and now she had to face the consequences. Taking a step forward, she lowered her head slightly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison. I regret my actions."

Carlos placed a hand lightly on her elbow, his voice firm, yet controlled. "I accept your apology. And I want you to know... You're going to marry me, and only me."

His gaze was intense, as though he had already decided her fate.

Carlos had to marry her quickly if he wanted to secure all of the Harrison family's inheritance.

It was the one condition that John had laid out.

Ella opened her mouth to respond, but Benjamin quickly jumped in, "Of course! This marriage was arranged by Sir Harrison himself. It can't be changed! As for the financial matters..."

Carlos waved him off dismissively. "Don't worry about that."

Benjamin's face, which had been filled with worry, brightened instantly with relief.

Ella couldn't help but feel a shock of awe. With just one word, this man could determine the fate of the Field family. The power he wielded was terrifying.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Benjamin and Sophia repeated their thanks, their voices full of gratitude.

Carlos raised a hand with effortless elegance. "Ella will stay here tonight. I'll ensure her safety, and I'll arrange for a grand wedding. She will remain the pride of the Field family."

He made it clear that for his peace of mind, he had to personally oversee Ella's safety.

Ella stared at him, stunned. This man was truly overbearing, wasn't he? Just as she opened her mouth to argue, Benjamin stopped her.

"Exactly. We're family now, whether it's today or tomorrow—it makes no difference. Ella, just stay," he said, the tone leaving no room for negotiation.

If she ran again, all their plans would fall apart.

Before he left, Benjamin leaned in close to Ella, his voice low but firm, a mix of warning and threat. "I've already made sure the news about you disappearing last night is sealed. Keep quiet about it, or you'll no longer be my daughter."

"No, Father, you can't leave me here!" Ella clutched at his sleeve, desperate. But Benjamin simply shrugged off her hand, and Sophia, tearful but resigned, followed him out.

Ella felt as if her heart had dropped into an icy void. In one night, she had gone from being the beloved daughter of the Field family to little more than an object—a thing to be bartered or discarded. All the fatherly affection she thought she'd received was nothing but a lie. The emotional weight of it crushed her, and she couldn't understand how, in just a few short days, everything she thought she knew could come crashing down like this.

Carlos didn't give her the time to wallow in her emotions.

"Ella? Come here," he called.

Ella hated the tone of his voice. He sounded like a master giving orders, and she felt like nothing more than a puppy.

But she knew she couldn't openly defy him—not yet, at least.

With a tight jaw, she reluctantly walked toward him, her steps slow. "Mr. Harrison..."

"Call me Carlos," he corrected her, ignoring her small resistance.

"Alright, Carlos. I don't get it. Why do you insist on marrying me? You know why I ran. Doesn't that bother you?" Her voice was a mix of anger and confusion.

She couldn't understand how two strangers—people who barely knew each other—were suddenly forced to become husband and wife.

But Carlos merely responded, "Stop overthinking. Focus on preparing for the wedding."

Meanwhile, inside the car, Sophia wiped away her tears. She had spent her entire life in submission and compromise.

Was her daughter now destined for the same fate?

"Will you stop crying?" Benjamin snapped impatiently. "Isn't this marriage a good thing? It's the best deal for both families. A small sacrifice for the good of the whole—why are you still crying?"

At that moment, a cargo truck came speeding towards them, swerving around the corner straight at their car.

The driver slammed the brakes and jerked the steering wheel to avoid a direct hit, but the car was forced off the road. The impact was brutal, flipping the car several times before it came to a stop after crashing into a tree.

The driver was knocked unconscious, blood dripping down his face as his head rested against the window.

Sophia's forehead was bleeding as well, and she fell unconscious almost immediately. Benjamin remained barely conscious, his vision blurring. Through the red haze, he saw a group of men dressed in black suits running towards them.

Thinking they were there to rescue him, he reached out feebly.

"Help... help me..." he muttered, barely able to speak.

But the leader of the black-suited men simply opened the car door, ignored Benjamin's pleas, and began searching the vehicle. Then, speaking coldly into his earpiece, he reported, "Sir, Ella Field is not in the car."

That was the last thing Benjamin heard before he succumbed to the darkness.