Rafael, with a composed countenance, ushered the individual into the passenger seat and swiftly took the driver's position, slamming the door shut with a resounding thud.
Eileen, startled, recoiled slightly, stealing a furtive glance at Rafael's grim visage, bewildered.
She was the one supposed to be angry, so why did Rafael seem even more infuriated than her?
In the next moment, Rafael suddenly ignited the car engine, and it surged forward like an arrow released from its bowstring.
Eileen nearly flew out, clutching the handrail tightly as her voice contorted by the wind, she exclaimed, "What on earth are you doing?"
Rafael seemed as though he hadn't heard her words at all, pressing the accelerator to the floor, his dark eyes resembling wild beasts in the night, fixed firmly ahead.
In an instant, the ordinary Audi A6 became like a floodgate unleashed, recklessly tearing through the quiet streets.
Eileen's face turned pale as she struggled to hold onto the handrail with all her might, her loud inquiries drowned out by the roaring wind.
Gradually, Eileen gave up the struggle, allowing the raging wind to tousle her hair, and letting Rafael, like a madman, lead her into the unknown.
Three days ago, she had contemplated death.
But suicide was too painful; she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Moreover, at that time, she had thought that even if her parents were hell-bent on making her the future Mrs. Kalmien, they would surely understand once they heard Jayden's absurd demands.
That's why she dared to bring Rafael to meet her parents.
But now, in her parents' eyes, reviving the Grandelle family was far more important than her happiness.
All the beautiful moments of over twenty years crumbled away in an instant.
The wind blew against her cold cheeks, but she could no longer shed tears.
Her heart... was dead.
At some unknown point, the car slowed down, and Eileen looked outside, at a loss.
The car arrived at the seaside, where only a few scattered figures dotted the beach under the sunset. In the distance, the evening glow filled the entire sky, with vast patches of orange gently drifting, serene, beautiful, and healing.
Having lived in Northlake for so many years, Eileen never knew there was such a beautiful place.
"Don't you want to take a look?" Rafael's lazy tone rang out.
Eileen turned around, and Rafael's face had lost its anger, as if she had misunderstood everything just now.
He gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the other casually resting on the back of the seat, his dark eyes gazing at the distant beach.
He was casual yet wild, his features beneath the tousled locks were deep and captivating. Even knowing he was just an ordinary person, at this moment, Eileen's heart couldn't help but tremble.
She hastily looked away, avoiding the dazzling brilliance emanating from Rafael. "No need," she said, "Just looking from afar is enough."
Rafael shifted his gaze, meeting the girl's ethereal yet melancholic eyes.
He thought again of those eyes, full of pain yet resolute.
His slender fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel, shifting his gaze to the soaring eagle in the distance. "Have you never thought of retaliation?" he asked.
Eileen "?"
"Your fiancé," Rafael touched his chest, realizing he didn't have a cigar with him in his current state, he irritably tapped the steering wheel and continued, "sounds like a scoundrel. Don't you want to retaliate against him?"
Eileen smiled faintly, her gaze distant. "How could I not have thought about it? But I am not qualified."
Jayden, the future heir of the Kalmien family, crushing her would be like squashing an ant.
Thinking back, Jayden despised her so much, yet still allowed her to be around him, solely because of Grandpa Kalmien.
Once Grandpa Kalmien passed away, given his aversion to her, he might really kill her, right?
"I can help you," Rafael said nonchalantly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he glanced at Eileen and then swiftly looked to the distance where an eagle had caught a fish.
As soon as he uttered those words, he felt a sense of relief coursing through him.
Eileen smiled, her eyes bright. "Thank you for your kindness. You're a good person. But he is not just anyone."
Listening to Eileen's assessment, Rafael's eyes lit up with a faint smile.
A good person?
He had lived in this world for nearly thirty years, and no one had ever described him as such.
For that alone...
"My promise has a time limit, but helping you get revenge, as long as you ask, I will definitely help you."
Eileen smiled, offering no further explanation. "Alright."
But she couldn't help but wonder what Rafael's expression would be like if he knew that the object of his revenge was Jayden, the scion of the Kalmien family.
Just then, Rafael's phone rang.
He took out his phone, his expression changing.
Answering the call, he pushed the door open and walked a distance away before speaking, "Go ahead."
"Sir, the driver responsible for the accident has passed away. We couldn't obtain any useful information."
Rafael's gaze became as sharp as a blade, completely transforming.
"Only a few people knew I was back. Focus on them," he instructed.
"Yes." There was a pause from the subordinate before continuing, "Also, sir, Mr. Kalmien just called and invited you to a family banquet. What do you think?"
Rafael turned to look at Eileen, who was still gazing at the clouds dreamily. "Make the arrangements," he said.
"Understood." The subordinate understood implicitly.
After hanging up the phone, Rafael approached Eileen.
He tucked his hands into his pockets. "I have something to take care of."
"You can go, don't worry about me," Eileen said, mustering her brightest smile. "I'll be fine."
Rafael frowned at her. "I don't want to be labeled as the neglectful husband."
Eileen: "..."
How could such a good person have such a mouth?
...
After Rafael left in a taxi, Eileen received a call from her best friend, Trish.
As soon as the call connected, Trish's angry voice came through, "Oh my god, Jayden that jerk is actually with Lori. I just went to see my mom..."
"I already know," Eileen cut in before Trish could ask, recounting everything that had happened over the past few days.
Trish, upon hearing the story, was so infuriated that she almost overturned the table. "Damn, those two scumbags can really hide. How did we not see through them before? Eileen, you're not planning to let them off the hook, are you?"
"Otherwise, what else could I do," Eileen sighed in resignation, "In order to avoid handing over my kidney, I even went as far as getting married to someone. But with me being in this situation, what means do I have to retaliate against them?"
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... What did you just say?! Married?! You got married?!"
Trish coughed for several minutes straight, then yelled into the phone, "Who did you marry? Holy cow, it wouldn't be one of Jayden's elders, would it?! Oh my, this revenge is just too satisfying! If Jayden finds out, he'll definitely be livid!"