Chapter 3: The Rival Appears
The night air was crisp as Elena stepped out of the restaurant, her heels clicking against the marble steps.
Her heart was still hammering, not from the expensive dinner she couldn't even taste, but from the man who had sat across from her.
Adrian Blackwood.
Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. And now, desperate enough to ask her of all people for a contract marriage.
She hugged her arms, shaking her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable," she muttered to herself. "That man must think the whole world bends for him."
But the problem was—his words had planted seeds.
Financial security. Protection.
And her brother's pale face, hooked up to machines, flashed in her mind again.
She closed her eyes briefly, forcing herself to walk faster. She would not let Adrian Blackwood dictate her life again.
"Elena?"
The familiar voice stopped her cold.
She turned—and froze.
Standing a few feet away, holding a bouquet of white lilies, was Ryan Hale.
Her chest tightened.
Ryan.
Her college friend, the man who had once been her confidant and—briefly—her almost-lover. He had been the safe warmth she clung to when the world was cruel. But three years ago, his family had moved him overseas, and contact had faded until silence swallowed them.
Now he stood before her, taller, sharper, but with the same gentle smile.
"Ryan?" she whispered, unsure if her mind was playing tricks.
He chuckled softly. "It's me. I came back last week. I was planning to look for you, but…" His eyes flicked toward the restaurant behind her. "Looks like I found you sooner than expected."
Her pulse raced. "What are you doing here?"
"I had a meeting nearby. Then I saw you." He extended the bouquet to her. "Still your favorite?"
Elena hesitated before taking them. The lilies were fresh, delicate. Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed against his.
For the first time all day, her heart didn't feel so heavy.
But before she could answer, the restaurant doors opened behind her.
The air turned thick.
Adrian stepped out, coat draped elegantly over his shoulders, his presence cutting through the night like a blade. His obsidian eyes narrowed as they landed on the scene before him—Elena, holding flowers, standing close to another man.
The system screen flashed instantly.
[ Warning: Rival Target Detected—Ryan Hale. ]
[ Mission: Prevent Rival from gaining Target's favor within 72 hours. ]
[ Reward: Restoration of private jet. ]
[ Punishment: Rival advantage increases. ]
Adrian's jaw clenched. He didn't care about jets. He cared about control. And right now, control was slipping.
"Elena," he said, his voice cold as frost.
Both she and Ryan turned.
"Blackwood," she said flatly.
Ryan raised a brow, studying Adrian with cool curiosity. "Blackwood… as in Adrian Blackwood? Former CEO?"
The word former cut deeper than Adrian expected. He didn't react, but his gaze sharpened on Ryan.
"And you are?" Adrian's tone was polite on the surface, but the steel underneath was unmistakable.
"Ryan Hale," Ryan replied easily. "An old friend." He smiled warmly at Elena, ignoring the tension radiating from Adrian. "It's been a long time."
Adrian's eyes flicked to the lilies in Elena's hands. "Yes, I can see that."
Elena groaned inwardly. "Stop. Both of you." She thrust the flowers into her bag as if they were evidence of a crime. "This isn't some competition."
"Isn't it?" Adrian's words were soft but carried weight.
Ryan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes glinted. "Funny. I was just about to invite Elena to dinner. But it seems you beat me to it."
The temperature dropped ten degrees.
Elena wanted to disappear. "I don't need either of you fighting over me," she snapped. "Ryan, thank you for the flowers. Adrian, thank you for the… dinner. I'm going home."
She spun on her heel and stalked toward the curb, hand already up to hail a taxi.
But Adrian moved faster, catching her wrist before she could step away.
"Elena." His voice was low, meant only for her ears. "We're not finished."
She yanked her arm free. "Yes, we are."
Ryan stepped closer, positioning himself protectively. "She said she's done. Respect that."
The two men locked eyes. Adrian's cold authority clashed with Ryan's steady warmth, and Elena stood in the middle, suffocating.
The system chimed again.
[ Rival gaining advantage. Warning issued. ]
Adrian's teeth ground together. He had never—never—felt like a cornered animal before. Yet standing here, with Elena glaring at him and Ryan smiling like a savior, he felt an unfamiliar sting.
"Elena," he said quietly, his pride burning but his will stronger. "You'll regret walking away."
She stared at him, stunned by the uncharacteristic edge of desperation beneath his arrogance. Then, without a word, she turned and slid into the first taxi that stopped.
The door slammed, and the car pulled away, leaving Adrian and Ryan on the sidewalk.
Silence stretched.
Ryan adjusted his cuffs, his smile faint. "You may be used to controlling boardrooms, Blackwood. But Elena isn't one of your board members. She doesn't bend."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "Neither do I."
---
Later that night, Elena collapsed onto her bed, the lilies resting on her nightstand.
She buried her face in her pillow, muffling a scream.
Adrian's proposal replayed in her mind. Ryan's sudden reappearance muddled her heart. And the truth she hadn't admitted to anyone—that her brother's next treatment bill was due in a week—gnawed at her soul.
Her phone buzzed. A message.
Unknown Number: Dinner tomorrow. 7 PM. I'll send the address. – A
Elena's blood boiled. "Arrogant jerk."
But her hand didn't delete the message.
She hated herself for it.
---
Meanwhile, in his penthouse, Adrian stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, city lights reflecting off his sharp features.
The system screen hovered before him.
[ Current Progress: 32% ]
[ Mission Ongoing: Prevent Rival's influence. Time Remaining: 71 Hours, 12 Minutes. ]
His reflection smirked back at him.
Ryan Hale might think he was Elena's savior. But Adrian Blackwood had never lost a war—and he wasn't about to start now.
"Contract marriage," he murmured. "Whether she wants it or not… Elena Carter will be mine."
The system chimed approvingly.
[ Host determination detected. ]
[ Bonus Mission Unlocked: Kiss Target within 5 days. ]
[ Reward: 50% reputation restored. ]
[ Punishment: Double Rival Favorability. ]
Adrian's smirk widened.
A kiss?
The game had just begun.