The Bïllionaire's Retruutioñ

Theodore rushed forward. "Mr. Blackwell."

Damian Blackwell sat in a wheelchair, his face concealed by a scarred mask. The mask was thin, almost like a second skin, making his already fearsome features appear even more menacing.

No one could see his real face.

Adrian Cole pushed his wheelchair.

For the first time, Adrian was without his mask, making it impossible for Elena to recognize him as a member of the secretive "Night" organization.

"Aah!" Selena let out a scream at the sight of Damian's disfigured face. She shrank behind Vivian, squeezing her eyes shut in horror. "He looks terrifying!"

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

Damian's gaze turned icy as he looked directly at Selena. "Huh?" His voice was dangerously low.

Theodore's entire body stiffened with fear. His legs nearly buckled. "Mr. Blackwell, please forgive my daughter's rudeness. I have failed to discipline her properly."

This was the man who controlled the Blackwell family.

How could she speak to him like that?

Damian's voice remained calm but merciless. "Indeed. So why don't I have my men discipline her for you?"

Adrian stepped forward and slapped Selena Cross a dozen times.

"Ah! Ah!" The house echoed with her screams, but no one dared to step forward, and no one dared to stop it.

The Hayes family observed the situation in silence, afraid to say a word, fearing they might invite trouble upon themselves.

"Mom! Mom, help me!" Selena cried desperately for assistance.

Vivian didn't dare to interfere. She could only watch as her daughter's face swelled, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth and her nostrils.

Adrian's strikes were merciless, showing no hint of restraint. In his world, there was no rule stating that men couldn't punish women—his boss's command was absolute.

After the slapping ceased, Selena collapsed to the floor, too afraid to touch her bruised and throbbing face. Her eyes brimmed with fear as she stammered, "Mom… it hurts. My face… it hurts so much!"

"Selena!" Vivian embraced her daughter, heartbroken.

Selena's cheeks were swollen on both sides, deep red with distinct fingerprints marking her skin.

Elena swallowed hard. Even she felt uneasy witnessing Selena's battered face.

Damian Blackwell was indeed as ruthless as the rumors claimed, showing no leniency—even to women.

Perhaps the whispers about his three wives being driven to their deaths weren't entirely false.

Elena couldn't believe that the man sitting there was the same person she spent time with daily.

His voice carried a familiarity, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

It was merely a coincidence that they shared the same name.

This Damian Blackwell was a cripple, confined to a wheelchair, his face so ruined that no one could recognize his true features. How could they possibly be the same man?

Elena found herself staring at Damian. It was the first time she had seen the infamous Mr. Blackwell in person.

She wondered what he had looked like before his face was destroyed.

Damian appeared frail, his sharp gaze turning to Theodore Cross. He coughed lightly and spoke in a slow, deliberate tone, "Mr. Cross, do you think that was too much?"

"N-no, of course not," Theodore stammered, terrified in the presence of Damian Blackwell. The power he had wielded over Elena just moments ago had vanished completely. "I should be thanking Mr. Blackwell for disciplining my daughter. Selena had to learn a lesson about keeping her mouth shut."

"You are quite reasonable," Damian remarked, his expression unreadable. Then, shifting his gaze toward Elena, his voice turned cool. "Who is this?"

"This is my eldest daughter, Elena Cross," Theodore answered carefully, gauging Damian's reaction.

Theodore was no fool. He could sense the underlying curiosity in Damian's tone.

Still, he was determined to proceed with his plans. He shot Elena a warning look, signaling her to leave at once.

Now that the Blackwell family had severed their engagement, it was clear they had no interest in her. If he handled this matter swiftly, the arranged marriage between the Cross family and the Hayes family could proceed without interference.

But Elena had no intention of letting Theodore get what he wanted.

"Father, since the Cross family and the Hayes family are arranging such an important wedding, we should make sure Mr. Blackwell is invited," Elena said smoothly, her tone laced with subtle defiance. "Even though I didn't end up marrying into the Blackwell family, it would still be proper to extend an invitation. After all, wouldn't that be the courteous thing to do?"

She was betting on Damian stepping in.

Even though their engagement had been called off, she had still been considered as a potential bride for him. Now, Theodore wanted to marry her off to a fool—it was an outright humiliation.

And wasn't comparing Damian Blackwell to Gordon Hayes an insult in itself?

A slow smirk formed on Damian's lips.

This girl was clever.

Her words made Theodore's face darken, but before he could respond, Damian's lips curled into an amused smile.

"Oh? A marriage between the Cross family and the Hayes family?" His voice held an edge of mockery. "When was that decided?"

The casual tone in Damian Blackwell's voice sent a chill down the spines of Theodore Cross and Gordon Hayes.

Gordon quickly forced a smile. "Oh, it's nothing serious. Just casual talk, nothing official. It shouldn't be taken seriously."

He had no intention of offending Damian Blackwell. One look at Selena Cross's battered face was enough proof of what would happen if he got involved with the Cross family again—it would be like inviting disaster.